lol use sentences and less capitals there man. Sound like your so excited ya don't take a breath.... 
Thinking of buying a high mileage LT1
Thinking of buying a high mileage LT1 I found a dirt cheap 97 camaro with 134K that I'm thinking about getting. I have a reliable daily driver, so I just want a tinker toy to play with until I get my new 09 camaro in a couple years.
What are some things I should look out for when buying a hi mileage car? I know that optispark can be a pain sometimes, but summit has cheap replacement units. It seems to me that head gaskets blow on LT1 cars with hi miles pretty often. What other stuff should I look out for?
If I get it, I might put new head gaskets in it just for cheap insurance. After that, I'll prolly just install headers and have fun until it blows up or I sell it.
What are some things I should look out for when buying a hi mileage car? I know that optispark can be a pain sometimes, but summit has cheap replacement units. It seems to me that head gaskets blow on LT1 cars with hi miles pretty often. What other stuff should I look out for?
If I get it, I might put new head gaskets in it just for cheap insurance. After that, I'll prolly just install headers and have fun until it blows up or I sell it.
yeah they are pretty reliable in themselves. They can have little things go out and can be frustrating but if you don't mind tinkering, they are good cars. I like to work on mine. I get frustrated with stupid stuff but in the end it's ok with me as i LOVE my car
The opti isn't that hard. i've done it twice in 2 months because i went cheap the first time. Got a new GM unit and been good. I've read or the headgaskets but they aren't all that hard to change i've heard.
The opti isn't that hard. i've done it twice in 2 months because i went cheap the first time. Got a new GM unit and been good. I've read or the headgaskets but they aren't all that hard to change i've heard. mine had an arcing plug wire problem and the opti harness went bad and caused it to not start in the morning. put in Accell 300+ plug wires with Accell plug wire sleeves in and NO MORE arcing. The Opti harness should have been replaced when i put the first new opti in but i got dumb. Let the old stocker in. Then when the new opti case cracked i replaced with the GM one and then the starting problem. Changed out the harness for the opti and boom, started right up. The connector was all dirty and bent up. Runs great now
. The Opti harness should have been replaced when i put the first new opti in but i got dumb. Let the old stocker in. Then when the new opti case cracked i replaced with the GM one and then the starting problem. Changed out the harness for the opti and boom, started right up. The connector was all dirty and bent up. Runs great now A high-mileage LT1 is 200k+. 130-something is just barely broken in. 
Really though, if it runs strong and drives fine, you shouldn't run into too many problems. I don't notice any more head gaskets going in LT1s than any other engine. That normally happens from overheating. Don't let it overheat, and you'll be fine. Higher mileage LT1s have a tendency to spin a bearing when hit with a cam/head combo. I'm not sure what you want to do to it, but if doing anything crazy, just rebuild it.
Really though, if it runs strong and drives fine, you shouldn't run into too many problems. I don't notice any more head gaskets going in LT1s than any other engine. That normally happens from overheating. Don't let it overheat, and you'll be fine. Higher mileage LT1s have a tendency to spin a bearing when hit with a cam/head combo. I'm not sure what you want to do to it, but if doing anything crazy, just rebuild it.
Originally Posted by Rowdy94
A high-mileage LT1 is 200k+. 130-something is just barely broken in.
Really though, if it runs strong and drives fine, you shouldn't run into too many problems. I don't notice any more head gaskets going in LT1s than any other engine. That normally happens from overheating. Don't let it overheat, and you'll be fine. Higher mileage LT1s have a tendency to spin a bearing when hit with a cam/head combo. I'm not sure what you want to do to it, but if doing anything crazy, just rebuild it.
Really though, if it runs strong and drives fine, you shouldn't run into too many problems. I don't notice any more head gaskets going in LT1s than any other engine. That normally happens from overheating. Don't let it overheat, and you'll be fine. Higher mileage LT1s have a tendency to spin a bearing when hit with a cam/head combo. I'm not sure what you want to do to it, but if doing anything crazy, just rebuild it.
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: ALWAYS ON THE RUN
My Bother Bought A 96 Camaro For 3k With 150k Miles Runs Hard And Just Put On Pacesetter Headers And A Entire Magnaflow Exhaust Sounds Good And He Put A $40 B&m Shift Kit By A Flip Of A Switch I Also Put That In My T/a Hits Hard And He Also Did A Intake Gasket When He Got The Car Since It Was Leakin Oil.also He Put In Msd Wires And Tune Up And Manual Electric Fan Switch He Made After Looking At Mine I Just Bought Brand New For $70.00. He Now Makes Them For People And Sells Them For $40.00 Pretty Cool
But Runs Mean And Sounds Mean.i'd Go For It
But Runs Mean And Sounds Mean.i'd Go For It
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Brett Foote
I can say from personal experience that they can can take ALOT of abuse. mine says 17x,xxx on the clock. although i just had a new motor put in, but the old one was still running fine.
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
before i got my trans am i had a 95 z28 6speed that i bought with 180,000 on it.it had 206,000 on it and still ran awsome when i got rid of it.never used a drop of oil between changes or left me stranded on the road.i drove it once a week to B'ham from Huntsville,AL which is about 140 miles.It got about 28-30 mpg on the intersate.i was the second owner of the car,it was very well taken care of by the perivous owner and me too.
Mine just turned 130,000. I am the 2nd owner. Uses no oil, and runs good pressure. Runs a 14.1 with just a CAI and Muffler. They are pretty reliable motors if maintained properly.
Originally Posted by UA-Plumber
Mine just turned 130,000. I am the 2nd owner. Uses no oil, and runs good pressure. Runs a 14.1 with just a CAI and Muffler. They are pretty reliable motors if maintained properly.
Good luck
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
I bought mine with 223,000 miles. It ran great with the common problems (leaking intake, leaking pinoin seal,ect). I lost a water pump at about 224,000 (only driven here and there - not everyday) and ended up blowing both head gaskets and warped one of the heads. I don't blame the car or the person who sold it to me.
Several of the people who have posted above are 100% correct, if the car was maintained well, you will only have to tinker with it and deal with the normal issues.
Get the car - mod the hell out of it and enjoy it until it is time to get the new one.
Several of the people who have posted above are 100% correct, if the car was maintained well, you will only have to tinker with it and deal with the normal issues.
Get the car - mod the hell out of it and enjoy it until it is time to get the new one.
