Life span of the LS-1?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 41
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Life span of the LS-1? Hello all,
I'm contemplating buying a 1999 LS-1 car with 100K on the odometer. Now, the car is a good price, but I just wonder what is the approximate life span of an average LS-1? The car is completely stock, but I would like to add some bolt ons, will the usually bolt ons shorten the life of the motor? Where are the weak spots in the motor? Thanks for the help. - Tom
I'm contemplating buying a 1999 LS-1 car with 100K on the odometer. Now, the car is a good price, but I just wonder what is the approximate life span of an average LS-1? The car is completely stock, but I would like to add some bolt ons, will the usually bolt ons shorten the life of the motor? Where are the weak spots in the motor? Thanks for the help. - Tom
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 622
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From: Northern Illinios
ummm my friend has a ls1 with 143k miles on it and it still runs 13.6 steady in the 1/4 mile with no mods. He beats the **** out of it on every turn as well. Lt1's have gone well over 250k miles and im sure ls1's will do the same.
Goodluck with the buy!
Goodluck with the buy!
10 Second Club
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 4
From: H-town
it all depends on the origanal owner. if he/she hardly changed the oil, then it will not last too much longer. if they followed the owners manual like a religion, and you do the same, it will last over 250,000. of coarse, anything to raise the HP of the engine, will shorten the life span considerably.
these engines last as long as the weakest performance part you put inside of them......
example: you put in a cam.... and upgrade the springs..... one of the springs breaks
........................ you drop a valve...and the motor eats itself instantly 
..........................
as long as you do preventative maintanence......you will see the engine last a long time..... preventative mainanence means fixing or replacing anything that can break and destroy the motor....
and changing all the recommended fluids at al the recommended miles or before.
example: you put in a cam.... and upgrade the springs..... one of the springs breaks
........................ you drop a valve...and the motor eats itself instantly ..........................as long as you do preventative maintanence......you will see the engine last a long time..... preventative mainanence means fixing or replacing anything that can break and destroy the motor....
and changing all the recommended fluids at al the recommended miles or before.
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TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 413
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From: Atlanta, GA
Originally Posted by donz28
i found a 99 z28 conv with 135000
they want $8800
the mother bought it originally then sold to the son - it looks great and run very good
it think it might need rotors and tires
any advice about buyin this car?
they want $8800
the mother bought it originally then sold to the son - it looks great and run very good
it think it might need rotors and tires
any advice about buyin this car?
If I where you I would find someone in your area that really specializes in working on LS1's, you can find someone most likely by posting in the appropriate "regional" forums down at the bottom of the forum list. It is like anything without proper research you could get into a oil burning problem or bad piston slap, etc... It just pays to be careful in such a big purchase.
A good place to find people who are in the know is your local F-Body club. Usually every city in bigger areas has one. Within those clubs you can find some experienced members who know all the problems these cars may have.
8800.00 on the surface sounds like a very good deal for a conv. I would defintely look at it if I where in the market for one. I just don't want anyone to get into a bad situation as I once did on a 96 Cobra.
