is an LS1 too much power ? Options

[DBCooper]

That's traction control, isn't it? I seem to recall reading that there are provisions in lowly Megasquirt that would allow you to add in traction control if you could adapt all the sensors and computer to your car. That's a lot of adapting, though, much easier to just learn when it's not wise not to get into it so hard.

[Bulldog9]

IMO, your ability is what determines what is too much power. The best thing anyone can do to improve the performance of their car is to improve the driver. I've seen way too many people destroy their cars over the years because THEY could not handle the power.

[Dave_Darling]

C'mon, you cant churn butter with a toothpick!

You've seen the way I drive....

--DD

[andys]

I just wanted to add that the best feature of my LS1 conversion, is the electronic controls. A twist of the key, and it fires NOW even after sitting for a month, then drives like any modern car with EFI. I also took advantage of the AC and fan controls by the PCM.

Andys

[Mikey914]

Where is speedmetalarmy on this one. He did this to my old car. He's quite happy with it. He has a thread here somewhere.

[speed metal army]

Hi Mark! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)
Not too much power, no. Just a blast to drive! The reliability is the second best part.
Zero regrets, just having fun and driving. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

There is "No Replacement for Displacement."

During the development of the 917-30 motor, the German Porsche engineers often asked Mark Donohue if the motor finally had enough power. His tongue-in-cheek answer was "it will never have enough power until I can spin the wheels at the end of the straightaway in high gear."

The 917-30, SCCA bitched, was killing the Can-Am series. Mark Donohue disagreed. “We’re far from having too much horsepower,” he asserted. “My definition of too much horsepower is when all four wheels are spinning in every gear.”


I agree with Mark Donohue, you can never have too much horsepower. But you need a chassis and driver that can use that horsepower too. When I was in my 20s, I was a corner worker at an SCCA race at Green Valley raceway, near my home. Green valley was a drag strip with a road course spliced onto it. I watched a big block, full race Corvette trading the race lead with a Bugeye Sprite. The Corvette would come out of the last turn onto the 1/2 mile straight that was the drag strip, and accelerate hard for the hairpin turn at the other end. Behind him was the Bugeye. At the next lap the Bugeye was in front, but not by much. The Bugeye got passed on the straight. Next lap, the Bugeye came out of the last turn a little farther ahead of the Vette. This repeated lap after lap until the Bugeye was entering the hairpin before the Vette was able to clear the last turn. Before the race ended, the Bugeye had lapped the Vette. All because the Bugeye had a better chassis setup and a better driver.

It is your car, so build the one you want to drive. But it will be more fun if you add the handling and driver improvement too.

[DBCooper]

Totally true. I remember those satanic straight-axle Corvettes autocrossing back in the day, big huge slicks front and rear and two-four barrel engines that wouldn't idle but sure as hell would rev, jump up into the air and GO, then being beaten by little Lotus Sevens, Mini's AND my little bugeye. Good times.

Now take that Green Valley story and double or triple that bugeye's (or 914's) horsepower. Then that driver's having a real fun day around the whole track, not just the corners, and is pretty much unbeatable. Goes from good times to REAL good times.

[roachghia70]

There is "No Replacement for Displacement."

Except for positive manifold pressure.

[DBCooper]

There is "No Replacement for Displacement."

Except for positive manifold pressure.

Ha ha ha, very true.

[Andyrew]

Totally true. I remember those satanic straight-axle Corvettes autocrossing back in the day, big huge slicks front and rear and two-four barrel engines that wouldn't idle but sure as hell would rev, jump up into the air and GO, then being beaten by little Lotus Sevens, Mini's AND my little bugeye. Good times.

Now take that Green Valley story and double or triple that bugeye's (or 914's) horsepower. Then that driver's having a real fun day around the whole track, not just the corners, and is pretty much unbeatable. Goes from good times to REAL good times.

There are still LOADS of vettes like that in the american autox series.. Super fun to watch (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)