1970 GM 350 Small-Block Engine - Clash of the Small Block Titans

The differences between the LT two small-blocks are numerous and significant. The LT1 offered a sophisticated reverse-flow cooling system, modern electronic fuel injection, and aluminum heads, compared with the 780 Holley four-barrel and cast-iron Fuelie heads on the original. The newer heads also out-flowed the originals heads by 10-15 cfm, despite running smaller valve sizes (1.94/1.50 vs. 2.02/1.60). The LT-1 did offer a higher static compression ratio (11.0:1 vs. 10.4:1), forged pistons, and a solid cam with wilder timing (0.459/0.485-inch lift and 242/254-degree duration, compared with the 0.450/0.460-inch lift and 202/207-degree duration of the injected mill). Both cams shared the same 116-degree lobe separation angle, but the hydraulic roller profile of the newer unit offered reduced friction and likely increased ramp rates, which improved average power production despite the mild duration specs.

The dual-plane, high-rise intake manifold used on the original LT-1 has proven to be a powerful design, but the LT1's short-runner EFI intake is likely just as effective. It is, after all, partly responsible for taking the small-block 350 from 245 hp in L98 guise to a solid 300 hp. Compared back-to-back, the LT1 intake would lose out to the LT-1 unit in lower- and medium-rpm ranges, but it would likely make similar, if not slightly more, peak power. The runner length in the LT1 is quite short and tuned for maximum effectiveness at higher engine speeds, this despite a relatively small cross-sectional area. In terms of driveability, fuel mileage, and reduced emissions, the modern LT1 has it all over the original.

Engine specs are all well and good, but the word "specs" sounds too much like speculation. To truly compare the '70 LT-1 to the '96 LT1, we had to run them against one another on the engine dyno. Obtaining a low-mileage LT1 was no problem, as our boys at Westech had several (of various years) just begging to be dyno tested. Testing the vintage LT-1 was another story, as this meant building one using factory specs. The boys from L&R Automotive and Demon Engines came to the rescue, as did a number other suppliers.

Our reproduction LT-1 solid cam and lifters came from Elgin. We also sourced an original LT-1 aluminum high-rise intake, but topped the dual-plane manifold with a Holley 750 HP carburetor in lieu of an original (and very expensive) or reproduction 780 Holley. Both the LT-1 and LT1 were run with 13/4-inch headers, and both were optimized in terms of air/fuel and timing. The EFI LT1 was run with a FAST management system, while jetting and distributor advance took care of tuning on the LT-1. The LT1 was run with the factory water pump (meaning a slight drop in power from the parasitic loses associated with driving the pump), while the LT-1 could be run with an electric unit. Neither motor was run with an air filter of any kind.