I put this together from some previous posts but as far as I can remember this is my cars history. (And it seems like it was just yesterday it was brand new…)
I have a 97 C5 I bought Feb of 2000 (w/222mi). I put 22,000mi the first year, so the now 145,000mi is for the last 2 and ½ years.
Installed a flowmaster exhaust the first week.
I installed a 160 deg thermostat the same week.
I have had to replace both rearview mirrors because of the broken retainer spring thing.
At some point and I don’t really remember I had the steering column lock replaced. (I have the paperwork I just haven’t dug through it)
I let the display tell me when to change the oil, (It ends up being 6 – 8000 mi).
This particular LS1 does not drink oil. (It's down about 1/4 to 1/2 qt. each oil change.)
I had the parking break assembly replaced at about 78,000 mi.
The right rear hub assembly was rebuilt at about 82,000.
I replaced the clutch with a z06 kit w/z06 slave @85,000.
I turned rotors and replaced pads @ 90,000 (rotors were in great shape!)
I installed Bilstein sports @100,000.
I changed all the other fluids around 110,000. (Diff, Trans, Coolant).
I replaced the H-pipe w/cats, they were blown and making an annoying, buzzing/rattling noise. This was back in May I don’t remember the mileage. It needed to have a smog check done here in CA.
When it started getting hot out here it was running a lot hotter than I comfortable with so I cleaned out the radiator and the A/C condenser. The temps are back down to where I like it. Low 170’s to mid 180’s in the morning. High 180’s to low 200’s in the heat of the day.
I’d like to say more on what to expect but to be honest I start it up in the morning, jump up on the freeway (about 1.5 miles from my house) drive the 97 miles to work. Then when I get off I drive it the 108 miles back home (I pick up my son). In other words it’s almost exclusively highway miles.
This car made maybe 35 or 40 passes at Sac raceway. (Best was 13.0/110 mph), and several sessions at the Thunder hill road course in it’s earlier days. It is of course now retired from such activities since it is getting a bit long in the tooth.
I still make it to some of the f-body/LS1 cruses a local car club has and it holds it’s own when we get to some of the “out in the boonies” twisties.
The bottom line is to wash it every weekend keep up the normal maintenance and enjoy.
Another thing I do not drive it "like your fathers Oldsmobile".
Looking back now it looks like a lot has been done but to be honest considering the way I have been putting miles on it I am very satisfied.
The good news is I quit the job with that gawd awful commute so it’s back to normal driving in my consulting business until we move to FL.
EDIT: Oh yeah, the temperature display in the A/C head unit has just gone out and the unit needs replacing. C4C5 specialist has informed me the cost will be around $700 bucks so I live with it for a while. The A/C works fine I just have to count the clicks to set it at a certain temp.
I’m going to drive it down to Oxnard late tonight for a few days of golf with my father, and I still look forward to driving this thing…….I Love my car!!!!
