Hey Guys,

I am new to the board. I am thinking about purchasing a LT1 powered 4th gen.

I was curious about what the LT1 power is like since I have never driven one. I have driven L98 (lowend power) and an LS1 (top end power.) Is the LT1 a somewhere between them both? How much fun are they to drive?

Regards,
BILL

 

IMO LT1's are SOOO fun to drive. It makes 90% (over 300 ft-lbs) of its torque below 2000 RPM's! You'll get an LS1 off the line, but then they'll pull ahead of you cuz they really shine on the top end.

 

First off, if you can afford it, get the LS1. But if not an LT1 is a great thing. I love my car. It has more low end torque than an LS1 IMO. I have owned both the LS1 and LT1. I loved the LS1 way more than the LT1, but being that I am poor, I had to get the LT1.

 

I will never get sick of it. That should sum it up.

 

It's more of a low end grunt engine in stock form. Great off the line, but will get beat handily by the LS1 in the end. The LT1's are pretty accurately rated as far as power from the factory where as the LS1's have a rep for being underrated. It's not uncommon to see a stock LS1 hit 300rwhp right off the lot.

On the plus side, LT1's cheaper both initially and to modify.

 

Yulp.. better torque curve

Put in a cam for some top end

 

Yeah i put a cc 305 cam in my car and the pull from 2000 RPM and up is Amazing!!!!! The LT1 really comes alive with a nice valve train upgrade! Another thing to help u pull on topend too is a electric water pump! Free up some ponies and give ur self more highway pull. Also i believe the LT1s are still a significanly chaeper to modify so if ur looking for nice car with X amount LT1 ones are awesome. I also had a L98 TPI car (66k oringinal miles) and the torque was pretty impressive for a car its age but the first night i drove my 97 LT1 car home i was like "Wow" its a huge difference!
JMHO
Hope this helps

 

They are a blast to drive!!

http://www.bealer.org/donut-1.mpg

 

Thanks for the feedback.

90% torque below 2000 rmp That rules. Unfortunately, it does not look like I can afford an LS1 so I am thinking I can get an LT1 and do a cat and catback to pick up some extra ponies.

Around how much should I expect to pay for 97 Formula or TA with under 60K miles?

 

I got my car March 10th for $8,100 with 71,561 miles on it, and it's a '96 Z28. Expect a Formula to be around there or less, and a TransAM to be a little more. I'd say around $9,000 for a mint '97 T/A with around 60k.

 

If your mechanically inclined, look at some wrecked cars. I picked up my 95 Vert Z28 with 13K origional miles for $4900 with most of the new parts. In total I think it cost me somewhere around $5600.

 

ya the LS1 is awsome, but insurance and higher car payments will kill any dreams of going real fast, a moded Lt1 can be as quick as you want just depends on what you want to spend. Many guys with bolt-ons and mild cams run mid to high 12's all day long. Last time at the tack I raced a 50 aniversary corvette, it ran a 13.4 with 2.0 60ft, my car ran 13.6 with a 2.4 60ft. the modes at the time were duals/headers/CAI/4.10s thats it and with traction I could have had 12's as my mph times are pretty good, both of us had 104mph. As you can see it doesn't take much to compete, obviously the corvette could get better times, but still the LT1 is not dead.
Price will depend on condition and area yur from, check out www.traderonline.com for some cars for sale. Unfortunetly these cars don't hold their value, but good if you are buying.