Looking to fly over the pacific this summer, most flights are showing a 35-40 minute layover at LAX, to me this seems extremely short, is this normal for that airport?  Am I pushing my luck with a short layover there?

Is your 2nd flight in the same terminal?  If so, not a problem.

If it's in a different terminal, you'll have to go through TSA again....and at that point you'd be seriously rollin' the dice.

If I had to change terminals, I'd want at least 90 minutes to get to my next gate.

That is a mistake unless you can afford to miss your connecting flight.

30-40 min isn't enough in a domestic terminal, let alone connecting to an Int'l flight. If the inbound is 15 min. late (you can be that late just loading last minute bags or ramp congestion on pushback or arrival).

Why chance it?

TC

That sucks, every airport I've been to once you went through security you could go from terminal to terminal without another trip through the TSA.

Lots of airports are actually pretty screwed up and outdated.  And yeah, 35 minutes is probably not enough time at most airports but especially LA given the number of delays I've experienced in just getting to a gate since they seem to like delaying your landing, changing gates or letting you sit there in the plane waiting on a gate.  Needless to say I hate flying though LA.  

I was at Lax a few months ago, came from Phoenix for a connection  to Miami. My flight got cancelled. Not a good experience

Outbound?  XXX->LAX->TPAC?  No, I wouldn't do that.  
Inbound? TPAC->LAX->XXX?  No way in hell, not even with Global Entry.

You won't make it.

So a domestic -> INTL flight? Might want a longer layover..

Too short.  I frequently travel internationally through LAX...you'll spend close to that length of time in the TSA queue although some of their remodeling is complete and it is quite a bit faster than it used to be.

It also depends on your arrival terminal:  LAX is shaped like a big "U" with the domestic terminals on the sides, the international terminal forming the bottom of the "U".  Arrive at terminal 3 or 4 (closest to the base) and you can get away with a much shorter interval, but still not 40 minutes.

For some reason, LAX isn't made for walking to the international terminal:  the sidewalks are narrow and usually jam packed.  Add to that Uber will be arriving shortly and I anticipate a whole new level of .