ls1_ftw

Ok, I'm completely new to learning about the ls1 so if what im asking is stupid,u understand why. Basically im about to buy a '99 trans am ls1 6spd. has alot of miles on it,but its at a decent price and runs great,just need a new throw out bearing.
My question is, how hard is it to put a "ram air" package on this car? Also, besides the ram air,whats the difference in the ls1 and the ws6?
Final question is how hard is it to change the throw out bearing on it? The guy says its still his daily driver and it only happens occasionally to where it gets stuck from 1st to 2nd gear?
Any help is much appreciated. Thank you!!

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Factory "ram air" is useless. The stock WS6 hood needs to be debaffled and sealed (via foam or weather stripping) to the air box to do anything at all. There are aftermarket ram air kits you can buy if you want to keep your stock hood though.

Please read the FAQ sticky at the top of this section for a detailed list of differences between a base Trans Am and the WS6. The short version is this: there is zero power difference.

eseibel67

iTrader: (10)

Trans needs to be removed to change release bearing. But I don't think that's what's causing your problem. Sounds like more of a trans issue.

ls1_ftw

let me rephase the bearing problem...only occasionally when shifting from 1st to 2nd the throw out bearing wont disengage and may need to double clutch it. or just skip 2nd.
He also said it doesnt have any "piston slap" which is a common problem for these motors. He runs mobil 1 5w-30?
Also the car has 197k miles,but is mechanically sound and still a daily driver. Anything i should watch out for since thats a bit of miles?

NeedaV8foundation

iTrader: (4)

the ws6 is wayyy faster than the stock t/a

haha no really though, there is no difference performance wise between the ws6 and trans/am/fomulas other than the suspension package.

the issue you described sounds like a master or slave cylinder going out (i dont know why youd think its a throw out bearing) On a high mileage car id get a leak down test done and a compression test done because at this point your on borrowed time. Id also say a large portion of buying a high mile car is the owner... is this someone who is going to be up front with you or hide a lot of things? the sellers personality to me is everything when buying a car.

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

Yeah my experience with T/O bearings is they just get noisey but don't cause shifting problems. I agree it sounds more like a slave or MC problem to me....

nyyz5122

This could be totally off because im not sure if Skip Shift was put in the 99 cars but i have an 02 Z28 and it has the skip shift in it which makes you skip 2nd or sometimes even 3rd gear if you rev to high in 1st gear. i could be totally wrong though but i figured id put it up just incase.

DukesOfHazard

I thought the skip shift was to keep you from shifting back into first over a certain speed, not skipping second. If it won't let you shift into second quickly while racing try the drill mod. If I'm completely off let me know.

justin455

Skip shift locks out 2nd and 3rd making you go from 1st to 4th if the revs are low enough (ie. just cruising, not getting on it). It's to boost mpg numbers.

DukesOfHazard

Odd, never had that happen to me. Now I'm curious as to what I can try to see if I can make it lol.

ls1_ftw

Yes,I believe it is the slave cylinder. The seller is the one who said throw out bearing. Besides that he said the headlight motor keeps grinding and goin out,he replaced it once but started grinding again. How hard is that to replace?? And the 197k miles scares me but idk how well the ls1 is with high miles. I don't wanna spend $5500 on something that's going to leave me stranded in a month or so...any advice?

DukesOfHazard

Holy crap for $5500? I bought mine with 69k for $7,600. I'd keep looking personally.

blue98Z

iTrader: (29)

What he said.

I picked mine up for $6750 with 41k 5yrs ago and my buddy paid the same price for a 99 with only 94k on it last year. You can find a lower mileage one for the same money. I'd keep lookin.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Depending on where the OP lives, this price for a 41k mile car might be impossibile. If he lived around my area (Chicago) and held out for a deal that cheap, he may never get a car.

But I do agree that $5500 for a 200k mile car with a couple known issues (and probably several more not yet known) isn't really worth it. I'd pass too.

DukesOfHazard

Hell I drove from Louisville to Milwaukee (6.5 hours) to pick mine up. Not trying to bash the car OP, but honestly, I think you should hold out. I know LS fever can set in and make you crazy, but you should've seen some of the crap cars I was looking at buying before I found mine.

sscamaroburn02

iTrader: (14)

Keep walking not worth it. Not saying the car isn't reliable but to spend 5500 and then have to replace the tranny or something next month just doesn't seem worth it. 200K is alot of miles for any car especially a V8 when you could almost guarantee its been run hard at some point in its lifetime.
The seller mine be the most honest person in the world but you'll never know for sure by looking at him. There are better deals out there. keep looking my friend!!

ls1_ftw

Thank you all very much for you help. I think i'm gonna pass it up and keep looking. Seems everyday i've talked to the guy another small problem popped up that he forgot to mention. I'm located in east Tennessee and idc to drive all day to get the right car at a decent price. I've just searched for a few days along the east coast and only thing i'm finding is automatics goin for $6-8k,and 6spds goin for $8-10k. If anyone knows of any good deals feel free to let me know.Ive got about $6k to play with,and determined to find a 6spd ls1.
Thank you once again for the advice!
Sidenote: I'm finding some 94-97 lt1 firebirds fairly cheap,with decent miles. I've researched all the differences between the two,but honestly can you tell the much of a difference between the lt1's power and the ls1? I'd still prefer an ls1.

Finkledbody

If I were you man, I would save another $2000. Start your search with $8000 and it will lead you to LS1 f-bodys with less than 30k miles in mint condition and possibly be lightly modded. With only $6000, you'll end up with a LS1 with over 100k thats going to need some work. By no means is 100k miles on a LS1 alot, but it sure does give you less time before something goes wrong. Also get the car fax report before you buy anything. Not everything shows up on the report but it will give you a good idea of whats been maintained and not.

Stay away from the LT1, endless problems with limited hp. Just my opinion, doesn't make it right.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Wow. You must live in a very strange land. Easy to find sub-30k mile mint condition LS1s for $8k or less, and totally unreliable LT1s that don't ever make power.

That's definitely not a world I am familiar with.

ls1_ftw

i found some pretty good deals on some but its a 15hr drive one way. One is a '00 with ~100k but needs a clutch,asking $5k.

***The original person with the one with 200k miles needing a slave cyl, dropped his price from $5500, to $4500 since i told him i was gonna look around.

*EDIT* found this,does it look like a decent deal to u guys?
http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/1761239687.html
-Also,how often do the headlight motor go out it the t/a's? And how hard to replace?