We all know the LT1 engines are awesome. But how robust are the 5.7 V8 engines? I wonder if these cars easily reach 200k+ without an engine rebuild. I'm sure the 6-spd manuals probably last longer (well the tranny anyway). Is there a way to determine whether a Z28 6spd with 179K has a rebuilt or original engine in it?

And if they ARE original, I would think the car is runing on its last cylinder.. I could be wrong.

 

Mine had 212,XXX on it before I decided to rebuild. However, I should say that it was still running fine.

 

I know someone with a 1995 310,000+ mile LT1 caprice and the thing was a cop car for 130,000 miles. He does alot of highway though, the car still feels like it's got a lot of energy in it

 

Theres a guy on here that had like 258,000 miles on his before the engine died.

 

My uncle has a bone stock 94 auto 25th aniversary T/A with 187K on it and a friend has a 95 M6 Z28 vert with 210K on it. Both cars seem to be doing fine.

 

Wow, that makes me feel better about 158k

 

My Z28 has 103,000 on it, and I use it for my work car to tow boats up and down the east coast. On the original engine and tranny...

Greg

 

my 94 z28 has 80k on it, bought it at 66k. But i took a speed out of an 87 iroc in the junkyard. It had 456,789 on it...

 

What's amazing is these engines, properly maintained, are seeing over 200,000 miles, and mostly on hard high revving driving! I'm amazed at the LT1s durability. Mine has almost 102 and it's running very strong, it was stock (well bolt ons only) till 99k, and it was running very strong then, too.

I'm sure with regular maintenance, an LT1 could see 200k on a regular basis. Of cousre, at 158k I'd be inclined for a rebuild, or at least a complete tune up--spark plugs, wires, new opti, WP, new fuel injectors, good intake cleaning, exhaust port cleaning (w/ a tooth brush and engine degreaser or something to scrapte off all the carbon deposits and open the holes up a tad, easy to do if you put headers on), clean the TB, etc etc. All the parts required for efficient engine operation.


That's what I am sort of doing now...the only old thing left on my car after the WP and Opti install will be the pistons, rings, and bottom end, and fuel injectors, but my fuel injectors I think are fine, I just might have them professionally cleaned soon.

All those things add up to a fine running machine!

 

My rings got tired at about 140000. But those were all pretty hard miles. It's ok at least i get a rebuild now.

 

I had to have my tranny rebuilt at 75k. But no engine problems as of yet. Knock on wood....

 

167,000 miles here. Only problem I had was a blown head gasket at 160,000, but that was caused by a faulty radiator cap that was releasing no pressure. (FREAKIN AUTOZONE ) Car runs low 13's on stock manifolds with all the mods on my page. I hope to hit mid 12's when my headers finally arrive (o yea, but that won't be till hell freezes over)

 

wooord because I got a great deal on a 94' Camaro M6 Z-28. My dad owns a dealership so every once in a while I'll go with him to those special "dealer only" auctions. One of my dad's dealer buddies got it as a trade-in and well.. I took it. 179K and it drives SUPRISINGLY strong, I thought it was a rebuild. Doing research on this forum, I know it needs a new Opti sensor then tune-up.


BTW: Where do you buy those Optis, Advanced auto sells them for $179.

 

no, no, no, that is not the full opti, just the cap and rotor, which don't generally go bad. Do a seach for Dal or Jason Cromer. They have the best prices. The 94 unvented opti will run you about $240 or so. But you won't find it cheaper anywhere else.

Edit: What color is it?

 

I had my motor rebuilt at 143,000 miles. I might add it was running fine. I just got a cam setup and all kinds of other stuff, so I just had it rebuilt.

At 143,000, there were no ticks, no tocks, no burning oil, no smoke, no nothing. The car was still running just as strong as the day I got it. There's no doubt in my mind that my LT1 could have logged well over 200,000 miles on it, especially since I'm a major maintenance freak.