[Dave B]

I have one of the last LT1 cars and need to upgrade to an LS1. The '01s and '02 are coming off lease and seem tempting.

I figure there must be somethings to look out for compared to the LT1. What are the common engine failure/warranty fixes? I know the power steering pump is a big problem for race track use. On my LT1 this was solved with pulleys but it has a remote reservoir. Are pulleys available for LS1 cars? Do they work or do I need a power steering cooler?

Any easy fix for the rear wheel brake hop?

This car will be used for street and track use including competition but the engine will be stock except for a lid and possibly headers ( if they are worth it)

Also if I get an intake lid is there any difference in power between SS/WS6 cars and regular coupes? I will be altering the suspension significantly so it doesn't matter about the stock spring rates etc.

Another small point. I bought my LT1 new and defintely did not want T tops as they seem to leak. If you have them do your T tops leak? It may take me a while to find a relatively loaded car without them.

[John_D.]

The only time I've noticed my '98 leak, is when I'm at a high pressure drive-through car wash. (the kind where you sit in the car and the jets move back and forth over the car)

The left front corner (driver's side, front, just about over my knee) and the right rear corner (passenger side, rear floorboard). It's only a little, right after the jets pass over. I think it's in those 2 opposite corners because the left front tire is up on that little ramp do-hicky that tells the car wash that you're in position.

I can't think of anything significant to look out for. This has been discussed a few times over on ls1tech.com

The older ls1 cars sometimes had sudden oil pump failures. I think all of them sometimes spew a rocker bearing. Some people have trouble with window motors. The older ones were more prone to oil getting through the pcv, but the 01-02 should be ok.

If you're going to be turning high rpms for long periods of time, you should probably just go ahead and get a TurnOne power steering pump. A cooler might work. Some of the cars came with a cooler - it's tied into the radiator hose on that side.