LT1 reliability during track use / abuse ?

Open Circuit · 08-10-2023, 05:24 PM

Got my eye on a lightly used 2022 SS1LE exclusively for HPDE use.
Seen a few people with one (or even 2 or 3) engine failures. Is that the exception, or the rule ?
For those who have ALOT of miles / hours of HPDE / open track lapping on their unmodified LT1, how is yours holding up for you ? TIA for any input.

CTRifecta · 08-10-2023, 06:26 PM

Can't tell if this is serious? ��

Christian1LE · 08-10-2023, 06:28 PM

I am about to finish my 2nd year of HPDE and more recently time trial events and I have had 0 issues with my car. I am 95% track use. Roughly 17 days a year my car is right around 8k miles. I do not baby it on the track, when I'm out there I am giving 95% most of the time and 100% during time trial. Longest session I've ever run with it is 1 hour straight at VIR North(Entire fuel tank).

No complaints from me so far. I am changing the fluids per the manual.

Open Circuit · 08-10-2023, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian1LE

I am about to finish my 2nd year of HPDE and more recently time trial events and I have had 0 issues with my car. I am 95% track use. Roughly 17 days a year my car is right around 8k miles. I do not baby it on the track, when I'm out there I am giving 95% most of the time and 100% during time trial. Longest session I've ever run with it is 1 hour straight at VIR North(Entire fuel tank).

No complaints from me so far. I am changing the fluids per the manual.

Good to hear. Thanks very much.

N Camarolina · 08-10-2023, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian1LE

I am about to finish my 2nd year of HPDE and more recently time trial events and I have had 0 issues with my car. I am 95% track use. Roughly 17 days a year my car is right around 8k miles. I do not baby it on the track, when I'm out there I am giving 95% most of the time and 100% during time trial. Longest session I've ever run with it is 1 hour straight at VIR North(Entire fuel tank).

No complaints from me so far. I am changing the fluids per the manual.

Christian, what oil change interval are you using specifically (# track days, # track hrs)?

Christian1LE · 08-10-2023, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N Camarolina

Christian, what oil change interval are you using specifically (# track days, # track hrs)?

I've been doing 12 hours(3 weekends) but I have not done any oil analysis. I plan to do one next oil change.

I think the problem with oil is not so much the time but the amount of heat cycles the oil goes through. The heating and cooling starts breaking it down (grain of salt though I'm no oil expert). I also always run the oil at the top of the dipstick.

Open Circuit · 08-10-2023, 10:46 PM

Went ahead and picked up this lightly used bad boy tonite. I really didnt have but a few minutes behind the wheel of one of these before tonite but…pretty impressed so far. Should have it on track this coming Sunday…for some driver orientation. Thanks for the input guys.

cdrptrks · 08-10-2023, 11:12 PM

Congrats, I would highly recommend removing the tiny ppf in front of the rear wheels and and replacing it with a much larger area of PPF even with the rock guards that appear to be already installed on your car. You can use track armor or a roll of shelf liner or several layers of painter's tape temporarily if you can't get proper ppf done before your upcoming track visit.

Open Circuit · 08-10-2023, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrptrks

Congrats, I would highly recommend removing the tiny ppf in front of the rear wheels and and replacing it with a much larger area of PPF even with the rock guards that appear to be already installed on your car. You can use track armor or a roll of shelf liner or several layers of painter's tape temporarily if you can't get proper ppf done before your upcoming track visit.

Thanks for the heads up ! I’ll do that.

cdrptrks · 08-10-2023, 11:15 PM

Also note the recommendation is to change the oil with Dexos2 0W-40 at 500mi and again at 1500mi and no track use before 1500mi. Also change rear diff fluid before first track day and immediately after first track day and every 25 track hours after that.

cdrptrks · 08-10-2023, 11:20 PM

Also the 4 rear alignment bolts are single use. You should get a new set (2 of each) ordered and have them on hand before you get a track alignment if the car doesn't already have a track alignment. Be sure to provide the correct torque specs and watch the tech to make sure they use them and mark the bolts with a paint pen or sharpie immediately afterwards so you can tell if they're coming loose at a glance. One of mine came loose and it was a big pain to deal with. Take it to a race shop or somewhere familiar with these cars for the alignment.

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=502324

cdrptrks · 08-10-2023, 11:28 PM

There are splines on the 2 front camber adjustment bolts per side. Here's a description of how to release the splines so you can get more than -1.8° front camber but an experienced race shop should already know how to do this. These cars tend to max out around -2.4 to -2.8° front camber stock. Hunter laser alignment machines have a competition alignment entry that could be used but better to decide for yourself exactly what specs you want and give them in writing if they're willing to accept that. 0 front toe should be best for tire life.

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...7#post10957287

cdrptrks · 08-10-2023, 11:39 PM

Track prep info is spread across 3 places:

Track Preparation Guide:
http://www.camarosofmichigan.com/201..._guide-min.pdf

High Performance Supplement: https://www.chevrolet.com/bypass/pcf...21NOV01_2P.pdf

Owner's Manual (starting on page 185 but some info might be spread throughout): https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/s...022-camaro.pdf

cdrptrks · 08-10-2023, 11:46 PM

My favorite mod (makes a difference even when it is hot outside even when you are just using the fan not the A/C): https://www.gen5diy.com/products/rec...23134969135162

Also CAGS skip shift eliminator if you have a manual transmission.

And foam attached with 3M double sided tape and painter's tape (or knee pads instead) so you don't bruise your knees on the hard plastic knee "pads" while cornering.

08-10-2023, 05:24 PM	#1
Open Circuit Drives: ‘22 SS1LE M6 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Houston Posts: 24	LT1 reliability during track use / abuse ? Got my eye on a lightly used 2022 SS1LE exclusively for HPDE use. Seen a few people with one (or even 2 or 3) engine failures. Is that the exception, or the rule ? For those who have ALOT of miles / hours of HPDE / open track lapping on their unmodified LT1, how is yours holding up for you ? TIA for any input.

08-10-2023, 06:26 PM	#2
CTRifecta Drives: 2SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 322	Can't tell if this is serious? �� __________________ 2024 2SS 1LE \| 6MT \| Riverside Blue 1100 - Order submitted - 7/12/23 2000 - Order accepted - 8/22/23 Vehicle Built (per chevy chat bot) - 10/10/23 Window sticker available online - 11/4/23 Arrived at dealership - 11/10/23

08-10-2023, 10:46 PM	#7
Open Circuit Drives: ‘22 SS1LE M6 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Houston Posts: 24	Went ahead and picked up this lightly used bad boy tonite. I really didnt have but a few minutes behind the wheel of one of these before tonite but…pretty impressed so far. Should have it on track this coming Sunday…for some driver orientation. Thanks for the input guys. Attached Images Last edited by Open Circuit; 08-10-2023 at 10:56 PM.

08-10-2023, 06:28 PM	#3
Christian1LE Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: NC Posts: 778	I am about to finish my 2nd year of HPDE and more recently time trial events and I have had 0 issues with my car. I am 95% track use. Roughly 17 days a year my car is right around 8k miles. I do not baby it on the track, when I'm out there I am giving 95% most of the time and 100% during time trial. Longest session I've ever run with it is 1 hour straight at VIR North(Entire fuel tank). No complaints from me so far. I am changing the fluids per the manual.

08-10-2023, 11:12 PM	#8
cdrptrks Drives: 2017 Blue Camaro 1SS 1LE with PDR Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 969	Congrats, I would highly recommend removing the tiny ppf in front of the rear wheels and and replacing it with a much larger area of PPF even with the rock guards that appear to be already installed on your car. You can use track armor or a roll of shelf liner or several layers of painter's tape temporarily if you can't get proper ppf done before your upcoming track visit.

08-10-2023, 11:15 PM	#10
cdrptrks Drives: 2017 Blue Camaro 1SS 1LE with PDR Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 969	Also note the recommendation is to change the oil with Dexos2 0W-40 at 500mi and again at 1500mi and no track use before 1500mi. Also change rear diff fluid before first track day and immediately after first track day and every 25 track hours after that.

08-10-2023, 11:20 PM	#11
cdrptrks Drives: 2017 Blue Camaro 1SS 1LE with PDR Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 969	Also the 4 rear alignment bolts are single use. You should get a new set (2 of each) ordered and have them on hand before you get a track alignment if the car doesn't already have a track alignment. Be sure to provide the correct torque specs and watch the tech to make sure they use them and mark the bolts with a paint pen or sharpie immediately afterwards so you can tell if they're coming loose at a glance. One of mine came loose and it was a big pain to deal with. Take it to a race shop or somewhere familiar with these cars for the alignment. https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=502324

08-10-2023, 11:28 PM	#12
cdrptrks Drives: 2017 Blue Camaro 1SS 1LE with PDR Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 969	There are splines on the 2 front camber adjustment bolts per side. Here's a description of how to release the splines so you can get more than -1.8° front camber but an experienced race shop should already know how to do this. These cars tend to max out around -2.4 to -2.8° front camber stock. Hunter laser alignment machines have a competition alignment entry that could be used but better to decide for yourself exactly what specs you want and give them in writing if they're willing to accept that. 0 front toe should be best for tire life. https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...7#post10957287

08-10-2023, 11:39 PM	#13
cdrptrks Drives: 2017 Blue Camaro 1SS 1LE with PDR Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 969	Track prep info is spread across 3 places: Track Preparation Guide: http://www.camarosofmichigan.com/201..._guide-min.pdf High Performance Supplement: https://www.chevrolet.com/bypass/pcf...21NOV01_2P.pdf Owner's Manual (starting on page 185 but some info might be spread throughout): https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/s...022-camaro.pdf

08-10-2023, 11:46 PM	#14
cdrptrks Drives: 2017 Blue Camaro 1SS 1LE with PDR Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 969	My favorite mod (makes a difference even when it is hot outside even when you are just using the fan not the A/C): https://www.gen5diy.com/products/rec...23134969135162 Also CAGS skip shift eliminator if you have a manual transmission. And foam attached with 3M double sided tape and painter's tape (or knee pads instead) so you don't bruise your knees on the hard plastic knee "pads" while cornering.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password