LS or 505 Big Block Stroker

[Rob Scariano]

Ok,

I need to take a poll here. I'm stuck on making a decision and I can't seem to make it on my own. I am going to invest into a new drivetrain for my 99 2 door. Over the last year, I have done the following

6" suspension lift
3" Body Lift
20x10 Rims
37" Open Country MTS
4.88 gears Front/Back
14 Bolt rear end (installing next month)
new carpet
new leather seats
Plus much more.

Now I'm ready to give this thing a a bit more power because the vortec 350 is too weak. No offense to anyone that likes it, just not enough for me.

So, with that said, I'm either going to go with an LS or take a different route. I'm thinking of scrapping the computer, fuel injection and going with a built 454 with a 505 stroker kit. If I do that, I will scrap the 4L60 and go with a three speed built TH 350. I don't care about gas mileage as it isn't my daily driver. Furthermore; I don't need to go faster than 65. Besides, an LS will never give me the massive cammed out (Big Block) sound I'm looking for. Although an LS can be built as well, I realize that lifted trucks benefit from low end torque. I can get that out of a big block but I don't know if it will be reliable.

So what would you do???

 

[Rob Scariano]

Here's another pic

 

[Rob Scariano]

Bump^^

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Sweet 2 door! I'd go with an LS based drivetrain personally. You can make similar power, more gear can give you that torquey feel np, weight savings over a big block would be big.

What do you mostly use this rig for? Its definitely not a serious off road rig with those big old wheels and low pro tires. Besides it too darned good looking! Show vehicle?

 

[fiatdale]

Clean ride man, I like it! I too would go with LS. They can be had for a dime a dozen and bolt ons will make great power. Not to mention it will always run cool too.

 

[drakon543]

Id go ls myself you can get plenty of power out of it. And a little time at the machine shop and a radical cam setup will give you that lope you want

 

[SUBURBIAN]

Everything has a gen 3 smallblock swapped into it nowadays. Whoopty doo. Put a big block in it and scare some mf'ers. No naturally aspirated gen 3 engine is going to make 500 plus lb/ft from idle anyways. Anyone chanting reliability must not realize that carburetors and distributors got everyone where they needed to go until the 90's.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Everything has a gen 3 smallblock swapped into it nowadays. Whoopty doo. Put a big block in it and scare some mf'ers. No naturally aspirated gen 3 engine is going to make 500 plus lb/ft from idle anyways. Anyone chanting reliability must not realize that carburetors and distributors got everyone where they needed to go until the 90's.

Hey man Big blocks are awesome. A carb and a big lope @ idle is cool with me on an every once in awhile kind of vehicle. But if you want to actually drive it then the gen 3 gen 4's make a lot of sense.

 

[SUBURBIAN]

With 500+ cid, you don't need a lopey cam to make 500 tq, and don't really have issues with driveability or street manners.

 

[Rob Scariano]

With 500+ cid, you don't need a lopey cam to make 500 tq, and don't really have issues with driveability or street manners.

Thank you all for the feedback and compliments.

99% of these Tahoes on the road have small blocks and that would be fine if mine were lowered but I need power (torque) from the get go. I don't mean to sound cheesy but I want the truck to sound like Grave Digger, which is a 1700 hp big block. Now with that said, I surely don't plan to build anything more than 500 to 600hp as I want to run pump gas (91 octane). In addition, I would build a lower compression engine so there is relatively little stress. The big block will give me high torque from idle to 3000 whereas an LS needs to be revving pretty good. I suspect a 500hp big block would put more torque down at 1500 RPMS than an LS at 3000. With that said, it really is a better fit for a lifted truck. As far as extra weight, ehh. It's not that much. 150-200 LBS would be nothing as the power would overcome the weight.

I don't drive this daily. I have a new car, I just want this thing to sound mean. The LS is a great engine and no doubt it's more efficient plus powerful but carburetors nowadays are more reliable then they were 20 years ago and I could always add EFI to it later. The price has come down substantially and a basic EFI can handle up to 600hp all day.

So, any more thoughts. I'm hoping to really weigh the feedback on the forum to see if there are any really big reasons why I shouldn't go BIG and LOUD.

Don't care about MPG, it's stinks as it is. Lol