Help - Should I buy the LT1?
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Teching In
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3
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Help - Should I buy the LT1? Hey guys - I have a chance to buy this girl I work with's 95 Z28 for almost nothing. My buddy and I have been talking about building a drag car, but I am a little torn, thought I would come here for suggestions. Out only other option in the price range would probably be something like a 91 mustang 5.0.
1.) Whats the deal with Optispark? Was that on the 95's? Thought I read somewhere that was only on the 93-94s.
2.) In the June 06 issue of hotrod, they have a nice writeup on a 9 sec. N/A lt1 car, and they say that there is no way to program the computer to handle more than 7k rpm - I was assuming this has to do with Optispark. Comments on that?
3.) What is the aftermarket availiablity of intake manifolds? In the article, they said there are no good aftermarket options for LT1 intake manifolds.
4.) What would you buy for a track car if you had around $2500 bucks for the car purchase? The mustang is about 500lbs lighter, way bigger aftermarket. The Z28 has more cubes and power out of the box, but some pretty discouraging limitations.
1.) Whats the deal with Optispark? Was that on the 95's? Thought I read somewhere that was only on the 93-94s.
2.) In the June 06 issue of hotrod, they have a nice writeup on a 9 sec. N/A lt1 car, and they say that there is no way to program the computer to handle more than 7k rpm - I was assuming this has to do with Optispark. Comments on that?
3.) What is the aftermarket availiablity of intake manifolds? In the article, they said there are no good aftermarket options for LT1 intake manifolds.
4.) What would you buy for a track car if you had around $2500 bucks for the car purchase? The mustang is about 500lbs lighter, way bigger aftermarket. The Z28 has more cubes and power out of the box, but some pretty discouraging limitations.
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 192
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Originally Posted by BlakAzss
Hey guys - I have a chance to buy this girl I work with's 95 Z28 for almost nothing. My buddy and I have been talking about building a drag car, but I am a little torn, thought I would come here for suggestions. Out only other option in the price range would probably be something like a 91 mustang 5.0.
1.) Whats the deal with Optispark? Was that on the 95's? Thought I read somewhere that was only on the 93-94s.
2.) In the June 06 issue of hotrod, they have a nice writeup on a 9 sec. N/A lt1 car, and they say that there is no way to program the computer to handle more than 7k rpm - I was assuming this has to do with Optispark. Comments on that?
3.) What is the aftermarket availiablity of intake manifolds? In the article, they said there are no good aftermarket options for LT1 intake manifolds.
4.) What would you buy for a track car if you had around $2500 bucks for the car purchase? The mustang is about 500lbs lighter, way bigger aftermarket. The Z28 has more cubes and power out of the box, but some pretty discouraging limitations.
1.) Whats the deal with Optispark? Was that on the 95's? Thought I read somewhere that was only on the 93-94s.
2.) In the June 06 issue of hotrod, they have a nice writeup on a 9 sec. N/A lt1 car, and they say that there is no way to program the computer to handle more than 7k rpm - I was assuming this has to do with Optispark. Comments on that?
3.) What is the aftermarket availiablity of intake manifolds? In the article, they said there are no good aftermarket options for LT1 intake manifolds.
4.) What would you buy for a track car if you had around $2500 bucks for the car purchase? The mustang is about 500lbs lighter, way bigger aftermarket. The Z28 has more cubes and power out of the box, but some pretty discouraging limitations.
The computer is limited to 7k rpms, not the opti, although spinning a factory gmopti to 7k will probably make your rotor explode, you'd have to get coil packs or the msd. If there is an aftermarket computer, and you'd have to get that if you want to spin past 7k.
For intake manifolds, you could get a single plane converted to fuel injection, or go with a carb, there isn't that great of an aftermarket for these cars, unfortunately.
I like chevys personally, but for number 4, I really can't anser that. Personally, I'd get a 3rd gen shell, build a 400 sbc, get a th400 tranny with a good converter and a 9 inch for a drag car.
TECH Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 474
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From: MI
go for it! you can strip the car out, and do some simple bolt ons to get it going. BUT, a 5.0 mustang can go low 13's using either all factory parts(they never matched the best cam, intake, and computer tuning together), and parts from the U-pull marts. I personally love the LT1. it's wonderful!!
Another thing to consider, is the fact that you will need to swap in a rearend if you want to go really fast in the F-Body. These small rears that the F-Bodys have are pretty weak, even if you drop some money on them they are still liable to explode. Not that a Ford 8.8 is bulletproof but even that is stout compared to the 7.5s we have to deal with.
