Will it fit a 97 LT1?

 

yes it will fit but it will be a downgrade for the Lt1 radiator.remember the Ls1 is all aluminum
and dissipates heat better than the Lt1 so in other words the Lt1 radiator will way better than the Ls1.......

 

Pardon my ignorance, but would the radiators even work, as the LT1 uses reverse cooling?

 

According to my catalog, its the same until 2000......

 

the reverse cooling is only due to the fact that the Lt1 cools the heads first then the block.

 

the reverse cooling is only due to the fact that the Lt1 cools the heads first then the block.
the Lt1 radiator is an upgrade to the Ls1.

 

96m6lt1 hit it on the head. reverse cooling doesn't make a difference. The radiator will work, but it's a downgrade. I was going to use it, but a guy nearby was selling a 95 radiator so I snagged that up.

The only real difference is the thickness of the core. The LS1 is 15/16" and the LT1 is 1 3/8". Much bigger.