? 
LT1 durablity?
Mine was at 114,000 when I bought it, then I drag raced it two years straight everyweekend.. (most sportman race motors are freshenned every season) and the motor spun a few bearings after letting it rev to 7,000 by accident ( I can do it all I want now though ;-) ) but the cylinders still had home marks from the factory in them, as well as EVERY single LT1 Ive ever seen cracked open, and Im always hearing it from people on the internet.
However I would recommend a new set of crank and rod bearings after 120,000 mile (if you plan on racing) or 175,000 for daily driving use. and a new high volume oil pump.
However I would recommend a new set of crank and rod bearings after 120,000 mile (if you plan on racing) or 175,000 for daily driving use. and a new high volume oil pump.
141k here and still running strong. I took the heads off at 132k and as Z28boysteve said, everything looked great. I did replace my oil pump about 5k miles ago but other than that, my LT1 has taken its beatings very well. Its got plenty more coming too. 
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Chitown
Ya i htink the only problem with the lt1's is the oiling system. The motor normally doesnt go unless you rev them to high as z28boysteve demonstrated haha. But the most likely thing to ever go is the bearings. as long as its NA if u go blower or nitrous a lot of stuff can go wrong
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
That all depends on the maintenance of the car. I'm sure everyone here religiously changes oil, most likely runs synthetic, and keeps up on ther issues as well. I had seen LT1's and LT4's at swap meets that were just NASTY. one LT4 had so much carbon build-up under the valve covers that it broke one of the aluminum rockers. Needless to say, I didn't buy it even though he wanted $400 for it. No tellin what happened internally.
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what he said.... 
I revved mine to 6500 all the time on the juice then I realized that the oil started leaking even worse out the timing cover and rear of intake and she let go on the way to work...105000 miles....Then it got bored... after it was bored for a while it got stroked...with all the stroking it got hot so i need to spray it with more nitrous....LOL sorry its 6:36 and I havent gone to bed yet dont mind my analogies
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Mine has over 160,000 miles on it with no problems. The rev limiter was reset at 6900 rpm, and I've banged off it more than a couple times on accident with no issues afterwards. I know several people with even higher mileage mine that run great, its all in proper maintanence.
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Blaine, MN
I've got a question that applies to this thread (sorry for the jack, my man). My LT1 has 98k on it. Should I just add spray to it and know it'll go out one day, or can I pursue my dream of 383 stroker, gm847(?) cam, and supercharger on it? Thanks guys.
Spray it, when I bought my car first thing I did was change the oil and run it at the track that night, the oil that came out looked like tar,, and the car could only muster a 15.80! definitely not taken car of. but still lasted almost two years of drag racing every subsequent weekend.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
its funny with lt1's, it seems to matter if they were built on a monday or not. Some of them are absolute crap with blown headgaskets and constant leaks and what not. Then you have some of them that have been completely raped every day of there existence and the will handle 7000RPM every day up to 200,000 miles. All in all, with my experience with LT-1's, i would say that they are pretty fricken tough!
trav
p.s i have killed for a lt-4, for shame man!
trav
p.s i have killed for a lt-4, for shame man!
J/J Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
I see alot of you are pissed at me for passing up that LT4 but if you all knew me before I went to Korea a few years ago, I would have sold you a brand new set for @ $250 with rocker studs. I had quite few sets and had access to getting more. NOW they are a little harder to come by since they don't make them any more. My wife sold about 6 sets on ebay for, I think the most was $700 and the cheapest @ $350. All brand new in the "bags"
I would pay $200 a set for LT1's and $250 for LT4's. Un fortunately, since the arise of the LS1, my Gen 3 hook ups have diminished.
I would pay $200 a set for LT1's and $250 for LT4's. Un fortunately, since the arise of the LS1, my Gen 3 hook ups have diminished.