pros and cons??

[feller]

ok so i get that the ls engins make awesome power and that they are strong but i was curious could a guy get as much dependablity out of the efi retrofit kits that they sell to go on bbc and sbc motors. cause it seems if a guy wanted better fuel milage he could spend about the same coin or a little less depending on what kit, and still have efi and i assume just as good mpg's?? i am just curious to hear what everyone thinks about this, so please give me your thoughts. thank you in advance

[hammer]

for what you pay on the efi kits, couple hundred dollars more you can do a ls swap with a 5.3

[Clyde65]

The LS motors will burn more efficiently because that is what they were designed for, the SBC or BBC were not made for efficiency they were made to last, which they will.

[feller]

hammer thats what i am getting at, i am just kind up in the air at this time has anyone put the efi retrofit kits on a truck or car was it worth it? i mean it looks easier and yes clyde65 the ls is meant to be efficent. just trying to look at the whole picture

[Robznob11]

there are many more benifits to the ls engine than just gas milage. it is better all around the board. I mean its like comparing a orginal apple computer to an new dell. the design of the engine has benifets everywhere. and from what i have seen most aftermarket efi units for the old engines are just not up to par. the new oe stuff will compete with those 2000+ kits.
ps im not bias because i used to be all about 383s and my engine before the ls was a 496bb stroker. just got to roll with the changes. better everything in a small light weight package. aftermarket sbc heads can bearly touch a set of the mildest ls offerings.

[BR3W CITY]

another thing to consider is the type of efi kits your talking about. Some of them are nothing more than a TBI setup, which gives limited economy and has limited power support. Even some of the more expensive multi point setups have limited tuning ability because they use proprietary computers.
The LS computer setup can be accessed by a number of different programs like efilive and hptuners. You can have most shops tune these systems, as well as learn to access them yourself if you desire to do so. Heck, you can run a carbed ls engine and still have more power and economy that an sbc would.

That being said; if your handy and want to do it on the cheap, try working with a diy megasquirt setup. By far the most work but also the cheapest and adaptable to virtually anything.

[feller]

all good coments thank you all. now i got to sell "the boss" on the idea. lol

[68GMCCustom]

consider it this way.....there were various types of efi SBC's (and BBC's?) in the 80's and 90's before the LSx's motors came around...and they weren't as powerful or as economical as the LSx's that replaced them.

I understand you can retrofit a coil on plug system, crank (and cam?) sensor run efi kit similar to what an LSx has stock, to the sbc but it still won't be an LSx. I too was running a 383 stroker sbc before my current engine.

[feller]

that was a verry good point 68gmc custom!!!! i never thought of it that way. ok one more question. what am i looking at when i see ls1,ls2,3,4,5,6...... yadayada. all i know is 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 6.2, 8.1 and im thinking there was an early 5.7? mabey where do the ls's fall into the mix? i have heard of an lq9 i think it was a 6.0?? mabey? and are the intakes all interchangeable? my first project (when i get the go ahead from wife) will be my monte carlo and it has a 200-4r tranny that i would like to keep but the tv cable kit that i am finding online says will only work with an ls1 throtle body and intake i assume too but i havent a clue.

[Clyde65]

This here will tell you all about LS engines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_LS_engine

I have heard some guys can get the 200/700 TV cables to work on the LS' but I have others tell me it didnt work for them. Bowtye overdrives would be a good start to ask, they also have a easyTV bracket that I was told works.

Good luck!

[68GMCCustom]

you can keep your 200-4r...you just need a cable operated throttle body... vs a DBW or drive by wire electronic throttle body that also requires the pedal assembly with sensor. If you're looking for economy I'd go with a 4.8liter or the larger 5.3 vs a 5.7, 6.0 or 6.2. Either can give you 300+hp (350+ w/5.3) or more and return nice economy when coupled with a overdrive transmission.

[feller]

i love this forum!! you guys rock!!!! so all i really need is a brive by cable and ill be good with that. great.

[Clyde65]

Yes, also the bowtie overdrive bracket. Drive by cable was stock on 99-02 trucks, 99-05 vans, drive by wire started in 03 for trucks and 05 for vans. but you can switch the intakes easily