Is this an LT1???

Ok, I am in the process of buying a '94 decomissioned cop car. They advertised it as having an LT1 5.7L. When I decoded the VIN through here, GM Vin Information (http://www.theherd.com/articles/gmvin.html) , the car's VIN has an 8th digit of W, which means it is a L99 4.3L.
I haven't picked up the car yet, but I have pics of the engine bay. Do the 4.3Ls look like this?
http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3807615/1141341436085_cc20.JPG
http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3807615/1142517281391_cc21.JPG

4.3

W = wimpy 4.3
P = powerful LT1

Pretty much impossible to tell by looking at the engine as they are physically the same size. But based on your VIN, W= wimpy 4.3.

yeah thats a 4.3, the guy is BS you, they look alike but as cd said w=4.3, p =LT1=)

One other way would be to decode the VIN on the engine which will tell you about the engine (similar concept to the VIN for the car).

Well after I told the guy to go look at the Catalyst sticker under the hood he seemed embarrassed and said he made a mistake.
He said I could have it for $2000.00.
It's got 100,000 miles and I think I am going to get it.
Is that a fair price?

http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3807615/1141307406525_cc1.JPG

DOSENT SOUND TO BAD, post a pic of the spid, if its really a 9c1 car it would be worth it

the easiest way to tell from the LT1 and a L99, the LT1 has dual exhaust and the L99 has a single exhaust. you'll prolly figure it out by the size of the engine. one more thing infront of the engine where the fan sits theres a discription of what motor is in it.:grinno:

but some may do a custom exhaust on the 4.3 then theres no way to tell, the way with the VIN is really easy

true but i thought this guy was picking up a striaght ex cop car so i really dun thin cops would have custom dual exhaust systems

also true, but you never know

that not an lt1. i had a camro that had lt1 and its easy to tell if it is or not.:smokin:

the lt1 in a caprice and a camaro look different, the lt1's in a caprice look just like that

Pickup up the Caprice yesterday and it runs, drives, steers, brakes and corners great.
Looked at the SPID label tonight (too dark to take a pic), the ones that stood out are: 9C1 (Police package) and G80 (limited slip rear).

I found the brochure that list some of the codes, anyone know where I can find a complete list to decode all of my SPID codes?

I am happy with the car, thanks fellas and I will be hanging around here more often now :grinyes:


BTW- it has a 6Y1 code which is "molding non-installed - bodyside front doors". What is the use of this? I am tempted to take the rest of the trim off to match the doors but there is alot of glue/adhesive behind them.

6Y1 is useful if you a police department that uses a big shield for a logo on the front doors... No moulding makes it easier to install the logo....

6Y1 is useful if you a police department that uses a big shield for a logo on the front doors... No moulding makes it easier to install the logo....
Thanks, never even thought of that.
BTW-Howdy neighbor, I see your from Wichita, I live in Derby and work in Wichita. See you on the road.

Yeah, a camaro LT-1 and a caprice LT-1 look pretty different
But it's not that hard to tell the difference between various caprice engines- if you have an LT-1 caprice to compare with. That and it will say in several places that it has an LT-1. But the dual exhaust is the biggest clue. That and bigger exhaust manifolds. Different intake. There were some other things which I can't think of right now....

http://www.capriceclassic.com/spids.html ther ya go

http://www.capriceclassic.com/spids.html ther ya go
So, I'm looking over this list- and I'm thinking "Gee this isn't the best list"
Since a bunch of the codes off my car aren't on it. Or they're wrong. As I know I don't have a "M39 TRANSMISSION, MAN 5 SPD B0RG WARNER, 77MM, 2.95" and the other transmission code(MXD) isn't on there.
I just took those off of my car, so either it's wrong or someone needs to do some fact checking.
*also no rear spoiler(R4Z)*

So, I'm looking over this list- and I'm thinking "Gee this isn't the best list"
Since a bunch of the codes off my car aren't on it. Or they're wrong. As I know I don't have a "M39 TRANSMISSION, MAN 5 SPD B0RG WARNER, 77MM, 2.95" and the other transmission code(MXD) isn't on there.
I just took those off of my car, so either it's wrong or someone needs to do some fact checking.
*also no rear spoiler(R4Z)*

M30 is 4L60E and MX0 is marketing 4-speed OD auto. There is no M39 or MXD in any Caprice, if you see that on your SPID then look again. Should be M30 and MX0,

The main transmission codes for V8 9C1s throughout the 80s and 90s (till the death in '96), are:

MX0 Marketing for 4-spd auto overdrive
MD8 TH700R4 (through '86) or 4L60 ('87-'93)
M30 4L60E ('94-'96)
MW9 TH2004R

its a pretty generalized list

Okay, I looked again, as you suggested- and it still says mxd and m39. However, I do have to 4L60E transmission. So, I don't know. Typo?

Pickup up the Caprice yesterday and it runs, drives, steers, brakes and corners great.
Looked at the SPID label tonight (too dark to take a pic), the ones that stood out are: 9C1 (Police package) and G80 (limited slip rear).

I found the brochure that list some of the codes, anyone know where I can find a complete list to decode all of my SPID codes?

I am happy with the car, thanks fellas and I will be hanging around here more often now :grinyes:


BTW- it has a 6Y1 code which is "molding non-installed - bodyside front doors". What is the use of this? I am tempted to take the rest of the trim off to match the doors but there is alot of glue/adhesive behind them.


GM calls those "RPO" codes. You can find decoders many places, including http://www.impalasuperstore.com/naisso/home/ .

The door trim was left off so the department purchasing the vehicle could have their logos applied to the sides. Some of the mouldings were glued, and some were clipped. If you remove the rest, you may have holes to fill.

FWIW - The L99 and LT1 are externally identical. The most certain way to determine which is which is by decoding the block casting number on the left rear ledge of the block. The engine VIN on the right front deck extension is frequently rusted over or machined off if the block has been decked.

GM calls those "RPO" codes.

They could also be SEO codes. RPO = Regular Production Option, SEO = Special Equipment Option.

So what does the MXO code mean anyway?

Yeah, a camaro LT-1 and a caprice LT-1 look pretty different
But it's not that hard to tell the difference between various caprice engines- if you have an LT-1 caprice to compare with. That and it will say in several places that it has an LT-1. But the dual exhaust is the biggest clue. That and bigger exhaust manifolds. Different intake. There were some other things which I can't think of right now....

I wish people who don't know what they are talking about would shut the hell up:shakehead .

The L99 the only other engine option the LT1 years uses the same exact intake and exhaust manifolds as the LT1, the engines themselves are only externally different in casting numbers. The f-body motor has aluminum heads but otherwise LOOKS THE SAME it is all the crap bolted to it that is different.

Trust me I know more than most on this subject as I have extensive dealings with both motors and the LT1 in my car now wears many of the old parts that were on the L99 and seeing as it has gone 13.2 in the quarter at 4300lbs with me it can't be all that choked up. The car is well modded, 95 Roadmaster LT1(came with L99, this motor is identical to any other b-body LT1) small cam, 2800 stall, 3.42s, longtube headers are the highlights.

The L99 is to the LT1 very much like the 305 is to a gen1 350, externally the same MANY parts interchangable and those that are not exactly the same are of the exact same architecture. Heck one car mag managed to bolt LT4 heads to an L99 block, was a stupid thing to do and required block clearancing for the valves, only made 300hp but shows the vast similarity of the motors.

I wish people who don't know what they are talking about would shut the hell up:shakehead .

The L99 the only other engine option the LT1 years uses the same exact intake and exhaust manifolds as the LT1, the engines themselves are only externally different in casting numbers. The f-body motor has aluminum heads but otherwise LOOKS THE SAME it is all the crap bolted to it that is different.

Trust me I know more than most on this subject as I have extensive dealings with both motors and the LT1 in my car now wears many of the old parts that were on the L99 and seeing as it has gone 13.2 in the quarter at 4300lbs with me it can't be all that choked up. The car is well modded, 95 Roadmaster LT1(came with L99, this motor is identical to any other b-body LT1) small cam, 2800 stall, 3.42s, longtube headers are the highlights.

The L99 is to the LT1 very much like the 305 is to a gen1 350, externally the same MANY parts interchangable and those that are not exactly the same are of the exact same architecture. Heck one car mag managed to bolt LT4 heads to an L99 block, was a stupid thing to do and required block clearancing for the valves, only made 300hp but shows the vast similarity of the motors.

Okay, how about this- From my experience, with my engine, and what I have compared to others- those things that I have said were true. You never know what was done to the car before you buy it.

Thanks, never even thought of that.
BTW-Howdy neighbor, I see your from Wichita, I live in Derby and work in Wichita. See you on the road.

Howdy! Neighbor!

If you want to find information about 9c1 caprices go to www.9c1.com (http://www.9c1.com) this site is very useful

Check that SPID label. It should say either LT1 (for LT1, duh) or L99.

lol, pretty obvious if its an LT1

I wish people who don't know what they are talking about would shut the hell up:shakehead .

The L99 the only other engine option the LT1 years uses the same exact intake and exhaust manifolds as the LT1, the engines themselves are only externally different in casting numbers. The f-body motor has aluminum heads but otherwise LOOKS THE SAME it is all the crap bolted to it that is different.

Trust me I know more than most on this subject as I have extensive dealings with both motors and the LT1 in my car now wears many of the old parts that were on the L99 and seeing as it has gone 13.2 in the quarter at 4300lbs with me it can't be all that choked up. The car is well modded, 95 Roadmaster LT1(came with L99, this motor is identical to any other b-body LT1) small cam, 2800 stall, 3.42s, longtube headers are the highlights.

The L99 is to the LT1 very much like the 305 is to a gen1 350, externally the same MANY parts interchangable and those that are not exactly the same are of the exact same architecture. Heck one car mag managed to bolt LT4 heads to an L99 block, was a stupid thing to do and required block clearancing for the valves, only made 300hp but shows the vast similarity of the motors.
So I could get a set of headers for an LT1 and they would fit my L99?
What are the best fitting headers out there?