Im kinda looking into buying an LT1, and i just want to get a first hand opinion from LT1 owners if the 93 is the weakest LT1 year? I've heard it around but i dont really know if this it true. Im guessing the 96-97 is the strongest?

 

I have a 93 m29 6spd and I would have to say that is far from true in my case. My car ran really strong when stock. There just not as forgiving with cams and such since they are speed density. All cars run different, some are dogs and others run strong. I think it all depends on what you want. If you want a 6spd, the 93 m29 has deeper gearing 1st-4th and 5th and 6th than the 94 and newer 6 spds. Although I believe the 93 m29's are harder to come by these days. Anyway, I love my 93 and I wouldn't trade it for 94 or newer no matter what.

 

No, 93s tend to be the quicker year, just a lot of stuff is different. Talk to BigRick or Nick K, both those guys have been racing LT1s since they were brand new, both will tell you the 93s tend to run a little better than the other years stock.

 

On the contrary, a lot of them are quicker stock than the MAF yeared LT1s.

 

What's the M29? And does it make a different if the 93 came in auto or manual?

 

93's certainly arent weak, but they wouldnt be my first choice.

If you are looking into an lt1, look for 95's. But not just any 95's. Find a single cat, obd-1 car. Many people, including myself, think 95 is the best year for the lt1. You get a vented optispark, hardened pushrods, and obd-1. ( if you get an early 95, late 95s got obd2 and dual cats )

The advantages of the vented optispark speak for themselves. The unit is vented, to help dissipate any moisture that could cause a failure. Also they have the easier to orient drive ( arguably )

OBD-1: You get the "good" computer, which is easier to tune, and not as sensitive to removing certain things.

But i suppose to answer your question. 93's can be just as good as other years. The m29 is the RPO code for the 6 speed in 93. They came with different ratios. I forget the exact ratios of both trans's. But i believe a 3.73 in an m29 car is about the same as a 4.10 in a t56 car. And you get speed density. And those ugly yellow gauges

 

1993s had two six speed, M29 was the wide ratio, exact same gearing as a Z06, that came with 3.23s, there was also a M28 which came in 2.73s, it had specific gearing. The vented opti isnt any better than non vented, they go out just the same as non vented.

 

i dont no about them being weaker but my brother best friend has a 93 pace car he bought new..hes had problems with it ever since 93..random **** breaking and stuff going down..car only has 50k last time i checked..but my .02 on that is its teh luck of teh draw..one of them can be a piece and the next one to it wont..

 

So which would you guys prefer to get, the 93 with M29 cuz im definetly gonna get a 6 speed or the 95 obd1 in 6 speed? Did the 95 come with M29?

 

94+ have a one six speed and its different geared form the 93 since its for 3.42 gears anot 3.23s like the 93s had. 93 is a 12 year old car, expect random crap to break. Mine has 66K miles on it, but time is a bigger bitch then miles. A lot of people with low mile cars dont do a ton of maintence because they are so fixed on it only having a certain amount of miles.

 

i bought my 93 brand new in march of 93. i took it to englishtown, that's there NHRA is this weekend for the K&N nationals, and ran a 13.83 @ 98.some MPH. all i did was take out that junky air box in the fender that the filter box connects to, removed the filter, and put on some stickey mickeys. the next month i put in a Hypertech Thermomaster chip and their 160* stat. plus same as above. i ran a 13.38 @ 100.some MPH. i was so pleased with the time i left the shoepolish on the window for a week so i knew all my mustang buddies would see it. bunch of crybabies. oh yea. the best part was one of my mustang buddies was there. he had every bolt on you could get for a stang. he even took his belt off to try and free up more HP. we lined up so that we could race each other. his mistake. i smoked him. i broke out but i didn't care, i still got the finsh line first. he went out next round.

 

The early style LT1 intake manifolds that came on the 93's flow a little better also.

 

Stock for stock, its a debateable question of which is faster. Speed Density cars in theroy should be faster becuase there are LESS factors to figure out fuel needs given the amount of air intaked.

BUT SD cant really adjust to major changes with out retuning it everytime. It uses a set table and with only 3-4 sensors giving the rest of the data, major changes require major changes in tunes.

My best friend has a 93 (previously a 94) and I have a 94, I for one cannot stand 93's. They are certainly the bastard year as it goes for LT1's Emissions are different, the intake it self is different (to accommondate for the different EGR), any time you want a LT4 intake, you need to change fuel rails.

It just seems like everything is just a little bit different. I look at his car, and I look at mine and everytime I just think. I am glad I have a 94....

Dont worry about who is faster, its what your going to do with the car that counts the most.

 

My vote is for the 95. Vented optis may not be better, but when they fail, they are cheaper. You get obd-1 just like a 93 or 94, better pushrods etc. Im not a fan of the interior on a 93, the yellow gauge lettering drives me nuts. plus speed density can be a pain to tune. And the 6 speed in a 94-97 i like better

 

No one takes into consideration the better interior of the 97 model? That, coupled with the deal I found on my particular car, is what swayed me toward a 97. It now has an OBD1 pcm though...

 

I love the interior of my 93' Formula compared to my moms 99' TA. My seats are an ebony color and hers is gray (both leather). Also my instrument illumination is orange, hers is red.

 

sounds exactly like my 93 Z28 I bought new in 93. I put the thermomaser chip and 160 stat along with an airfoil and i run a 8.89@80 in the 1/8 with a 2.02 60' which is about a 13.79. Mine was an auto with 3.23 gears.

The speed density cars should make a lil more power by not having the maf in the intake inlet

 

I love my 1993 because it is the purple pearl metallic color which they only offered in 93/94, but I would agree that 95 is an excellent year because of the said obdI with cable tune ability (easier to find people to get baseline tunes, you have to buy chips and other stuff to tune the 93 yourself), the vented optis (cheaper), and the pushrods, interior wise i don't really care about interiors just the engine and the body be straight. All in all, each car is different, haven't had any probs yet with mine at 144k.

 

wow so the 93 looks like its the strongest of all? I totally didnt know that, and it works out because i was looking for a 6 speed. Im im guessing the ws6 would be a bit faster as well?

 

I wouldnt say the 93's are the strongest. Id consider all lt1's pretty much equal. Some just have better features that make life easier when modding