SpeedWorld

Just curious. I had an 01 SS and unfortunately that was totalled. I'm on the look for another and I have came across some 98's. I have heard the heads are crappier but do they really restrict the performance? According to one I saw it seemed to dyno pretty low with mods, as well as others I have seen. So, is there any reason that would make the 98's slower? Is it a known fact they are slower or make a little less power? Thanks for any help in advance! I miss my car

massillongoat

iTrader: (3)

the intakes are different to....the 98s have and ls1 intake the 01 has an ls6 intake

liveatstrip

iTrader: (7)

I'm no expert, but I do know the '98 has a bigger cam and larger injectors. The 2001 has bulkhead vent windows in the crankcase which I hear is good for some high-end horses. There are a couple other differences, but Autozone has a book entitled "How to Build High-Performance Chevy LS1/LS6 V-8's." In it, they have all the casting numbers, cam profiles, head specs, and injectors for you to make an intelligent decision on what you want to spend your money on.
Wayne

SpeedWorld

Ok, just curious because I have seem some that have swapped intakes and heads/cam, and those 98's still seem to make less power, could just be a coincidence, but I would think that a 98 with an ls6 intake, same aftermarket heads/cam as an 01 should be making similar power. Wouldn't you think?

WS-Six

iTrader: (1)

There are 2 other things that most people dont know about with the 98 cars. The first being that yes, the cylinder head walls are thinner and not as good as the 99-02's. The second thing is that the 98's still were running the same computer as the previous 97 cars (these were nowhere nears as good as the 99's) In 99 they changed to the newer computer and thicker cylinder heads, then it 01 the cars got a smaller cam and the LS6 intake.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

98's are fine, they just need a couple of the new updates. They do have a larger cam, and the same size fuel system as the 01-02 cars.

If you plan on modding internally you'll find some local tuners might not have 98 software, but most of the big tuners still tune 98's.

Z28SteveA4

iTrader: (16)

I don't believe the 98 are slower like the other guy said they do have the ls1 intake and not the ls6 but i do believe they which back to th 28 pound injectors in 01. Don't quote me on that not 100% sure. Just to tell you my stock 98 camaro auto did a 13.42 on crappy street tire with a 2.12 60'. If that speaks for it self IDK! Good luck with the buy steve

TWS

iTrader: (63)

There's a mix of good and bad info in this thread, so let me put on my Internet **** hat and try to lay it out.

The '98-'00 F-body LS1's had a slightly larger cam, but came with the LS1 intake and an EGR system. '01 and '02 motors have a slightly smaller cam profile, but came with an LS6 intake and no EGR.

The '98's have 28.8# injectors, just like '01-'02. The '99 and '00 models came with 26# injectors.

The '01 and '02 motors did NOT automatically come with the improved bay to bay breathing windows. That was on the LS6 blocks, which IIRC was about 10% of '01's and 25% of '02 F-body motors.

The rear oil passage on '97-'99 blocks consisted of two small holes, inferior to late '99 and up blocks that had a large open passage. This may not make a performance difference, but may affect longevity IMO.

I thought it was pretty common knowledge that '98's had the old PCM, but that was good for Ws-six to point it out. Off topic, but '98 Camaros also had the smaller "LT1 style" steering wheel still.

Bottom line: there is nothing fundamentally wrong with a '98 and it can be made just as fast. There are, however, some differences that you may want to be aware of. Good luck.

ja_engineer

Aren't the heads different, I was thinking that the 97 and 98's had the perimeter bolt heads and that they flowed less. I could be wrong as it has been along time since I thought I heard that.

99T/AMAN

iTrader: (1)

I know my 99 ran 13.99 bone stock to the air filter and my buddy just bought a 98 with mods it ran 14.85, granted we have changed some things like that crappy k&n intake came off for a stocker with slp lid, tr-55's, msd wires, and the car has gone a best now of 13.98. But still it seems really slow for a ls1 if you ask me.

blk/slvr02ss

iTrader: (21)

I had a 98 Z-28 W/ off road y-pipe and a lid and ran 13.19@106 w/ bald nittos so i guess there not that slow.

Black99TransAm

iTrader: (16)

everyone is missing the 01 and 02s have 241 heads

SMALLBLOCKHERO

iTrader: (2)

thats odd. my 98 ran 13.68@103 with just a TSP rumbler cat back on 245 street tires. and its a A4 2.73 car with 88000 miles on it(never touched...plugs and all). its been said many times....nothing replaces the DRIVER mod.

i read somewhere in here that the 98s had a different throttle body cam too. which actually makes it open faster then the 99-02s.

BlackTTC6

02 stock times in the sig

1meantransam

iTrader: (8)

seems like someones just looking for an easy way out of modding it himself haha.

B18B1LS1

iTrader: (12)

My stock '98 SS A4 ran 13.1 @ 104, I would get whatever year you can find the best deal on.

shaun

the 98-99's have a smaller tb cam that does make it open faster.
also is it true the 98's have the old style stearing wheel?
my car is a 98 and it looks just like a 99-2000 wheel and i know the 01-02's had the wheel controls.

RaggedRides

iTrader: (8)

I managed a 13.4 with a lid and no muffler. My ONLY gripe with the 98's quirks is that I can't just plug a Diablo in to adjust for gear swaps and such.


Was your SS worth buying back?

samson_420

iTrader: (1)

That is the only issue I have also. 98's are on their own as far as computer crap goes. Everything is 99-02 and 98 is on its own.

Chubbz155

iTrader: (7)

I am the driver of that car!! It's not me! Also It has ran a 13.92 at 102mph!! It has a crappy flowjunk on it that might not be helping it at all! I have heard that it is harder to tune the cars and that people have done PCM swaps out of a 99! What is need to do that?