Hello everyone,

I have about $25K burning a hole in my pocket and am considering purchasing a 00-02 TransAm ram air or Camaro SS and using the extra money left over for mods. I figure I can get a the car for $18-22K and have $3-7K in mod money.

My main objective is simply to have a really quick, good looking, and good sounding car. No 1/4 mile passes but I want to be able to get from stop light to stop light as quick as any Corvette could.

Where to begin is my question. I have only 1 restriction and that is that I have to pass emissions testing in Houston. I have thought about the following mods:

Supercharger/turbo
or
Heads/Cam

Dual Exhaust
Headers
Fresh Air intake (not on Ram air)
Upgraded air box/filter

Anybody have any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks in advance

Russ

 

well if you do buy a F-Body stock, you will be going from stop light to stop light just as fast as any corvette. now if you want to be going faster then a Z06 or a viper, it wont take much of that $5000+ money you have left over.
with that much money you would be stomping them.

get new lid, heads/cam package, headers, converter, etc...

 

Are the WS-6's really that close to a Stock C5? From what I've read, the WS-6 is about 600 lbs heavier and puts out 25 less hp. It seems that it would be somewhat slower. Personally, I like the looks of the T/A Ram Air.

I really would like a bullet-proof car that can pass Texas emissions. Is there a street-legal true dual exhaust setup for the WS6? That and the lid would be the first mods, then header (if street legal) and heads/cam (only if they'll pass emissions). I'm tired of trying to run all over the state to get my Vette passed with it's true duals and no cats.

Russ

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 77-vette:
<strong>Are the WS-6's really that close to a Stock C5? From what I've read, the WS-6 is about 600 lbs heavier and puts out 25 less hp. It seems that it would be somewhat slower. Personally, I like the looks of the T/A Ram Air.

I really would like a bullet-proof car that can pass Texas emissions. Is there a street-legal true dual exhaust setup for the WS6? That and the lid would be the first mods, then header (if street legal) and heads/cam (only if they'll pass emissions). I'm tired of trying to run all over the state to get my Vette passed with it's true duals and no cats.

Russ</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Don't believe everything you read! Most F-bodies dyno at very close to the same power as a C-5.

And for stoplight to stoplight action (much like quarter mile action), the F-body will usually hook up better than the vette and therefore beat them. Vette suspensions are stiffer for the curves and don't transfer the weight like an F-body.

In my opinion, the WS-6 or SS are the perfect blend of quarter mile performance and decent handling. I love my WS-6 and wouldn't even trade it for a new C-5 if the offer was there! I'm sure a lot of people will feel differently, this is just my opinion!

I would go with a WS-6 and then do the following (to ensure legallity you need to talk to someone from your area!):
-Direct-flow lid & Holley powershot filter
-160F thermostat & program fans
-TB bypass
-MAF ends
-3.42 gears if A4 or 3.73 if M6 in a 12 bolt since you want bulletproof!
-LCA's
-SFC's
-convertor if A4 (I would go around 3000 stall)
-For the track, I would use a cutout, but since you are only on the street - Catback w/sound to your liking(I wouldn't bother with duals)
-long tubes with hi-flow cats if you can get them by the inspection, but a lot of states won't pass. If not, maybe Mac's with cats will pass.

This should take care of what you are looking for! I think heads/cam or power adder would be overkill for what you want, but if you want to spend the money...

Keep posted on your decision/progress!

 

Myself, I'd do this: http://www.ls1motorsports.com/Single_Turbo.htm. Add a nice free-flowing exhaust, and you're set. If you want to get really kinky with it, buy an automatic F-bod, throw a big converter in it, and you're ready to rock.

<small>[ August 29, 2002, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: BurnOut ]</small>

 

Thanks for the info guys!

BLK02WS6 that's a nice list you've put together for me. Although, I don't know what the two acronyms (LCA's and SFC's) stand for. Any idea on a round about cost for the aformentioned, assumming FLP longtubes and cats.

I've stongly thought about an exhaust, filter, and turbo, but I'm not sure on the cost and I definitely don't need 550rwhp. I'm looking to get to 400rwhp at the most. Anything else and I'd likely wrap myself around a tree <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> Not that I'm a bad driver, but traffic in Houston is horrible! I can't count the number of times I've had to dodge people who are darting into my lane without looking.

Also, I've been searching the for sale sections here and at ls1.com, fbody.com, and autotrader. I don't see many 00-02 ws6's. Any ideas where to look? And one last thing, is there any particular year of ws6 I should stay away from or try to specificly get (ls1 only of course).

Thanks again.

Russ

 

Well your not going to find an 02, and if you do you'll be paying more than 25K for it. For around 18-19K your probably looking at a 98-99, which in my opinion have nicer WS-6 rims than the 01-02. But the 01-02 have the LS-6 intake which is nice <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Maybe expand your search on autotrader to include 98-01 with $15,000-$24,000 and a 500 mile radius....Some of them are sure to pop up. Remember now your dealing with a collectors item, they don't make these cars anymore <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

Also LCA and SFC stand for Lower Control Arm, that has to do with suspension and I think limiting how much your wheels spin and SFC stands for Sub Frame Connectors and that keeps your car from turning into a pretzel. Goods SFC's are Kenny Brown double diamonds and Global West.

Oh yeah and for my opinion on what to spend 5K for, I would do
Lid/Filter=$175
Exhaust=$200-$650 (I have the Corsa system in my garage waiting for installation)
FLP Headers=$1300
Ported TB=I think $150 from Jantzer
Gears for M6 or Torque Converter for A4=$300-$800
Sticky tires=$600 (Gonna need this with a TC)
Brian Green's ram air thing= I don't know much about this mod, but I hear its well worth it.
If you get the most expensive stuff here you should have about $1000 left, that will go to good mechanics and maybe some tuning.
Damn hopefully you have enough leftover SFC's and LCA's because your gonna need those too, once your tearing up the streets

 

Pick up a used 98 with good body and paint for around 15K.

Then send it off for headers, exhaust, pulley, 12 bolt, clutch and a high end heads/cam kit with good rod bolts and oil pump in the bottom end.

410-440RWHP depending on aggressiveness of package and low 11's@122mph+ with traction with money to spare.

Cheers,
Chris

 

We still have dealers around here with 02's. If you want one, get to a dealer and have them run a locator on one right away! They'll find one. You should be able to get one for $29k or $30k I would think. I am not sure what kind of deals they have going now - I got mine in Jan. and got an employee discount on it. I think you would be better off to stretch and get the new WS-6 than to stretch for a used vette.

I see someone else answered the abreviations. As for where to get the mods and the prices - go to LS1motorsports.com - they are great to deal with, they have good prices, and fast service. Check out some of the ones on the side of this board also.

If you want the WS-6, you better act fast though! I know that they are getting harder to find each day.

 

I was actually thinking of getting a used WS6. I just hate paying for a new car <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I can get the GM supplier discount if that even applies to the pontiacs.

I'll have to give ls1motorsports a call and see what they can do.

Thanks,

Russ

 

Russ, go to ur local gas station or magazine store, get the Antique auto and sports car collectable trader book, they have awesome rides in there for sale! In ur case, I seen a used 2001 midnight blue SS with only 17,000 miles, chrome wheels, etc. for only $19 grand! it looks sweet!

Mike

2000 black Camaro SS

 

Well, I got a brand new 02 z28 for $19800...loaded. I had the $1000 cert. and gm card money...Anyway...that said you could get a hood and other cosmetic stuff for a total of $1500 then stage 2 heads cam for $3000 and a clutch (m6) or T.C. (3500) for $800....there you go..the other little mods can go on here and there...you've now got a low 12 sec car that will rip up almost anything out there(except another)..

 

Get a Z or a straight up TA. If you just want a WS6 Logo or a SS logo then go ahead and spend $3 to $5K more on it. The differences between base models and the top of the line F-Body's seem to be just marketing to me. If you want a fast car save yourself some money, buy a base model, research what you need to do and buy the parts that will get you there. The value is in the base models. I would have went with an SS or a Firehawk but went with a Z instead when I realized that after swapping everything out for performance purposes I would have spent $5K on an emblem.

 

Not alot of "tech" content.. moving to the lounge.

 

I've thought about the heads/cam package but I have to be street legal in Houston (requires sniffer test) so I don't know if it's doable(is that a word? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> ). I'll probably give ARE a call and see what they have available and see if anything is smog compliant. So far it seems as though it's off road use only.

Are the T/Z WS6 body styles any different throughout the years?

Russ

 

To give you an idea of the difference between a vette and an Fbody. When my 99 SS was stock I dyno'd 301rwhp and 313rwtq. the very next car on the dyno was a 99 C5. he only dynod 295rwhp and I cant remember the tq. The Fbody is WAY underrated!