I know the LT1 fbodys is known for having a lot of issues and has a pretty weak rear end and ****ty to work on.. but how are the ls1 fbodys.. are the engines much easier to work on? any major problems? rear ends much stronger?

 

Yes, the engines are easier to work on, every thing takes less time due to better routing of accessories, ignition and over all design the engine. Rear end is the same, suspension is more or less the same far as design goes.

 

Yes compared to an LT1 the LS1 is more friendly when it comes to mechanical work. The rear is usually hit or miss, i'm putting down 450rwhp and still on stock suspension and stock rear and i abuse the crap out of it

 

ah okay wasnt sure if it moved up to the 12bolt rear or not. thanks guys good to hear they are at least better to work on

 

LS1 is easier to work on. Especially putting headers on.

 

My LS1 has been much easier to work on than my previous LT1 cars. There were quite a few time you could have taken my LT1 cars home for $500 if you caught me at the right time in the middle working on them.

 

Far as 10 Bolts go, I have seen auto cars go 10s on the stock rears and six speed cars break them going 12s. Autos are a lot easier on them.

 

No Opti = LS1 better.

-Geoff

 

i had no issues with my opti. Had 150k on an opti, and no issues with it.

Now I have an LSX, and its not running yet lol So, time will tell.

Working on an lt1 isnt hard at all, just time consuming.

 

the steam pipe on the back of the LT1 heads is a PITA, but had no real problems working on it. havent touched the LS1 yet.

 

ls1 ftw

 

I have both, and have worked on both. I think they each have their PITA moments. I personally thought the header install was about the same on both cars, I said the F word the same amount of times and my knuckles hurt both times.

I think what the LT1's all need are the air pump removed, and someone to come up with a remote mount electric water pump. if that opti were easier to get to and the front of the engine didn't seem like it is so far forward that it was INSIDE the radiator then I would have no beefs with the difficulty of labor in LT1's

Edit: forgot about this, i agree: also realizing you have a vacuum leak on the egr block off on the intake manifold sucks.

 

Both are a pain because only 1/2 of the engine is exposed but the LS is more user friendly

 

The only way to remove the rack & pinion on the LS1 cars is to cut the bolt
on the drivers side and install from below. LT1 opti isnt that bad once you've
done it once. My write up on the Impala SS forum shows how the lowest bolt
on the drivers side is a drain for the coolant, makes life much easier. The LT1
also has bleeder screws for the cooling system, the LS1 doesnt. I still havent
been able to get all the air out of my wifes 1999 SS.

In my experience, the LS1 cars all seem to have distorted windsheilds, like they
were using up all the ones that were rejected earlier. The heater hoses arent
available anymore, and the aftermarket ones dont fit right. My LT1 cars were
a lot less work to maintain.

Tom

 

I have both, and LS1 is easier to work on. Under the hood, things are routed much better.