Does it suck I love the LT1?

[Paulster2]

I hadn't been on here in a while, mainly because I had to sell my '94 ... what was it ... about two years ago? I don't quite remember at this point, but it's been a while (I was trying to forget I had to sell it). So, I came back on the other day to post up about the survey (which, thank you, many have participated in). I'm lurking around thinking, "You know, I really like the LT1 platform!" I doubt I'd be able to have another one anytime soon, but I really like the LT1. I liked it when Chevy came out around 1990 and said, "We're going to reverse the coolant flow." I said ... genius. It only made sense. After my '94 drove out of the driveway, I still had a L99 (Baby LT1) engine in the garage on an engine stand. I was going to poke/stroke (bore +.030" and 350 crank ... I think would have given 310ci yield, IIRC) it to put into my son's Jeep Cherokee. I think it would have been a great match. I believe with the regular LT1 type refinements, it would have easily put out ~300rwhp/rwtq which would have been about right for the Jeep (and my son for that matter ... ). All that and a large increase in gas mileage over the I6 Jeep puts in there stock. He ended up selling the Jeep before I could even get all the parts together for the engine. So, that engine went into a scrap vehicle (literally ... I threw it in where the front seat would have been) and it went away to the metal recycler. I thought it was great when Dart was thinking about building an SHP version of the LT1 so we could have a stable large cubed engine to base a build off of. When that went away, I was really depressed.

I don't know "exactly" what it is about the LT1, but I'm there. I wish I had the money to get another Z, but it's not happening anytime soon. I'm sure many of your are in the same boat, maybe not in buying a car, but probably not being able to do the next upgrade, or maybe a paint job, or you name it. I know most of us are hurting in the money department and hope we have better days soon.

My question to you is this: What is it with our love affair with this dinosaur of an engine?

[Madman337]

I just know that I wanted one after seeing the 93's coming out when they were new but couldnt afford one since I had just bought a 91 Z/28 already. The engine may be a dinosaur but it is the latest and greatest version of a true American classic and thats not so bad as far as I am concerned.

[97firehawk]

I remember when they first came out all i remember is 5.0slow mustangs running around thinking they were king i didn't really like them and me and a few friends were out cruising around and one of my buddys had a pretty fast mustang we were about a few cars back watching this LT1 Z28 6speed pull up next to him and after that light turned green i was hooked the Camaro handed him his ass and the car sounded awesome . Also i was in Ohio waiting to get into ceder point and a blue firehawk pulled up next to me oooo man that was the first time i had ever seen one and it was a 6 speed too i was in love . I think i just like having a car with an engine that people think is junk i mean I've pulled into a car show and had several guys run over to me and say damn man that car is awesome what's it got in it an ls6 uuummm no an LT1 there way better than an ls6 and they look at me like i just huffed paint or something it may not be better but it is to me i think once you invest enuff time into these engines and get to no them they draw you in more and more and plus when you spank a cobra or the all mighty ls1 and they have that wtf look on there stupid faces it makes me feel good that i never abandoned such a bad ass platform anes that i did my research and invested my time and money to be apart of a great group of wink wink underdogs Hahaha

[Madman337]

Oh I hear ya there, people ask me if my car is an ls1 all the time and when I say "no its an LT1" I usually get this blank stare back or in computer language (404 file not found) LOL.
I ended up buying a Mustang after the 91 Z/28 because it was an awesome deal and I needed wheels at the time but even tho I was rolling the Mustang i still wanted that damed 93 Z/28 that I looked at sitting at the dealership.
Funny because 18 years later and my neighbor just up and gave me the one I have now because she wanted it saved from the junkyard, I am doing my best to make it happen now and I usually show it off to her when I do anything to the car and so far she is happy with what I have done to it.
More things are in store for my little Z down the line and I cant wait to see how it all turns out, I consider myself lucky to have stumbled on to LTXtech because I have learned alot about the car ect but also made some new friends who seem to be as crazy about cars as I am and without judging anybody for not going the same route they are.

[MeanTA]

when i was 16 i got to drive a 95 TA with a M6. that belonged to my dads friend. And i was hooked. The LT1 TA's are the best looking in my opinion.

Plus there based on a tried and true design. with great power potential even with stock blocks. and they sound way more sexy then a LS:)

[Madman337]

Have to agree with you there too because I do not care for the "Catfish" looking Camaro's that are LS powered, I have an LS style engine in my 06 Avalanche and I like its power ect but it just does not look as cool as my LT1.
I drove several lt powered cars before and would have bought a tripple black 97 TA back in like 98-99 but my now x wife (The Dragon Lady) wouldnt let me.
Current wife (Mrs. Mad) would have led me by the hand to sign the papers for it because she is way cooler than my X ever was.

[Louvit]

I love the low end pull of the lt1 with the m6 trans. then again i had the original lt1 in 1970 350/350 4 bolt main etc

But I love my 93 I think because I'm the second owner bought it untouched, and have a ll the dealers papers window sticker build sheet etc. and it's the first 4th GEN!!!! BTW it was 21k in 1993

[Madman337]

I love the low end pull of the lt1 with the m6 trans. then again i had the original lt1 in 1970 350/350 4 bolt main etc

But I love my 93 I think because I'm the second owner bought it untouched, and have a ll the dealers papers window sticker build sheet etc. and it's the first 4th GEN!!!! BTW it was 21k in 1993


I remember how much they were back then too because I wanted one pretty badly and as far as low end torque my 93 has SOOO many miles on it now 253k+ and still moves out very well for what it is that I am very impressed.
BTW I do know what a fast car is and this one is not yet in that category but it will be one day if I have anything to say about it LOL.

[McCauleyWB]

My first car was a '93 -- red with t-tops. I had high hopes for it until it was totaled by a hit and run driver. Since then, I couldn't stay away. Ended up buying two more :) The LS platform has its appeal, but the styling isn't there and most of the owners are off-putting. May test my patience at times, but I like the challenge of building the ol' LT1. I like being the underdog.

[popo8]

I graduated in 94.... but the year prior one of the seniors got a brand new, purple 1993 Trans Am.... It was bad ass!!! It would smoke my 1992, and it just looked so BATMAN.....

My car was still pretty young, so I knew it would be a long ways away... but I would have one. Fast forward to 2000, I go into the Police Academy... I sell my Bird, (189,000 miles on it) and my 600cc yzf, because I needed to be more responsible and stay out of trouble.

2001 I get a job with my current dept.... and start making some decent money..... I start looking and looking for just the right 93-97 TA, and I can not find one.... What I do find while on patrol is a 1996 Camaro... white with black interior ...t-tops and a 6 spd.... it wasnt for sale but it always caught my eye that it had CHROME salad shooters. I had never seen them in CHROME...

about 4 months later it was parked outside with a for sale sign on it.... I parked my cruiser, checked it out... grabbed the number and called. The people informed me they needed to get rid of it, and were afraid the local PD wanted it gone also, because they had just observed a Police Officer checking out the car (which was illegaly parked).....

I then introduced myself.... "well Im Officer Hanna...."


A few days later after the bank stuff and the mechanic stuff...it was MINE.

[nstg8r]

When I was looking for the car that wound up being the Formula, I didn't care if it was an lt1 or ls1 (although truth be told, I wanted an ls1 worse). It just had to be a 4th gen with a v8, 6 speed and t-tops and be in my budget. I didn't want a purple car when my dad found the Formula. Then I saw the car and drove it, and I fell in love. Now I love lt1's so much I bought 2 of them. I just love being the underdog and being underestimated. I know a LOT of lt1's that will rape ls1's all day long.

[94Blackbird]

When I started looking for my car, I was looking for an LS1 formy or TA, but my car was just too good of a deal to pass on. 7k for a car that came with all kinds of goodies (most of which are gone now thanks to a nit witted former owner who didn't know half of what he needed to know to do what he did), though the supercharger kit is staying, but that's about it from the former owners carnage lol. I love the car though, and hopefully it will be back together and ready to rock this spring. I don't see funds allowing it to happen, but i can hope!

[Badbird_96]

Lt1s are the best

[popo8]

Psst... I love em so much, I bought into this site.... LITERALLY!

[Paulster2]

Larry, that makes you the man ... LITERALLY! :D

I have owned three different LT1 4th gens. The first one (93) was basically given to me ... I was supposed to do some work for a guy and he never set it up (though I tried for about a year until he said he just went and paid to have it done, lol). The second one (93) I bought to use the body for the engine out of the first one. The first one would have cost more to fix it than it would have been worth. The 2nd one was an automatic with a supposedly bad engine. After putting a new distributor, water pump, and t-stat, and cat, I had it back on the road. I got this car without the permission of the spousal unit, so it came with a lot of self imposed baggage ... yah, that wasn't so good. I then found a 94 for sale in TX, which needed an engine. I ended up trading the 93 for it. Monetarily it was a bad trade for me, but it got rid of a lot of baggage :D It was also a 6-speed, t-top car with a lot of extras I wanted. It was also red ... great stuff! I really liked it a lot ... to bad, so sad, she had to go.

Between the LT1 and the 6-speed, its hard to find a better combo for all around fun driving. I really like the LSx engines, but wish they had more low end torque. You'll really understand what I mean by that when I say I REALLY like BBCs :D The LSx engines can make some SICK reliable HP, no doubt about it. If you want that low end grunt I don't think they are the best. Don't get me wrong, they are great engines. I will probably build one for my next project, whenever that might occur (I'm not holding my breath or anything). I've got to clean up a lot of bills before I can do that. I've got so many stinkin' projects I'd like to be doing and so little money/time to make it happen. I'm sure my story is no different than most anybody else's. I'll get to them one of these days ...

[popo8]

Larry, that makes you the man ... LITERALLY! :D .... ...

LOL.... thanks man.

[shownomercy]

I love it, but should have gone SBC with SB2 heads and not been stuck with LT1 silliness.

[Neil350]

I like them when they're clean and make some power but I don't like it when they're beat up and have a ton of issues. I don't trust my 93 so that's my big issue with it.

[popo8]

I like them when they're clean and make some power but I don't like it when they're beat up and have a ton of issues.....

Isnt that ANY car.....? In fact, isnt that any THING?

[Neil350]

Isnt that ANY car.....? In fact, isnt that any THING?

Maybe so, when I see a nice LT1 I see some one who's a real car guy, because you really have to like them to put the effort in to make them nice. But the same goes even for the LS based 4th gens, with them being as old as they are now when I see nice one some one's kept up I think it's pretty cool. I rarely check the C6 sections of Covette forum, but when I see one of those built up, it's kind like meh. It's cool, don't get me wrong, I like them but they're still new and popular so it's either a real car guy or some one with a ton of money who wants to one-up the other guy.

[popo8]

Maybe so, when I see a nice LT1 I see some one who's a real car guy, because you really have to like them to put the effort in to make them nice. But the same goes even for the LS based 4th gens, with them being as old as they are now when I see nice one some one's kept up I think it's pretty cool. I rarely check the C6 sections of Covette forum, but when I see one of those built up, it's kind like meh. It's cool, don't get me wrong, I like them but they're still new and popular so it's either a real car guy or some one with a ton of money who wants to one-up the other guy.

Fair enough...... They are like a needy woman... you gotta give em alot of attention, and spend lotsa money on them... But when you hit it..... its all worth it... lol.....

[firebird_1995]

Great analogy!

[JPack]

I like them so much we have a garage full of three lt1 powered cars....from mild to wild.

I have always had either a camaro or trans am as a toy. Just always been my thing. I have had more than I can count. With that said out of all of them, the LT1 powered cars have become my favorite. I have had many chances to build up a ls platform for myself, but to me it's not about just buying a few things and make that LS fast. (pretty easily done) and everyone does it. They stick them in everything. Great engine, but I would rather be the underdog that hands a lot of cars their ass and leave them wondering WTF just happened. I have always built the cars to look like show cars and paid attention to every detail. But they have always been a big surprise for those that pull up next to me or get to ride along with me. Never fails, the response is always the same..... and i love that. I have also liked being the guy that built the car that everyone said no way it can do that.... I like pushing the limits of what can be done on an LT1 and do it with really common things and making a combo that works together. Believe it or not my current car was all built on a small budget, nothing exotic... But the times it will run and when the cat is out of the bag will have a lot of people scratching their heads..... Stay tuned at the next shoot out..... I am almost ready...

[popo8]

... Stay tuned at the next shoot out..... I am almost ready...


Well said man... Im more excited about this^^^6

[Paulster2]

Well said man... Im more excited about this^^^6

Oh, you should be :D Hehe ... the best is yet to come.

[thunderkyss]

I don't love the LTx. It just happens to be the engine in the car that I love. My '96 M6 Z28.

I originally bought the car thinking that one day I would yank the drive-train & interior to stuff in a second-gen Camaro. I bought it in 2001 & drove it everyday (& then some) until 2008, when I bought a C6. The '96 went into the garage, waiting for me to buy a 2nd gen. Well, one thing came to another. I needed to get my daughter a car. I could have sold the '96 to fund one, or I could sell the C6.

Don't get me wrong, the C6 is a sweet car. But I'm just a normal guy & the Corvette thing just never really grew on me. So I decided to sell the Vette, bought my daughter a car, & I've got a little left over to put into my Camaro. I decided to buy a '72 Camaro & the plan was to pull the LT1, T56, & interior then put it in the '72.

I pulled the '96 out, took a good look at it...... & changed my mind about that. I love the car as is. Don't want to change a thing. It handles like all get out. Has good power/torque. It's been very dependable. It's comfy, I still like the body style.

My new plan is just to clean it up, maybe a little paint (a lot of paint), then do the mechanicals to make it a dependable daily driver again. Front end, shocks, electrical. It's only got 132K on it. When it comes time to rebuild, I'll do a 383. I'll probably drop it.

But I couldn't care less whether it's an LTx or a LSx or a Gen I SBC. Power is power to me. If I were going to hot rod it, I'd be happy with an 11 second car. I'm sure I can get my '96 into the 11s in full trim with an LT1. I'll probably get whupped by all the 10 second cars that are popping up on the road nowadays, but oh well. Street racing isn't a big deal to me right now, so I doubt it'll be a big thing in the future.

As far as my '72, current plans are to drop a Vortec 7400 & 4L80E in it. Most of my money over the next several years will go into it. My '96 will just be a daily driver. It's going to look good, just not "show-car" good.

The only thing that really gets me as far as the LTx goes, is how the LSx guys think all of a sudden you can't make power with anything other than an LSx.

[Neil350]

Don't get me wrong, the C6 is a sweet car. But I'm just a normal guy & the Corvette thing just never really grew on me.

Same here, it's a fun car to drive, but I don't see keep mine for ever. It mainly serves the purpose of a fun weekend car or nice weather car, but I wouldn't mind an M3 or some thing next.

[LT1RUNNER]

Lt1s r crap!! Thats why i have had mine for 12 years now. Haha!

[popo8]

Lt1s r crap!! Thats why i have had mine for 12 years now. Haha!

Doh....lol...


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Bandit_LT1v8]

When I was looking for the car that wound up being the Formula, I didn't care if it was an lt1 or ls1 (although truth be told, I wanted an ls1 worse). It just had to be a 4th gen with a v8, 6 speed and t-tops and be in my budget. I didn't want a purple car when my dad found the Formula. Then I saw the car and drove it, and I fell in love. Now I love lt1's so much I bought 2 of them. I just love being the underdog and being underestimated. I know a LOT of lt1's that will rape ls1's all day long.

Same with me! LOL

I wanted a v8 93-02 fbody, didnt matter what it was, it had to be a v8! (I wanted an LS1 more, but couldnt afford one)

So I found my 1994 Formula on craigslist, the guy drove it all the way to me (4 hr drive), I test drove it, and knew it was mine. T-tops, a4, great shape, etc... Only $2200! I just got it last friday.

Its not an LS1, but it's close enough!

BTW, I had an LS1 back in 2007, so its nice to have something different.

[Badbird_96]

I've personally owned 3.

Got my first a 94 formula m6 for $2500 with a built motor. It went out in a fireball.

The next a 96 ws6 m6 got it for trading a free 03 envoy and got it and a 98 explorer with a new motor, tires, shocks, etc. Sold it for $5000 after I finally got it where I wanted it :banghead:

Got this last one a 94 z28 a4 for $1500. I wouldn't buy an ls1 fbody if my life depended on it. I used to want a lsx ws6 but now I wouldn't have it. Personally I love this engine platform so much I convinced my friend to drop one in his cobra. Ltx for life.

Btw I am planning a ltx powered 72 long wheelbase truck for parts hauling.

[Jayz28]

I've owned 3 LTX cars and I love them too! I love having an underdog with ppl always asking why.

I always thought it'd be cool to buy a c5 and swap in an LT1!!!!!!

It'd blow everyone's mind for sure!

[BLK95-Z]

Im probably a little more of an F-Body fan in general but the LT1 will always be my first love. Ive had 5 of them so far...

I remember telling my buddy in 1993...."Dude those new Camaro's are awesome. If I ever get one Ill just tint the windows and leave it alone". I guess salad shooters made a good first impression on me :jest: