Hey guy i bought a LT1 out of a 96 impala ss. It has a cold air intake that came with it that cost 350 bucks i looked it up! I start takeing some of the stuff off that i didnt need or want. Well what i found was new gaskets on the water pump then the timing cover? and also the oil pan? Do you think it was rebuilt? Cam swap mabey? Rebuilt? Give me ur guess!!!
thanks
kevin

 

There's no way to really tell unless you take it completely apart, but by just listening to the exhaust should be able to tell you if it has any valvetrain work done.

 

Man dude i never heard it run got it from a junk yard complete and they said it sounded really good with the stock exsahust? idk i shouldnt get my hopes up i guess lol.
kevin

 

Yeah man, just be patient. Chances are if you only paid $350 for it there won't be too many surprises.

 

No i bought it off these idiots lol the cold air intake "new" cost 350 buck i bought the complete engine for 500 buck with a 30 day warrenty.
kevin

 

link to $350 cai please

what is it made out of carbon fiber or something?

 

No its 3 1/2 in induction very heavy!!
http://www.azspeed-marine.com/19imcoairink.html
kevin

 

WOW, honestly if the car belonged to someone stupid enough to pay $350 for that you better hope they didn't do anything inside the engine, because chances are the decisions would be just as poor.

There are some good intakes that cost a LOT but that basic setup can be duplicated for like $60 including the K&N filter. $10 if you keep the stock airbox and paper filter just delete the baffles and drill a few holes.

For the same price they could have had. http://www.impalaperformance.com/products.php
plumbing length is a restriction so shorter is better.
Still too much for a CAI, I bought one much cheaper USED

 

Well hopefully it was rebuilt with the best of the best lol! Ya that is alot of money for that! Thats y i was like 500 for the hole engine and everything it was a good deal.
kevin

 

Yeah I was not saying you got a bad deal.

Just have to understand many more cars are put together adly than done well. Honestly a lot of times the "money is no object" approach results in worse builds than guys who value a dollar a little more too. Reputation and marketting are not what makes good parts they are what make for big sales volume, not th same as results.

 

Have you taken the oil pan off? If so did you look at the crank/rods/main caps, as you can easily see if these parts are new or aftermarket if you have h-beam rods, arp rod bolts, converted to 4bolt main caps, pistons (they will have the brand stamped on the inside and will be visible from underneath. This is about all you can tell as there is really no way of knowing without tearing her down.

 

If you have a dial indicator with a magnetic base, you could try to figure out the lift on the cam and compare it to stock.

 

It's a good possibility that the gaskets have just been replaced.

 

Ya i know lol i took off the valve cover and everything seemed stock idk? Mabey new gaskets to atleast they looked real good.
kevin