LS1 Reliability
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 196
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From: Louisville, KY / Memphis, TN
LS1 Reliability I am going to be getting a new car sometime soon, and all I can think about is a WS6. I have never owned an American Car, just import turbos, I am a little hesitant because of reliability issues. This car would be my daily driver, but since I am in college it won't be driven everyday. I also need this car to last, I am thinking about getting a 2001 WS6 w/ M6 and less than 30k miles. How reliable will this car be?
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 857
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From: Orlando
As long as we understand that there are lemons in all varieties of cars, I'll say this: This is my third F-body. I had a 1989 IROC and traded it with 85K. I had a 1993 Z28...traded it with almost 90K and currently have 61K on my 1999. If properly maintained and cared for, they'll last a long, long time. Play nice with it and you'll be rewarded.
Administrator
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 45,841
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From: Earth
I had over 50,000 miles on my LS1 and I ran endless bottles of nitrous though it...150 shot too. I never had a single problem. I switched fluids often and do the necessary preventative maintenance. It will last a very long time.
The myth about crappy american cars is over. Every genre of cars had it's bad time but it's normal. The LS1 is very reliable and durable. There are people on this site who add heads/cam to a LS1 with over 100,000 miles and have no problems at all.
I have an 1999 Camaro with 53,000 miles. So far the only thing I have had to do was get a little rust of the brake slider thing (allows the pads to move side to side with the rotor). It got a little sticky.
The cars are nice.
I have an 1999 Camaro with 53,000 miles. So far the only thing I have had to do was get a little rust of the brake slider thing (allows the pads to move side to side with the rotor). It got a little sticky.
The cars are nice.
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Almost 90K miles and I can't complain. The only things i've done were the brakes. Gonna be looking at a new clutch and master cylinder pretty soon as well. Everything else is fine *knock on wood*. Just take care of it with preventative maintenance like everyone else said, and you'll wonder why you waited so long.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,655
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From: Northern Va
imrunning a 100 shot dry through my motor, 2 15 lb bottles a week, for a few months now, notta problem, just keep up with maintence (as with any car) and these things will treat you well.
get the ws6 take a step into manhood, and put away that boy toy honda
good luck and happy
get the ws6 take a step into manhood, and put away that boy toy honda
good luck and happy
Originally Posted by onebadz
Key to having a reliable LS1 is keeping the vehicle maintence up to date, as long as you keep good fluids(oil,tranny,rear...etc) your car will be very reliable.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 257
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From: Fort Carson, CO
When my 98' T/A went bye bye (wreck) it had almost 80k and the only problem i ever had was that i had to replace the seal from the drive shaft to the rear end(i forget what its called). It ran like a champ. Stop playing with toys and start running with the big boys!
TECH Veteran
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 3
From: NW Houston
I never had any problems, until I started taking it over 150MPH for extended periods of time on the autobahn.. I now seriously recognize the harm that this can cause, and am severely paying for it right now. 
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 165
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From: NJ
Originally Posted by ELS1
87723 miles and no problems AT ALL...well except for warped rotors and squeeky belt...but i changed em out 
Like everyone, just do regular maintance and the car will last for a while...
Like everyone, just do regular maintance and the car will last for a while...
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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I've never thought American cars were unreliable.
I've had a huge assortment of american cars that have lasted tons of miles:
89 Plymouth Sundance 250k+
91 Merc Cougar 170k+
92 Pontiac Bonneville 190k+ (still own)
91 S10 210k+ (still own)
72 Chevy K5 Blazer 190k+ (still own)
87 Chevy K5 Blazer 220k+
88 Chevy C10 Pickup 200k+
Unless noted that I still own the car, the mileages noted were when I sold them, still running fine of course.
Some of them needed parts here and there, but a water pump or power steering pump or alternator for a chevy truck is dirt cheap.
To me, a 30 year old pickup truck being regularly beat (first and foremost I'm into 4x4's) every summer to me is unreal. The tranny was rebuilt, but everything else is stock and still together, right down to the dinky 2bbl rochester carb, which will be making way for a Q-jet and a 4bbl manifold in the springtime.
The truck is 31 year's old for ****'s sake! The rear bed was rusted through, but I corrected that (with a sawzall) and am in the process of making a buggy out of it. I've also got a spare 350 (picked up for $100) just in case the original pistons get the desire to see daylight.
In my opinion, that's reliable.
ramble ramble ramble
The only car I've owned that wasn't reliable was a mercury capri that was given to me (it's really a mazda something). Go figure.
I've had a huge assortment of american cars that have lasted tons of miles:
89 Plymouth Sundance 250k+
91 Merc Cougar 170k+
92 Pontiac Bonneville 190k+ (still own)
91 S10 210k+ (still own)
72 Chevy K5 Blazer 190k+ (still own)
87 Chevy K5 Blazer 220k+
88 Chevy C10 Pickup 200k+
Unless noted that I still own the car, the mileages noted were when I sold them, still running fine of course.
Some of them needed parts here and there, but a water pump or power steering pump or alternator for a chevy truck is dirt cheap.
To me, a 30 year old pickup truck being regularly beat (first and foremost I'm into 4x4's) every summer to me is unreal. The tranny was rebuilt, but everything else is stock and still together, right down to the dinky 2bbl rochester carb, which will be making way for a Q-jet and a 4bbl manifold in the springtime.
The truck is 31 year's old for ****'s sake! The rear bed was rusted through, but I corrected that (with a sawzall) and am in the process of making a buggy out of it. I've also got a spare 350 (picked up for $100) just in case the original pistons get the desire to see daylight.
In my opinion, that's reliable.
ramble ramble ramble
The only car I've owned that wasn't reliable was a mercury capri that was given to me (it's really a mazda something). Go figure.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 187
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i think i got a lemon...i got my SS with a little over 22,000 on the odometer...had it about a month or so and noticed a bad ticking....brought it to the local chevy dealer..what was supposed to be an over night pushrod replacement turned into the entire upper half being replaced...lifter collapsed and destroyed the cam...bent a few pushrods etc...they had the car for over a month...get it back....cruisin about 80 on the highway cruise control on..shut it off...go to turn it back on...wont go on...then the service engine light comes on....brought back in to replace knock sensors...o2 sensors anddddddd the secondary air pump so all in all been reall interesting with the car...but i still love it to death wouldn't trade it for anything in the world...