LS1 durability
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Joined: Mar 2010
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LS1 durability Hey guys, I might be picking up a 1998 WS6 M6 Trans am for 8000 bucks, it's got a few things that need to be fixed but my first question is durability. I know the LS series and especially the T56 is a great combo and can last a long time. But the car has 181,000 miles. Is it safe to say that when I may add a small cam and give it some more power that it will still last another 181,000 miles? I know it's hard to tell but the guy is the originial owner and I drove it and it still drives like a monster. It has a new trans/clutch/pressure plate etc new water pump radiator it's a good car. Also the power steering reservoir leaks near the cap, I'm not sure if it is the cap but is this a problem that is normal with these cars? And last but not least, the car has always been run with mobil one synthetic which is great and the oil is clean and fresh, but the oil pressure gauge just zooms back and forth and every now and then settles down to let me see it where it idles about 35 pounds at idle. Anyway do these cars have a gauge problem also? Thanks for the info. I'm new to these cars and especially the gen III engines, I was big into carbs and flat tappet cams for a long time and just sold my el camino and figured I'd give the LS series a try. For now if I get the car I'm just gonnna get some long tubes better exhaust (it has a flowmaster cat back) and a good tune maybe some 3.73s or 4.10s and just drive it.
They are durable but not like a diesel engine. If you want to mod a car with that kind of mileage on it, you should be prepared to do a rebuild of everything. $8000 sounds a bit steep unless the body and interior is perfect.
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WAYYYYYYY too much money for the year and mileage. I can pick you probably 5 cars right now in the classifieds that are around $8K that I would pick over the car you are describing....keep looking or low ball him.
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I think $6000 would be just about right if it's in good order otherwise. Hell, he might have just charged the A/C just to make it cold for the sale. Then two weeks later the freon is gone. I paid $5500 for my 98 TA with 78k miles just 3 weeks ago, after I fixed the A/C I have $5800 into it. And I sold my last one with 121k miles and few problems for $4500 3 years ago.
