lotsofgtos

Hi -- I bought an '00 z28, LS1/T56 car at an insurance salvage sale to act as a donor car for a drivetrain transplant into another project car. The z suffered unibody damage but is drivable and has a good title. After trailering the car home I took it for a test drive--left black marks on the road for a good 100+ feet, think the tires only quit spinning cuz I took my foot out of the throttle . Road surface was coarse blacktop and not slick. Most of my experience is with GenI small blocks, I've also driven a 94 LT1 vette---the power of this z puts them to shame . Question is, "Is this normal LS1 power or does this indicate engine modifications?" No obvious mods to engine (what else should I look for?), but the car has 18" tires, Baer brakes front and rear, urethane bushings,etc. Believe rearend to be stock ratio as well. Stock LS1 performance or NOT? If not, I'd like to try and figure out what's been done to the motor. Any tips shy of tearing it down? Car/engine have 52,000 miles on them.
Thanks in advance, John

unit213

Sounds a little fishy. Stock power won't do that. Get it to the track.
If it traps better than 110mph, it's for sure modified.

Smokinstorm

iTrader: (5)

Quick question. What was the temperature outside like when you did this? If it was really cold and the road was cold as well (overcast day or at night), it'll spin the crap out of the tires like it's on wet pavement. Stock.

JimboManJones

Its incredibly easy to lay down as much rubber as you want with a 6 speed, I can lay down long patches and I have a slow lt1.

rtr2001ss

iTrader: (2)

LS1's in Camaro's and TA's are underrated. Most of the fbod's I've seen put down between 305-325 at the wheels, stock or mostly stock.

Brains

iTrader: (7)

18's and a six speed = black marks as long as you care to leave them

How does the car sound? Is it quiet? Does it lope at idle? A stock LS1 will have a glass smooth, darned near luxury car idle. If its choppy, the car is cammed. Look at the crank pulley, if its rusty cast iron, its stock. If not, its an underdrive. Look at the airbox where the filter goes. If it is the size of your house and has big air chambers on each side of the tube before it hits the MAF, its stock. If its a smooth transition, its aftermarket. The stock 3.42 gears should have you cruising around 1500 RPM at 70 MPH. That's about all the "easy" things I can think of to check off the top of my head.

lotsofgtos

Thanks to all, In reply; 1) I'll take the car to the local quarter mile and see what it runs. 2) Outside temperature was about 60-65, road temp. probally the same since we did this about 7 pm, road surface had all day to warm. 3)The z has much more power than the '94 LT1 6-speed Vette does. 4)I have a zz4 (355 gross horsepower) in another 4-speed car, this LS1 easily outpulls it. 5)Car idles smoothly, no chop. Thought a roller-cammed motor could have a fairly aggressive cam without a rough idle? 6)Haven't paid attention to the crank pulley, will take a better look at it. 7)Also need a better look at airbox, does have K&N type flat filter though. 8) Will check the RPMs at 70.

Anyone else with tips/thoughts?

Thanks again, John

Black Z/28

Headers? Stock exhaust? Kinda unlikely other internal mods done before headers.

then00b

You could always spend about 30 bucks and get it dynoed?

C's35thSS

iTrader: (2)

Check the tires. If there crapp thats why you will burn as much as you want. My 02 SS wouldnt hookup till I put the BFG street drags on it. Now you can really feel the power it puts down, with out the black marks.

Blackz28 is right, who does internals with out headers, or the air intake mods, (no air no pwr)

Ell Ess Won

Where!?

Best I got around here is about $65 for 3 pulls.

Ice Knight

iTrader: (9)

Lol, yeah really...

Sgt. Spuds

iTrader: (1)

Sounds stock to me, just cheap-o tires. I can lay down as much rubber as I care too with my old lt1 if I keep it in first, and can burn through second if I try, heres a picture of some marks I left the night before the picture was taken.

KENS_SS_4

Sounds stock. The first time I raced somebody before the race he said I was going to kill him. But all I did was go sideways. You picked a great donor drivetrain even if it is stock!

svtwhat?

iTrader: (17)

the stock cars are quite impressive. My friends 99 laid rubber in 3 gears with a t56. and as most have said they will put down 300=whp.

lotsofgtos

Thanks to all for their answers! Tires are Cooper Zeons. Nearest dyno is over 150 miles away . Had an acquaintance with Ls1 knowledge come look at the car, he pointed out numerous mods this old-school Gen I SBC fan did not detect at first . Think I'll see what it would cost to get the body straightened at a frame shop and decide from there whether to use as a donor or repair the car.
Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge, John

wamp42

What kind of Cooper Zeon ZPT or 2XS?

eastcoastbumps

iTrader: (1)

John, what kind of car is the LS1 going into? You've got me pumped for my swap. Its been a long time since I've done a burn out.

BLKWS.6

<ran Zeon's on my LT1 and they spun for 41.5' with the 3200 rev limiter holding me down with a A4 and 2.73's.