Just bought a 96 LS with 154k for $1,800
It runs really good and the body is in nice shape.
But, it has a small lifter tap. Is that to be expected with the 3.1?

 

That can be expected. I use a good synthetic oil in them and once they warm up they will quiet down some.
Where in Nebraska?

 

Ah, another Nebraskan! Welcome! Would you describe your new Monte a little more (color)?

 

Omaha / La Vista.. 96 Monte with 154,000. 3.1 motor traded in my 05 Lesabre ( bad tranny ) and $1000. so, I basically have $1`,800 in it right now.
I put some fuel injector cleaner and a bottle of rislone engine treatment. hopefully that will quiet the lifters a bit.
but, the low oil light came on. it shows full oil. i unplugged the wires from the oil sending sensor and plugged it back in and the light went off. but it came back on and then went off again. so ill replace that tomorrow. hopefully its just a bad sensor.

 

Hello and Welcome to the MCF!

Just wanted to pass on that my trucks 5.7 had the lifter noise and after adding the Z-Max product and a few cold / hot start cycles had came and went the noise is gone. Read up on it, good stuff so far it has been about a year now, add some every other oil change. You can get quart bottles off of eBay for cheap and it only takes a few ounces each time.

zMAX Testimonials - Carroll Shelby, Maurice Le Pera, Ed Rachanski, Sean Tucker Automotive Lubricant, Aviation Lubricants | zMax Micro-lubricant

(2x) 32oz. zMAX Micro lubricant fuel system engine oil transmission NEW diesel | eBay

 

Because the low oil light keeps coming on and I replaced the oil pressure sensor and it was going on and off, I put in a gauge. It is reading between 35-50 if we rev it up a bit.
Is that around normal pressure ?