Im looking at this lt1, its got low miles,33k or so, its a 97, but my friends saying i should get a ls1. The thing is that im on a budget and i dont really wanna spend more than 9k. Its hard to find an ls1 with 50k miles or so for under 9k. I believe this 97 has 285hp, but thats underated right? whats the difference between the two motors.

 

I'm assuming since mileage is an issue that you're not wanting to rebuild the engine, for a bolt on car the LS1 would probably be better, it will make more power with the typical bolt ons than an LT1 car. If you're willing to go into the engine I don't think it matters which platform you get because anything can make power with the right parts. The main advantage the LS1 has is head design and a more aggressive cam from the factory. An LT1 with better heads and cam will make more power than a stock LS1 and still be cheaper.

 

First off, welcome to the board!

Funny you should start off asking "LT1 or LS1" ..... that was my first question on here too!!

OK, there "may" be a chance I'm a little biased towards the LS1, but if you're seriously looking at getting a '97, I think it would be worth your while to cough up the extra few coins and get your hands on a '98+ LS1. I'm NOT KNOCKING the LT1, it's a great motor, BUT, the LS1 has several new features that put the LT1 to shame, for instance the heads and the ignition system to start with. As well it has other advantages such as being a little friendlier to work on in the tight engine bay of 4th-gen F-bodies. To change the air intake to an aftermarket is a breeze compared to the LT1 elbow and cone type filters (and it's simply a more "efficient" intake as well). While I haven't done headers on my car yet, I've heard LS1's are easier to install than LT1's (I know it was a b!tch getting the headers into my buddy's '96 TA ).

AND, as far as POWER is concerned, LT1's need some serious bolt-ons just to catch up to LS1's, but equally modded LS1's are still further ahead again. Just a simple cam swap and headers on an LS1, and they're pumping out well over 400 HP ... LT1's need more to get there.

Like I said, maybe I'm just being a little biased, but I have 4 friends who all have LT1's, 3 out of 4 are modded, yet the quickest one of the bunch is actually the stock '97 Z28 M6! He ran 13.75 @ 100 (great driver though). But the guy who has spent the most $$$ in mods is still only running ~14.5 @ 96, and I've hit 13.0 @ 107 and that was just with 4.10's in my car, nothing else. I think the LS1 is a great platform to work with, and even in stock trim is still faster than most "fast" cars on the road. And since they've been out for quite a few years now, parts are finally beginning to get a little cheaper to buy as well.

Best of luck with whichever car you decide to get.

 

Yeah its brain racking trying to find a nice car to buy. Espicially if you won't settle for anything less than exactly what you want.. I've been combing autotraders and differn't used car websites for months, and have only seen maybe a few deals that come close to what i want. a black 98-99 FB/TA or z28. I've learned from watching my friends to never buy the first thing you see, because you always regret it when a better deal comes along. Thanks for the help guys, i guess it makes sense to buy the motor with the more hp already than having to bolt on just to catch up to it.

 

If you have to make a decision, get the LS1! And I'm not biased.

 

I'm still deciding on whether to get a 6 speed or an auto. I've never driven a manual, so i kind wanna try it, plus they look more fun.

 

Yeah but for manual's you gatta watch for that annoying Skip Shift Feature in LS1's... I THINK only SS's came with it but I'm not totally sure...

 

another vote for the ls1, not knocking the lt1, but se several complaints about optispark. not saying ls1 doesnt have its bugs too. gm is still using the ls platform, maybe ltx parts will be harder to find in the long road.

 

LT1 6-spds got the skip shift as well, not sure what year it started, though. It's an easy fix, and most of us have done it via a homemade circuit, the $30 SLP piece, or a PCM re-program.

You can have fun with both LT1's and LS1's, and make both wickedly fast. I think it's more of a choice between bodystyles. LT1's are slower stock, but are cheaper to buy, which leaves more money for mods. It really comes down to what's available and how much you want to spend. Both are a good choice.

 

long live the opti! I love my LT1, but if you gonna buy a 97, just go ls1. If it was like a 94-95 I'd say go for the lt1. I got my 95 cheap and modded just about everything.

 

This is what i was looking at on Ebay, It's defiently not worth the buy it now price, but if the reserve is around 8k, it might be worth it. I'm not really sure what you should pay for a 97-99 w/ low miles
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

 

Dont get me wrong, I love my car, but if my budget was a little better in the past I would have opted for an LS1 based f-body. The cheapest I could find were those that were in the 8 or 9 thousand range but they had quite a few miles on them and were driven through the Chicago winters as evident by the rusty undercarriages.

 

LT1s don't sound like ***



If you want a fast car, you really can't go wrong with either. If you want to make it faster easier, then the LS1 is a good choice. If you like customizing the hell out of stuff, then chances are bolting on a set of heads to an LT1 won't bother you.

You really can't go wrong, I like my LT1

 

Here is why I like my LT1, I got mine for 5,500 with barley 100k on it, new tranny, brake master cylider, pads and rotors (come to find out dealer pards are crap), and a few other things I am forgeting, oh and a brand new bra.

Car came with 2.73's NICE cloth interior and I could not complain about the paint.

Drove it near stock for the first season and got like 23mpg. Ran a few 04 GT and beat them (hmmm not bad for a stock LT1). Also found out it had super thick dealer oil in it and I put in Mobil one 15W-50. Car ran smother and reved faster. Ran a few near stock LS1 cars and lost by about a car. Tore into it that winter. Found a 20k mile 3.42 auburn posi rear with red line oil and LCA brackets for like $400, threw it in, good plugs, wires, tuning, cat back, weight mods, suspension ect ect, ran at the track on openining night and with three runs got the car almost into the wall and still traped at 100MPH and if I was not scared of destroying the car would have busted 13's. Not bad for about 6,400 or so total in the car.
Not I have long tubes and Mickey Thompsons about to go on the car and that should drop my horible 2.4 60 time.
Also found a barley used very cheap NX kit and am going to spray 150 into the car. So for about 7k total in the car including vehicle cost I MIGHT get lucky and run an 11.9 on a prep night and spraying.

A nice LS1 is going to cost about 12k stock..... thats 5k more then what I spend total for a stock car that could run a 13.1. I would rather start out running a few tenths slower and save 5k.

5k would also get you a pretty nice heads and cam package

 

I own both, and it really depends. Stock for stock, the LT1 is a little stronger on the low end, and is a blast to race from light to light. The LS1, however, owns the LT1 from around 3500-4000 RPM and on. The LT1 is IMO more cramped and harder to work on, but are overall a great motor. They are very durable. LT1 f-bods are getting rare, and will always have a place in my heart, but I would have to say the LS1 is simply a better choice overal. I like the air intake setup on the LS1 much better too, like was said before, and I like not having an optispark, and a leaking intake manifold.