Looking at a car for a power train donor. Got a chance at what I believe is a 91 Caprice cop car with a lunched tranny. Would this have an LT-1 in it? What tranny would it have? Any idea what option code to look for for the 'good' engine?? (other than the obvious tuned port induction). Thanks in advance.
should! It is also call the 9C1, there's some different stuff going on with the engine and a heavyduty suspension addition. My 96 Impala has the 4L80 tranny, might be the same tranny...
If it's a 91 it's either going to have a conventional 305 or 350 SBC. It will also have a 700R4/4L60 transmission. Only the 94-6 Caprice/Impala came with the LT1 350 or the L99 265 v8. The 94-6 Cars have a 4L60E trans, a 4L80 was never put in the 94-6 B-cars.
As mentioned, that's a negative on the LT1, they're 94-96 only. Here's a quickie spotters guide. First off, does the car have fender skirts built into the quarters, or full radius wheelwells? If it's got the skirts, forget it, too old for LT1. So it's got round wheelwells and we're moving on. Does it have a point on the rear quarter windows, or a slash cut to terminate em? Slash cut was 95/96 only, so if it's got slash cut, it's LT1 architecture. Pointy window, still look closer, could be a 94 1st year LT1 car. 92/93 had full wheelwells but no LT1, so don't just go by wheelwells. So now you've figured out it's a 94-96, but hold on. Roughly half the cars came with a 4.3 liter baby LT1. Same engineering upgrades as the LT1 350, same injection, same everything to the casual observer. This is the engine that threw ford into convulsions, since it equaled their larger V8 performance while beating it's economy. Quick look under the back, if it's got duals it should be a 350 LT1. The little motor came with single exhaust unless special ordered. Ultimately you need to check the VIN before plunking down any cash. Get on an Imp SS board and figure out which VIN digit tells engine displacement. If you ask me that little LT1 is a vastly untapped V8 mileage motor. Suprised they haven't caught on already. good luck
Everyone above is correct so far 94-96 are the LT1 years, and all the body ques to go off of are also right. As stated above check the vin the 8th number should be a P for LT1 or a W for the regular V8. Also in the trunk look at the S.P.I.D label and look for 9C1. Tyler
That bad 4l60 tranny is a box of worms because of all the electronic servos inside, and the local rebuilders will be leery of warrantying anything nonstock with a computer controlled tranny. 4l60 isn't computer assist, it's computer control. If you're buying the car for the driveline I'd highly recommend buying a reputable aftermarket crate transmission. Don't ask how I know, we'll just say it's the hard way.
These guys know everything about the LT1: http://www.impalasuperstore.com/naisso/forum2005/ Be warned though: I own a 95 9C1. The sensors can crap out on you and they'll nickle and dime you to death. Example is the cap and rotor which is about $150 to replace. These are usually worse in rust belt cars. I'm not trying to scare you, but I think the LT1 qualifies as a weird motor with some of it's engineering.
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