88IrocTPI

hey guys,
i have been thinking about buying a 94-97 Z28 and i was wondering how reliable LT1's are. And when doing routine maintenance like tune ups and stuff like that, are they easy to work on and get around the engine bay. thanx guys

TexasLT1

Reliability is good untill you start modding it. I bought the engine in mine used with 30K miles on it. at about 35K miles it overheated pretty bad from a blown head gasket. Thought everything was cool, replaced the oil, kept going. About 10K miles later it started knocking, had to replace the bearings. Havent had any other major problems.

Maintenance, on the other hand, is a complete and total pain the rear. You think changing the spark plugs is bad on a thridgen, it took two of us about 4 hours to change the ones on a '95, and we almost didnt get one of them changed and a wrench was close to becoming a permanent fixture to the car. the engine compartments are very tight, I cant imagine it with headers. It all just depends on what you plan on doing with the car. good luck whatever you decide.

rickyzZ28

iTrader: (4)

I have SLP headrs on mine LT1 and can have all 8 plugs out in under 20 minutes. Mine do not have emissions which probably does help. I think reliability wise this is the greatest thing I have done. I know my motor will last for a long time. My advice to you is to take your time and do it right, you dont want to be redoing things later.

TexasLT1

yeah, thats with an LT1 in a 3rd gen, not nearly as cramped as the engine bay of a 4th gen. I think that is what he meant, if I read it correctly.

rickyzZ28

iTrader: (4)

You are right texaslt1 I wen back and read it again and now realize what he was talking about.

elevario

So the engine bay in a thirdgen with the Lt1 isn't as cramped as the bay in a 4th gen? Because when we changed the plugs in my friends 95 z28, it was the worst experiance I have had working on cars! I seriously suggest putting the car on ramps and getting the plugs from underneath the car. Oh, I've heard many stories of LT1's gettin well past the 200000 mile mark on an original engine.

TexasLT1

with the LT1, the engine bay of the 3rd gens is the same with any other small block, nothing really changes. the placement of the accessories is a little different, but other than that is basically the same. The engine bay of the 4th gen I think was designed by a friggen monkey or something, its the stupidest thing I've ever seen. I think all automotive engineers should be required by law to spend atleast 2 years out in the field to get hands on experience before they are even allowed to touch a piece of paper. then some of the **** we are beginning to see wouldnt happen. but thats just me.

oh yeah, and I absolutely believe the 200K miles thing. I've got about 60K miles on my engine, 30K I've put on, and those have been some hard *** miles. When I replaced the heads, you could still see the hone marks in the cylinders from when it was made. these things are built tough as **** these days.

Mark W. Winning

I just pulled apart a used LT1 with 140K on the clock. The cylinders still showed a cross hatch and did not have any sort of ridge in the bore. I was impressed.

Mark

86IROCNJ

My friend was changing some plugs and wires for a supercharged LT1, it took them 9 hrs! Sure they stoped inbetween, but they said it was one of the worst times they have ever had on a car! Oh yeah, it was in a 4th gen! No room at all, just look at them! You can do it yourself, it is just a pita. good luck with whatever car you get!

88IrocTPI

thanx alot guys,
i think what im gonna do is just swap a 350 crate in my car, from what you guys are tellin me about the LT1 being such a pain in the *** to work on, i want the room that i have in my 3rd gen.



thanx again guys

TexasLT1

its not the engine that makes it a pain in the *** to work on, its just like any other 350, its the car that is the problem. I love the engine, I just think they could have made better decisions with the car.

86IROCNJ

From the sound of the first post, it seemed like you were buying a 4th gen! That's why we answered as we did. If yo look at the 4th gens the motors in them are cramped! The firewall and fenders are right on top of the motors!