97 LT-1 WS6 or 98 LS-1 Trans Am ?
08-10-2005, 02:36 PM
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97 LT-1 WS6 or 98 LS-1 Trans Am ? So i'm looking for my first F-body, hopefully getting it pretty soon but now i can't decide which one. I've come across two that i will be going to take a look at this weekend. one is a 1997 Trans AM WS6 with 74k and the other is a 98 Trans Am (non WS6) with 79k. both cars have the M6 transmission. both are green. T-tops. and i am torn as to which one i would take. i'm steering towards the 97 WS6 as it is going for around $2.5k less than the 98. BUT the 98 comes with a 3month warranty and an LS1! ? what do you guys think would be a better buy? im steering towards the WS6. they can't possibly be That much slower than an "LS1, right?
08-10-2005, 03:03 PM
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Take the extra 2.5k and put a Lloyd Elliot setup in the car along with a few bolt ons. You'll rape the crap out of an LS1 with anything short of a cam. and you'll sound alot better doing it 
08-10-2005, 03:33 PM
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If I could do everything all over again. I would buy an LS1. I am so !@$#%### fed up with stupid lt1 problems. Leaking, breaking, and other crap. If you have the money, get the newer car, less problems and you get more power out of regular bolt ons. Don't get me wrong, I love how my car sounds, but I would GLADLY trade sound for a better car.
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08-10-2005, 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by matrik
If I could do everything all over again. I would buy an LS1. I am so !@$#%### fed up with stupid lt1 problems. Leaking, breaking, and other crap. If you have the money, get the newer car, less problems and you get more power out of regular bolt ons. Don't get me wrong, I love how my car sounds, but I would GLADLY trade sound for a better car.
all cars end up leaking breaking etc ...especially when you mod them
in my opinion get the lt1, if your worried bout the opti get a delteq for it , throw the extra money into full exhaust and gears and do whatever else you wna to it ....you'll love it ...trust me
08-10-2005, 10:21 PM
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With any older car you're going to have problems to fix. There aren't many miles on that car, so you'll be okay. I'd suspect your opti will have problems around 115k. That's where most people get problems. Mine lasted to 150k before it started acting up. The 97s have the later (better) vented opti design.
Like someone said above, if you don't want things to break, then leave the car stock.
You won't be disappointed with the LT1.
Like someone said above, if you don't want things to break, then leave the car stock.
You won't be disappointed with the LT1.
08-10-2005, 11:35 PM
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My point was that from what i've experienced, thinks break way more on modded lt1's, than modded ls1's. My friends all have ls1's, and they have none of the oil leaks and stuff I have.
08-10-2005, 11:57 PM
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Originally Posted by matrik
My point was that from what i've experienced, thinks break way more on modded lt1's, than modded ls1's. My friends all have ls1's, and they have none of the oil leaks and stuff I have.
LT1s leak oil. LS1s burn oil. Ways of the world.
08-11-2005, 02:14 AM
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1997 has the vented, Optis arent that bad as half those guys in that post make them out to be. Its generaly user error that causes their death, people half *** it with shitty parts and get shitty results.
Last edited by Bizzzatch350; 08-11-2005 at 02:23 AM.
08-11-2005, 02:34 AM
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another way to think about it is that the 97 is the last year of the lt1 and the 98 is the first year the ls1 was put in the fbody. the ls1 has it's own share of problems, which aren't to be looked over just because it's newer. i'm always skeptical of the first year run a motor has (even though it was in the C5 in 97). piston slap and the oil pump are obvioulsy an issue.
it's all up to you man, get what you want. if you want the ls1 and are willing to spend the extra money then do it, if not the lt1 won't do you wrong.
it's all up to you man, get what you want. if you want the ls1 and are willing to spend the extra money then do it, if not the lt1 won't do you wrong.
08-11-2005, 06:10 AM
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Originally Posted by matrik
My point was that from what i've experienced, thinks break way more on modded lt1's, than modded ls1's. My friends all have ls1's, and they have none of the oil leaks and stuff I have.
Yes, your extensive knowledge of having owned 1 whole LT1 makes you an expert in this field
08-11-2005, 06:46 AM
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I have to say get the LS1. Above there is an LT1 with headers, gears, converter, tuning, and a couple other things and it says best e.t. 13.2, that's probably more than $2500 in parts and most stock LS1's run that # JMO.
08-11-2005, 12:23 PM
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There are combos of parts that can get you WAY faster than 13.2 with a $2500 budget. If he payed to have someone install those parts then yeah that's around 2500, assuming they're good quality. But an LE H/C setup only costs about 1100 for the LE1, then add on 1400 in bolt ons and you're making 350-360 at the rear wheels, more than most full bolt on LS1s.
08-11-2005, 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by IROCBYU
I have to say get the LS1. Above there is an LT1 with headers, gears, converter, tuning, and a couple other things and it says best e.t. 13.2, that's probably more than $2500 in parts and most stock LS1's run that # JMO.
You can't compare what his time to what "some" ls1s run. Unless you have an actual LS1 that ran on the exact same day at the exact same track, its not a good point to make