Considering a Gen1 LS, possible engine problems with a couple I am looking at.

jruppert

jruppert

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I have been thinking about getting an LS for quite some time now. Ideally I would like to get a Gen2 style but I will settle for the Gen1. I have found a couple cars that I may be interested in but they say engine problems. Both cars are 2000 model year v8. They are around 140,000 miles and are in great shape. Both owners are not 100% sure what is wrong with the engine either. One listing, the owner states that the car ran fine until one start. It started and made some noise and now it doesnt run. I have no experience with these cars so I am unsure what is 'common' with these v8's. At very least, I could replace the engine and be done with it. If anyone has any thoughts as to what I may be looking at then please let me know. I could just as see replacing the motor but if its something reasonable then I may just do that too. By the way, both cars are listed at $1200.00
 
First, was told never to settle for something short of what you ultimately don't want.

Second, a simple engine problem could be as common as a COP going bad. Those can go bad for multiple reasons however. Now as common as those are if it's driven with a misfire, or multiple, for a long period of time there would be more problems. Depending on your budget, you can find a decent gen II.

Assuming that's Big Rapids, MI, if you check around the Detroit area there's a lot more to choose from obviously.
 
I would hold out for a gen II V8.

You've given almost no information to speculate on. The simplest gen I V8 won't run problem would be the MAF having a bug stuck to it. Remove bug and all is well. The worst problem is if the timing chain guides fail. The cams will jump time and major cylinder or valve damage can result.
 
I understand where both of you two are coming from. I like the 03 style the best but the Gen1 isn't horribly bad by any means. I just like the exterior updates of the Gen2 and the more power. But from what I have read, the 03 isnt that much quicker. So to spend the extra money on an 03 may not be necessary.

I was doing a search on the timing chain replacement and found that it is a rather costly repair. So I am thinking that an engine replacement may be a better option. The downside though is you really dont know the condition of the chain or guides on replacement engine. So if a replacement engine were necessary, would you still consider replacing the chains and guides to be safe? If this is the case then I might as well stick with current motor and fix it.
 
jruppert said:
I understand where both of you two are coming from. I like the 03 style the best but the Gen1 isn't horribly bad by any means. I just like the exterior updates of the Gen2 and the more power. But from what I have read, the 03 isnt that much quicker. So to spend the extra money on an 03 may not be necessary.

I was doing a search on the timing chain replacement and found that it is a rather costly repair. So I am thinking that an engine replacement may be a better option. The downside though is you really dont know the condition of the chain or guides on replacement engine. So if a replacement engine were necessary, would you still consider replacing the chains and guides to be safe? If this is the case then I might as well stick with current motor and fix it.
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You have to make sure there are NO bent valves first. Then you could move on to replacing timing chain stuff. This is exact reason I will not buy a v8 LS.
 
your just looking at the price of the car and not factoring the price for repair, your post does not have specifics issues like trouble codes or even a video of the car running and then give us the codes so we can assist you better, if it cost you 1200 for the car and another 1500 for the engine and if that's the only thing wrong with it then your still looking at 2700 and you can get a better running gen 1 for that price and only have to deal with the common stuff that goes wrong with a gen1
 
and i have both a 2001 v8 and a 04 v8 both with sport package so if you like the gen2 wait for it alot of issues was fixed on the gen2 then the gen1 or at least easier to fix like the dreaded dccv issues these cars have.
 
now please dont take this the wrong way, but if the only kind of LS you have to settle for is one with "engine problem" then your really not going to like to see how much those problems are going to be to fix, even if you fix it your self, the parts are expensive, not to mention what it cost if your not going to be able to do it yourself.

if it was an easy or cheap fix, the seller probably wound have fixed it themselves and been able to ask for so much more selling the car. for $1200 for the car, it could easily could be tripled or quadrupled by the time the cars is ready for the road. and with the cars being at 140k, its probably past time for a lot of basic maintenance in other parts of the car (shocks, ball joints, tie-rods, bushings..........)
 
1loudls i agree with you, these cars have alot of issues when they are running right and to get one that has engine issues and your not fixing it yourself is way overpaying for it. but he may be lucky and the engine is the only thing wrong with it maybe just coils issues.
 
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