Are LT1s reliable?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 42
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From: Nunyabidness, USA
Are LT1s reliable? Im not sure if this is the right thread, but can anybody tell me how reliable an LT1 Trans Am is. Im wondering because there is a 96 silver WS6 for sale, but it has 99k but it looks like it is in good condition. It has a loudmouth exhaust so im suspicious it was driven hard. I know theres nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to know how a LT1 would hold up at 100K after people drive it hard. 
Yes they are but like anything else it has weak points. The big one is the optispark distributer which is very tempermental. Outside of that it is as reliable as any other modern SBC.
I suggest you do a search on optispark and you will find plenty of information.
I suggest you do a search on optispark and you will find plenty of information.
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 268
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From: South Jersey
At 100k..... water pump and opti-spark are the first to go. Than window motors. I'd find one in the 50k mile range. You'd prolly pay 6-7 grand, it'll save you all the money for future repairs on something high milage.
Originally Posted by Ironxcross
they're fairly solid cars besides the optispark issue. people have had them go to 250k+ and still running decent times (some of them even spraying 150 shots).
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On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 126
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From: Novi, MI
I can't say my car was reliable when I first bought it, I think this was mainly due to the previous owner. If you decided to go with it make sure have like $3k in slush money should something go wrong with the car. Despite a few short falls I would without even hesitating by my firebird again.
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Originally Posted by Lightemup08
It has a loudmouth exhaust so im suspicious it was driven hard..
Here's a way to tell if the car has seen its share of the heavy pedal:
-curb rash worse on rear wheels
-rips in seat, cracks in dash,
-several imperfections in the paint
-Car feels 'loose' 'when you drive it
-rearend/suspension has a couple sqeaks/noises
My car has a small bird when I hit a nice bump, and a little itty bitty noise from the hatch, but its still a very solid tight car, and it wasn't hard to tell.
These cars loosen up pretty easy, one bad owner can be the end, but they are made for some fun and can handle plenty of beatin-on.
99K is not alot of miles for a 1996.
i think they are good, my problem i had with both mine was coolant problems, leaking on my old v6 and now i had to get a new water pump on my 96/ ta other than that its good. i don't like how they run hot though. 96 and 97 were bad years if you idle a lot it can heat up cause the fans kick on really late. i got a manual fan switch so i cna turn it on erlier.
I bought my 95 with 106k on the clock and at 120k now and the only thing wrong is the tranny is going out cause I drive it hard and it gets HOT out here. Always reliable for me (knock on wood).
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 75
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From: detroit
go 4 it generly it is less expensive to buy, mod & maintain a lt1 with the x-ception of the opti, ls1 tend to need alernators more often, they bolth have weak rear ends so ether will benifit from a gurdle,if the price sounds resonable, Im biased twards the ltx 2nd gen, bang 4 bux, sbc heritage, sound, lsx also has some nice points,we are on the LS1 forum so xpect alot of votes for the gen 3 
well they used them as Cop car engines.... I have a 94 caprice with 258,000 and no problems... had 180,000 when I got it from the police aucton... driven hard put away wet.. no problems...
but remember it is just like everything even if it is babied **** breaks/fails. it happens to everything mechanical..
but remember it is just like everything even if it is babied **** breaks/fails. it happens to everything mechanical..
ill put it like this, i got 190K out of mine with me driving the **** out of it every single day, and even at 190K it still ran perfect. i just couldn't wait any longer for the 383.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,230
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From: Lexington,MO
I have a 170,000 miles on my car. I have had a new head gasket,starter,and opti,since I bought the car three years ago when it had 130,000 on it. The car also sit for a year before I got it.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
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From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
Wifes car has 157K miles on it. Wins bracket races all the time running 13.0 flat all day long.
Besides the cam, valve train and bolt on's it is bone stock.
Have replaced the opti at 78k miles and the water pump when we did the cam at 130k miles. A fuel pump at 98K. I did the trans at 120k miles. It was not dead yet but starting to make noise. Added a 2,600 stall when I did
Over all if you ask my wife it is the most dependable car she has ever owned
Besides the cam, valve train and bolt on's it is bone stock.
Have replaced the opti at 78k miles and the water pump when we did the cam at 130k miles. A fuel pump at 98K. I did the trans at 120k miles. It was not dead yet but starting to make noise. Added a 2,600 stall when I did
Over all if you ask my wife it is the most dependable car she has ever owned