First F body Mileage/Engine Question

[AJH]

I am looking to get my first f body. I previously have owned 6 fox body mustangs and want a more powerful car stock. I'd like something manual but could deal with a auto for the right price. What I am looking for is fast weekend/summer car that is in good shape and I may do some bolt ons in the short term. I'd really like a firebird but those seem to be more expensive.

I have been looking at F bodies for a while now trying to pick one up and have found a few f bodies in the $4000-6000 range. I have found a few LT1 cars with around 50-70k on them for sale for around $4k to $5K. I have also found a few LS1 cars for sale for as low $4k for a 122k mile car. It seems the going rate for a 120-140k LS1 is about 6-7k from what I have seen. What is the better deal for 4-5k? A low mileage well cared for LT1 or a higher Mileage LS1? Is the LS1 worth taking a car with higher mileage? Here are a few of the cars I am going to try and look at some of these cars this weekend depending on what they say on the phone when I call. Any feedback would really be appreciated. $4k would be really easy to spend for me, $6k is doable, around $7-8k is where my budget starts to get stretched a little thin. So the lower the price the better.

Here is the LT1 I have been eyeing

http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/4098855703.html

Here are the cheaper LS1s

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4030627268.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4020128948.html (same as the first one with more pictures)

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/4105563197.html


Here are the LS1s that I should be able to make work.
http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4074007163.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4075115617.html
http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/4035660287.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/4111747366.html

[c0ncEpT]

IMO stay from LT1's. LS1 prices have come down enough where buying an LT1 shouldn't even be an option. 7K will get you a nice 100K mile 6 speed LS1 car.

[AJH]

Thanks! That's what I was wondering about. I figured a 100k LS1 shouldn't be a problem, but I just wanted to make sure. I like the body style a lot better on the LS1 cars as well, so that's what I will look for then.

[c0ncEpT]

A member JasonH has a 99 Z28 6 speed on here for about that price. Might want to do a search for his for sale thread and check it out.

[JoeliusZ28]

If this is for a daily driver don't buy an LT1.

If this is for a weekend toy, you could consider a very well kept LT1. Do not buy anything neglected.

This is coming from an LT1 owner...


Even with a properly maintained LT1 car, you can expect to have some fix minor things here and there, and also expect to do more research on how to make power if you plan on modifying. In comparison to LS1s they are higher maintenance and more finicky when it comes to matching performance parts. They absolutely can be fun and make good power though, ive knocked a number of people off their high horses with mine and i took it on a 500 mile road trip this summer without any worry of it breaking.

Also the car you linked is a 93... those are harder to modify than a later LT1.

[marlin1893]

Buy the LS1 just check to see if its been taken care of I bought my 2000 Z28 6speed with 128k for $5500 got 27 mpg on highway last summer. It now has 139k just tuned at Jakes and am getting 320hp/334tq at rear wheels I love this car and its still nice and tight handles great. Thinking of pulling the small block out of my V8 Vega and putting in a LS motor night and day difference !!

[Steves94Z28]

IMO stay from LT1's. LS1 prices have come down enough where buying an LT1 shouldn't even be an option. 7K will get you a nice 100K mile 6 speed LS1 car.

Are the LT1's really that bad compared to the LS1's?..... I'm just curious because I have a 94 LT1 that has a fresh rebuild on it. Now you have me worried because this is my first 4th generation Camaro....sorry, not trying to hi jack your thread.

[98blackbeauty]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an LT1 car, The Opti spark has been a weak point of that engine. Properly driven and maintained they are great reliable cars. I have had both and the biggest advantage of the LS1 cars are newer technology.

[Steves94Z28]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an LT1 car, The Opti spark has been a weak point of that engine. Properly driven and maintained they are great reliable cars. I have had both and the biggest advantage of the LS1 cars are newer technology.

Thanks 98blackbeauty, makes me feel much, much better.....