Buying a high-mileage LT1..
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,339
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From: NYC metro area
Buying a high-mileage LT1.. Guys, I'm currently looking into a 150k mile convertible, M6 LT1 powered Z28. Usually I'm looking around for the lower-mileage cars to consider, but I'm sure this one has been meticulously maintained since I'm acquainted with the owner.
I only need the car to run in present condition for 2-3 years as a daily driver, after college I'll be building it and replacing pretty much every part of the drivetrain. What do you guys think? Think I should bite on it or no?
I only need the car to run in present condition for 2-3 years as a daily driver, after college I'll be building it and replacing pretty much every part of the drivetrain. What do you guys think? Think I should bite on it or no?
i would find out the maintainence records first. has the clutch been changed yet? what about intake leak? water pump or opti been replaced? burn or use oil?
i would if you know its been maintained and cared for. i only mentioned those repairs because they cost a fair amount of money and time to complete. this could be a factor for you. if the price is right id do it, but i also would keep the fact that it has 150k on it in mind. no reason to beat the snot out of it at the track and expect it not to possibly have problems
a positive for you. i have 130k on my formula ws6 M6. ive put the last 70 on it. it needs a clutch soon and will get it. the water pump and opti were replaced about 60k ago. i have never had the intake leak. i do have a very small timing cover leak. possibly crank sensor. this is not an issue at all for my car. i fixed the pinion seal leak a little while ago. i have no issues with my car. AC compressor is leaking but its slow enough that one can a season works for me. it does not look like it has 130k on it. if its the right car 150k is nothing for these cars. one lady autocrosses her car big time. shes over 300k on the original engine.
i would if you know its been maintained and cared for. i only mentioned those repairs because they cost a fair amount of money and time to complete. this could be a factor for you. if the price is right id do it, but i also would keep the fact that it has 150k on it in mind. no reason to beat the snot out of it at the track and expect it not to possibly have problems
a positive for you. i have 130k on my formula ws6 M6. ive put the last 70 on it. it needs a clutch soon and will get it. the water pump and opti were replaced about 60k ago. i have never had the intake leak. i do have a very small timing cover leak. possibly crank sensor. this is not an issue at all for my car. i fixed the pinion seal leak a little while ago. i have no issues with my car. AC compressor is leaking but its slow enough that one can a season works for me. it does not look like it has 130k on it. if its the right car 150k is nothing for these cars. one lady autocrosses her car big time. shes over 300k on the original engine.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Clarksville,Tn
Got 144,000 on mine and I put every mile on there and I drive it to work everyday during the week then race it like there's no tomorrow every weekend at the track. Well not right now because it's up on jackstands with a broke axle waiting for me to get the 9" done. But that should show you how hard I run it with those miles on it and aint skeered to do it one bit. I have the intake leak, have had it for a while, just too lazy to fix it, it's on the original opti and I put a water pump on it about 3 or 4 years ago. Other than that I've had no trouble whatsoever, doesn't burn a drop of oil. If those 2 or 3 years you'll be driving it does not include racing very much then I wouldn't worry one bit about the miles especially if yer gonna replace everything eventually anyway.
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What year is the car? Also, 150,000 miles on a maintained Lt1 isn't bad at all. Could be just highway miles. There are a lot of cars with 70 or 80,000 miles on them and they have been beat to crap. You can kind of tell by the way the owner looks and how old they are to figure out if it has been beaten the crap out of.
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I'm in the exact same position basically. I'm looking for an LT1 to last me my last 2 years of college.
I'm currently looking at a 125k mile one. It has definitely been maintained well. I think that's more important than miles in many cases.
A car that has 150k miles driven on weekends over a long period or just a few long trips is probably a better deal than an 80k mile one that saw a 150 shot twice a week at the strip.
I'm currently looking at a 125k mile one. It has definitely been maintained well. I think that's more important than miles in many cases.
A car that has 150k miles driven on weekends over a long period or just a few long trips is probably a better deal than an 80k mile one that saw a 150 shot twice a week at the strip.
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my car currently has 102k and runs damn near perfect, except for some squeaky brakes. the car is on its original opti, and i have all the maintaince records. so like stated above, check it out and if its well maintained then it should be good
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,339
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From: NYC metro area
Guys, I think I have misunderstood, the car is actually not a vert but a t-top car.
Either way, I am sure the car has been maintained meticulously. The owner is a madman when it comes to that ****, he might be reading this right now
. But yeah I'm sure it's been maintenanced well, thanks for all your opinions, I will check the car out.
Either way, I am sure the car has been maintained meticulously. The owner is a madman when it comes to that ****, he might be reading this right now
. But yeah I'm sure it's been maintenanced well, thanks for all your opinions, I will check the car out. 
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 195
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From: Upstate NY
I'd defiantly go for it man, 150k is nothin, especially if you ganna be building it a couple years down the road. You cant beat the fun of an m6, after you get rid of that stupid CAGS of course.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 549
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From: St. Peters, MO
147k on mine now and it gets beat the crap out of when I drive it. Things replaced
-clutch
-opti
-water pump
-timing cover/valve cover/oil pan gasket
-head gaskets/heads (thermostat stuck shut kaboom for driver side head)
I use no oil. Current mods in sig, but I am going with a new gm847 cam, 918 springs, 1.6 rr's, lt4 intake, ported t/b, lt's and true duals and am looking for low 12's N/A with no reservation on the stock shortblock. Keep up on the maitenance and let er eat....
-clutch
-opti
-water pump
-timing cover/valve cover/oil pan gasket
-head gaskets/heads (thermostat stuck shut kaboom for driver side head)
I use no oil. Current mods in sig, but I am going with a new gm847 cam, 918 springs, 1.6 rr's, lt4 intake, ported t/b, lt's and true duals and am looking for low 12's N/A with no reservation on the stock shortblock. Keep up on the maitenance and let er eat....
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You have heads on your car and ran a 13.5 a 102? Hmm, I would think with those mods you would be running a little faster than that. Did you run at the track with drag radials or street tires? Also, what was your 60'? I know were not talking about this, but I just noticed your mods and was curious. Also, when you did your TB bypass, did you by another hose, or did you just clamp the hose down?
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 549
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From: St. Peters, MO
Originally Posted by Camaro 0wner
You have heads on your car and ran a 13.5 a 102? Hmm, I would think with those mods you would be running a little faster than that. Did you run at the track with drag radials or street tires? Also, what was your 60'? I know were not talking about this, but I just noticed your mods and was curious. Also, when you did your TB bypass, did you by another hose, or did you just clamp the hose down?
IF the price is right I would definitely hop on that car. Like people have already mentioned; well maintained LT1s will last you a looooooooong time. Hell, there are people that maintain their cars and still beat the **** out of them and are still runnning strong.
My T/A has 120k miles on it. Waterpump was replaced at 112k and clutch at 115k. I am still on original opti (although I think it's days are numbered). I change the oil every 2500 miles with dino oil and still have awesome PSI and the car runs strong. Car has been DAMN reliable to me (knock on wood). Once I get thru school and get a real job I plan on heavily modding this car and will probably never sell it. Just get attached to these cars
I say go for it
My T/A has 120k miles on it. Waterpump was replaced at 112k and clutch at 115k. I am still on original opti (although I think it's days are numbered). I change the oil every 2500 miles with dino oil and still have awesome PSI and the car runs strong. Car has been DAMN reliable to me (knock on wood). Once I get thru school and get a real job I plan on heavily modding this car and will probably never sell it. Just get attached to these cars
I say go for it
Took mine apart at 104,000 miles and cylinders looked new. I know it wasn't maintained well (just guessing) but the only thing I noticed was a little wear on the rod bearings (looked like over-rev to me).