I was just wondering if some of you could give me some opinions. I am looking to buy a used lt1 f-body.

The thing that I have noticed is low mileage f-bodys go for 8 - 9k in my area (40k - 80k miles) And the higher mileage ones seem to ask around 5K (130k and up) havent seen to many for sale in the middle ground there.

Now the opinion part.
Would you rather buy a low mileage f-body or a high mileage and use the difference to rebuild the top end, put a few mods on, and service everything (fluids, plugs/wires etc...)?
I'm thinking 3k can go a long ways to rebuilding the drive train of one of these cars.

 

You are exactly right... I would go higher mileage... cause in a couple years you're gonna have high mileage anyway.

Honestly, the best thing to do is find a car that has already had a lot of mods done already. Find someone that's tired of their car and wants to sell. If it already has a full exhaust, gears, etc... Those are some expensive mods that you could save money on if the car already had them. When I sell my car, somebodys gonna make out good... same with a lot of guys here.

 

Can I expect a lot of trouble free miles with a top end rebuild? I'm assuming the bottom end holds up pretty well with little to no mods. I read a lot of people talk about head gaskets and intake stuff. Along with the Opti which has more than likely been replaced sometime in the life of a high mileage lt-1. Are the replacement opti's better than the orginals or are they the same?

Also does the M6 hold up better than the A4 or vice versa?

 

Hard to say how many miles you're gonna get. Depends on how hard the car has been driven and how hard you're gonna drive it. I would go ahead and go thru the whole motor if you're going that far with it. It's easier to drop it from the bottom and go thru it. Not saying you have to spring for a crank, pistons, rods, etc... but at least re-ring the pistons, hone the cylinders and replace the bearings and seals. I would buy a high mileage and completely go thru the motor.

Opti's are the same as the motors.... it's hard to say when they will crap out. I would go with a GM replacement, but some guys have had good luck with Autozone replacements.

M6's generally hold up to more punishment, but an A4 with a shift kit and the proper stall combined with the proper suspension is hard to beat. Just remember to put a tranny cooler on it.

 

M6's are strong tranny's for the most part.... i would got high mileage car with some mods....Overall i would just rebuild the motor period {bottom and Top end}. cause like others say on the board. a simple over rev with a decent cam up top will spin bearings like crazy...!!! I was thinking Top end rebuild on my 125K motor....but im gonna save lil longer and do the whole motor done!
AND BE HAPPY OVERALL!