LS1 Horsepower Factors

[Jack Matyas]

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' .

[JIM MARSHALL]

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.

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by JIM MARSHALL

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.

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.

[442OLDS]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

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.

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.