so i got a line on a good deal on a 98' SS t-top car but i keep hearing how the 98's were "junk" I dont plan on hardcore building the car but just a second driver to my race car to beat around the street with etc. But whats so different from the 98's vs. everything else?

 

from what I"ve read:
98's have the worst heads (806's), and exhaust manifolds. Also the PCM doesn't take a boosted setup very well, but I think that's about it. 98's do have the largest stock cam though.
I have a 98, just put long tubes 3" ory and gmmg catback, and ls6 intake manifold. Made quite a difference

 

ok well heads are no biggie, prob be swapped out anyways, it wont be boosted so im good there and itll get LT's so i guess it be ok.

 

There's a link on here somewhere listing the differences among LS1s of different years.
They're not "junk,' just slightly different in a few minor ways. I don't think that there's much of a power difference at all. I do know that the LS1 started getting the LS6 intake manifold in '01, a nice little upgrade that people will pay for.

 

i want to say the rods are a little weak. or maybe it was the rod bolts. either way the 98's are better then a mustang.

 

If you find a nice 1998 LS1, BUY IT!! The trash talk about the '98 is beyond ridiculous.

 

Thats about what Ive done but the heads it runs low 12s with 130k on it

 

People act like 98s suck lol

My bolt on auto 98 dynoed 340 with long tubes, ported tb, ls1 intake, pulley...

Ran 12.0 @ 112


My only real concern with a 98 would be the rod bolts if you plan on spinning it higher with an aftermarket cam but thats nothing $200 rod bolts from katech won't fix.

 

I've owned two 98's....

They are not junk. The debate is quite silly.

 

ok sweet, its a ‎real 1998, SS, 6 speed w/ T tops, mint for around $7k

 

i never heard 98s werent good except on here.

 

Yea they arent as good as the newer ones but nothing that cant be changed. They are still great cars but just because they have a few little things that they improved on in the later years people say they are junk. The cars are actually a hair lighter. Pretty much all the stuff has been changed on mine by going to a forged motor, but I did change the ecm because the newer ones are easier to tune.

 

I say go for it. I never had issues with my 98 TA or 98 Z28 I had.

 

i say get it and **** pix of it all over this thread

 

Exactly.

All these details have been covered in many threads, and more info can be found in the FAQ sticky of the Newbie Tech section.

That all depends on what's important to you. As an owner of a '98, '99, '00, and '02..... I know first hand that '98s have some advantages/positives as well.