04billygoat

ok i just got a 04 gto with a 5.7 and i was wondering what the weak points are
talking bout drivetrain and what are the easiest ways the make horsepower thanks for the input

nwi goat

iTrader: (3)

if you have a 6speed the rear end is always a problem with the irs but if its a auto you dont have to worry as much. the drive shaft is also a weak link in 6 speeds but plenty of people push em to the limit with no probs...

ArklaTexan

iTrader: (24)

I am pushing 650rwhp and have not upgraded a thing. Now that is not to say it won't break in the future but it has held up for 20k miles.

If you plan on pushing serious power you will need stub to hub new driveshaft and pedders suspension. (not cheap)

5.7 Litre

^^^Agree in full, i feel on a 6 speed if you start modding on a LS1 it will be the clutch, All the GTo will wheel hop around like no other but throw some brag bags in the rear and that will help out. BMr makes great half shafts but i hope u dont mind spending some money there...

04billygoat

thanks guys and yea it is a m6 but it looks like the rearend has been replaced but thanks again and keep the advice coming

bigredgto

all the suspension bushings in the car are about worthless. replace them the first chance you get with the pedders replacements. makes a big difference in how the car handles.

PapaSmurf2005

I've only seen or heard of ONE person breaking a driveshaft due to too much power, why do people say the driveshaft is a weak point? Retarded. Also the rear ends are decent on these cars too. Quite a few autos have gone mid 10's on the stock rear (with the stock driveshaft), high to mid 11's with the manuals. I wouldn't worry too much about the driveshaft or rear end. I would worry about the clutch/converter and transmission befor that stuff.

The weak points would be the clutch/converter/trans and then the suspension. The other weak point is you are only able to stuff a 275 in the rear without really have to mod the rear fenders a lot or get different wheels. Even then you can maybe get a 285 in there.

Other than that, these cars are pretty nice.

04billygoat

yea at the moment my clutch\tranny feels good but i did put on new tires 255 and they feel good but ido wanna go bigger what would i have to do for 285\295 to make them fit

PapaSmurf2005

A wider (BFG/Goodyear) 295 will not fit. I have on 285/35/18 Goodyears and they are too tall. They fit width wise with the fender work and suspension I have done, but even with beating in the fender wells some they still bottom out. Not really worth it, just get some 255-275 DR's.

RocketCutlass

I dont get why people keep sayin the stock suspension sucks, unless your talkin about launching it at the track then yeah but thats not with the GTO was designed for, it woulda had a solid axle if they wanted a straight shooter. i love the way my 06 drives and handles, I mean the pedders suspension is better but there is nothing wrong with the stock GTO suspension. it handles better then most cars out there as it is.

Miguelius

I agree that the GTO suspension and handling are pretty nice. I am not a dragster and use my car as a GT car. It's like a muscle car variation of a BMW M3. Although the handling is not as sharp as an M3 (very few cars are), it's still very good. Pontiac originally stole the GTO name from the 1962-64 Ferrari GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato--homologated meaning that enough had to be made to qualify it as a "production" car). But the GT part of the name is well deserved. Although I loved muscle cars in the 60s, I lean toward sports cars and own a 1966 Ferrari. The GTO is a great grand touring car, with power, handling, and a classy interior. It's also fun what some of you guys have done to tweak the engine and suspension. But it's a fine GT car the way it is, from the factory. And it has "street cred" with people who know & appreciate unique cars. (2004 Impulse Blue/blue int./M6/27,000 miles.)

Phantom&RedGoat2004

My IRS busted just a couple of days ago. Totally stock with less than 37k miles on it.

5PONT7

Lame i am almost at 30k miles I hope that does not happen to me.

04blowngoat

iTrader: (3)

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...844&highlight=

I've broken everything in the driveline past the tranny.

PapaSmurf2005

That sucks, but it's not like that is normal.

jmdgto

from the transmission on back is the weak point.

dee99gt

iTrader: (3)

I have stock suspension, tranny, clutch and rearend stuff... I have MT's 275s w/ cut fenders... and I launch anywhere from 4-5K rpms and never had a problem with wheel hop...

svede1212

iTrader: (3)

because they drank the peddlers KoolAid and think that the super duper track VIII $4,000 "package" makes them have a super car. for serious tracking it's a good idea to upgrade and there are more options out there than peddlers. ya, you can upgrade the suspension and it handles better but lots and lots of people have done nothing and still enjoy their car. i am another one that's broken a drive shaft and another guy in my town did one last week so altho it's not common it's not unheard of. the drive shaft and the rear half shafts are weaker than the '05-'06s. i say drive it 'til you break it and then upgrade. BTW IMHO the best first mod for a M6 is a GMM (or Billet) shifter followed by headers and a tune. you'll be very happy with those.

svede1212

iTrader: (3)

wheel hop is a very weird thing. some can't get rid of it no matter what they throw at it and some like you don't see it. it's more common than not and the M/Ts with you are probably the reason you don't see it. if the tire doesn't spin, the wheel doesn't hop.

LSWONGTO

iTrader: (3)

The weak points are no room for a real tire, wheel hop/ saggy stock springs/ the stock shifter takes alittle getting used to, and the MFing little trunk but I still love my goat anyway.