I really enjoyed the LSx vs Gen I story in the January issue.  I think the advantages of the LS motor are clear by now with all the attention it has received since it came out.  The Gen I motor had to be pretty radical to stack up to the power that comes from the LS relatively effortlessly. 

My only issue is...why limit the Gen I to a 23* head?  Was price a factor?  The LS isn't cheap to build either.  What if you did the same comparison with some 18* heads on the Gen I.  How about an SB2.2 motor?  The SB2.2 stuff is easy to get now.  SB2.2 stuff is expensive but how would building an LS motor compare to building a SB2.2 motor?

There is still a lot of tech out there developing for the Gen I.  If someone has their money right I don't see why they couldn't build a Gen I that could easily match the power potential of the LS... and be tame enough to drive...sometimes.

Glad you enjoyed the story. We considered running a 18 degree cylinder head, intially, but felt it was more of a real world comparo by using a conventional piece. Still, for what it's worth, we have a couple 18 degree articles coming out soon.

Hows 650hp under 6,600 rpms sound to you?

Regards,

Henry D

I was surprised at how little to took to make a 23 degree headed Gen 1 competitive with the LS. Just 10 degrees of duration and 4 degrees of advance didn't strike me as nearly the difference I was expecting.

I think the results says a lot about the fundmental correctness of the original design, that 50 years later it takes so much rocket science and hype to better the original by such a small amount.

Yeah, I'd surely like to see that test with 15 or 18 degree heads on the Gen 1. But I'd also like to see a contest between the engines. A "balls to wall" test between two crews, one for each engine, "no holds barred" if you can buy it and/or modify it, you can use it contest. Then run' em till somebody busts. Oh yeah, no power adders anybody can boost and juice till it screams, you gotta get there on God's plain old air pressure and pump gas.

Bogie

justa thought,i was disappointed by your choice of certain parts for your gen 1 small block.first of all,you used a cnc ported race head with large intake ports and you matched it up with a hydraulic roller cam that basically is done by 6300 rpm,and you used an intake manifold that has been around for 20 yrs.if you wanted to stick to 23 degree heads,there are ones available with smaller ports that flow better for better velocity,and why not use a super victor intake? as for the hydraulic roller cam,you could of stepped it up a tad,narrower lobe center,more duration,considering you had the compression to work with.and as for 18 degree heads,cant wait to see the results.....  

I did the LSX portion of it, but I'll have Nelson get online and try to answer some of your questions.

As for the 18 degree cylinder heads - it should provide for good edit.

Regards,
H  

Henry, how about tossing on a set of DART Little Chief heads just to show everybody what a race ready SBC can do?

OK a little radical for the street and pretty expensive for the average rodder but it would make an interesting article.

Bogie  

an article on the little chiefs would be entertaining for sure,as im growing tired of the usual street stuff.....be nice to see what these babies are capable of....also,as for an 18 degree head article,how about trying out a set of Brodix's 18 STD X head,great bang for the buck,and uses 23 degree valvetrain to boot....  

what i think would be really interesting is building a small block class motor(ie. ss/a modified,comp eliminator etc)using all of todays new technology.never see too many articles on what goes into them.justa thought.....  

I've been in the planning stages, but I'm currently in the process of putting together a 434ci small-block with flat tops and will be using it as a mule to test the various 18 degree pieces. Expect to see the Brodix 18 STD X for sure, including a number of others.

As for the class motor, we could do that. We've already put together a big-block class motor that I'll be putting into print shortly, and that believe me, that thing is a monster!  

sweeeeeeeeeeet!! cant wait to see that,thx for the reply.......  

My Mustang buddy was upset because a friend of his wants to put an LS1 in a 5.0 Mustang.  He said you can make the same power with a 351 Windsor for a lot less money.  I told him that is not true.  Now I can show him this article.

I guess if the car was going to be used only for racing, then an old style engine would be OK, but he wants to drive the car on the street.  
The LS1 based engine is definitley superior.