Okay guys, X-2k2 Civic guy here. I've been changing my mind on what I want every single day, but I think I finally came to the conclusion of a 1993 Camaro Z28. However, I have limited funds for the initial purchase. About 5,500 dollars is all I can afford. My concern is how well do LT1s hold up, basically if I buy a 1993 with a 150K can I expect it to fail shortly there after. Obviously engine life is dependant on many factors, but as a general rule of thumb can these engines take a lot of beating?

Also assuming the engine does die on me, is there a better motor to drop in? Will an LS1 fit into a 93' Camaro Z28?

Assuming the engine doesn't fail, what should I replace to get the engine running better?

I know thats a lot of questions but I appreciate any advice you offer.

- Z28WannaB

 

well mine has 181,000 miles and is running 13s with a bad opti. so yes the do hold up to alot of beating. my other z28 has 224,000 miles and still runs like a champ. as long as the car was taken care of it will last for a long time.

 

bought my first car 94Z with 99,000 on it. now workin on 124,000 still runs like a z should.... these cars take some beating. ive roasted plenty of tires and this car still runs fine. it isnt no honda...

i would just rebuild a lt1 instead of changing over to a LS1.
My future plans is to make a 355 motor with some nice heads/cam...that should throw me into the 12's possibly 11's with lil spray

Just dont hold the cars at the rev limiters, change engine fluids as needed and these motors will treat you right.
Some things like bad opti's get expensive, i hear bad fuel pumps and o2. Check the back of the intake manifold for oil leaks. these car are common. you only need intake gaskets to fix this known problem.

 

My uncle has a 2002 SS Camaro he was telling me that the engines will last for a VERY long time if taken care of properly. Thanks for the real life info.

- Z28WannaB

 

for $5K you should be able to find a clean 100K mile car. the engines will last way beyond 100K miles. its the little things that will need replacing. the engine itself is VERY reliable. I have four (yes, four) LT1 cars. All w/ 113K-145K miles, all very strong. no plans for any rebuilds any time soon. shop for a well maintained car w/ records andyou'll be happy.

 

This is kind of off-topic, however could someone explain/linkify the difference between the LT1 and the LS1.

 

I recently got my 93 with 109k miles on it for DIRT cheap. However, I think it has a bad head gasket and/or optispark so you gotta look out for stuff like that. Its had a ton of different owners so I know its been beat on. Plus it had absolutely no service records or history from the guy I bought it from. Its a project car anyways. You'll probably be fine as long as the car has a maintiance history.

 

LS1 = 98 and up - 305 flywheel HP stock
LT1 = 93 - 97 - 275 flywheel HP stock

LS1 is different in a lot of ways and i will try to remember them all but i am drunk right now so anybody can correct me or fill in the blanks for me as needed. First it is ALL aluminum, heads and block. It makes about 30 more hp at the flywheel stock. It is has short skirt pistons and some of them were not made right so some of them have piston slap(2 in the family do ) . They have 8 individual coils for an ignition system instead of a cam driven ignition like the LT1. But all in all they are both GREAT engines. I love my LT1 but get frustrated when i get beat by LS1's with intake and full exaust But soon that will be a thing of the PAST!!!!!!!!!! big plans on the way. Anyways, your good to go with a 93, the only thing different on a 93 LT1 is it is speed density instead of MAF. But that isnt a problem that i have heard of. If i missed anything you guys chime in...


Chris

 

Realistically a stock LS1 is making 350-360hp, theres no internal difference between the f-body and vette LS1's. GM just gave them different ratings in consideration of the price gap. The same is true of the LT1. A properly running fbody LT1 has around 300hp, the same as the vette version.

As far as the motors. The LT1 is a 350ci iron block, aluminum headed(the b-body cars had iron heads) small block. The motor is reverse flow cooled, meaning coolant flows throught the heads then the block in hopes of reducing detonation. Stock compression is 10.5:1. It uses a special distributor that runs off the timing chain called an optispark. The LT1 has 23* heads.

The LS1 is an aluminum block aluminum headed 346ci motor. Stock compression is 10.1:1 and the motor has 18* heads.

 

There's quite a bit of differences between the 93's and the 94+ care.

Most notably being the lack of an MAF, but you also have to think about the tranny (4L60 instead of 4L60E if it's an A4, M28 or M29 six speed). The A4 uses a TV cable because it's not electronically controlled. It's basically a beefy 700R4. If it's a six speed you either get a wide ratio (coded M28) manual with a 2.73 rear end, or a close ratio (M29, came from Chrysler originally headed for a viper) tranny and a 3.23 rear. Not that it's going to make much of a difference.

Ninety-three vehicles do respond VERY well to fuel pressure changes as the computer won't just make corrections for the mixture. You don't have to worry about OBDII, but you WILL have to go through the rollers because of this (if you have emissions).

The 93's were sort of their own little thing, but they rang in the 4th gen cars. Great vehicles, some say they are the fastest, but who knows really?? If it's been taken care of, and the price is good, go for it.

Also, if you want to get a little more in depth into 93's, shoot over to www.speeddensity.org and take a look.

 

So it would be safe to say that the LS1 is a superior engine? I saw an LS1 with 40k miles in my area for 2,100 dollars. Would an LS1 bolt in to a 93 or 94? Does the LS1 weigh less than the LT1?

- Z28WannaB

 

Let's just call the LS1 more advanced and a more powerful starting block.

Yes, it can be put into an LT1 4th Gen, but problems arise. Most notably to me is going to be the ECM/wiring harness swap. There's a lot more entailed than that though. I've only heard of a couple people doing the swap. Another issue is the increased height of the LS1 over the LT1. I may be wrong, but I believe you need either a WS6 styles hood or a cowl induction hood to clear the LS1.

 

You can fit the LS1 under the LT1 hood, you just need to use the LT1 induction, unless you change the radiator shroud stuff...

http://www.hpsalvage.com

Click on Project Cars- they have a 95 Trans Am (with the flat hood) with an LS1 in it. There's actually a lot of different engines you can stuff in there. A few people have stuffed some big blocks in there that don't have to worry about emissions...