LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

I recently bought a copy of Nitro Joe's Stats on Ebay.(Nice job by the way).
I really wasn't aware of some of the horsepower factors in some of the classes I don't compete in.
It appears that there is an LS1 in some bodies that is at 381.
Then there is a manual transmission combo that is something like 40 horsepower less than the 381 of the same body.
Then,if it is in a Corvette,you see 350.But in a Firebird, it's 381
Are these engines all the same or are there differences?

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

They are the same. Everyone and their brother ran a Firebird or Camaro with that combo. Corvettes didn't get as much attention until recently and they've done a good job at protecting that combo.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

How does the GTO fit into that conversation?

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Same setup as the Corvette. Factored to 340 hp.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Seems to me your real agenda is to bring attention to the cars you do compete against like the GTO with an LS1 style engine .There are now plenty of them out there and they do their best to protect their combos - something more guys ( and gals ) should have done years ago .As for the Firebirds with the 381 rating - well, they didn't do such a good job .We can also talk about the guy from Crawdad Country who is now our World Champ that can win no matter how far under he is but we'll save that for another time ! !

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

I don't have an agenda.I just find it fascinating the massive differences in horsepower factors with cars using the exact same engine.40 horsepower difference based on body type?
40 horsepower difference based on transmission type?
It doesn't matter if they were at 340 or 380,I still wouldn't ever outrun one.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Can’t beat them……join their

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Glenn, come on! Ya know that some of us are just born Rebels!

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

The Champ lives in Donaldsonville, La. not the place you mentioned. Louisiana does not have counties.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

The horsepower differences between sticks and auto's are reflected in the index's. But it was originally to make up for the way auto's and sticks were back in the day. Now with the evolution of auto transmissions I think the sticks are the ones that need the half a tenth. But then I run a stick. You know there is something up with the horsepower when a engine combo that is 75 ci smaller rated at less horsepower in the same class can be 3 tenths and 4 mph faster. Just saying.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Ever seen the specs on a 455 Olds?

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

The GTO,s are carrying some weight though.
3570 E/SA
3740 F/SA

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Your point? If it was such as easy combination to run way under...everybody and their brother would have one. Fact is, there are only a couple in the whole country that are active, myself included.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Cool yer jets Jim. I've been an Olds guy since high school. My comment was meant in respect to an LS combo. Yeah, a 455 Olds is pretty good when compared to other combos of it's era but it's no LS.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

When was the last time that the 455 got HP?

Has anyone gone a second under in the last ten years with one?

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

It must be the body Style. LOL That was one of the reasons for the AHFS. Before the AHFS the engine combo would get hit no matter what body style it was in. This year under the currant AHFS rules should be interesting. Should we now call the AHFS the all New Woke AHFS. This year I hope they are calling me .66 under. Barry

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Nobody has gone a second under in the last ten years.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

I can't believe this thread has gone on as long as it has but let me clear (??) things up - and remember this is coming from an LS1 Firebird and '04 GTO guy - first , the engines are the same - period.Second , there are sticks and auto's.Third , the bodies in the Corvettes are the same except for yearly changes and none have 'Ram Air'.Third , and lastly the Firebirds are the same with minor body changes and some have 'Ram Air' . The '04 GTO didn't have 'Ram Air' .

The biggest thing I see is some have chosen to keep their foot down all 1320 feet when the air was 'super' .And at times ungodly 'super'.Kinda like what happened to the LT1's a few years back .

As for the 455 Olds combinations I have had none but I do know they haven't been a real factor in Stock since the seventies and eighties .How do I know ? One of my best friends and business associates was John Troxell who had much success with them and had factory support .Also he more than likely invented the phrase 'grey area' .

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

I don’t know what 455 you guys are referring to but a quick look at the guide shows the last time one had an increase or decrease was 2008.
That being said the late George Thompson raced a 1972 Olds 442 in G/SA with a 455 and could easily go a second under if he wanted to. I don’t have the answer but I do know I run the combo that has the greatest chance for success.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

At the PRI show this year I had a conversation with Lonnie about HP. I suggested that those two questions need to be applied to the older combinations.

(It is quite obvious that a lot of combinations got beat up pretty badly a long time ago and need help to be competitive again.)

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

If a Firebird,GTO,Camaro,and Corvette all have different horsepower factors because they are different body styles,then fine.

So how about a lower horsepower factor for a convertible?
The top blows up in the wind and needs 40 horsepower off?

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Well we certainly agree on that ! ! And while you're writing to the NHRA please add my name to the list .Why you ask ?? Tell them i'd like a reduction of horsepower for my COPO convertible and i'm sure it makes more MPH so I should get a bigger reduction than you . Happy New Year to me .........

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Off topic of course but wondering where George’s Olds ended up? I talked to him at Fontana in 2017 and it was a pretty cool car, he indicated that it would go far faster than he’d ever shown. Probably the last time he ran the car. We had a great conversation, great guy.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

George's car was bought by a guy who lives in Moline,Illinois. It was running really good, and he blew the motor a few years ago and hasn't been back out since.I understand that he is planning to be back this year, as it is quite a long process to build an engine from scratch.
I met George at the Winternationals about 10 years ago.Great guy with a long history of fast Oldsmobiles.I remember asking him about his car and whose pistons he was running.He said Arias.After he told me that,I didn't ask anymore questions.The small valve and low compression combo is probably a much better combo for Olds 455 racers.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Jan. 13, 2023

The NHRA Technical Department recently made changes to the Class Guide.

Chev 66-69 396 325/324 change to 396 325/316
Chev 68-69 396 325/374 change to 396 325/363
Chev 68-69 396 325/384 change to 396 325/373
Chev 1968 396 350/340 change to 396 350/335
Chev 68-69 396 350/360 change to 396 350/358
Chev 68-69 396 350/370 change to 396 350/368
Dodge 1962 413 385/394 change to 413 385/390



https://www.nhraracer.com/content/general.asp?articleid=72710&zoneid=132

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Quite interesting what you posted, but you really should start another thread as I don't see that it has anything to do with LS1 factors.
Although it does look like they are consolidating factors and giving the engines the lower ones.
So the LS1 Firebirds that are at 381,should go back to 340 along with the Corvettes using the same logic.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Where is the dislike button?

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

George Thomson passed away of Covid in Dec. 2020 in Lake
Havasu Arizona. I was best man at his Wedding years ago. He
was a close friend and a lot of the reason my cars run pretty well even
today. He also ran a Killer 73 Mustang 351 that was 1 qualifier when
he wanted it to be. There is nothing he could not make fly!
He called me the day he died and told me he would
not make it to the end of the year!
I talked to the new owner at St. Louis points race two year ago = Nice
Mature Gentleman and it was running fine then!

RIP

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Well how the LS1 GTO landed in F/SA @3740 lbs and 40HP less is interesting for sure not as aerodynamic? No Ram Air?
But its not the GTO that's been feeding on their GM cousins Camaro/Firebird, It's the LS1 C5 Vette. Heads-up about 260lbs lighter....who needs ram air?

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

i am sorry for your loss, i met george years ago.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Platform/wheelbase consideration like Ford & Mopar received years ago??

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

As a person in the process of resurrecting a E/SA Camaro it wouldn't bother me to see a few horsepower added to the GTO's.

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Easy solution is to put the top down. If that doesn't work bring your motor to Brian Tilburg and tell him make it go fast. BP

Re: LS1 Horsepower Factors
 

Adger

Refresh my faded memory about the Ford hp/ body style differences running the same combos.

RJ