about to trade my stock dd z28 for a race car 490whp trans am...good idea or bad idea
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about to trade my stock dd z28 for a race car 490whp trans am...good idea or bad idea
hey guys i found and opportunity to swap/ trade cars today. I am about to trade my stock dd 99 ls1 z28 +cash for a 2001 trans am that has 490 rwhp
good idea or bad idea??
Trans Am has:
ported heads and internals from tsp (rockers, rods, springs etc)
ms3 cam
LT headers with cutouts
built tranny with a shift kit
comes with 2 rear posi's 10 bolt and and 9 bolt...not to sure what make
3800 converter
...ungodly loud haha the earth gets violent wherever this car goes
now i plan on driving this car as my dd since i only have the z28, and i only commute during the school year which is about a 25-30 mile round trip.
im just trying to get input on what you guys would do if you were in my situation thanks
good idea or bad idea??
Trans Am has:
ported heads and internals from tsp (rockers, rods, springs etc)
ms3 cam
LT headers with cutouts
built tranny with a shift kit
comes with 2 rear posi's 10 bolt and and 9 bolt...not to sure what make
3800 converter
...ungodly loud haha the earth gets violent wherever this car goes
now i plan on driving this car as my dd since i only have the z28, and i only commute during the school year which is about a 25-30 mile round trip.
im just trying to get input on what you guys would do if you were in my situation thanks
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If i were in your situation i wouldn't do it, but thats me. I would want the satisfaction that i built the car with my hard earned money. On top of that you should make sure who did the work, get the reciepts, how many miles are on all the parts, has it been beat the sh*t out of, is the rear on its way out, any knocking noises etc.... These are the things you have to consider before trading for a built car. This decision is basically all on you, Built Not Bought Ftw
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I think I'd stay with the DD you have. I did like doing on the mods myself and sometimes you do worry about if the previous owner did beat the **** out of it. My biggest concerns are RELIABILITY and the sheer power. I mean, ****, do you need that much HP for a DD? With the mods in my sig my car seems stoopid fast. There is no virtually nowhere safe other than a drag strip to have good SAFE fun with a car with that much HP. I do a few expressway on-ramp blitzes and if I venture out into the country it's good, but in your daily commute where you see 0 - 45 MPH, it's just not feasible to me.
As far as the reliability goes, the stall could cut down tranny life. I'll assume it's also got a tranny cooler, as that might prolong it a little. You're going to find sitting there for 10 minutes waiting to get up to operating temp everytime you get into your car veryyyy daunting. I don't trust even babying it while it's still cold to drive as your vavle springs need to be at temp. I'd take all that into consideration.
Bottom line, it's a good weekend warrior car, but for a DD, I'd pass. Good luck with the choice.
As far as the reliability goes, the stall could cut down tranny life. I'll assume it's also got a tranny cooler, as that might prolong it a little. You're going to find sitting there for 10 minutes waiting to get up to operating temp everytime you get into your car veryyyy daunting. I don't trust even babying it while it's still cold to drive as your vavle springs need to be at temp. I'd take all that into consideration.
Bottom line, it's a good weekend warrior car, but for a DD, I'd pass. Good luck with the choice.
#5
Car like that can wear you out if you drive it everyday. What do you know about the current owner? Is he the original owner? Is he over 40? I might consider it if you knew he was good to it... But honestly... who's not gonna beat on a car like that?
#7
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Have you seen a dyno sheet or track times of this car? 490hp does seem alot.. I mean a ms3 cam is pretty big but it isnt the biggest cam out there and does he have a fast intake or what? If he has a a ls6 intake with just ported heads and a cam, thats such bullshit. Making almost 500hp to the wheels with just a cam and heads?? Someone find that odd
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but to the OP, you do NOT want to DD that car. Reliability is an issue, and if you didn't build it you have no idea what kind of shortcuts this guy has taken. If nothing else buy a 500 dollar beater for the DD duties.
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i dont think it makes that kind of power either, BUT, I dont think there is any sort of reliability risk. I could drive my car every damn day, and not have to worry about it breaking down on me. These cars, even when heavily modded are still reliable as all getout.
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maybe yours is... but not all of them are. after 400+ hp, it becomes a risk. Yes if they are built right they *SHOULD* be ok, but there's so many little things that can be less reliable. that 4l60e is ****, the 10 bolt is ****, and more power only makes them less reliable. Not to mention with that cam, it'll be necessary to check the valve springs every 10k or so. If you dont have money for a beater, you dont have money to worry about renting a car when it breaks down. But, if you're willing to take that risk, by all means do so.
#17
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We all know it is not 490 so that would make me not trust the dude right there....
Having said that I COULD DD my car in sig if I wanted too. Mods in sig for 2 yrs/20k with only maf prob and 1rocker bolt backing out. Oh wait........well my rear end is crapping now but motor wise it's still pretty reliable.
More hp makes the other weaknesses stand out.....
Having said that I COULD DD my car in sig if I wanted too. Mods in sig for 2 yrs/20k with only maf prob and 1rocker bolt backing out. Oh wait........well my rear end is crapping now but motor wise it's still pretty reliable.
More hp makes the other weaknesses stand out.....
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We all know it is not 490 so that would make me not trust the dude right there....
Having said that I COULD DD my car in sig if I wanted too. Mods in sig for 2 yrs/20k with only maf prob and 1rocker bolt backing out. Oh wait........well my rear end is crapping now but motor wise it's still pretty reliable.
More hp makes the other weaknesses stand out.....
Having said that I COULD DD my car in sig if I wanted too. Mods in sig for 2 yrs/20k with only maf prob and 1rocker bolt backing out. Oh wait........well my rear end is crapping now but motor wise it's still pretty reliable.
More hp makes the other weaknesses stand out.....
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