My recently purchased 2001 T/A is my first LS based engine and I'm curious about the sound of the engine. Since this is an aluminum engine and not a cast iron engine, should I hear more internal engine noise, especially on a cold start, than with a cast iron engine? It has 93,000 miles and I'm wondering if it is normal noise or if it has just been driven hard. It runs great and there are no real knocking or unusual noises, just louder than I am used to.

 

It's hard to say without hearing it, but there is a certain amount of noise expected from stock short-block LS1's. Some of it is usually piston slap due to piston to wall clearances from the factory.

Is the valvetrain factory stock? It is expected also to hear a bit more noise from aftermarket (more aggressive) cam profiles, valve springs, etc.

 

My engine is stock and some of the noises I am hearing could very well be piston slap. I can hear some valve train noise but that is not unusual to me. I'm just not used to hearing the bottom end and rotating parts.

 

LS1's are pretty much the noisyist engines stock out there, it sucks but its normal, go to a meet and listen to some others run, you will probably find they sound the same, if not you may have an issue, but in general they are kinda noisy motors.