blu00rdstr

Maybe it's better to ask on LS1tech, but what forged shortblocks have you guys found? I was about to place an order with Andy, but I didn't realize a core charge existed.

Edit 10/13/05: Some builders only use new blocks which are 2nd-Gen LS motors and which require shorter head studs. A set of replacement ARP head studs adds about $250 to the price. I wasn't warned about this when I ordered my TSP motor although they asked what year my block was. I didn't discover this until assembly time.

This is what I found so far (prices are shortblock/core/total), sorted by total price:
_____$2,000+_____
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,699 no core $0 Texas Speed (TX) Special $2,699
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,789 no core $0 SDPC (TX) Post $2,789
347 LS6 forged pistons (stock rods & crank) $2,095 plus core $800 Lingenfelter (IN) $2,895
_____$3,000+_____
370 Iron forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $3,299 no core $0 MTI (TX) $3,299
347 LS6 Stg1 forged pistons (stock rods & crank) $2,395 plus core $1,000 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,395
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,595 plus core $1,000 FLP (IL) $3,595
402 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $3,599 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,599
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,600 plus core $1,000 (est core) HPE (TX) $3,600
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,700 plus core $950 Cartek (NJ) $3,650
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,799 plus core $1,000 (est core) Speed Inc (IL) $3,799
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,800 no core $0 Texas Speed(TX) Special $3,800
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,900 no core $0 Tbyrne Motorsports (MA) $3,900
347 LS6 Stg1 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,995 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $3,995
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,995 plus core $1,000 MTI (TX) $3,995
347 LS6 forged pistons (stock rods and crank) $3,000 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $3,995
347 LS6 Stg2 forged pistons (stock rods & crank) $2,999 plus core $1,000 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,999
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,999 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,999
_____$4,000+_____
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $3,095 plus core $1,000 Thunder Racing (LA) $4,095
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,095 no core $0 SDPC (TX) Special $4,095
347 LS6 S2 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $3,595 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $4,595
403 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,595 no core $0 Lingenfelter (IN) $4,595
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,995 plus core $650 Thunder Racing (LA) $4,645
382 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,395 plus core $600 FLP (IL) $4,995
370 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $4,900 no core $0 ARE (CAN) $4,900
_____$5,000+_____
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $5,000 no core $0 Cartek (NJ) $5,000
382 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,500 plus core $600 Cartek (NJ) $5,100
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,395 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $5,395
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $4,600 plus core $1,000 (est core) Speed Inc (IL) $5,600
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $5,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $5,995
402 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $5,995
_____$6,000+_____
408 Iron forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $6,295 no core $0 MTI (TX) $6,295
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $6,296 no core $0 FLP (IL) $6,296
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,395 plus core $1,000 (est core) Rapid Motorsports (PA) $6,395
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,795 plus core $800 Lingenfelter (IN) $6,595
388 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,700 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $6,700
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,795 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $6,795
412 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $6,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $6,995
_____$7,000+_____
396 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $6,000 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $7,000
408 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $6,995 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $7,995
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $7,995
_____$8,000+_____
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,500 plus core $600 Cartek (NJ) $8,100
409 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $7,900 plus core $400 (est core) ARE (CAN) $8,300
427 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $8,350 no core $0 ARE (CAN) $8,350
385 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,550 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $8,550
396 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,850 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $8,850
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,500 plus core $1,000 (est core) Speed Inc (IL) $8,500
_____$9.000+_____
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $9,000 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $10,000
441 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $9,300 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $10,300
427 C5R forged pistons, rods, crank $11,995 no core $0 FLP (IL) $11,995
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $12,639 no core $0 Lingenfelter (IN) $12,639

Edit: Segmented by total price range in thousands.
Edit 1/24/06: Added (location), Vendor hyperlinks
Edit 2/9/06: I bought at TSP motor in September, it failed after 30miles. TSP blames it on me, I blame it on the full dished (no quench deck) Mahle pistons. TSP is sending the broken motor to me freight collect. TSP is no A&A Corvette, TSP will go out of it's way to avoid blame. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1553932468

hpcubed

Wow, there is a core charge at A&A? I was going to get one there as well but that core charge hurts.

blu00rdstr

Yup, I was emotionally prepared for the low $3K range, but not the mid $4K range for a 347ci LS1 shortblock.

The one that catches my eye is the Texas Speed LS2 402 which is $4K with upgraded Mahle coated pistons made specifically for blower applications, and no core charge. It comes with all the LS2 specific parts required to replace an LS1 shortblock.

Edit: Added Mahle piston pics

hpcubed

The problem is this: you buy one from Texas Speed and then what - go have A&A install it? Did you talk to Andy?

chriswtx

Thats a good list...

Install it yourself of corse...

blu00rdstr

Andy charges $2,500 for shortblock install, and $500 for tuning. So the $3,500 grew to $4,500, then $7,500 to replace the shortblock.

hpcubed

Wow. $2500 - my jaw is on the floor. Anyone know what the problem is with yanking these out from the top. I know it can be done. MMS use to do it that way.

peter pan

Great list you put together. I got one from Andy on his rep even though I could have gotten one for a little less--I may have went with a LS-2 if they were already on the street when we started my build-up. I have not heard of many problems with his engines and believe my setup will perform after we finish the install here in Texas

SS930

$2500 !!!

Get the car up in the air a few feet and take it out the bottom... everything comes out as one piece. It's a lot of work, but $2500 is a LOT of money!!!

hpcubed

What does the 402 come with to be a direct swap? Knock sensor adapters? What else?

Skunkworks

If I wasn’t ~ 1600 miles away I’d help with install. I would go for LS2 based short block. Good luck with your decision and keep D1SC.

Mike

blu00rdstr

Front and rear covers, timing chain, timing sensor extension wire, knock sensor relocation, and head studs are short like the later LS1/LS6, the pre-2003 LS1/LS6 motors use long head studs. I added late model head studs to the list, with a motor they're $240. So the LS2 402 / Mahle coated pistons / Late ARP head studs for serious blower setup is up to $4,240 + about $250 shipping.

Mopar Jimmy

MAN,

That is one heck of an expansive list you put together and great research. I will be going forged in the future and this will be saved into my personal file.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU and remember that some of these forged blocks use inferior parts that may not last to you power levels so make sure the one you gets includes the best parts and not cheap substititutes (b/c typically you do get what you pay for)!!!

1%r

Call Chris or Doug @ ECS on their 382 and 402 short blocks.

It's best to catch Chris in the morning when he's still hung over!

blu00rdstr

Yup, the list will get a second pass through by calling/checking vendor websites. Forged pistons and rings are relatively equal, my only regret is that I didn't get thermal coating for insurance (I'm paying for it now). Forged rods are relatively equal, I've only seen stock rods fail. Then again, my forged pistons are the first ones I've seen fail in an LS1. Most of the cheaper motors use the stock crank. The only differences I see are choice of timing chain (an issue with strong valve springs/high lift cam) and bearings (most use Clevite).

The list is ordered by total cost, cheapest on top, most expensive on bottom.

Andy has always been my hero, but the cost of business must be catching up with him. I'm surprised he has the most expensive 347 LS1 on the list, even the Lingenfelter 403 LS2 is cheaper.

FreddyG

If you're interested in a forged LS2/402, you might want to give SDPC a call too.

SDPC web page..................

I think that they are at $4095 with all of the needed swap covers/goodies, but you might want to check to make sure.

blu00rdstr

I checked SDPC also, but they don't have LS1/LS2 shortblock assemblies that I can see. http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/63/Crate-Engines.htm

Z06GMAN

Check at LS1 tech in the LS2 area............Tons of info there

Andy@A&ACorvette

Remember the $2500 install included removing and reinstalling his complete supercharger system. That's $1500 right there. Besides, I have to recoupe some $$ for all the free parts I've given him in the last couple of years.

blu00rdstr

Ooooh, I feel like I got caught looking at another skirt.

Edit: Actually your assistant quietly kept invoicing me when I insisted on paying...