The best testament to a vehicle’s reliability is finding high-mileage examples of it. It’s even more amazing to find high-mileage examples of cars with V-8 engines, since these are more complex than the four-cylinder engines. More moving parts mean more failure points, and theoretically, a lower lifespan.
- Divisions
-
Chevrolet Performance
- Founded
-
1911
- Founder
-
Arthur Chevrolet, Louis Chevrolet, William C. Durant
- Headquarters
-
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
- Current CEO
-
Mary Barra
Although ease of maintenance varies significantly, with the mechanically simplest cars being the most tolerant of lenient maintenance, even complex vehicles can have a long service life when matched with an extraordinary level of care. That’s exactly what we’re going to witness with the world’s highest-mileage Chevrolet Silverado, and yes, even a Corvette. Both vehicles have V-8 engines that are obviously more complex than the four-cylinder engines, which makes these two vehicles all the more impressive.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including the Department of Energy and PowerNation.
Chevrolet’s V-8 Reliability Comes In All Shapes And Sizes
The common ingredient of these two high-mileage Chevrolets is the fact that they have V-8 engines. While these engines are more difficult and more expensive to maintain than a four-cylinder, it doesn’t mean that they’re any less reliable, as proven by the Silverado and Corvette you’ll be seeing here.
For A Small Block, It’s Mighty Strong
The small-block 5.7-liter (350 cubic inch) gasoline V-8 it used is one of the most reliable V-8s of all time, according to PowerNation. We’ve always mentioned that simplicity was key to reliability, and that’s exactly the mantra behind the engine’s construction. It was simple, and with a cast-iron block and heads, it was nearly indestructible as well. Though the 350-cubic-inch V-8 dates back to 1967, it eventually came with throttle body injection, a predecessor to port fuel injection that became common from the ’90s to the 2010s.
Since its birth in 1967 in the Chevrolet Camaro, it has produced 295 horsepower at its peak. By the 1990s, the 350’s reign would reach its end as Chevrolet was making way for a new, equally legendary V-8 that would also power our highest mileage Corvette in the world. Though it wasn’t fitted to production Chevrolets by that time, the 350 would be offered as a crate engine for years to come.
Enthusiasts Aim To LS Swap The World
Perhaps making engine swaps a norm in America today is the legendary small-block LS engine, which has been fitted to countless vehicles. In fact, the LS debuted in the 1997 C5 Corvette; this generation also hosts the highest mileage Corvette in existence today. Since it’s the first-generation LS engine, it was called the LS1, featuring overhead valves, otherwise known as pushrods. By switching from the previous cast iron to aluminum blocks, the weight was greatly reduced by as much as 110 pounds. GM also switched to a Y-block configuration, which enabled better engine balance, as well as crankshaft durability.
Thanks to the Y-block configuration, it was small enough to become a popular crate engine in the aftermarket tuning community. Take a look at the countless MX-5 Miatas with an LS swap, and you’ll easily see how compact this engine is. The Y-block configuration also allows a much larger camshaft to be fitted as well. Lastly, thanks to the inherent durability of these engines, they are easy to tune and reliable enough to handle large power outputs. Do note, however, that while these are reliable, earlier LS1 engines are known for their high oil consumption.
The Highest Mileage Silverado In The World
The highest mileage 1991 C1500 Silverado we’re seeing here also happens to be the highest mileage Chevrolet in the world, racking up an astonishing 1,289,882 miles, a figure that was reached in 2014. Here’s how the owner managed it.
Alive And Kicking Since 1991
To reach that figure, it’s understandable that the C-series Silverado isn’t a young car. Dating back to 1991, the mileage was reached by its second owner, Frank Oresnik, who bought the vehicle in 1996 from the widow of the first owner. The pickup reached the million-mile mark in 2008, with Frank being featured on an NPR radio show during a live interview. And then in 2011, Frank appeared in a documentary celebrating Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary, and by that time, the C1500 Silverado had accumulated 1,219,000 miles.
Three years later, a dealership called Jack Maxton Chevrolet wrote a blog post about their call from Frank. He was quoted as saying that the C1500 Silverado has already done 1,289,882 miles. With so much confidence, he spent $1,100 on new tires, wheel bearings, bushings, and brakes. The engine? That’s barely even been touched.
An Untouched Small-Block V-8 At The Helm
Yes, that’s right. For more than a million miles, the engine was never opened up. The engine has received more than 400 oil changes, with the odometer noted in each one. Nothing in the engine was replaced. The Silverado still has the same parts as when it left the factory floor in 1991, which include:
- Piston rings
- Pistons
- Bearings
- Valves
- Gaskets
- Seals
- Cams
In fact, the major components that needed replacing throughout those million-plus miles are not due to the engine. These include the transmission, water pump, alternator, and power steering pump.
The main motivator for Frank not to replace his C1500 Silverado, which he calls ‘Old Girl’, is that he doesn’t want to purchase a new pickup and think about repayments. He bought the C1500 Silverado on a three-year note, and by the time it had been fully paid for, it had already accumulated 300,000 miles. It was undeniably a great financial decision, since no expensive repairs have been made to this vehicle. Frank remarks:
Dependable and reliable, he doesn’t begin to touch it at all – this truck has never ever, ever left me in the lurch.
No Excuse To “Not Daily” A Corvette
Finally, another vehicle showcasing the testament to Chevrolet’s reliable V-8s is the LS1 fitted in this 2000 Chevrolet Corvette C5. Accumulating 773,338 miles over its lifetime, this is proof that you can indeed reliably daily drive a Corvette.
Probably Driven Further Than Your Car
Not only is the Corvette C5 in question driven daily, but it’s been driven daily over long distances. The US Department of Energy says that in 2022, the average American family drives 50 miles daily, so give-or-take 25 miles one-way. This 2000 Corvette C5? It drove twice that distance daily. Yes, every single day, including weekends, for the next 18 years. The long-distance driving is thanks to Mark Blackwell, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, but his job required him to drive to parts of Georgia and South Florida daily.
Through the tropical weather of Florida and the subtropical climates of Georgia, the Corvette C5 was driven in any scenario. It’s something you’d most likely dare to do in a pickup or a comfortable family sedan, but to do it in a Corvette is an interesting choice. And being a swoopy sports car with a low-slung body style and a thirsty but powerful LS1 V-8, it is far from being a practical choice.
But Boy, Was Its V8 Reliable As Ever
It is, however, a reliable choice. Mark’s interesting pick for a long-distance daily driver never gave him any headaches. The only major component he replaced was the original head gaskets at around 750,000 miles. Mark didn’t reveal the specifics on maintenance, but he did encounter a minor accident. A bumper fell off a semi when he was on the freeway, blowing out two of his tires, as it was too late to completely avoid the obstacle due to the road being very dark. Of course, the vehicle was towed, but that’s the only hiccup he encountered with the C5 Corvette.
Before the C5 Corvette, he already had another high-mileage Corvette with 342,000 miles. It is this vehicle that he traded in 1999 for the 2000 Corvette C5 for today’s topic. Mark’s experience is reflective of real-world accounts of the C5 Corvette, as it has proven itself to be extremely reliable to the enthusiasts who want to own one today. Today, however, that Corvette isn’t racking up miles because Mark donated it to the National Corvette Museum in 2017. He says:
If any car deserves to be in a museum, it’s this one… for the miles it’s gone and the things it’s done for me.