What year LT1 is the best?
93-96 had the same interior w/ maybe just a slight few changes through out the years. 97 there was a new dash, center consoule, new gauages and digital odometer. if you look at a 98 ls1 it will be indentical to the 97.
My car isnt an LT-4.....I think there were only 108 lt4 cars made. 100 US, 6 Canadian, and 2 prototypes.
Last edited by Schweet97Z; Jan 27, 2008 at 02:38 AM.
You mean the color of the dash? They look identical to me....the console and gauges did change...
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 749
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From: Spokane, WA
I would say either 95 or 96-97 for different reasons.
If you live in an area with NO emissions testing, 95 is nice because it is new enough to have the vented opti and also supposedly the best head castings for porting, but is old enough to still have OBD1, which allows for easier tuning.
On the other hand, with a 97 you get the new interior, and even though OBD2 can be seen as a disadvantage for tuning, if you live in an area with emissions an OBD2 car can open up possibilities for mods that would otherwise cause you to fail testing. OBD2 cars usually only have a plug-in computer diagnostic test, while OBD1 usually requires a sniffer. I originally wanted a 95, but now that I am moving to an area with emissions, I am very happy my car is a 97, because if it was a 95 I would be unable to do what I wish with my car.
If you live in an area with NO emissions testing, 95 is nice because it is new enough to have the vented opti and also supposedly the best head castings for porting, but is old enough to still have OBD1, which allows for easier tuning.
On the other hand, with a 97 you get the new interior, and even though OBD2 can be seen as a disadvantage for tuning, if you live in an area with emissions an OBD2 car can open up possibilities for mods that would otherwise cause you to fail testing. OBD2 cars usually only have a plug-in computer diagnostic test, while OBD1 usually requires a sniffer. I originally wanted a 95, but now that I am moving to an area with emissions, I am very happy my car is a 97, because if it was a 95 I would be unable to do what I wish with my car.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 749
Likes: 1
From: Spokane, WA
If all you want is the engine it doesn't really matter, except I would recommend a 95-97 engine if possible because of the vented opti. You can easily convert an earlier block to the vented setup though also. As for the computer, I would just say get anything but a 93 computer because 93s don't have flashable PCMs, they actually need to have a chip burned. All T56s used for the LT1 are the same as far as I know, so just find the best deal you can and snag one.
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I would say either 95 or 96-97 for different reasons.
If you live in an area with NO emissions testing, 95 is nice because it is new enough to have the vented opti and also supposedly the best head castings for porting, but is old enough to still have OBD1, which allows for easier tuning.
On the other hand, with a 97 you get the new interior, and even though OBD2 can be seen as a disadvantage for tuning, if you live in an area with emissions an OBD2 car can open up possibilities for mods that would otherwise cause you to fail testing. OBD2 cars usually only have a plug-in computer diagnostic test, while OBD1 usually requires a sniffer. I originally wanted a 95, but now that I am moving to an area with emissions, I am very happy my car is a 97, because if it was a 95 I would be unable to do what I wish with my car.
If you live in an area with NO emissions testing, 95 is nice because it is new enough to have the vented opti and also supposedly the best head castings for porting, but is old enough to still have OBD1, which allows for easier tuning.
On the other hand, with a 97 you get the new interior, and even though OBD2 can be seen as a disadvantage for tuning, if you live in an area with emissions an OBD2 car can open up possibilities for mods that would otherwise cause you to fail testing. OBD2 cars usually only have a plug-in computer diagnostic test, while OBD1 usually requires a sniffer. I originally wanted a 95, but now that I am moving to an area with emissions, I am very happy my car is a 97, because if it was a 95 I would be unable to do what I wish with my car.
I am really glad I have a 97 for my area because of emissions.
For the motor only transplant......I would say OBD1 1995.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,420
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From: long island new york
94!
we have both MAF and SD, and hardened pushrods, pink rods which are a hair stronger than Powdered metal, we have the heads which are sort of the best for porting(more material), easier to align opti, OBDI is both ways good and bad.
me and blk97z28 are biased on years lol.
we have both MAF and SD, and hardened pushrods, pink rods which are a hair stronger than Powdered metal, we have the heads which are sort of the best for porting(more material), easier to align opti, OBDI is both ways good and bad.
me and blk97z28 are biased on years lol.
94!
we have both MAF and SD, and hardened pushrods, pink rods which are a hair stronger than Powdered metal, we have the heads which are sort of the best for porting(more material), easier to align opti, OBDI is both ways good and bad.
me and blk97z28 are biased on years lol.
we have both MAF and SD, and hardened pushrods, pink rods which are a hair stronger than Powdered metal, we have the heads which are sort of the best for porting(more material), easier to align opti, OBDI is both ways good and bad.
me and blk97z28 are biased on years lol.
Ok I am biases on my year, but you guys all have good point in the OBD1 cars, yes they all put down about all the same amount of power. I'll come to terms with the 94 is the best seeing that everyone gave great reasons as to why, but I likte the 97 interior thats also why I bought it haha.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 177
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Thanks for all the suggestions. So if I understand everyone correctly 95's have a computer that is easier to program and that I can do this myself. My whole goal behind the swap to my 67 camaro is to have fuel injection plus something I could tune and build myself. I want the car to be reliable but yet a beast when I want to show someone my tail lights. Like I said previously I want to stroke the Lt1 out to a 383 plus nitrous or a supercharger. However, I thought 97's would be easier due to their pcm. My other alternative to the LT1 would be to just buy a 502 crate motor and a tremec 5 speed.
Thanks for all the suggestions. So if I understand everyone correctly 95's have a computer that is easier to program and that I can do this myself. My whole goal behind the swap to my 67 camaro is to have fuel injection plus something I could tune and build myself. I want the car to be reliable but yet a beast when I want to show someone my tail lights. Like I said previously I want to stroke the Lt1 out to a 383 plus nitrous or a supercharger. However, I thought 97's would be easier due to their pcm. My other alternative to the LT1 would be to just buy a 502 crate motor and a tremec 5 speed.
I have a good line on getting 1997 trans am for cheap. I plan on taking the LT1 and six speed and planting that into my 67 camaro. As far as modding goes are there any LT1 model years that are better to get or all they all the same? Also, I plan on turning it into a 383 with all forged internals to either run a supercharger or nitrous. What basic things do I need to look at before starting my build up that are specific to LT1's? Thanks.
