Starting out stock.

[90zccrx]

I am looking for a 98 or newer trans am. I was wondering what you guys would do to it from stock form. I hear a lot of guys do exhuast heads and cams off the bat. I am use to honda's so I am not sure where to start on a V8. Thanks for any input ahead of time. :)

-Chris

[NICETRY]

if you get an auto, fist things first should be free mods, lid, longtubes, cutout, converter, and sticky tires.

if it's a 6-spd, then same as above, but throw a shifter in also.

if you're a good driver, you'll run 12's easily with either set-up, and they're all affordable mods. ;)

[90zccrx]

um sorry to be ignorant but what do you mean free mods? and what do you mean by lid, longtubes, and cutout? It will definetly be a 6-spd.

[NICETRY]

ok, first off, check here for all free mods: www.installuniversity.com/install_university/index.htm
all the free mods are in there, as well as some other useful info on many other mods.

When I say a lid, I'm talking about an air inducttion piece for the f-bodies, and when I talk about longtubes, I'm talking about longtube headers, and when I'm talking about a cutout, I'm referring to an exhaust mod where you can purchase a piece called a cutout, have it installed in your stock intermediate pipe, and you can then uncap it, and run open exhaust whenever you like. It's cheap, and very cost-effective. Unless of course you're someone who doesn't mind spending a nice lil chunk of change just to have what you think is a decent sounding exhaust. :)

[Chris 96 WS6]

What is a lid, what is a catback, etc. (http://ls1lt1.com/forum/faq.php?faq=ls1faq)

What is a cutout (http://ls1lt1.com/forum/faq.php?faq=generaltech#faq_cutout)

[90zccrx]

Thanks guys, I just finished reading the thread on "so you want to be fast" and figured out what you meant.

[NICETRY]

What is a lid, what is a catback, etc. (http://ls1lt1.com/forum/faq.php?faq=ls1faq)

What is a cutout (http://ls1lt1.com/forum/faq.php?faq=generaltech#faq_cutout)


hehe.....smartass.....I just felt like typing everything out!! :lol:

[Chris 96 WS6]

LOL. Hey, somebody took the time to type all that stuff out, I figured it was gentler to post the links than to to the whole "its called SEARCH" thing newbies get at other boards. :D

[90zccrx]

Do you goes know if these cars are having any problems that I should address before I tear into it? Like for example water pumps go bad after so many miles or what not?

[Chris 96 WS6]

LS1 cars don't really have a lot of those kinds of problems...you just drive it until something goes bad. Especially on a bolt-on car there's no need to do a lot of replacement maintenance.

If you do a cam its probably a good move to replace the oil pump....an LS1 guy can tell you more about that but it seems that is often replaced along with the cam.

[90zccrx]

OK thats cool, is there a buying guild for these cars like things to look out for? I am trying to find a stock 98+ trans am with low miles...I am guessing I would want to buy from an older gentalmen as the car might not have been beat on as much.

[Chris 96 WS6]

I'd prefer a stock unmolested car vs. a modded one, if that is what you are saying, but good luck finding one that hasn't been at least lightly modded. A private party sale is probably your best bet as these cars are still overpriced on dealer lots IMO.

Look out for all the normal car stuff...you want a straight body, clean, non-smoker, etc. etc. Its really hard to trash an LS1 so as long as the miles are good there's not going to be anything wrong with the motor. Make sure the trans shifts well, etc. etc.

[90zccrx]

I can't wait to get one I have always wanted one. I was into the imports for awhile becuase they are alittle more affordable but finally decided that the honda should be my beater car and the trans am will be my real play toy :)

[Chris 96 WS6]

Once you come over to a V8 you will be hooked for life...be prepared to spend hours/day daydreaming about mods and be prepared to waste massive amounts of cash on parts :D

Having said that...yes the car is pricier but its a lot cheaper to make fast than any Honda. Lid + Cutout = 12's. That's under $200 invested aside from the purchase price of the car.

[90zccrx]

Once you come over to a V8 you will be hooked for life...be prepared to spend hours/day daydreaming about mods and be prepared to waste massive amounts of cash on parts :D

Having said that...yes the car is pricier but its a lot cheaper to make fast than any Honda. Lid + Cutout = 12's. That's under $200 invested aside from the purchase price of the car.
Wow thats crazy! I figured it would take more then that. Good stuff :cool:

[Chris 96 WS6]

Some cars will run 12's stock...that's the power of the LS1.

I personally witnessed NICETRY's 2000 SS run 12.97 totally bone stock...seems like it was 110mph or so?

[NICETRY]

yeah....110.03. I eventually got it down to a 12.66 @112 with a lid, filter, cutout, shifter, free mods, and Nittos. :) Then the real mods came. :D

[Phoenix57]

if possible get a 99+ do to some small differences between the 98s and the rest of the years. if its a 98-00, get an LS6 intake manifold also. the most important thing will be gettin used to a real car. that will make you the faster quicker, especially with an M6.

[90zccrx]

yeah....110.03. I eventually got it down to a 12.66 @112 with a lid, filter, cutout, shifter, free mods, and Nittos. :) Then the real mods came. :D
Thats cool, I'm guessing you know how to drive then ;) What would be different from the 98 to the 99+ models? I am not trying to spend a crap load on buying the car. I was looking at like 12 grand.

[Commando]

hey i'm no expert, just wanted to say good luck finding a car..

[LiquidFire350]

you can find some 2000s for 12K, but those are probly high mileage with no options, theres a guy over on ls1tech trying to sell is 01 Z28 NBM for 12800 but its pretty much a stripper car

and if your looking for some impressive ETs to showoff, get some sticky tires, im pulling a 13.2 with only a lid and LM and im getting a 2.0 60' while spinning off the line and into 2nd, and i have an automatic

[90zccrx]

That's cool liquid, yeah I'm not sure what I will end up with but I know this time I will buy exactly what I want.

[NICETRY]

my 12.66 run was with a 2.00 60', spinning also. ;) sometimes power and driving make up for shitty 60's, even if I was running on Nitto's. :p

[90zccrx]

thats awsome, how long have you had your camaro?

[gettinthere]

What is a lid, what is a catback, etc. (http://ls1lt1.com/forum/faq.php?faq=ls1faq)

What is a cutout (http://ls1lt1.com/forum/faq.php?faq=generaltech#faq_cutout)


Wow that's some good advice. Oh yeah, I wrote 1/2 of it! :lol:

[gettinthere]

you can find some 2000s for 12K, but those are probly high mileage with no options, theres a guy over on ls1tech trying to sell is 01 Z28 NBM for 12800 but its pretty much a stripper car


Mikey's car is really nice though.

[90zccrx]

I don't know if I would want one stripped tho, I like my creature comferts. I'm not looking to build a race car just a very fun weekend mobile haha.

[Jaberwaki]

OK thats cool, is there a buying guild for these cars like things to look out for? I am trying to find a stock 98+ trans am with low miles...I am guessing I would want to buy from an older gentalmen as the car might not have been beat on as much.


Older guys race too;)
and almost everyone i know returns there car to stock before selling, so there is no way to know you are getting a untouched unraced car...
just inspect it well, make sure you pull off one of the valve covers and look for build up(sign the oil was not changed often and cheap oil used) the bottem of the valve cover should be almost as clean as the top...

chances are if the person took care of this part then they maintained the car decently...
best of luck finding what you want....:cool:
keep us up to date when you get your first impressions :D

[90zccrx]

Older guys race too;)
and almost everyone i know returns there car to stock before selling, so there is no way to know you are getting a untouched unraced car...
just inspect it well, make sure you pull off one of the valve covers and look for build up(sign the oil was not changed often and cheap oil used) the bottem of the valve cover should be almost as clean as the top...

chances are if the person took care of this part then they maintained the car decently...
best of luck finding what you want....:cool:
keep us up to date when you get your first impressions :D
Haha yeah thats why I siad MIGHT have not lol. Yeah thats a good idea to check under the valve cover. Also a friend of mine suggested to look up the vin numbers so I can see what options are on the cars when I look at them. Or what they should have on them.

[LiquidFire350]

Mikey's car is really nice though.
just trying to help a friend out, i got his old headers/duals now, they are going on in 2 weeks

[gettinthere]

just trying to help a friend out, i got his old headers/duals now, they are going on in 2 weeks


You'll like the way those sound.

[LiquidFire350]

i heard chris's(baddogz28) with duals and wanted them now, now i have them sitting in my room waiting for my weekend off so i can put them in, Mikey says it should take about 6 hours for the whole thing, im taking the whole weekend, im in no rush

now i just have to figure out what to do with the Loudmouth, i think i might just give it to my dad

[gettinthere]

i heard chris's(baddogz28) with duals and wanted them now, now i have them sitting in my room waiting for my weekend off so i can put them in, Mikey says it should take about 6 hours for the whole thing, im taking the whole weekend, im in no rush

now i just have to figure out what to do with the Loudmouth, i think i might just give it to my dad


You should be able to install them quicker than that.

[LiquidFire350]

well the LM is welded and if i give it to my dad im not cutting it up, so i have to take apart some of the suspension to get it over the axle

plus very time i try to do things fast, somthing goes wrong, so im taking my time, you do even want to know about the trans-cooler problems, my street is still stained of trans fluid

[Z-Bird]

"...be prepared to spend hours/day daydreaming about mods and be prepared to waste massive amounts of cash on parts..."

Fo' Real...LS1's are more addictive than crack...

In two weeks I've gone from thinking bone stock is perfect, to agonizing over whether to put on Mac Mid Lengths or Kooks Long Tubes...

Then there's how best to tell the wife and kids that Disneyland is only short term, and that AFR Headers are forever...and so are the matched cams...

Of course the catback and grill are already on, and now I need some of those Z-06 styled Z28 badges too...can't neglect appearance mods on a DD...

To say nothing of subframe connecters since I have a Vert...

[gettinthere]

well the LM is welded and if i give it to my dad im not cutting it up, so i have to take apart some of the suspension to get it over the axle

plus very time i try to do things fast, somthing goes wrong, so im taking my time, you do even want to know about the trans-cooler problems, my street is still stained of trans fluid


Oh yeah. Taking it over the axle sucks. You gotta drop the rear.

[90zccrx]

"...be prepared to spend hours/day daydreaming about mods and be prepared to waste massive amounts of cash on parts..."

Fo' Real...LS1's are more addictive than crack...

In two weeks I've gone from thinking bone stock is perfect, to agonizing over whether to put on Mac Mid Lengths or Kooks Long Tubes...

Then there's how best to tell the wife and kids that Disneyland is only short term, and that AFR Headers are forever...and so are the matched cams...

Of course the catback and grill are already on, and now I need some of those Z-06 styled Z28 badges too...can't neglect appearance mods on a DD...

To say nothing of subframe connecters since I have a Vert...
haha yeah thats howmy brother is. I on the other hand don't have kids or married yet but I was thinking of proposing to m girlfriend of 4 years in june! So we will see how that goes :) But I am very ready to be addicted to the LS1.

[LiquidFire350]

Oh yeah. Taking it over the axle sucks. You gotta drop the rear.
:hijacked:
i really wanted a reason to use that smilely, sorry about going off on my little exhaust tangent, carry on

:choppingw

[Z-Bird]

Abandon hope all ye who enter here:

I'm a complete Newb with a desire to learn and a best friend who has been a mechanic building 600+ HP cars for decades.

I run a lot of this stuff by him, and while this info is great, what may not come out is just how Xpensive this can get, how much down time you'll have, and how one mod leads to another.

For example, he warns me long tube headers are good, but the bolts will need to be periodically tightened, (maintenance) and the headers may get hot enough to melt some plastic that will need to be replaced with something stronger.

Of course with the headers I'll need Y pipe, and then to get the full benefit I should go catlless with true duals --- but mine is a daily driver with a MagnaFlow catback, so I can't go catless, and don't want to scrap my 4 day old MagnaFlow catback...

High flow cats may help a bit, but to get the full benefit I should add a cold air intake and a lid...

He explained why I should port my throttle body, but at this point, I couldn't even pick a throttle body out of a police line up...

Of course as RWHP increases, I'll become obsessed with at least getting it to 400 RWHP, so then it's head and cams...and a SFC for the Vert frame --- and the stall converter would be really fun...should I set it around 3200 ?

While knowing I should tread lightly and stay stock, alas I fear the lure of Unbridled Horsepower is more than I can resist...

Flee while there is yet time...I've only had my car a couple weeks and been a member here a couple days...

[90zccrx]

Sadley I have already been bit by the HP bug. I currently own a Honda CRX. I bought a new motor for it which was a dohc and the bought internals and turbo. But resently decided to sell the parts and put the money into a trans am. I know all about spending each pay check on new parts. It comes with the hobby haha. :)

[Jaberwaki]

about 50,000 bucks ago my cars were stock.... seems like just yesterday.... :lol:

[Z-Bird]

That's encouraging, especially since one of your cars is out with a blown motor, and even when running, it was never dialed in to it's potential.

[Note To Self: if you ain't breakin' you ain't racin'...Have kids learn a trade so I can raid their college fund for parts money]

[Jaberwaki]

That's encouraging, especially since one of your cars is out with a blown motor, and even when running, it was never dialed in to it's potential.

[Note To Self: if you ain't breakin' you ain't racin'...Have kids learn a trade so I can raid their college fund for parts money]


eh its all part of the game... having a brand new injector fail in the middle of a 1/4 mile run is one of those freak things you cant really prepare for.

most of the money i spent on this car was in set up to handle the power i have planned for it which included replacing the motor anyways, so although it sucked to lose it in the middle of the race season, it was getting a new motor this winter anyways...

[Z-Bird]

For $50,000 you could have had a nice sm-o-o-o-o-o-th Lexus and a fancy cell phone, you could have quietly motored about like a distinguished executive with an inflated feeling of self importance...

Why must you persist in this Hot Rod Hooliganism? :lol:

==================================================

Actually, based on your article, I gathered that a lot of what you had done involved building up a car to handle the power you want to put down...

I'd love to get another vehicle and do something similar, just make it stronger and faster year by year...:devil:

[gettinthere]

All the power in the world is useless unless you can put it to the ground.

[LiquidFire350]

lets see how much ive spent on the car so far
lid - 100
bellows - 50 (what a waste, and it makes taking the lid off harder)
SLP LM - 350
3 series diff carrier + 3.23s - 111
3.42s - 250
3.42 install labor - 200
hooker headers + O2 extentions - 500
custom true duals - 300
misc: 160 stat, computer tuning, throttle body bypass - for round numbers 250

so ive got $2111 into the car now, plus after i get the headers/duals put on, im looking into SFCs and a stall

[gettinthere]

so ive got $2111 into the car now, plus after i get the headers/duals put on, im looking into SFCs and a stall

Dude, I spent more than that on just my exhaust.

[Chris 96 WS6]

l

so ive got $2111 into the car now, plus after i get the headers/duals put on, im looking into SFCs and a stall

That's all? :lol:

I've got over $13K in mine...not including the purchase price. And that includes money made off selling old stuff.

I'm on my 2nd set of heads & cam...., Lt4 timing set, 2nd set of roller rockers....actually 3rd set now that I think about it.
M6 conversion with Street Twin clutch, before than a torque convertion & shift kit
Ford 9 inch
FLP longtubes, Dynomax muffler, electric cutout
58mm tb
lcas, PHR, strut tower brace
Wheels, tires, C5 front brakes
Spohn tq arm
30 lb injectors, used to hae 24's
LT1 edit
How many optisparks? I think I'm on #4 but I can't remember.

And that's not an exhaustive list, only what I could think of off the top of my head. I am by no means the king of wasting money on cars but I'd say there's something done to every area of the car at this point. Only thing left is a new shortblock.

The car only has 76,000 miles on it.

My caution to any one new at this is take things slowly and take your time..enjoy the process of the buildup, because if you do it all at once and just write a big check then the car will be "done" and you'll be bored, so you'll sell it, lose your ass on what you've spent, and start all over again.

[gettinthere]

I don't even want to think of how much I will have wrapped up in mine by the spring.

[LiquidFire350]

Dude, I spent more than that on just my exhaust.
come on now, ive only had the car about a year and half and im makeing 8.75/hour, with all the bills its hard to find money to put into the car

[LiquidFire350]

oh yea, if forgot about repairs from my hydroplaning accident, the new rims, tires, brakes, maintance, trans cooler, all soap from washing the car, tickets (all of which were equipment violations and one squeaking tires ticket)

and i spend a lot on my growing CD/DVD/Video Game colletions, my Mountain Dew addiction

i feel poor now

[Chris 96 WS6]

http://www.mtfba.org/forum/viewthread.php?tid=8460#pid89629

I was at $35K including the car back in May, not including the 9". So subtracting out the car plus finance costs I am looking at $16K in mods/parts over the last 6 years.

[gettinthere]

come on now, ive only had the car about a year and half and im makeing 8.75/hour, with all the bills its hard to find money to put into the car


True..............

[90zccrx]

come on now, ive only had the car about a year and half and im makeing 8.75/hour, with all the bills its hard to find money to put into the car
I hear you on that I don't make much now but I am either going to get a better job or get two jobs. I am waiting cuse I might go back to school yet too.

[Phoenix57]

lets see
GMS maf - 300(now back in the box)
BBK TB - 300(about to be back in the box
QTP LTs and ORY - 1000
FAST 90/90 - 1200
HP Tuners - 450(soon 600 w/ EIO)
Brembo OEM rotors - 400
Futral F13 cam and valvespring package - 1000
=4650

thats not including the stall im orderin in a few days, the trans cooler, and my stereo system(1k)

[gettinthere]

MTI Lid - 150
K&N - 50
Shaner S3 - 150
Cartek ported LS6 intake - 400
Coolant lines and plugs - 45
Heads - 1600
Cam - 350
LS6 oil pump - 100
Rollmaster - 100
Pro 5.0 - 180
Line Lock - 125
36# injectors - 400
42# injectors - 400
Kook's and Y - 1500
GMMG - 850
Spec 3 - 400
Relocation brackets - 130
LCA's - 250
PHB - 125
STB - 100
SFC - 250
Springs - 300
ASP - 190
Cobalt Fuel Pressure - 190
Cobalt A/F - 80
Draglites - 700
28" Hoosiers - 320
MT skinnies - 320
Clear Corners - 100
Grille - 100
Misc. parts (gaskets, bolts..........and what not) - 1000


All of that together totals $10,825. I know I'm forgetting alot and that doesn't include installs.

Over the winter I'm adding

New cam - 350
9" rear end - 2300
A-Arms, Torque arm and K Member - 1300
N2O - 1000

That'll add up to $4950. So all in all without any installation I'm into my car for atleast $15,800 plus the purchase price.

:(

[Jaberwaki]

All the power in the world is useless unless you can put it to the ground.

amen and amen :thumbsup:

[Nasty N8]

Heck I have $5000 in my new truck with barely 2000 miles on it. I do not even want to think about the race car but it will be fun this year.

Nate