grayml

Hello everyone,
I have a carefully maintained 94 LT1 with 126K miles on it. I have replaced normal wear items but I have had no mechanical problems with the drivetrain at all. The oil is changed at no more than 5K intervals.
Can I reasonably expect to get 200K miles on the LT1 before getting a rebuild? How about the tranny?
Anyone have experiences with this?
Thanks

midlifecrisis91

Not Me. I'm only at 45k

grayml

Lucky U

Corvette Kid

Childs play.... I've got a friend with over 250K on a 94 and it always has been and is, still a daily driver. Still has it's original bottom end too. So drive it, maintain it and enjoy it. My original 4L60E is still working well AND holding up to 400+ HP w/ over 100K on it.

Stolit

My 1995 coupe has ~206k on it. Daily driven. Nice ride.

The downside is that the car was bought at auction with an unknown history. However, the features all work, and the car still goes fine. The thing is that, judging from the way the engine starts, runs, and certain "quirks" about it, I'm guessing that it's never been rebuilt and probably won't last much longer.

My old 1991 (L98, I know) had ~120k on it with an unrebuilt engine (trans had been rebuilt @ 100k) and ran perfectly and as strongly as the day it emerged from the factory. The engine was in fantastic mechanical condition, even after a lot of flogging at the drag strip and Willow Springs.

The tranny and rear of the '95 are unknown, but I'd bet the trans has been rebuilt at least once (shifts fine for a car with that many miles). For the rear, I don't know. It makes no noise, but then, my brother and father have had numerous vehicles that had no problems with the rear even at nearly 200k miles.

So, basically, yes. C4s have a good lifespan. You can probably get 200k out of the motor before needing a rebuild (I'm replacing mine entirely). The tranny...I don't know, but I really doubt it. They last for a while, though.

redwing76

With good maintenace and reasonable driving you'll probably get bored with the car before it gives up the ghost.
Give the car to a teenager and its all bets are off.

Ibuyvettes

80% of the time the motor outlasts the car.

biggrizzly

I bought my 94 about three or four years ago with 80K on it. It now has 125K. I replaced the factory plugs and wires at 110K and it still runs awesome. I have not dyno'd it since the new plugs and wires, but it pulled 249 RWHP with 110K miles approx. and factory plugs and wires. I do have a new opti and water pump sitting in the closet ready to install, but I'm waiting for cam and rockers to go in at the same time. It does have a slight oil leak coming from the front of the intake. It loses a few drops a week on the driveway. Nothing to get too concerned about at this point.

The automatic sometimes seems a little slushy to me, but overall it's still a good runner. It has won best in class at two smallish car shows in the past couple of years and gets lots of looks still in its mid-life.

I have been told she will go an easy 200k. btw - I use Amsoil since I bought it.

Wayne88

My '88 has 125K its still very strong and burns no oil, its well maintained.
I don't expect any problems with the engine.

belmor

My 96' runs perfectly at 90K, i have a buddy with a 96' Z28 with 255k on the original LT1/NOS/headers and run hard the whole time, never had the pan off so i think if they are well maintained should be no issue
~B~

Arthur6

greenvette95

My girl just turned 100,000 yesterday. Runs great. She is a DD .

Ruby18823

My '93 daily driver has a little over 183K and is happily roaring along.

Jim Strathearn

My '85 L98 has 305K miles and counting... Oil gets changed every 5K w/Mobil 1. Still runs a 14.2 quarter mile!

CentralCoaster

Awesome.


Vettes don't die from natural causes, they die from neglect.

j3studio

Thanks for jumping in, Jim! I figured you would be able to speak to this question with some experience...

ElisTwoCents

that will be the quote of the day at my work tommorrow
my 87 has 170k on her and runs very strong....original engine. The tranny was rebuilt at 140k...just change the oil often and thats good as gold

prattman

Bought my 94 with 92,000 on it. It has over 152K on it now, daily driver, and it is running great. I hope to get over 200K, will have to wait and see...

Flame Red

Any my tranny only lasted less than 30K miles.

crkemppainen

Thats a lot better than mine

My '93 Vette has 147K on it and it runs like a bat out of hell. I even use nitrous.

the LT-1 is about as good as it gets, in my opinion. If I didn't have plans to stroke it, I think it'd go foerver