Problems?

[morbidangelIROC]

Just curious, what kind of minor or major problems have you LS1 guys had with your cars? plugs burn up faster? wires faulty? anything and everything that has been a pain that you had to replace please tell me!! thanks guys

Morbid

[00SSvert]

I've had mind for a few weeks now and have had no problems. The CATs are starting to clob, but I have a full exhaust planned anyway.

[Mykdiver]

None yet, that is the awesome thing about LS1s.

[mustang muncher]

CLoged cats but hollowed them out and put sims in then just got rid of them and put in headers and ORY.

[CamaroPilot]

Seconded...plus you'll get a much nicer noise out the back

[00SSvert]

Oh, I forgot to say, my 3-4 gear fork is the TSB aluminum one, but that has nothing to do with the LS1.

If you're thinking of buying a pre 2001 LS1 with a T-56 the new steel fork is $49. I'll do a write up on the new fork when I do a clutch, clutch master cyl., slave, and fork upgrade/replacement. Probably a few months away.

[mr._bowtie]

LS1's sometimes will burn a little oil, but that really dosnt effect how they perform, so thats nothing to worry about. Other then that I cant think of a single thing they have to deal with. Not like their little brother the LT1 that had a few weak links.

[morbidangelIROC]

would I need to constantly add oil if it burns a little? and I cant believe that theres nothing really wrong with it!!

[02VTZ]

Piston slap. Big time!

[morbidangelIROC]

huh? what do you mean by Piston Slap?

[mr._bowtie]

No you dont need to constantly add oil. Most of the time I have only heard of guys using about a quart every 3-4K. Which means if you just add a little about half way through your oil change your good to go.

The Piston slap isnt really a problem, its just a noise. It in aBSOLUTLY no way effects the performance of the engine. You might get a car that does it or you might not. MY 00 Z28 had 68K on the clock when I sold her and she never did it. Now my dads 02 2500 HD pickup has done it since it was brand new with 0 miles on it. Not something that you even really need to be concerned with. It actually only does it on cold starts.

[morbidangelIROC]

what is it though?

[02VTZ]

I know Nic knows more about vehicles then I will in my life so I hope he is right! What actually causes it seems bound to shorten engine life to me. GM says there is no problem so if ya got it, your stuck. It is actually the piston skirt striking the cylinder wall. Too much clearance between them. As the engine warms up, the metal expands reducing the clearance and therefore decreasing the GOD-AWFUL racket. I have read that LS1's have noisy valvetrains too and may contribute to the overall noise. Either way, it sucks. I have had friends/co-workers razz me when they hear it start up. "Got any oil in that thing?" I don't think the problem was strictly an LS1 problem either. If I knew how to post a link I could put one up explaining the whole deal. Go to MSN or Yahoo and type in GM piston slap. It sounds reall scary to me down the road!

[morbidangelIROC]

but for the most part theres nothing really that can fail and leave me straded right?

[02VTZ]

I don't think so. Nic, and others were the guys who explained it to me when I first signed up to Z28.com. When my Z warms up, the noise is gone mostly. Like he said you'll notice it most on cold starts. I try not to romp on mine till it has warmed up a bit. My Camaro pulls strong and hard so it doesn't seem a problem presently. My concern is years/miles down the road that the constant smacking of one or more pistons against the cylinder walls will increase the clearance to the point it doesn't stop. Warm engine or not. Hopefully if you get an LS1, you will get one that doesn't have this condition. There is no mistaking the sound. Very obvious.