LT1 Owners: Help me out!

[emerica4601]

hey, im devoted to purchasing a t/a lt1 for my next car. i know the lt1 t/a was made from 93-97, and from 96-97 they bumped up the hp to 285 from 275. now ive found a few and realized that book value for them is really low. ive done alot of research on what usually goes wrong with them, but im curious what everybody here has gone wrong with theirs and what year their lt1 is and how many miles are on it. im not sure whether to go with a 100k mile cheap t/a or 65k mile t/a for a few thou more bucks. give me some advice! thanks! :help: :)

[Zboner]

long live the opti!

[transam_9706]

i have a 97 ws6 6spd with 120,xxx miles and lets see i got it at 110,000. so far i've had to change all the fluids when i got it and a bunch of little stuff ended up costin me around 2000 right when i got it. then my water pump went out, next my fuel pump died, then i replaced the clutch, and my rear end is about to go out so im gonna have to replace that. in the year ive had my car its not been so great but hopefully the future looks to be better. good luck with your t/a

[Sprfstz28]

I've seen them up around 170,000-180,000 pretty common, with no problems. I have a friend with a 97 ss, 178,000 miles, and only changed the clutch once, no other major problems. :)

[RainMan]

The Opti-Spark Distributor really gives a black eye to an otherwise excellent performer. If you go this route, I recommend that you pitch the opti-spark for the aftermarket DIS conversion. It's an expensive $800 upgrade but in the long run you will be glad you got it.

http://www.delteq.com/

However, I would give due consideration to the '98 - '02 LS1 powered models. Even bone stock you get 40 - 50 Hp over a late model LT1. Plus the aftermarket community is bursting at the seams with parts for LS1, LS2, LS6 engines.

My $.02 worth
:drivin:

[GOODZ/BADZ]

My 94 has not had any opti problems yet and it has 110,000 miles on it, but what I have replaced on it in the 5 1/2 years I've had it is the water pump, heater core, radiator, clutch, and oh yeah the engine. Well I spun a rod bearing at 89,000 miles and I've heard that Lt1's are notorious for spun rod bearings around 100,000 but I also have a 96' with 107,000 and the engine is good and strong but the Opti is going out in it. Regardless of these things I love my LT1's! All my buddies have LS1's but I've stayed loyal to my LT1's and now that my 94 takes there LS1's out they respect it. I would recommend looking for a low mileage 96 or 97 T/A. The aftermarket is also alot cheaper now for the LT1's then when I got my first one in 2000. :burnout:

[hammertime]

However, I would give due consideration to the '98 - '02 LS1 powered models. Even bone stock you get 40 - 50 Hp over a late model LT1. Plus the aftermarket community is bursting at the seams with parts for LS1, LS2, LS6 engines.


Good point - Think about what your goals are, at least performance wise, for an LT1 car, then consider the cost to make similar upgrades to both. You may find that for a little more than a low mileage LT1 car, you can also get into a decent LS1 car that needs little in maintenance and less modding (less $$$ invested) to reach your goals. 40-50 hp is about a 1/2 second in the quarter mile.

Good Luck!