Posted by Rover Rob SW Wisconsin. We did so many Vortec oil pumps I was almost sick of looking at cars. For some reason, around here they seem to crap out right around 120k. The LT1 troubles we've been seeing seems to be the wrist pin actually cracking and causing a nasty tick. It sounds like serious piston slap. We've done a bunch, and there are aftermarket alternatives that cure this, but they are such a pain in the arse to work on in general that I pretty much ruled out anything with that engine. Now, start talking LS series engines and I'm all ears! I LOVE the LSx. Potent, efficient, VERY capable. I'm actually taking my non-GM driving arse to a Pontiac dealership to talk about an '06 GTO M6.

the LT1 was the last iteration of the old school small block before the LS1+ series... as for an M6 GTO, the do have the same problem as the F-bodies with the 6speed. On the fast/hard 2-3 shift under hard throttle, they have a tendency to 'hang' in between gears. It was a problem with the linkage in the transmission binding up under the torque loads it was being subjected to. There is an available upgrade (at least for the F-body) and there is a 'gap' that needs to be set for the clutch (a friend of mine went through this with his 2001 Trans Am Ws6)

i think i read on one of the f-body forums back in the day sometime that the 6speed was marginal behind the LS series... but I reject that because the Z06 Corvette doesn't and didn't suffer from this weirdness.

Samurai

I've been hearing a bit about this as well, but since it will stay basically stock and get used for daily transport, I don't think I'll have too much of a problem.

Posted by secretdestroyers you can get them for about 5 grand on ebay. http://i19.ebayimg.../94/33/3e89_12.JPG http://i17.ebayimg.../94/33/912b_12.JPG

A friend of mine had one of these in high school... we had a LOT of fun with it, and were finally contacted by the local authorities to please start using it in a more responsible form. It's amazing how people would get out of your way immediately if you just flashed your high beams... or turned on the red strobe lights we mounted behind the grille.