Why are LT1 Fbodies SO cheap?
08-08-2018, 09:17 AM
#21
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
They are cheap because they haven't hit that market point yet. Also LT1's are not that special, any worth collecting would be the models right before they switched over to the LS1 or the LS was an option,and had the LT4 motor. So for collection purposes they are not going to be worth anything. as a Hot rod thou... you can make that LT1 into a LT4 fairly easy and take on a LS1 motor without issue. I've been looking for a L98 for awhile now but they seem to have been all crushed. I have a hell of an intake for that motor just itching to get put on and ran. I'm guessing I could use it on other blocks as long as it's similar to the L98.
I still remember when the same thing was said about the C3 Corvette
08-08-2018, 09:28 AM
#23
Race Director
Maybe because they are 22-25 years old. I never thought they were ugly but u had to get a color and wheels u like 
I nearly bought one 5 years ago when I found a beat up good running C5 for a similar price
I nearly bought one 5 years ago when I found a beat up good running C5 for a similar price
08-08-2018, 09:46 AM
#24
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also 2 71's that I loved
08-08-2018, 09:55 AM
#26
Race Director
Being a former owner of a '92 LT1 I can speculate it has to do with both the optispark ignition system (especially '92) but mostly the lack of tuning options. You have to flash the prom and it made tuning my supercharged engine...well....near impossible.
08-08-2018, 09:55 AM
#27
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08-08-2018, 09:58 AM
#28
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The LS platform is so much easier to make power with
08-08-2018, 09:58 AM
#29
Team Owner
25 year old cars. That's why.
08-08-2018, 10:08 AM
#30
But to add to the list:
Rear ends made from glass
Terrible brakes
Extremely shitty build quality (a GM tradition)
1995 was an oddball with an OBDII connector, but was still OBD1 (except California cars)
Problematic T-tops (leaky, had a tendency to fly away when the plastic handle stripped)
Gas gauge not linear
08-08-2018, 10:09 AM
#31
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St. Jude Donor '05
Except use a 400 block some good heads and a solid roller...dress it up as a 350.
Had a 70 Z28 with ported heads the 140 cam and extrude honed the stock intake..even with stock manifolds it ran pretty strong. It was my one and only DD.
Shame so many are afraid to drive them today, no reason not to!! Never let me down, never did anythign except change oil and lash valves 1x a yr.
A carbed car is just reliable as anything else, most dont know how to tune one thats all.
Last edited by cv67; 08-08-2018 at 10:10 AM.
08-08-2018, 10:25 AM
#32
Team Owner
Because the only reason to buy one is if you are too broke to buy an LS1 car, and those are cheap, making the LT1 car pretty worthless.
08-08-2018, 10:28 AM
#34
Team Owner
08-08-2018, 10:39 AM
#36
Race Director
08-08-2018, 10:45 AM
#37
Team Owner
I own one, have owned it since new in 93. I'd love to restore it and it's the only reason I've kept it. But it's a daunting project and even with a new engine in it, I am not thrilled with the idea of tuning on a OBD1 SD car with no programmability of the PCM. I admit, I've not looked into that very much though. It may be simpler than I give credit for.
I hate the ignition systems. People berate the Optispark, and that's fine, it is a pos design. But they forget about the ignition module carried over from the HEI days that was an even bigger pos. When failing, it turns the exhaust system into an incendiary bomb, and it does so with no warning, and no diagnostic aids in finding it. (for those who are not familiar with the symptoms). Switching of high energy had been long abandoned by any sane engineers, but of course, GM was late to the party.
Then there IS the opti, with its ridiculous 5" diameter codewheel and oversized optical pickup. One that was sealed to begin with so that it fogged inside and had no vent whatsoever (later addressed, but not really). And, it was also offered a pathway to leakage from the crankcase so you not only had condensation, but could easily add oil to the mix. A wonderful design for an optical system.
And this was all at a time when optical encoders were readily available in small sizes, and could have been located such that access to oil from the timing cover would not have been possible. A positively brain dead design.
And way, way easier to tune. It also tends to learn on it's own as the engine ages, where the OBD1 system of the LT1, only learns how to fuel improperly as engine wear occurs. LTFT's are a pita on an LT1 without aftermarket controls.
I hate the ignition systems. People berate the Optispark, and that's fine, it is a pos design. But they forget about the ignition module carried over from the HEI days that was an even bigger pos. When failing, it turns the exhaust system into an incendiary bomb, and it does so with no warning, and no diagnostic aids in finding it. (for those who are not familiar with the symptoms). Switching of high energy had been long abandoned by any sane engineers, but of course, GM was late to the party.
Then there IS the opti, with its ridiculous 5" diameter codewheel and oversized optical pickup. One that was sealed to begin with so that it fogged inside and had no vent whatsoever (later addressed, but not really). And, it was also offered a pathway to leakage from the crankcase so you not only had condensation, but could easily add oil to the mix. A wonderful design for an optical system.
And this was all at a time when optical encoders were readily available in small sizes, and could have been located such that access to oil from the timing cover would not have been possible. A positively brain dead design.And way, way easier to tune. It also tends to learn on it's own as the engine ages, where the OBD1 system of the LT1, only learns how to fuel improperly as engine wear occurs. LTFT's are a pita on an LT1 without aftermarket controls.
08-08-2018, 10:48 AM
#38
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I own one, have owned it since new in 93. I'd love to restore it and it's the only reason I've kept it. But it's a daunting project and even with a new engine in it, I am not thrilled with the idea of tuning on a OBD1 SD car with no programmability of the PCM. I admit, I've not looked into that very much though. It may be simpler than I give credit for.
I hate the ignition systems. People berate the Optispark, and that's fine, it is a pos design. But they forget about the ignition module carried over from the HEI days that was an even bigger pos. When failing, it turns the exhaust system into an incendiary bomb, and it does so with no warning, and no diagnostic aids in finding it. (for those who are not familiar with the symptoms). Switching of high energy had been long abandoned by any sane engineers, but of course, GM was late to the party.
Then there IS the opti, with its ridiculous 5" diameter codewheel and oversized optical pickup. One that was sealed to begin with so that it fogged inside and had no vent whatsoever (later addressed, but not really). And, it was also offered a pathway to leakage from the crankcase so you not only had condensation, but could easily add oil to the mix. A wonderful design for an optical system. And this was all at a time when optical encoders were readily available in small sizes, and could have been located such that access to oil from the timing cover would not have been possible. A positively brain dead design.
And way, way easier to tune. It also tends to learn on it's own as the engine ages, where the OBD1 system of the LT1, only learns how to fuel improperly as engine wear occurs. LTFT's are a pita on an LT1 without aftermarket controls.
I hate the ignition systems. People berate the Optispark, and that's fine, it is a pos design. But they forget about the ignition module carried over from the HEI days that was an even bigger pos. When failing, it turns the exhaust system into an incendiary bomb, and it does so with no warning, and no diagnostic aids in finding it. (for those who are not familiar with the symptoms). Switching of high energy had been long abandoned by any sane engineers, but of course, GM was late to the party.
Then there IS the opti, with its ridiculous 5" diameter codewheel and oversized optical pickup. One that was sealed to begin with so that it fogged inside and had no vent whatsoever (later addressed, but not really). And, it was also offered a pathway to leakage from the crankcase so you not only had condensation, but could easily add oil to the mix. A wonderful design for an optical system.
And this was all at a time when optical encoders were readily available in small sizes, and could have been located such that access to oil from the timing cover would not have been possible. A positively brain dead design.And way, way easier to tune. It also tends to learn on it's own as the engine ages, where the OBD1 system of the LT1, only learns how to fuel improperly as engine wear occurs. LTFT's are a pita on an LT1 without aftermarket controls.
One of the reasons that I went with a '96 LT1 with an OBD2......diagnostics are so much easier even
08-08-2018, 11:15 AM
#39
Race Director
No, it's much harder than you can imagine unless you get a proven head/cam combo with a proven flash but even then there's climate and altitude differences. Just forget the idea and go with an aftermarket injection system. It will pay for itself in both time, money and frustration.
I forgot about that issue. 
Let's not forget failing rear manifold gasket that leaks oil all over the expensive dual mass flywheel that can't be resurfaced. God I could go an and on about that piece of **** design.
Oh yeah, the shitty cam driven water pump seal on mine failed and broke the second Optispark I had vented. Sucked coolant right up into it.
I hate the ignition systems. People berate the Optispark, and that's fine, it is a pos design. But they forget about the ignition module carried over from the HEI days that was an even bigger pos. When failing, it turns the exhaust system into an incendiary bomb, and it does so with no warning, and no diagnostic aids in finding it. (for those who are not familiar with the symptoms). Switching of high energy had been long abandoned by any sane engineers, but of course, GM was late to the party.
Let's not forget failing rear manifold gasket that leaks oil all over the expensive dual mass flywheel that can't be resurfaced. God I could go an and on about that piece of **** design.
Then there IS the opti, with its ridiculous 5" diameter codewheel and oversized optical pickup. One that was sealed to begin with so that it fogged inside and had no vent whatsoever (later addressed, but not really). And, it was also offered a pathway to leakage from the crankcase so you not only had condensation, but could easily add oil to the mix.
08-08-2018, 11:37 AM
#40
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2017 Corvette of the Year
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Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17