klaczak

i'm about to buy my first car, and have around $7,500..i'm looking for like a 93-97 Z-28 and the mileage will be high, can't get around that. how long will the engine last me? i need a car that will last a couple of years, atleast.

Mr Kevlar

I've heard of LT1's lasting over 300,000 miles. It really just depends on how you take care of it and how the previous owners kept care of it. My LT1 lasted about 75k before It blew a headgasket. Just be sure to always keep your fluids at level, always keep your oil changed every 3k and never let it overheat. Iron Block and Aluminum Heads + Overheating = Warped Heads

revtime

A well taken care of LT1 will last over two hundred thousand miles.
You might have to change a few parts like an alternator or a water pump maybe even an opti but the internals should have no problem lasting. I have 135k on mine and it still is putting down good numbers at the track. One of the guys in the Camaro club here recently bought a 95 6 speed with 225k on it and it looks and runs excellent, he got it for like 3250.

Got-LT1

I am getting close to 100k, and the only thing that ever broke were some tranny mounts.

naztyz28

i have a 94 with 102k rebuilt tranny rear end opti and water pump within the last 2 years but my car was beat to hell from prevouse owners so far moter runs strong need to do a intake gaskit tho it does leak pretyy good.

chesee48

It all depends on the car itself...

how it was driven and how it was taken care of is key..

zx1216

Mine has 173k on it and the only major thing replaced on it was the fuel pump

JoeliusZ28

I take really good care of my car, and I can tell the previous owners did too. The engine is STRONG for being 99% stock. People seem to think the car is brand new and it has 75k on it. As for reliability of engines, I have a 92 chevy truck with a 350 (obviously not an LT1) that has 180k on the original trans and engine. It starts and drives like new and doesnt even burn oil yet. Chevy engines never fail to outlast any ford or dodge

FastZinTennessee

I have 130k on mine and I just did heads and cam

z_great94

mine has has the opti, water pump, and a new coolent sensor. But recently i had a valve break and it chewed up some stuff in the cylinder head. I blamed the car which I WAS WRONG TO DO SO. I also have that grinding noise in first gear but warrenty is taking care of that and the head work. So far the car is great but i do miss it, Its been three weeks with out driving her. As far as mods go she only has a cold air, but i have some more stuff that i need to install. Check my sig and thats my complete up to date mod list. Oh btw she is a 94 with 75k.

CamaroBoy96Z28

I have 89k on mine and owned it since 80k last May. I've replaced the waterpump, coolant temp sensor in the driver's side head, replaced the opti along with the waterpump but was still fine, new gearset, but nothing to do with the engine itself. I know for a fact that my car had the **** kicked out of it hardcore for 3 months before I bought by whoever had it in his possession. I'm impressed though, the engine is running very strong for the abuse it takes and I believe its had a harder life than most people with 120k+ on their engines. LT1s are ver stout motors. Guys throw heads and cams on theirs at 100k-150k and still do just fine on stock short blocks. You'll find that what fails on the LT1 are supporting components (ie. opti, wp, etc...) and not the engine itself more times than not.

Dolby109

Mine has 135k on it, and the only problem I have ever had was with clutches, and it seems my opti is currently going out...

The opti is the main thing you have to worry about.
The long block is pretty solid though.