Since I am selling my car, I cannot go without an f-body for long but I am stuck between 2 cars. On the one hand I want a 96-97 Fully loaded Silver 6-speed trans am. My main reason for this is because I think it looks way better than the LS1's. But the thing I dont like is it has the LT1 and that opti crap, i can still get some good power out of it but it may be more of a pain in the *** than the LS1. On the other hand I want a 99-00 Fully Loaded 6-speed SS. IMO they are the best looking LS1's and they are damn fast stock, only problem is it would probably cost more than the LT1 and still doesnt look as good. The upside to that is it is easily put into the 12's and no opticrap. So I need some opinions, what would you guys do? Which one would ya go for?
-Mark

 

I'd go for the LS1, only I'd go for the bird, WAY better lookin than the Sebring, er I mean Camaro

 

yup yup. you will have to mod the LT1 just to get it to where the LS1 is stock. I also think that LS1 WS6 TA's are the best looking 4th gens.

 

I sure as hell am glad I didnt get a LT1.

My car ran 13.5 bone stock. With basicly 3 mods (airbox, catback, converter) its pulling high 12's all day long (slow *** auto )

Most LT1's have a hard time pulling 14.0's stock. Mid 13's take some decent mods, and 12's mean some more serious mods.

IMO, it is worth the extra money. The quality of the car has improved on the inside and out.

-Doug

 

I wouldn't go that far either, granted you said MOST but I know of 3 people with bone stock LT1's running 13.8-14.0 range, maybe they're factory freaks...

 

Let me just put it this way...

This weekend I raced my friend (and beat him good)

Him - 96 formula
A4 3.73
headers
throttle body
exhaust
!cats
headers
ported heads
cam
SLP cold air
Nittos

Me - 98 trans am
lid
catback
converter

Also keep in mind that it is VERY possible to run high 11's with bolt ons only. (stock heads/cam/block)

Oh yeah, forgot to mention...
And I heard that G O D himself hand built every single one of them

 

no offense to your friend but he can't drive worth ****!

 

Go drive them both and buy the one YOU like the best. I'd pick the SS, but that's just me. It's gonna be your car so pick the one you'll be happy with the most. Good luck.

 

No offense fly89,

But I dont see how the driver could have made any difference in the outcome of the race...

A dead hook on nittos and a computer controlled transmission dont leave much room for error.

Granted his stock torque converter is holding him back. He says the car runs 12.90's. I guess I am faster than that.

Back to the original topic at hand,

Get the LS1!

-Doug

 

LS1 all the way. Look at my sig and my mods and look at the g-tech time with the minimal mods. And i'm driving a stock A4 no converter or anything. Imagine the mid 12's i'd be pulling with just a converter and the BFG's.

 

ehhh, id go for LS1...though i do like the way LT1's sound...

 

i think the 00-02 n ram air trans-am is the best looking of the LS1'; i mean its so bad *** looking and yet so pretty haha it looks fast standing still man

 

what about the L98 is that a powerfull motor? and does it have potential?

 

Sure, if you ditch the tpi and go carb/big cam

(im no fan of tpi intakes, or 80's computer technology)

-Doug

 

yessss!

 

I would go with a 2000+ Firebird Formula Ram Air, with a 6-speed, T-tops, and leather!!! I would stick with the LS1, because they look better IMO, and are quite a bit faster!

 

Formula WS6's were not produced the whole time through. I do know that they were made in 98...I think 99...but I am pretty sure that was the last year.

IMO they look stupid anyway. Different front bumper/foglights and convertable spoiler.

In general WS6/SS only means more flashy/more insurance $$

-Doug

 

my dad has a 2001 z28 bare bones...just a/c....no cruise power windows...nothing.....he ran a 13.02 in it...he let me drive and i ran a 13.06...he got third a tad bit faster then i did....our 60's were almost exactly the same..i rode when he drove and vice versa, this was on street tires aswell, the only options he has is the monsoon stereo and the hurst short throw
ls1 all the way!!!!:hail:

hes gonna sell it to me next year and get a corvette...im tryin to get to him to get a z06, if u catch my drift

 

I wouldn't get either. I'm sure you can get a TTA for around that price.

 

you probly could...but it wouldnt quite as fast as a ls1...put a s/c on a ls1 and watch out!!

 

think of the mods u could do to the lt1 with the saved money over the ls1. a lt1 with a few grand in mods or the same price as a ls1?

 

think about the warranty that comes with the LS1 car(usually) and the fact that it's IMO a better starting point than the LT1.

 

I know 2 cars personally that have those mods except the cam, bone stock internals, with a built trans running 12.5's on motor, deep 11's on juice...i don't know, you're right though that stock coverter is KILLING him..

 

Um, I'm sure a few mods would get the TTA easy 12s, up the boost a little, hello 11s, and have a daily driver.

 

Exactly, with the money i would save I could put a 12 bolt in the LT1 and probably get a supercharger mmmm....vortech s-y trim (drool) save a little more and do forged internals and heads/cam. Im still leaning towards the LT1 for these reasons. Ive been looking on ebay and autotrader and I can get the T/A i want for alot less then the SS I want.
-Mark

 

I haven't driven either--LT1s or LS1s-- but from the numbers, I think I would prefer the LT1 because of low end torque. And looks. Although I don't have a problem with Sebrings. But I don't want a Camaro looking like one.

 

if you're lookin to do some hardcore mods then i'd got LT1, more parts out there that are a bit cheaper

if you're lookin to do minimal mods, and just drive it around go LS1

 

I'll agree with ya there.

My parts are much more expensive than LT1 parts. If you plan on going that deep maybe the LT1 would be better for you. I have seen many good deals on LT1 cars (7 grand or so).

Wait a minute...

You're in my area right? I just heard about a good deal on a 94 maybe? 6 speed Fbody (I cant remember Chev/Pont). I will check with my friend for more details.

I'll PM you with the info when I get it.

-Doug

 

hi 12's = $87 worth of mods and a few gal. of race gas

 

Ah Crap, now you guys have me seriously considering a TTA, too many decisions.

 

1BADDAM, what do you have to do to get the TTA running 12's with $87?? What about going into the 11's?

Doug, I am not in the market right now unfortunately, I have to get my car sold first and pay some stuff off. thanks tho.
-Mark

 

turbobuick.com
gnttype.org

Look through those 2 sites...especialy gnttype.org for the 11 and 12 second recipes, doesn't take much to get these things going

 

Basically it boils down to the fact that what is on the car can go 12s! The stock parts with the addition of more boost, and race gas can go 12s! That is what makes them appealing! It's why import guys like Turbos, cheap and easy to go really fast!

 

Thrasher 108 chip $25
Cat pipe $55
ATR Boost Dr. $6.95

Turn the boost up with some C-16. Done

I've heard of a few running hi 12's bone stock. All it takes is a WELL prepped track to let you leave with some boost. These cars put around 380 ft/lbs of torque to the ground stock.

11's have been had for under $1K

 

My TTA I have only had to go the following route to score 13.1

$25 Thrasher 92 (non race gas chip)
Custom exhaust
stock everything else and some 92 octane pump gass.

I would like to keep the car near stock as to preserve the "essence" of the car. The thing that is really incredible about the TTAs/GNX/GNs for that matter is not necessarily the ease of mods (at low $) but "seat of the pants" nail in your seat you get from a "boosted" launch. No LS-1 (unless heavily modded) will hang 0-60. TTA score sub 5 sec squirts to this speed.

 

If you want a 4th gen get a LS1!! I bought a 96 Trans Am before getting my 2000 and when I took it to the track for the first time and lined up next to a couple LS1's all I can say is Then I got smart and traded it in for my LS1 Stock for stock= big difference slightly modded= bigger difference

Seriously if you are looking for looks get whatever floats your boat but if you want speed with minimal effort you cant beat an LS1

TTA's are beutiful cars but are hard to find let alone one that hasn't been beaten to a pulp

 

Do you have a direct link to the recipes page? I have been all over gnttype.org and I cant find a thing.
-Mark

 

Oh yeah, and Ive pretty much set my sights on a TTA or GNX, :hail: I cant wait.
-Mark

 

I'd have to disagree here. My Trans Am is far from being heavily modded and I cut 0-60 times in the 4.5 range without nitrous and that's leaving at 1/2 throttle then nailing it because of wheelspin. Bone stock it was around 5 flat.

 

Yer all insane. For the $$ go with a '79 T/A with a 455, 3.08 POSI with a TKO tranny, some slicks, and then you can run!

Just yanking some chains... I agree tho, the WS/6 Ram Air T/A (4th gen) looks plain evil.

 

get a 02 ws6 ta or a firehawk and then mod the **** out of it and hit 10s

 

here

 

Yep I'm not heavily modded either,as a matter of fact, minus the converter and nitrous we have almost the same mods. But when my car was all stock my friend's LT1 vette would take me up to 60 mph then i'd walk him like a hurting dog. But now with the mods I have I keep right up with him then just pull him even harder on the top end. And i believe those LT1 vettes are good for 4.5 0-60 last time I checked. That's their strong point. All that low end torque.

 

Are you cutting 4.5 0-60's on stock radials ? TTA's would be in that range on acient Goodyear Gatorbacks.

 

Yeah, I cut those times on GSC's
I have nitto's now but they don't hook either on the street

 

I guess I'll throw in my experience. A while back I raced a mostly stock LS1 Z, this was before I had heads, so I just had the cam and gears. He had whisper lid, Nitto's, and exhaust. we go out to race, I'm on street tires and probably get the best street launch of my life, hardly any wheel spin. Even with nitto's, he spins pretty bad but catches fairly quick. I jump out atleast 2 lengths, maybe almost 3. I didnt know it at the time, but I was shifting probably 300 rpm earlier than I should have, but anyway. I'm staying 2 lengths ahead of him through 1st and 2nd, so Im thinking, no way I'm going to actually beat this thing. About that time I look over in my mirror as he makes up 2 lengths in what seemed like a blink of an eye, as I'm about to shift into 4th he's at my door, and we raced to the top of 4th and he had me by about 2 lengths. LS1's earned my respect right then and there. but I'm ready now

If it were me, LT1's are great, but LS1's are even better. I hope to an '02 Trans Am while at the Air Force Academy, but I'm like you too, I'm also considering a TTA. I've been checking ebay and there were 3 TTA's on there a while back, all of them in good condition, cheapest one was like $17K. It'll be worth it though.

 

if i make a jump on another car its going to be either another thirdgen gen most likely, i dont have the money to buy a 4th gen but if i did i would get the ls1!!!!

 

Lite moded LS-1s hitting 60 in 4.5 sec?? sounds a little too optimistic for a N/A LS-1.

 

Getting a nice torque converter and some quality tires so you can launch it like a bat out of hell will help get it there, of course it would take some other mods, but that's not too far off

 

Ive never gteched my car...

but it sure as hell woke up with the conveter. night and day.

Dano 00TA,
I hear ya about traction. You midwest converter is very similar to my Yank Y3000 (2.0 STR). Its a light hitting converter, but it is pretty d@mn hard to find traction on the street.

At the track its good for 1.8 60'ers with spinning radials.

Next year I'll have the headers/ory, drag radials, BMR LCA's, and !sway bar. Im shooting for low 1.7's/high 1.6's N/A.

Us auto cars come off the line crazy fast.

-Doug