LS1 F-Bodies

[Kevin]

First things first, this goes for ANY car with a Gen III GM Smallblock V8. Knocking when cold. This is commonly referred to as Piston slap which GM claims is normal operation. So if your engine sounds likes its knocking for the first couple of minutes after you start it, don’t be alarmed.

Common failures for F-Bodies

1.Front turn signal housing cracks which allows moisture into the bulb socket ( Trans Am models only )
2.Fog light housing melts around the bulb seat
3.” Rumbling ” when operating the headlights – Replace the gear or the motor itself ( Firebird only )
4.Power steering pump leaks onto Alternator
5.Grinding sound from front of engine when AC is off – AC Compressor clutch not spaced properly. The noise usually stops if the Compressor is engaged.
6.Differentials fail often if regularly driven hard in a F-Body equipped with a T56 6-speed manual transmission. Sometimes even under stock power levels.

I’ll be adding to this as time goes. This is all I cared to write at the moment though.

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[Lorrin Barth]

I had to replace the side bearing in the differential of a 1978 Trans Am I bought new. I had to replace the side bearing in the differential of a 1979 Trans Am I bought new. In both cases it was the bearing opposite the ring gear.

[Author]

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