mf360

I'm new to the site and considering buying a 98-02 Z28 or SS. I'm wondering what some of the common problems are with these model years. I'm mostly interested in the 2000-2002 model years, but am open to all feedback.

Also, I'm curious about what type of maintenance items are a real pain to work on. For example, I've heard that to replace the distributor cap the radiator/fans, etc need to be removed.

I apologize for the lame questions, but this will impact my decision to buy or not.

T-56SLPSS

F-bodys are special cars. Some require oil changes while others require trannys and motor mounts. A 01-02 f-bod will save you $300+ for a ls6 intake. The 00's come with the ls6 block.. Any one you go with you will fall in love with.. These are awesome cars with infinate potincial!! personally i would go with a 01 or 02.. In 00 they changed the interior. all of these cars are bad a just be careful and try to find one that doesn't look like its been rode hard and put up dry all its life!! you can find a 30K SS that's a piece of **** and you can find a 120K SS that is the most dependable car you have ever had.. If your ready to buy an F-body be ready to fix things that go wrong, its all a part of owning one of gm's mistakes. They are bad *** cars and 9 times out of 10 a f-body owner will tell you its the best car they have ever owned.. Be ready to blow some cobra's and a few C5's off the road.. HIGHLY RECOMENDED, YOU WILL LOVE YOUR CAR MORE THAN LIFE ITS SELF!!!!!!!!!

T-56SLPSS

And as far as problems go as long as you stay with bolt ons you should be fine. Once you start messing with heads/ cams and internals you better be ready to buy a 12 bolt, new tranny and all kinds of other things. Look for a stock or nearly stock one to start with. If it has a cam, chances are it has been driven like it has one. Use this mind set and you should be fine, and any problems you come across can be easily answered on ls1tech!! good luck, and when you do find one be proud!!!

OMGWTFBODY

iTrader: (5)

Get as much maint. history as you can.

It can bite you in the ***. I picked up my car a couple hundred bucks cheaper than I could've locally. I got a decent deal, but I had to fix a few things and flush some fluids. No big deal, it just took forever to get to.

Plugs and wires are a pain on the passenger side. knock sensor/ oil pressure sening unit are a hassle.

for an M6, check the clutch feel and peek at the brake fluid in the clutch reseviour.
If it's black, you might be dropping 2-300 + 2-500 in labor for a slave/master.

waldershrek

iTrader: (1)

These cars don't have distributors so that would be false


These cars don't really have any problems. Obviously that can change based on the previous owner and how they drove and maintained the car but as long as it wasn't completely abused it will be fine. As has already been pointed out an '01-'02 car will already have an LS6 intake so that would be one less thing to upgrade.

stefan256

iTrader: (1)

as everyone else said it basically depends on how its been mantained when youre talking about motor tranny . Probably the biggest thing ive seen complained about are the window motors if you own one for a decent amount of time more than likely it will need to be replaced. Unless you are one of the lucky ones

davered00ss

iTrader: (4)

No distributor on the ls engines. They have coil on plug set up.

I would get an 01/02 over the other years. They simply make more rwhp stock and respond to tunning better. 98's computers are not as good as the 00-02 ones, not sure about the 99. If you are planning a major forced induction build or something crazy the newer computers are better.

Only common issue I can think of is the power window motors and t-tops leak/ sometimes fly off.

pitbull14218

iTrader: (3)

I didnt know they come with a LS6 block, does it make a difference? Is it just stronger?

LS1>girlfriend

iTrader: (19)

very very few come with an LS6 block, but all 01-02 cars come with the LS6 intake manifold and dont have EGR. i think the only difference between the 2 are a few more oil passages in the LS6.

this link has engine specs
http://www.smokemup.com/tech/ls1.php

read the stickies, they are your friend and have lots of info.

pitbull14218

iTrader: (3)

I looked and didnt find part # to know if its a LS6 block. also where do i look on the engine to find that #? thanks.

LS1>girlfriend

iTrader: (19)

12561166 is the part number for an LS6 block. it is stamped on the rear drivers side of the engine just above the tranny.

LS1>girlfriend

iTrader: (19)

prob use a mirror and flash light to see it.

pitbull14218

iTrader: (3)

ok, but it doesnt mean extra HP having a LS6 block right?

OMGWTFBODY

iTrader: (5)

Just better oil flow.

LS1>girlfriend

iTrader: (19)

no extra horsepower, still has ls1 internals and heads.

waldershrek

iTrader: (1)

Here is the sticky on how to tell if you have an LS6 block:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....86&postcount=8

T-56SLPSS

On lt1s the distributer cap is behind the water pump.

eappwr

iTrader: (1)

MF360. Today is you're lucky day. If you don't buy this car theres something very wrong with you (unless of course you just cannot stand to own an automatic):

https://ls1tech.com/forums/western-members/864715-2002-black-z28-auto-21k-miles-procharged-socal-mint.html

What a way stepping into the game with that thing would be!