I am so tired of everyone saying LO3 is junk, less than $1000 can show lots of potential in these things.

 

hell u put a thousand dollars into any car its fast for a little while

 

I would actually bet I owned the most ABUSED L03 that survived past 200,000 miles. When I got it none of the plugs had electrodes left and 2 of them had no centers (these were misfiring HORRIBLY) The oil hadn't been changed in over 15,000 miles, and the lady I got it off of had stuck it in the snow and over revved it until it blew the radiator apart. I took her home, changed the oil, changed the exhaust (cat was a GONER nothing left inside) and put another 40,000 on that car all while outrunning both of the other L03 Camaro's in my home town by several car lengths. When I retired it it ran strong but had a leaking rear main seal. I really REALLY wish I had taken a picture of those valve covers you could literally see where the rockers had pushed sludge out of the way to operate NASTY!!! These motors are flat out tanks they can take the most evil abuse I've ever seen an engine endure. As for 1000 dollars to make an L03 fast, I could do it with about 350. A wet nitrous kit, and a good day of work. Not saying it would like it but considering the torture I've seen these things endure I wouldn't be surprised to see one live under juice for a LONG time... anyone care to test this theory

 

PS engine developed the leak at 211,634.5 and the VSS had been dead for a minute there

 

awsome you are my effing role model once i get my student loan check for this semester a wet kit is going on my L03 and seeing how long shell go 150 shot? or bigger?

 

Hmm lets see here a 150 shot would put you at about 320hp and a TON of torque especially if you can let it go at a low rpm like... I don't know... the launch A 200 shot would put the car at 370hp and insane torque and I would imagine it would last a summer if you are careful with it. Of course this is all theoretical and knowing the reputation of these motors it will probably turn into a proverbial nitrous huffing bad penny that just refuses to go bad on you but I can't say I would complain

 

Hell if you threw a 75 shot on and called it a day, wonder how long the tanks would run.

 

A LONG time with a bottle heater or letting the bottle warm up between uses. Probably about 5 to 7 minutes of continuous use on a 10 pound bottle for a 75 shot. A 150 shot will run a bottle dry in about 2 minutes.

 

Check out my Signature, I'll update the mileage every so often. I'm the 4th owner of this car so not sure if the engine is original. Looks it though. I just put the open element on it last week.

 

As a side liner topic the RS body now has a 140,000 mile junkyard dog TPI in it and probably has 230,000 on the body total. Still has stock steering components, and still tracks straight. The TPI 350 has had a 150 shot sprayed to it at least 30 times so far and a leaner 125 shot sprayed to it a few times now as well. I wouldn't mind getting a 5 speed TBI car and just cruising it until it can't anymore, Indiana winters kind of prevent that though.

 

Just bought my 89 saturday. Rolled over to 160,000 on the way home and runs great. This is my first time driving a TBI motor and I'm greatly impressed Going to mildly modify it down the road, but will stay my commuter for awhile. After I decide to retire it from daily duty, I'll get serious with it.

10/8/06--- 168,595
3/22/07--- 175,700
9/6/07--- 182,400
11/30/10 --- 190,300. Daily driven part-time in 2008/early 2009 (thanks to finicky fuel injection problems) before I decided to retire it. Now a project/backup car.
2/17/15 --- 197,110. Time keeps on slippin' for sure. Not much driving, but a lot of upgrades to the car over the last 3-4 years. Very glad I've held on to it.

 

Just bought my 89 camaro rs off of an old man...98,xxx

 

362000 and counting performer tbi intake edelbrock headers no cat rear disc conversion shift kit

 

Impressive hands down period!

 

Ummm...holy CRAP, man...is that miles or kilometers?

I'm at 175,000 miles right now and doing pretty well. Every now & then the ECM retards spark timing dramatically, but aside from that, pretty good, indeed...

 

The Big Guy may rev his LO3 to the bejeezus belts, but my motor seldom sees more than 3000 rpm, 4000 max. However, many times, late for a job, my commute has required daily sprints at sustained 90-100 mph, not even breaking a sweat, plus she still handles like a go kart. In 30,000 miles of "spirited" driving, has needed only a battery, flexplate, and a rear main seal. Not bad for a 15yr old car that gets some speed put on it now and again.

 

350 TBI with 202,000 Miles.

New L05 short block at 30,000

 

my lo3 has 240,000 miles on it and it was used and abused since
the day it was born.its also been ran with mobile 1 synthetic since the day it was born.my throttle even got stuck at wot a few times.6000 rpm for about 5 seconds without a hick-up.the motor was still running great when i yanked it out about a 2 weeks ago.
i am currentle in the process of doing a vortec 350 conversion.

 

Not as many as a few of you but mine has 206K+ and it still runs like a top. Typical smoke on startup (umbrella seals are my next fix for this car) but other than that it runs great. Will still chirp the tires going into 2nd (L03/700R4) at full throttle acceleration. Mostly I baby it as it's my daily driver (if I wanna really beat on something I take the 02 Z out).

 

i got about 170xxx on this. but the engine was rebuilt at about 150xxx

 

194,XXX original motor with minor mods. Third owner(I think) Still runs strong. Haven't taken it to the strip yet but a rough guess says it runs a mid-high 16 maybe a low 17.

 

210,000 on my 87 R10.

 

I bought my Bird last november and it showed 317000 kms . It now has 323000 kms . These are really good engines , mines started leaking oil since I changed for synthetic oil (never again) and it has some minor problems but still runs good , idles smooth and it sees 120 mph practicly every day to tech school and 4500 rpms some times too ...


Rock on

 

How much did you pay? What shape is it in?

 

i paid 1200 everything is in great shape there is just 1 big dent and thats it

 

If it's stock, no it doesnt see 120 mph.

 

Well some bad news for the 3rd geners. My camaro has brokin down again, this time it will be for good for a while. The tranny gave out at 130mph when I was flyin to work last week. I couldn't afford to fix it so I had to buy a newer car. 01 Grand Am GT ram air, Its not the camaro but its still GM. No hondas for me.

 

200,588 and still running strong... well maybe not.

 

Yes it does see 120 mph at 4600 5000 rpm and with a broken exhaust manifold gasket , no sh*t ...
----------
The only mod is a Mr. Gasket non drop base open air element .

 

Maybe that is a good thing.

 

speed limiter should kick in at 116 mph i think.

 

I have 168k on my 91 Firebird L03 with 5 speed. I replaced the clutch at 155k.

 

I've got 140k miles on my 92 rs with the L03 and T5. No smoke and no mechanical problems what so ever.

 

I have 111k on the Vert and it runs great! I guess mine is kind of low mileage compared to this crowd

 

I notice a few of you high milers have 160 stats. so, maybe running it that cold isnt so bad for these engines.

 

mine has 160,000 on the motor but the trans didn't make it, 3-4 in a 700r4 was built weak. My car is stilll running on the track and going somewhat strong. I'm looking forward to getting more power under my hood with a 383 or 406 sb. The legend lives on

 

 

I guess I'm on the low side with 49,xxx

 

Why even post on " High mileage TBI's post up" thread

I wish my car had lows miles though!

 

Forgot to mention my miles, over 178,000, will start up and drive stone cold, no smoke, no oil use, and still packs a punch! Just got the rear end completely rebuilt, bought 3.42's for it but they were for a class 3 carrier, and I have a class 2--but my 2.73 ring and pinion were fine according to my mechanic, so I've got the 2.73's back in. There is an adapter to use, if I want to use these gears later, but you have to order the part, so I just went with the old gears, quiet as a Lexus now except for my exhaust : ) You can also get 3.42's for a class 2 (3.08 and numerically lower) rear end, now I know.

I tend to think the tall rear gear contributes to the engine life, since my car is usually below 2000rpm, even on the freeway. Low temps help too, colder stat and fan switch. Runs better than when I got it, and it ran good before. Loves Valvoline Dura Blend synthetic blend, made the motor much quieter, I use Hyperlube Racing Formula as well, always have. Goes plenty fast too. For more speed, I've read over and over that a mild cam, head work, exhaust and throttle body work get good results, Car Craft got over 300hp and 400tq with bolt ons, probably more reliable than the NOS, plus you can do that too and go crazy.

 

hey thought i would chime in. auto with 124K im 2nd owner. got it with 106K all ive done is flowmaster, 'highflow' cat, air delete, open element, injector spacer, and chip. runs good. not disapointed for a 305.

 

254,000 and counting. No mods yet except for a B&M shift kit for the 700R. Bought it used for $800 and hadn't had a problem except for the typical oil burn at start up or stuck in traffic. Just bought the valve seals and just waiting for time to put them in.

When it fnally blows up, I'll probably rebuild with a mild cam and see if I can go another 254,00 miles!

 

250,624 AND STILL ROLLIN ON THE STOCK DRIVE TRAIN, 5 SPEED COULD USE A LITTLE FRESHIN UP BUT ITS STILL ALIVE AND KICKIN

 

My name doesn't reflect what I currently have... I moved out to Cali last year and bought this 92 RS 5-spd.. Its the 'toilet bowl' injection as they all say and it had 248,+++ mileage on it when I bought it and it now has 254, + mileage on it and it is still running strong! I've done some mods to it -- Cold Air Intake, Strut tower brace, LCAs, poly bushings all the way around, panhard bar, other stuff...
I've not been the easiest on the engine neither... been through some ****, but as they go, its almost like a Timex.. takes a licking and keeps on ticking!
It was a one owner car and he religiously changed the oil every 3K miles... I've replaced the starter, the front A-arm bushings, ball joints, typical wear and tear items.... oh, and the distributor pick up as well...
I previously owned a 91 RS TBI.... These cars are durable in the engine department.. even though they may not be all that powerful like the TPI cars, they still last one heckuva long time...
Anyways I'll shut up now and post this........ my 2 cents worth...

 

My everyday driver is a 91 RS bought it with 87,000 now has 94,400 no complaints just pings when it gets hot. Put a 160 thermostat still jumps up to 210 when standing still for awhile. Cab hit me drivers door, got another one. Just need to get weather stripping and electronics swicthed over, then painted bright aqua. Otherwise fun car. I use high mileage castro oil with a quart of lucas additive. Works great smooth running.

 

You gotta change the fan switch so the fans will kick on earlier if you dont want it to get hot when standing still. The thermostat wont matter if no air is going through the radiator.

 

I officially hit 178,000 miles as of this afternoon And my baby is STILL kickin!

 

I cant remember what I posted last but here is my new best time in my 92 305...T-5...I'm 102...at our 1/8 mile track here 500 is a perfect reaction time...this was after I removed my ehhaust at cat and took my air cleaner off....oh mine has about 220,000 miles on it now....I'm thinking more and more these engines are bulletproof...lol

 

Just passed 110k miles on my RS I bought it in June with 107k. The previous owner had put less than 3,000 miles on it in 4 years!!! I looked at the oil change sticker, and saw it wasn't overdue on mileage, but that the oil was due 4 years ago!

I still wish it had lower miles, but I bought this car as a summer fun car to keep miles off my Z (I have a demo for a daily driver)...I love my Z, but hope it never passes 80k someday

 

my 1993 k5 blazer has 250,000 and still tickin