98 LS1 strength?
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Teching In
Joined: Aug 2007
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98 LS1 strength? I picked up a 1998 LS1 core from a Camaro a while back and the people I talk to around here(in my area) tell me the early ones(1998) are crap. Are they blowing smoke at me trying to get my motor or are the 98's problematic? This engine has a spun rod bearing. I got the whole thing super cheap intake to oil pan, with wiring harness, ecm, maf, flexplate, etc... My plan was to swap it into a BMW 325i but I found out you have to switch to a dry sump. Too much money for that car. Now I'm thinking S13 240 sx.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,875
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From: Naperville, IL
98's only real issue was with the oiling, and even that is somewhat debatable. There is nothing "weaker" about it that any other year LS1 engine. They are a bit harder to tune with radical cams and forced induction. There's a lot of misinformation out there and the people telling you they're weak are blowing smoke up your ***. Obviously it will need to be rebuilt with the spun bearing, but after that it will be fine.
Depending on what your expectatin are, If your going to be racing it, It can be done, but a good rebuild and updating of the oiling system and other would be in order.
You can alway update to a 99+ PCM and rewire the harness and that would do way with the so called tuning problem of the 98 PCM.
But if you just looking to have a BMW / LS1 as a daily driver plus some .. that would be cool and not a problem, even some WOT run here and there would be ok.
There are still 1000's of 98 F-Body and 97 Vette out there with the same engine casting and they are still going.
You can alway update to a 99+ PCM and rewire the harness and that would do way with the so called tuning problem of the 98 PCM.
But if you just looking to have a BMW / LS1 as a daily driver plus some .. that would be cool and not a problem, even some WOT run here and there would be ok.
There are still 1000's of 98 F-Body and 97 Vette out there with the same engine casting and they are still going.
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 200
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by Asmodeus
98's only real issue was with the oiling, and even that is somewhat debatable. There is nothing "weaker" about it that any other year LS1 engine. They are a bit harder to tune with radical cams and forced induction. There's a lot of misinformation out there and the people telling you they're weak are blowing smoke up your ***. Obviously it will need to be rebuilt with the spun bearing, but after that it will be fine.
I love how people talk so much **** about 98 LS1's. It's just internet BS. Only real disadvantage is they have the LS1 intake manifold and like Asmodeus said...tuning can be a alittle tougher(NOT impossible) on a 98 computer with the more radical set-ups. Although I'm pretty sure the 98's have the largest cam out of all the other LS1's if I'm not mistaken(someone correct me if I'm wrong).
My truck has a 98 LS1 with about 20k miles on it and it runs damn well. The people who have lost to it would probably agree.
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 200
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by bczee
But if you just looking to have a BMW / LS1 as a daily driver plus some .. that would be cool and not a problem, even some WOT run here and there would be ok.
Not bustin on you or anything.....just the way you commented made me think that you meant you could floor it every now and then but if you do any hard driving on it since its a 98 it would explode or something.
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i think a lot of it too is most people on the internet that have a 98 motor in this forum will get a 99+ block just so they can be cool and get center valvecovers and the extremely un noticably better oiling system.
or at least thats what i did.
98 motors suck because they have ugly valvecovers.
or at least thats what i did.
98 motors suck because they have ugly valvecovers.
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Well mines a 98. It has 115,000 miles on the clock. I can tell you this it is not at all driven easily. Basically everytime I drive the car the pedal is put in the floor at least once. It doesn't use a drop of oil and the oil always looks great. I use Kendall 10W40. Take from that what you will.
Originally Posted by mikespeed95
i think a lot of it too is most people on the internet that have a 98 motor in this forum will get a 99+ block just so they can be cool and get center valvecovers and the extremely un noticably better oiling system.
or at least thats what i did.
98 motors suck because they have ugly valvecovers.
or at least thats what i did.
98 motors suck because they have ugly valvecovers.
My 98 has 84K and about 250 track passes. Only thing done to the bottom end was ARP rod bolts back in '05. I'm on my 4th clutch if that tells you anything. 
I don't know where the 98s bad rep came from but it should stop.
I don't know where the 98s bad rep came from but it should stop.
i just tore mine down for rod bolts and an ls6 pump all the bearings and internals looked great...i did replace the rod bearings but the old ones still had alot of wear left on them.....
ill recomend a good ls6 pump and arp rod bolts and it will handle anything you throw at it....
ill recomend a good ls6 pump and arp rod bolts and it will handle anything you throw at it....
lol
Originally Posted by mikespeed95
i think a lot of it too is most people on the internet that have a 98 motor in this forum will get a 99+ block just so they can be cool and get center valvecovers and the extremely un noticably better oiling system.
or at least thats what i did.
98 motors suck because they have ugly valvecovers.
or at least thats what i did.
98 motors suck because they have ugly valvecovers.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 7
From: Columbus,Ga
98 ss 124,xxx it takes abuse on a daily basis. i bought this car because a friend of mine had one with a extended warranty and was tring to blow his motor for two years to get a new one under warranty and it wouldn't blow. there r a few guys on here making 400 rwhp plus on cam only 98 engines.
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 200
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by TUCKZ28SS
Not for nothing my 98ss spun a bearing at 50k and i am pissed, i baby the **** out of the car. I have only 1100 miles on the engine since the mods.
98's heads are worse then the newer heads.... 98's do have the biggest cam, not alot, but with the better flowing heads of the 99-01 they used a smaller cam since the car made more power with the heads. 01 up has the ls6 intake mani.. most 98's pull timing due to bad knock sensors, easy and pretty cheap fix... i have a 98 m6 108k ran a 12.7 @ 111 with a 1.8 60 foot, just a bolt on car. plus 98's dont take any credits in ls1edit. 
Other then oiling i dont really see a bad side to the 98's. The heads aren't that big of a deal, and more then likely you will change them.
Good luck with the swap. I almost did a s14 with a ls1, i bought the car did a bunch of body work, and suspension, and i got offered way more then i had into it, i ended up just buying a ta.. v8 240's are awsome though.
Chris
Ps. I dont daily drive my car, but i get on it. I let friends drive it that is great @ breaking tran's and rear ends, he can shift super fast, and i have a 4.10, the car was on 11.5 et street and still nothing broken. not saying it wont break, but it hasn't.
Other then oiling i dont really see a bad side to the 98's. The heads aren't that big of a deal, and more then likely you will change them.Good luck with the swap. I almost did a s14 with a ls1, i bought the car did a bunch of body work, and suspension, and i got offered way more then i had into it, i ended up just buying a ta.. v8 240's are awsome though.
Chris
Ps. I dont daily drive my car, but i get on it. I let friends drive it that is great @ breaking tran's and rear ends, he can shift super fast, and i have a 4.10, the car was on 11.5 et street and still nothing broken. not saying it wont break, but it hasn't.
false info
Originally Posted by Sideways240sx
98's heads are worse then the newer heads.... 98's do have the biggest cam, not alot, but with the better flowing heads of the 99-01 they used a smaller cam since the car made more power with the heads. 01 up has the ls6 intake mani.. most 98's pull timing due to bad knock sensors, easy and pretty cheap fix... i have a 98 m6 108k ran a 12.7 @ 111 with a 1.8 60 foot, just a bolt on car. plus 98's dont take any credits in ls1edit. Other then oiling i dont really see a bad side to the 98's. The heads aren't that big of a deal, and more then likely you will change them.
Good luck with the swap. I almost did a s14 with a ls1, i bought the car did a bunch of body work, and suspension, and i got offered way more then i had into it, i ended up just buying a ta.. v8 240's are awsome though.
Chris
Ps. I dont daily drive my car, but i get on it. I let friends drive it that is great @ breaking tran's and rear ends, he can shift super fast, and i have a 4.10, the car was on 11.5 et street and still nothing broken. not saying it wont break, but it hasn't.
Other then oiling i dont really see a bad side to the 98's. The heads aren't that big of a deal, and more then likely you will change them.Good luck with the swap. I almost did a s14 with a ls1, i bought the car did a bunch of body work, and suspension, and i got offered way more then i had into it, i ended up just buying a ta.. v8 240's are awsome though.
Chris
Ps. I dont daily drive my car, but i get on it. I let friends drive it that is great @ breaking tran's and rear ends, he can shift super fast, and i have a 4.10, the car was on 11.5 et street and still nothing broken. not saying it wont break, but it hasn't.
neither car is faster....the newer cars lay down a little more rwhp in stock form...but with matching boltons they are very similar.....
i know the heads are swappable and stuff, i'm just saying thats about the only real difference worth mentioning on 98's other than overexaggerating the oiling system difference.
I have a '98 camaro that i picked up used with about 49k on the clock. today it sits at around 90k, and I run the HELL out of that car.
I daily drove that car for almost four years, and im not joking when I say I beat the hell out of it. I flog that poor car like a red-headed stepchild caught smoking crack. I would run that car to 5.5-6 grand MULTIPLE times EVERY day. I rarely "launch" the car. so far ive had to replace an injector. thats it.
I daily drove that car for almost four years, and im not joking when I say I beat the hell out of it. I flog that poor car like a red-headed stepchild caught smoking crack. I would run that car to 5.5-6 grand MULTIPLE times EVERY day. I rarely "launch" the car. so far ive had to replace an injector. thats it.