If you do find a small oil leak that looks like it could be the rear-main seal don't worry about it too much (although if they did replace the transmission you may want to make them look at it), but all LT1's have a small leak off the back of the intake manifold, it's just a matter of time until you see it. They started the engines too early in the factory and didn't let the RTV set up for 24 hours like it was supposed to, so it's a pretty easy fix if it happens. Good luck on the car!

 

Thanks for letting me know that. Good thing to know.

Upon closer inspection of the car I have seen the following:

Coolant leak probably water pump.
Needs tires all around (low tread and some dry cracks).
Front left fog glass broke
Hatch shocks shot.
Tear in drivers seat and rear seat.
Missing washer fluid cap (hmm)
and now i see some red paint overspray on inside driver fender and on left rear exhaust pipe (faint but there)
hadnt put in on a lift yet.

I can almost bet this car had some type of damage but dont know the extent.

I might just low-ball him and see what happens. Have a couple more questions.

Does anyone know if a flowmaster will cause a loss in backpressure resulting in a feeling of loss of some power?

Although I'm looking at an LT-1 how do the V-6's stand up maybe with some mods? not looking for no beast or nothing.

Thanks

 

water pump should take no more than a few hours total

 

Well if their is overspray on the car it has probally been wrecked.....wich doesnt always meen it ruined! I have done body work for a long time and if its done right its just as good as new! Also you said 800 for new tires?? You could get them cheaper! ...but yeah besides the water pump and tires it dont sound bad but never give them what they want! lol I love messing with used car salesman! They will tell you whatever you want to here! Hell when I bought mine they said it had all types of mods lol....it had a apc filter on it with a apc huge vinyle sticker lol! Plus they said it had after market suspension as if I had no clue what I was doing! Yeah after market as in heated with a torch and ruined!! but if the car is worth it for you go for it!

 

The issue that you're probably experiencing with the exhaust is not a loss in power, but a slight loss in low end torque. If you got a good set of Long Tube headers and pair them with a cat-back you'll get your low end back. The car may have lost a bit of low end torque, but it's going to make more power in the upper RPMs with the freer flowing exhaust. As far as the V6's go, nobody makes very many mods for them and they are quite a bit slower, if you can get the Z28 for a good price go for it, otherwise start looking for another Z28.

 

biohazard- i luv to mess with salesmen too.LOL. they are so funny. They are such pathological liars...some intentionally some unintentionally.

silver-hey thanks for the great info. Makes alot of sense about losingtorque. thats what i was feeling. the torque definitely needs to come back. I'll be looking at this one on a lift in the next few days and if no go there are some others starting to pop up. I dont mind if there was some damage if it doesnt affect anything. just that i woud think that the price should reflect that....(i guess they wait and see if you catch it............).

thanks

 

When I buy a used car from a dealership, I always ask to keep the car over night. I drive it for a couple hours straight just to make sure it wont overheat. Then I run through it and I keep cardboard underneath the car over night to try to catch any drips. One thing you gotta make sure is that the coolant your smelling isnt coming from the exhaust, which means it has a blown head gasket. Some dealerships will put a crap load of block sealer in a car before they sell it and then a month down the road the person see's it has a blown head gasket. Just make sure the exhaust doesn't smell funny and isnt extraordinarly drippy. Get more info on the trans before you buy. Also on the exhaust, a change in tailpipes can cause a loss in hp by small amounts (prolly around 5hp)

 

The coolant on the LT-1 was definitely coming from the WP. Didnt make it to the exhaust. Dont think Im going to buy this car, too scary-considering the 117k miles LT-1 etc.. I may go offer him 3800 and if he takes it fine.Either that or ask him for a 90 day warranty-I'm sure he'll laugh at that but it beats me crying later when I have 5k+LT1 rebuild=at least 9k.

In the mean time I must have become a good coolant sniffer because I sniffed out 2 more, another 95 (intake on top of wp) and on 2002!!!! wp!!. Oh well the quest goes on. Almost bought another 95 today on craigs list-was asking 3500 after I get there and after I sniff out the leak he says someone offered him 4500 earlier this morning. Whew I was hot around the collar after driving for 45 min. I would have chewed his a$$ out if he wasnt a Marine.

but hey thanks for the tips-definitely will do the overnite thing. I have heard of the block sealer trick, but never knew what it smelled like.