Well someone has offered me 12K for my truck in my sig, and Im kinda looking at getting something different that will be a (LITTLE) bit better on gas. My main choice is an F-body perferably a Firebird/Trans-am. I know the LSX based engines are very reliable even well past 120,000 miles (like mine in my truck). Anyways around here its very very hard to find a 98-01 F-body ls1 for under 20K (canada sucks for this) so my only choice that fits my budget is an older LT1, theres several around here well within my price range but all are right around 120,000 miles on the odo, should I be worried if I get one of these? Or just maintain it well with good fluids and drive it and have fun?

All input apreciated

 

120,000 is not too high if they have been maintained well.

most lt1s if taken care of seem to last at least till around 150k or more before needing a rebuild.

 

If you were to pick one out id get one that is almost 100% stock so you know it hasnt been abused real bad, but any fbody has seen redline a couple times.

 

couple is an understatement. its the nature of the car. its fast and sporty.

 

well the the trans-am Im looking at getting right now is 3000 bucks ( they sell for alot more in Canada) and from what the guy said is bone stock, I might drop a 6.0 in it in the future so Im not concerned about the motor lasting forever. So should I go for it for that price? All it needs is a fuel pump as far as I know

 

That price actually seems on the cheap side of things.

 

yeah, that isn't too bad of a deal at all. . .

 

I beg the differ, I have 163K and you would never know it! Runs like a top, excellent oil pressure, and doesn't leak or burn oil. But then again it all depends who you buy your car from. I've seen several LT1s with over 200K and still run good.

 

I owned a 94 9C1 with 225K miles with the original engine just newer gaskets and opti. Ran great, was fast as a 94 Z28 I had at the same time. The 9C1 had been abused its whole life I am sure. I bought it because this guy street raced it often and I saw it with a for sale sign once. It also beat an SRT 4 a couple times with the previous owner, ran great with 225K miles and no smoke. First owned by cops, then street racer, then me who abused it and made its tranny fail

 

I agree, mine has 157K & runs like it has 57K, well maintanced, 100K of it was prure highway miles, Synthetic oil for the last 100K also, it kicks AZZ.

 

And as far as how many miles is to many....replace as many gaskets/sensors as you can until the engine blows thick smoke out the exhaust and THEN rebuild the short block or buy another used one and take it another 200+K miles/you blow it up...which ever comes first

 

it all depends... My gf's mother's suburban has over 500k and it still runs damn good. Just an old 350...

-Rick

 

ok so Im not very worried about the mileage anymore, so when/if I go get this car, considering it needs a new fuel pump, how am I suppose to know if it runs and drives good if I cant drive it?

 

yeah I said "at least" lol, meaning very few should have problems before then. Sure some can last a lot longer.

 

you dont lol. not to scare you outa it, but i bought my z for 2500 bucks its was blown up, but had spotless leather interior and the exterior looked very good, it had a bra on it, the guy promised me the tranny was good, rear end etc drove great...well i tore the tranny apart just to check it over, it was trashed, the suspension was completely shot, and when i took the bra off the bumber cover was broke to hell, then to find out it was ditched and i had to put it on a frame machine, and 2 wheel bearing were shot...thats just a small list...BUT it LOOKED GREAT lol

o well i still have a nice car IMO for what i have in it.

 

ive seen a 97 trans am with 220,000 miles on it and the only thing needed to be replaced on it was the intake manifold gaskets. ran like a champ..you would never have known it had 220K on it.

 

you guys with the 160k and up motors do yall ever get on them or do you baby them all the time?

 

180,xxx miles on mine. Runs like it's brand new and I beat the hell out of it every day.

 

I've only got 43 000 km, original everything and I'm gonna tear the engine a part next winter. Makes me thnk I shouldn't build the 396 just let it be, lots of life still......Yeah still gonna do it!