I just bought a 2001 Z28 today with the LS1 and the guy I bought it from said the oil light is on,on the dash.Has a brand new oil pressure sending unit.Had it brought down to my cousin Todd's shop and he does LS1s.He checked it out and said it is inside,did hook up his oil pressure gauge and there is not much oil pressure.No,I did not drive it down knowing more damage will happen and it was hauled by trailer.It has been maintained very well with regular oil changes.The guy I bought it from said he bought for his 16 year old son for his first car which was a huge mistake.His son was not too happy,3 speeding tickets with it and was way too hard on it.His son stood in front when it was put on the trailer protesting and I did get him off.I just may have the whole engine rebuilt,has 120,000 miles on it and paid $6,000.00 for it.The car is in great shape with no rust.It is the oil light that is on which is the only problem with it

 

before you rebuild the engine, you could try replacing the oil pump. ive heard of those going bad.

 

I thought that the oil light strictly meant low oil. What did the dash gauge say?

-Geoff

 

It was the oil pump because of the screen in the oil pick up tube was clogged right up with sludge.I was talked out of rebuilding the engine and do this repair instead.Has oil pressure now.Had some sludge in the pan too which was throughly cleaned out and was finished up today.Did pour in fresh oil and install a new oil filter.The pick up tube was replaced too including the oil pump.Hopefully to drive it tommorrow to work.Gauge read Zero

 

the gauge can malfunction. i wouldnt bet an engine on it, but it can happen. almost half the time, mine gets stuck at 50psi when i turn off the engine, lol

 

The oil gauge works,it was checked out and worked.It has almost 80,000 miles on it.Plus the oil filter was never changed during the oil changes,was caked up with sludge too.

 

Honestly, it sounds like the guy never changed the oil in the car. If there is sludge in your filter and elsewhere, I can almost guarantee that there is sludge inside of the engine as well. The only way to get it right would be to do a tear down and clean it up. There is probably a lot of wear on the internals as well. Low oil pressure plus sludge means little lubrication. I would of passed on this car, but since you have it, get ready for some issues.

 

It sounds you got a free pass by not having to re-build the engine. Save that money and put it aside for when you need to. Hopefully the engine is not in bad shape. Just drive it like you stole it LOL

 

I did get a free pass,saved the engine.I plan on saving the money on a cylinder head and intake swap including camshaft swap on this one which will be later on.I know better and I was taught this,turn the engine off right away if the oil light comes on or the tempature gauge pegs out.Plan on getting a set of Edelbrock heads,Comp camshaft,Fast intake and bigger throttle body.Drove it today to work and goes down the road great.I did do a burn out on the parking lot at work.

 

Don't bother with the Edelbrock heads - there are MUCH better options available.

Good luck with doing a head and cam swap on an engine with some miles that you know has been abused. IMO you're asking for more problems.

 

I'll take the stock intake off your hands if you're gonna swap it for a fast.

 

I have the intake sold when I do have the intake swap done to the Fast intake.I have decided to go with the Patriot heads.My cousin Todd has a 2000 Trans Am with them and is very happy with them.My Cousin Todd is doing the work,I am not mechanically inclined.It was not abused that much which I was later told.