Wanting to buy lt1 got some questions(please help)

ok i have had a 95 camaro v6 which was my first car at the age of 16 then a girl ran into me and totaled that car...17 now...my dad got me a 99 z28...but since that he has quit driving his truck due to problems beyond control...so recently ive been thinking about what kind of car to get here are my picks(in no particular order):

1995-1999 eclipse gsx(somewhat cheap, reliable, good looks w/ aftermarket parts and with tuning VERY fast)
1991-1995 3000gt vr4(very expensive, nice looks stocks and w/ aftermarket, fast stock, and pretty reliable)
1997 corvette(very expensive, nice looks, lack of customizing abilities, fast stock, very reliable)
1993-1997 camaro z28 and/or ss(somewhat cheap, very reliable, good looks, not much customizing ability, somewhat fast)
1993-1997 trans am(somewhat cheap, very reliable, good looks, not much customizing ability, somewhat fast)

opinions on what i should get would be greatly appreciated but now its time for my real question

if i get an lt1 it would probably be around 100,000-120,000 miles + with a high mileage car that i will assume has been raced since lets face it who can refuse to race a fast car... what common problems come with the lt1 engines with high mileage, common mishaps, and also assuming i race like every other 17 year old i have never owned an lt1 so im not quite sure on what to expect

my other question what are easy, cheap ways to make these lt1's move some of the more common things such as cold air induction k&n filter to uncommon suggestions would be greatly appreciated

thanks
JP

1995-1999 eclipse gsx(somewhat cheap, reliable, good looks w/ aftermarket parts and with tuning VERY fast)
1991-1995 3000gt vr4(very expensive, nice looks stocks and w/ aftermarket, fast stock, and pretty reliable)
1997 corvette(very expensive, nice looks, lack of customizing abilities, fast stock, very reliable)
1993-1997 camaro z28 and/or ss(somewhat cheap, very reliable, good looks, not much customizing ability, somewhat fast)
1993-1997 trans am(somewhat cheap, very reliable, good looks, not much customizing ability, somewhat fast)


The mitsubishi's you mentioned are not very reliable. I know the 3000gt is a nightmare with repairs as well as cost of replacement parts. Both cool cars though.


opinions on what i should get would be greatly appreciated but now its time for my real question

if i get an lt1 it would probably be around 100,000-120,000 miles + with a high mileage car that i will assume has been raced since lets face it who can refuse to race a fast car... what common problems come with the lt1 engines with high mileage, common mishaps, and also assuming i race like every other 17 year old i have never owned an lt1 so im not quite sure on what to expect

my other question what are easy, cheap ways to make these lt1's move some of the more common things such as cold air induction k&n filter to uncommon suggestions would be greatly appreciated

thanks
JP[/QUOTE]

Try to buy a 95+ LT1 f-body is you decide to get one. They have the vented optispark distributors that fail less often.
If your getting a high mileage car no matter what make sure the seller has some sort of record of its maintainance. It could be good to go for another 50-100k with few issues if it was very well maintained. You might also want to buy a stock one, because chances are they were not pushed as hard as the average modded f-body.
The best way to start power building on these cars seems to be a cold air intake, and headers along with a quality catback exhaust.
I picked up a 94 Formula a few months back that has 139k on it. It was well maintained and documented, and all stock from the original owner. The optispark had been replaced around 60k and the intake gasket was also replaced before I purchased it. I think I got a pretty good deal on it for 3,000 and it is mechanically sound at the moment. Run a carfax on the car you plan on buying before you fork over the cash too.

Vette. Period.
An eclipse?!!?

OK OK OK...Mitsu...cool cars, NO reliability. And Camaro's/Firebird's no customizing ability?? I think you should have left them off your list then. Any single one of them cars are/can be made faster than balls. And the same thing youd pay for a 95-99 GSX is the same you'd pay for a 93-97 f-body.

And if you wanna have a 97 corvette, I dunno why theres an eclipse on there, and your not getting one either, out of your price range. And if it's not, then why have a 95 v6 in the first place...and don't say I like camaro's and the insurance is high...then you should have gotten an 02 V6. :2cents:

i said this in the other forum...GET THE DAMN VETTE!!! chicks dig the vette, guys dig the vette, hell i bet even animals dig the vette. but on a different note, i know that the LT1 optispark system was poorly designed. if you get a high-mileage engine i would see if that was replaced and if it wasnt i would do that. ofcourse you would want a tune-up and such. also, i hear that chevy engines burn oil fairly nastily as they age...