First off this is more a LT1 question not TA? Just happens I like this site and I'm a camaro owner also:yes: And I'm not knocking the LT1, just looking for info and opinions.

I am looking to buy a clean 97' trans am convertible, stock LT1 automatic w/ 120K miles. Wanted to know if I should stay away from the LT1, The price seems fair $5500.00 and I was looking for a fun weekend car, thats all, put the top down and go, reliable and has A/c....what do you guys think.

I had a 99' ss Camaro...and I know the power it had......how is a Lt1, preformance wise and being able to work on?

I was told there are hard to work on, or should I say harder to work on.

Thanks,

Richard

they are a little slower than an LS1 car, but still pretty damn quick for something stock.
plug changes are a pain, and wires are a bigger pain- but really, how often do you need to screw around with that?
everyone says water pumps and optisparks are a pain, but i can't see them being too much more difficult than my 94 Caprice was. and, again, how often do you need to screw around with that?

Labor's high on them because they're so hard to work on. But what isn't?
Actually, something kinda funny, now that novaderrik's mentioned it:
I had a '94 Formula Firebird. I had the coolant flushed (it was sludgy). When the new, free-flowing coolant was in there, I found some leaks I didn't know I had. One was in the waterpump, which shares a cover with the optispark. The waterpump leaked directly into the distributor. I ended up having to have the shop replace the water pump, dizzy, and radiator. It was about $2k.
Other than that, I loved the car. Mine had the 6-speed, and was the second most fun car I've had!

Personally I would stay away from the LT1 because of the optispark unit but that's just me.

Nothing wrong with the lt1. In fact, they are stout little iron blocks that require little maintenance. Optisparks are a crap shoot as many of these things are just fine while others have problems. Also, nice lts are getting harder to find so a well taken care of one will stand out.

Look over on ls1tech in the discussion section as they have a multipage debate going on the benefits and downfalls of the engine.

Good luck!

There was a lot of LT1 aftermarket developed by the time the LS1 came out, it's still available and I don't know where folks got that the engines are hard to work on. By '95 or '96 the optispark/waterpump issue was resolved. Today you can buy parts to rebuild an optispark for reasonable prices. The opti developed a bad rep that it's had a hard time shaking because for the younger folks driving the cars with early LT1's it was an expensive problem, old news today.

LT1 has better throttle response than an LS1, the LS1 is a bit smoother and does make more power in stock form. I would look at a '97 TA or Camaro based on it's overall condition, it the car was cared for the engine should not be a problem...

I own an 94 Z with the LT1 and the like was mentioned changing the plugs are the most pain in the ass job you'll have to do. The opti problems are in the past and they are reliable. I had my LT1 for over 5 years before I touched my opti and the only reason I did was I figured it was about time I should. I went ahead and changed the opti and the water pump since I already had it off. Never had a problem with the motor and another plus the parts are getting cheaper (as in price) even from last year. Check out the car and make sure everything is ok first. Yea the LS engine is more powerfull than the LT in stock form but there is a company (eportworks.com) that can get you to 370-430 rwhp for 1.7k-2k. So the engine still has a lot of potential! I would say get it!!

Thanks Guys,

I picked the car up today.....going out of town for the weekend, but when I get back I'll get to detail it real good. I have to say I like it:yes:

I looked at the LS1's and had a 1999 SS in the past, but did not want to spend a lot of money. I felt the price was fair for this car, what do you guys think?
1997 Trans Am Convertible, Red ext/gry int. 119K mls. All the suspension has been changed out with Ibach springs, kyb adj shocks, lakewood control arms and panhard bar. Also new brakes/rotors....reg maintenance records...was always parked in covered garage at work and home.

Everything works and is in good condition, rides tight, quiet, no rattles sqeaks.....Very quite for a convertible, easy to talk, did not have to yell to talk to passengers.

The worst part are paint chips on the nose area, but hey after ten years driving in Houston, thats a given.

The prior owner changed the water pump and stated that he had no problem with the opti spark, he did on a 93' he owned after he powerwashed it, but took it apart, let it dry out and sealed it with RTV and never had a problem again.

The top did not leak when I did a water test.
During the test run I was impressed.....nice power:thumbsup:.

It is an automatic, caught a nice second in drive, very responsive.

I think and hope its going to make a great weeekend car....maybe I'll keep it long enough to pass it on to one of my kids, actually my daughter loves convertible cars.

Again I appreciate your input, thanks guys... I'm already thinking ram hood..Thats how it starts:D

Lt1 is a stout motor.
Can't you do coil packs for the Lt1 (like on the LsX motors)? If I remember correctly someone on texas f body had one on there lt1 stroker.
I rode in a bone stock impala Lt1 and it got sideways, that right there should be enough to convince you to buy one.
How often do u really need to mess with a motor? Almost never other than oil and what not (assuming the tuning is correct). I always see people at the drag strip trying to nickle and dime there hp or times, popping there hood every 5 seconds. I find it alot more enjoyable to get in a car, crank it up and not mess with any of that if it's already running good.

I had a 95 vette and loved it. It had about 80k on it when I got it and about 105k when I sold it. I was considering the LT4 conversion kit for it along with long tube headers but ended up putting the $ towards a newer one with an LS2. My neighbor is building a 57 chevy with a 500+ hp LT1 motor built by Golens. The throttle response is unbelievable.

http://www.philwoolford.com/camaro/Joel57_Engine.jpg

I had a 95 vette and loved it. It had about 80k on it when I got it and about 105k when I sold it. I was considering the LT4 conversion kit for it along with long tube headers but ended up putting the $ towards a newer one with an LS2. My neighbor is building a 57 chevy with a 500+ hp LT1 motor built by Golens. The throttle response is unbelievable.

http://www.philwoolford.com/camaro/Joel57_Engine.jpg
This car is sick!

i've got the LT1 out of my 94 Caprice laying around waiting to get put back together an bolted into my Monte, but it needs gaskets and a cam before it's ready to go in..
it had 230,000 miles on it when i took it out of the car, so i popped the heads off to see how worn it was. to my surprise, it looked brand freaking new in there. no ridge on the cylinders- not even a carbon ridge- and i could plainly see the crosshatch all the way down all the cylinders. pistons were standard bore GM, and the bearings also looked brand new and were standard sized with a GM part number.
i couldn't believe it.
my only real dilemma is that the newer Gen3 engines are getting so damn cheap that it almost doesn't make sense to go thru the expense of putting it together. i figure that a 5.3 truck motor puts out more power and torque stock, and parts for them are getting insanely cheap and easy to come by, so i don't even really know if i should bother with the LT1..

Thats what I am putting in my 68 coupe. Using the fuel injection and 4l60E.

I've got a 95 Impala SS with the LT1 , I bought it with 20,000 mi. on it.
Now it has 160,000 and all I have done besides oil changes is put in a new water pump. So is it hard to work on I couldn't tell you since it has been trouble free for all those miles and still very fast. I love it.

working on an LT1 in an F body is waaay different than working on one in a B body.
plugs and wires are easy in the full size car, they are an all day affair in an F body.
want to put headers on your Camaro? you better plan on spending the better part of a weekend fighting it. on a Caprice, it's just like any old car.
but getting to the water pump and opti on each car is pretty similar..