Why are LT1 Fbodies SO cheap?
08-08-2018, 11:38 AM
#41
Team Owner
^^^ @vvv90, Ahh, another person with first-hand experience with the LT1. 
Koko... did you really just say that? "IF installed correctly, it SHOULD never fail, IF NEW!"
Koko... did you really just say that? "IF installed correctly, it SHOULD never fail, IF NEW!"
Last edited by K-Spaz; 08-08-2018 at 11:39 AM.
08-08-2018, 11:46 AM
#42
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
08-08-2018, 12:06 PM
#44
Team Owner
I didn't say that AT ALL. However, you may find if increasingly difficult to get repair parts for the Opti. From what I read in the past, the key to a properly functioning Opti was the optical sensor, a MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURED optical sensor. These sensors were OE for the Opti, but Mitsu quit making them, a number of years ago. So, if your Opti quits, and you look for a rebuilt unit, your chances of finding one with that sensor are getting slimmer by the day.
There was a Corvette oriented outfit whose name I forget at the moment, that manufactured what was supposed to be a superior, replacement Opti-Spark unit. It was called the 'Dyna-Spark', but the original outfit ran into financial issues, and then somebody else bought the parts inventory and manufacturing/sales rights. But I think that they, too, crashed and burned, because the market for them wasn't as big as they thought.
There was a Corvette oriented outfit whose name I forget at the moment, that manufactured what was supposed to be a superior, replacement Opti-Spark unit. It was called the 'Dyna-Spark', but the original outfit ran into financial issues, and then somebody else bought the parts inventory and manufacturing/sales rights. But I think that they, too, crashed and burned, because the market for them wasn't as big as they thought.
08-08-2018, 12:12 PM
#45
Team Owner
I nearly bought one 5 years ago when I found a beat up good running C5 for a similar price
08-08-2018, 12:17 PM
#46
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Last edited by Sawbone; 08-08-2018 at 12:21 PM.
08-08-2018, 12:23 PM
#47
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
I previously owned a C4 and loved it when I first got it, but wow, the day I sold that LT1 just to get it away from me was wayyy better. If the camaro is more difficult to work on then good luck. I still have nightmares about having to yet again change out the optispark and waterpump while having to dismantle the camberbrace I needed because the chassy was so floppy. The oil leaks and cheap plastic parts disintegrating were a constant problem. I would go with something different.
08-08-2018, 12:47 PM
#49
Race Director
IIRC It has nothing to do with installation, but rather a design flaw. The harmonics generated by the cam drive causes the ball bearings to fail and why all the LT1 guys were going with electric pumps instead. I chose to replace it with an OEM one. Sold the car 2000 miles later.
08-08-2018, 12:47 PM
#50
Team Owner
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.
08-08-2018, 12:50 PM
#51
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08-08-2018, 12:51 PM
#52
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FWIW my mechanic and good friend advised against me getting a C4, based mostly on the LT1, but also because of parts availability with other key components, like the HVAC control unit.
08-08-2018, 12:52 PM
#54
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08-08-2018, 01:21 PM
#55
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08-08-2018, 01:24 PM
#56
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08-08-2018, 01:29 PM
#57
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
Even mechanics with all exotic equipment hate those cars. Know a mechanic in San Diego that will not work on that generation Camaro/Trans Am. Many Vette tuners or mechanics will not work on C4s. There is one in SD that knows how to tune the LT4/OBD-2 but his words "It takes too ******* long, I will not do it"
08-08-2018, 01:30 PM
#58
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08-08-2018, 01:32 PM
#60
Team Owner
As were any of the alternative methods of tuning/fueling an LT1. When guys are seriously thankful they swapped to a quadrajet, you know all you need to know.