My trusty LT1 just hit 120k. I got her since 65k, I babied her since. My buddy's are finally starting to get fbody's, so know I have the modding bug. So far I have a couple of bolt ons, but now I want to go internal. Is my engine too old to do internal mods? I'm thinking maybe a LE2 package. Should I rebuild or just freshen up the engine? Thanks

 

if you put heads and cam in it, you may as well disassemble it and ream it out to 355 and put forged parts in *if you can afford too*. but i think you would probably be fine just to slap heads and cam on it. 120K is nothing. you have a lot of life left. nice car btw.

 

Re-build it, get some Forged internals, and you will be money. It's not that hard to do, real simple.

 

I took one apart with 90k miles, and another with 102k miles. Both looked very good. Your is probably good too. My local police department back in PA had a few B bodies with LT1s with over 250k on the original longblocks, and they didnt get the best maintenance or treatment.

 

If it's been taken care of, you're more than likely OK.

 

your golden. They got a chi-town car that was a lt1 running a 300 shot on it for 3 years. They can take some abuse

 

ya the main thing you want to look at is the cam bearings especially the front since it takes a lot of load if they look good then you will be good with just H/c i would do a compression test though before i removed the heads just for insurance

 

I'm definitely considering a rebuild. I don't want to have the car down yet since summer is coming up, I'm thinking a mild cam to get me through the summer, and a rebuild come winter time. What cam do you guys recommend that would make OK power, and still play nice with my stock internals. I'm willing to change springs, rockers,timing chain..etc.. Thanks again

 

i hit 150k and im starting to mod it now that i know what i want out of it.

theres some LT1s that have been torn down at 150+k and you can still see the honing marks from the factory still in the cylinders. im gonna H/C mine even with 180k on it. its been well taken care of. if youre not planning on FI or anything bigger than a 150 of squeeze then you dont need forged parts. if you can afford it, go for it.

the forged 355 idea is what mine is gonna turn into when i tear it down when she finally lets go.

 

Throw some nitrous on it. I am running a 125 shot on my 135k mile LT1 with no problems. Ive got another motor at home I am rebuilding, it had 140k on it, I opened it up, and you cold still see the original cross hatching from the factory in 94. Its gonna be my h/c/spray motor I am putting in my car.

 

These LT1s are never too old to mod! I've seen many over 200,000 mile LT1s at the track making lots of power, good runs... some modded others stock, but the fun factor is there!

 

at a 120k with my old lt1 was when i actually began to do mods to it i think u will be fine

 

any good cam recommendations, something that makes ok power, but is friendly with my stock internals.

 

You are going to need to upgrade the Valve Springs regardless with any Cam.

 

I am new to this website but have been around the other forums, I would recomend the hotcam kit, its a great kit for the money since you are only planning keeping the cam untill winter.....just my 02

 

It's a nice little kit, but the Springs are maxed out. I have it in my car and it hauls some ***, but I would put better springs in it if I did it again.

 

This is a 100k mile motor that I picked up for $100. It has no cylinder wall scratches and no cylinder taper. Extremly clean bearings, looking to build a 355 with stock crank and high compression pistons

 

Looks like the Corvette 4-Bolt one that I got, 140k and still had factory marks in the Cylinder walls.

 

At 120k, just don't get a HUGE cam... otherwise you can kiss your cam bearings good bye. But I wouldn't see a problem with something like the hotcams or a cc305/503.