Off with Their Heads!Sir,
As a subscriber since late 2002 I have seen this magazine evolve (both positively and negatively) with the changing car lineup at GM. One thing that I always appreciated was balanced coverage of nearly all GM fuel-injected performance models, mainly centered on the G, Y, F and B-body platforms. In years past there was a good balance of affordable DIY articles and over the top high-end features. However, this balance has shifted in the past 2-3 years to more of a high-end magazine where the common enthusiast has been left behind, especially if they do not own an LS-series powered GM vehicle. And before you trot out the blue '94 LT1 Formula build-up, please go back and re-read those articles. Haphazard is the kindest word I can use to describe that build-up. If you paid any attention to the many GM-enthusiast websites out there you would see this is a common opinion to that build.
The lack of TPI, TBI and even 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0-liter coverage is embarrassing in my opinion. Young (and older) readers who could garner terrific information on these common engines/platforms instead have to turn to Car Craft, Chevy High Performance, Hot Rod and Popular Hot Rodding to get tips, tricks and advice on buying, building, and modifying these engines. For a GM-based enthusiast magazine this is mystifying and shows the common reader the distinct LS1/LS2/LS3 clique mentality that seems to currently exist at GMHTP.
I struggled to renew my subscription last year for the reasons mentioned above. Well the time has come to renew again and, sadly, I will pass. I wish you and your staff the best of luck. My older back issues will continue to be put to good use.
Sincerely,
Lee Fogel
Homer, AK
Hello,
I read GMHTP about every month. I've always loved the magazine, but always have felt you focused on LS1s. I, along with other LT1 owners, feel that you don't do much with the LT1, and when you do, don't do it much justice. The 355 LT1 build you just did was ok, but didn't show much of what the LT1 is capable of. I think in focusing on LS1s you're losing your readers. Here's a link to a thread in a forum about this [Ed-excerpts below]. I hope you take this information and do the LT1 crowd a bit more justice.
"GMHTP started out with a 355ci LT1 that baselined at 350.4 hp and 386 lb-ft. Then invested $3300 into a budget top end and ONLY produced 422 hp and 414 lb-ft! That's a gain of only 72 hp and 28 lb-ft!! In my terms of mind that's 0.02 hp per dollar.
In my opinion, this article series build makes it appear that LT1s are completely inferior to LS1 specifically. I would have definitely invested $3,300 in a completely different way to make horsepower. Cam only and spray with money left over for tires or head/cam package from the sponsors. I just found this article completely laughable. GMHTP is an awesome magazine and I love every issue, however this article series was disappointing. Hopefully, the next LT1 build will make up for this one."
Thanks
Rob Warrick
Via email
Hey Rob
The purpose of the first article was simply to test the Edelbrock intake manifold-is that GMHTP's fault if it didn't perform? Then we used Edelbrock's heads and cam to see if it was the stock heads that were the restriction and cause for the intake's lack of performance. Then we tried porting a stock intake, porting the Edelbrock intake, and port-matching the heads to make a final conclusion on the intake. In any event, I don't think making over 420-horses with an emissions-friendly cam and cheap heads is embarrassing at all. That's more than an LS6 crate engine, and half the cost. Remember LT1s only made 275-285 hp from the factory. Hopefully the last article gave you some comfort; I know with a bigger cam we probably could have made 470-480hp...but don't get so greedy! LT1s are great motors, and yes we could have made more power for less dough, but that wasn't the point. We're here to test parts and tell you if they work-and happy to do it!
Please send all letters to: scott.parker@soRC.com, or mail to: GM High-Tech Performance, 365 West Passaic St., Rochelle Park, NJ 07662. All letters are presumed for publication and GMHTP reserves the right to edit all letters.