3G Hemi vs LSx vs Ford Mod Motor - which is the 'best'? And which to put in mopar?

magnumdust said

If a high mileage 5.7 hemi didn't run you $1500+, make 280-300rwhp N/A...

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I don't pretend to be any kind of an expert on the LS motors, and maybe I am just late to the game, but I'm not clear on why this is an issue.

I've got a copy of a 1998 magazine article where they tested several cars on a chassis dyno and only got 293 hp for the '98 Trans Am and 286 for '98 Corvette ("Who's Jivin' Who", Hot Rod Magazine, May 1998 issue). The Corvette was rated at 345 hp but made 285 rwhp, so it doesn't seem unreasonable that a 3G 5.7 rated at 345 hp making 280-300 rwhp is fine, and I don't see how that makes it a dog.

And the LS1's look to be running $3500-$4500 on car-part.com. Considerably more than a $1500 Hemi.

I know you can buy a 5.3 and cam it up to make 400 hp for cheap, but a stock 5.3 wont make the same power as a stock 5.7 Hemi. But just because you can buy a motor with enough money left over to put a cam in it doesn't make it the best motor, it just means that GM did a better job of glutting the market so the parts are cheap.