LT4 C4C5Specialist? Part lt1 Part lt4

[tomls1]

part lt1 part lt4

it turns out that the 96 ce with engine rebuild that i'm looking to buy has an lt1 block in it. i talked to the shop who did the work and they said that lt4 blocks are not readily available (gm wouldn't sell him one), so he used an lt1 block. i'm trying to get peoples thoughts on this. the car ran great, but i'm concerned if it'll be a problem in the future...the guy at the shop said that it will actually be more reliable in the long term, but i don't know if he's just saying that. the car's a good deal $15,500 as is with an oil leak. any opinions???

tom

 

[Vettelt193]

first off, 15,500 isn't that great of a deal... how many miles? If it has been rebuilt I am assuming it has high miles.

The LT1 and LT4 share the same block... there are many other differences, including the pistons and crank... Does the guy have receipts showing what parts are in the engine?

 

[tomls1]

it's got about 75,000 miles on it, and about 3000 on the engine. he says he has the paperwork on the engine but i haven't seen it yet.

 

[Vettelt193]

check it out for sure... have you seen the LT4 LT1 comparison? I think there is a link to it on www.lt4.com it has all the part numbers etc. for all the different parts between lt1 and lt4... I know most people buy the LT4 hotcam kit and think they have an LT4, then wonder why their car doesn't run like an LT4... it is because of all the other changes made!

Also, why was it rebuilt? that's not many miles for major problems...

Last, but not least, you can find a better deal... I only paid 18,300 for my 'Vette almost a year ago... with only 28k, all the options, and the rare and valuable torch red interior... Yes, I got a fantastic deal from someone who didn't know what they had, but with a rebuilt engine, you shouldn't pay more than $14k for that vette IMO.

 

[Eric]

Actually there is a great LT1/LT4 comparison here at http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/1996/lt1lt4.html.

- Eric

 

[Skant]

I'd shy away from it. The LT1 and LT4 are significantly different engines. So what you're looking at there is a frankenvette. You may have problems figuring out which parts are compatible with it and which aren't as well as what else he had to do to make it work. It will be a mystery car.

The computer and certainly the tach in your dash probably still think its a real LT4 and will use the higher red line... it's not so much higher (about 500rpm) that the engine will immediately self destruct, but it will hammer it each time you take it up all the way.

I'd say either walk away from it or make him give you a much better price. If it were me, I'd only consider it if the price were arond $10,000. The odds of inheriting a problem car are just too great, imho.

- Skant