Talk Me Into Keeping My LT1!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw, GA
Talk Me Into Keeping My LT1! I want a new camaro bad! They are making incredible HP with blowers and long tube headers only. Thing is I love my 97 Z28. The first new car I ever bought. Yes, that's right, I am the original owner. To make the HP that these new ones are making (with a blower) I will need to do a full build 383 short block, heads, cam, centrifical SC, long tubes, 12 bolt, clutch etc. I live in Atlanta so I need basic emission stuff ie catalytic converters. Keeping in daily drivable is a must even though it is a third car. I would like to do the Hot Rod power tour one year. I am thinking $15,000-$20,000 to do the 97. A 2010 2SS runs about $30,000 plus a blower and long tubes. What do you guys think?
IMO I cant stand how the new camaros look, and they havent impressed me much out on the streets either..But I havent ran into one thats blown either lol.I guess it all depends on your personal taste..I would keep the z28 and build it.For the money you'd dish out for a new camaro,you could make that z28 a monster.
Just keep the 97 and buy the new camaro , I couldnt get rid of a paid off car to get another car payment besides you have owned the 97 since day one . I think down the road you would regret getting rid of it but thats just my 2 cents
10 Second Club
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 28
Having a lot of hp is one thing. Overcoming a curb weight of 4000lbs is another. Slap a supercharger kit onto a new Camaro and it's flirting with 4000lbs. A properly built LT1 can walk all over a new Camaro with a blower for way cheaper.
List of options:
1: Keep 97 (and leave it alone)
2: Take money that would be used for new camaro, and drop in a supercharged 6.0 into your much lighter 97 body.
3: Give your car to me
4: Honestly hate to say this...... Spend less money and get a new 5.0 (faster as well)
1: Keep 97 (and leave it alone)
2: Take money that would be used for new camaro, and drop in a supercharged 6.0 into your much lighter 97 body.
3: Give your car to me
4: Honestly hate to say this...... Spend less money and get a new 5.0 (faster as well)
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Brett Foote Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw, GA
Thanks for the reply's. IMO the new Camaros look great and drive great. Yes they are heavy though. They have many blind spots towards the rear.
Might be time to call AI and see about heads and cam to start.
Might be time to call AI and see about heads and cam to start.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw, GA
List of options:
1: Keep 97 (and leave it alone)
2: Take money that would be used for new camaro, and drop in a supercharged 6.0 into your much lighter 97 body.
3: Give your car to me
4: Honestly hate to say this...... Spend less money and get a new 5.0 (faster as well)
1: Keep 97 (and leave it alone)
2: Take money that would be used for new camaro, and drop in a supercharged 6.0 into your much lighter 97 body.
3: Give your car to me
4: Honestly hate to say this...... Spend less money and get a new 5.0 (faster as well)
The Mustang is about .1 faster through the 1/4 mile. That can be a drivers race though.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Nw suburbs chicago
our cars look better to me, I agree with the weight comments above. The new camaros, i would only get if I was a millionare and would have it sit in a garage, that is also because I would have many others cars and would be driving them.
i agree with the engine swap. OP, go to your camaro and open the hood. Look into the engine bay and close your eyes. Now imagine a LS7 where the lt1 is at. Doesnt that look nice? Yes, it looks very nice huh. Well its gonna look even nicer once its done. Very nice!
Step 1. Locate a small import that weighs 2400 pounds or less like a 240Z or FB RX7
Step 2. Buy a junkyard LQ4 and swap inside with the help of HybridZ, Norotors, and Granny's
Step 3. Race
Step 2. Buy a junkyard LQ4 and swap inside with the help of HybridZ, Norotors, and Granny's
Step 3. Race
Keep the Camaro and build a *****-to-the-wall track car.
On many levels I do not like th 5th gen, I'd prefer the a new mustang over it. Im waiting to see what the 6th gen will bring us. Id put the money into a vehicle you already own. 15-20k can go along way in a 4th gen if planned correctly. Either a lsx swap or a built FI ltx will get you plenty of hp to keep most happy.
IMO an LS7 swap is dumb unless you get a stupid good deal on it. A decent longblock is around 10 grand, and you still need the trans and everything else. A 6.0 swap would be less than half of just the LS7
i would keep the 97 camaro as well, its paid off and its got potential.
The new camaros dont do much for me. Ive only seen one good looking new gen camaro.
Putting a small budget of 5k into the 97 camaro will do wonders, keeping the car over the years, more money can be put into it.
Next i would find a good daily driver for 10-15k, let the camaro sit and get built!
The new camaros dont do much for me. Ive only seen one good looking new gen camaro.
Putting a small budget of 5k into the 97 camaro will do wonders, keeping the car over the years, more money can be put into it.
Next i would find a good daily driver for 10-15k, let the camaro sit and get built!