I am thinking about getting rid of one of the LT1 cars and getting a LS1 car. What should I look for in a Used LS1 car, what are common problems...
Thanks!

 

Yes, piston slap is common. I personally don't even see what the big deal is. Once the car warms up it is gone (at least in my case). As far as the oil issue is concerned, a small number of LS1's will consume some oil, not leak it. According to GM, this is perfectly normal up to a certain amount. Not sure what that is. Mine doesn't seem to burn any though. Good luck finding an LS1.

 

And not all cars have the piston slap, so if you are lucky enough, you'll find one of them. Just like I did even though I wasn't even looking for one.

Oil consumption, warping rotors and rear pinion seal leak are pretty much the only mechanical issues.

Happy hunting!

TS

 

Yeah i got one and don't hear the piston slap?? I don't know what it sounds like but i don't hear anything strange. Only problem is rotors But they can be replaced easy enough

 

My oil pan had to be replaced due to a manufactures defect. Some LS1s were/are prone to warpage. Mine did leak. It was replaced on a warrenty and service bulletin. Rotor warped, fuel sender had to be replaced, diff leaks, only got worse once they tried to fix it. Still goes really fast though so it is all good.

 

Like others have said, piston slap (which sounds like an annoying metal knock from under the hood) and increased oil consumption are the big downers. The piston noise goes away as the engine warms up and is gone within a few minutes of driving. The whole point of the knock is that the pistons have a loose fit tolerance in the cylinder for heat expansion. This also lends to the increased oil consumption, as the rings aren't scraping the cylinder walls as efficiently until the engine warms. This translates to around 1/2 to 1 quart of oil "consumed in an average of 3K miles. It's not like you're putting in a quart every week The valvetrain of the LS1 is a lot noisier than the LT1. Not sure why, but you can really hear everything whirring and tapping under the valve covers. It's not a reliablility issue though. The comments about bent pushrods come from overrevving the engine way beyond the 6K redline due to a missed shift. That will wreak havoc on any engine. The LT1 does seem a little more resilient to abuse in this respect, though.

Warped rotors and leaking pinions are just as common on LT1's. Heck, the car will eat power window motors as well.

Hope this helps.

Schantin
2002 Camaro Z28 M6

 

no piston slap here but the rear end is noisy and my trans went out at 34,500 miles

 

Do the LS6 blocks have the piston slap (non)problem?

 

earlier LS1 clutches, piston slap and oil consumption