I have a 97 WS6, i heard that if your LT1 has a lot of miles on it like 100,000 or more u shouldnt do a cam or head upgrade, because u can sping a bearing. My motor has 82,000 miles on it now runs strong as hell, but im worried to do a H/C package on it. what do u guys think, will i be safe to do it.

thanks dave,

 

Well... Go for it.. if you spin a bering... 383 time lol Yes people have said if you do a new cam it's very rough on an aged motor, because it's a new part so it's not gonna be worn in like the rest of the motor. Personally I say go for it, or you'll be forever waiting till the thing blows up which might be tomorrow.. or 100k miles from now, depends on how well the motor was taken care of. So unless you wanna wait a long time to put it in just to be sure nothing breaks.. I'd go for it

 

Depends on a lto of factors. I think mine died because it had been run extemely lean (15.0) for several months, fuel pump started crapping out, and then high rpms for a stock bottom end. I spun it to 6500 a lot, and then bounced of the 6800 rev limit a few times too.

My answer is yes you will need a rebuild. When? God probly doesn't even know with the lt1. You may make it a long ways, you may not get 600 miles (haha inside joke). I made it 10-15k on my cam swap and hard abuse, and then a bearing let go at 125k. (Oh and it was sprayed a few k before the cam too)

I say go for it, but expect the worst to eventually catch up. It will. I am doing a 357 just because the price was right, but it will hold up to anything I throw at it.

 

I installed my cam around your mileage - no problems - went 12.360@110.82 NA up until about 110k - then installed the Vortech @7lbs.

Times in sig - stock bottom end - stock heads - 120k on the clock

 

I put a 306 in my 140k formula and it had previously been sprayed and raced many times. I then downgraded to a 305 at 150k and it ran just as good. If you have good oil pressure and the install is clean that you should be fine. There is always a chance of spinning a bearing no matter how many miles you have on the car if you are racing it a lot and spinning the motor real high.

 

If ya rebuild and your rods can be resized, make sure ya put in ARP rod bolts.