Ok, I need some 1998 ls1 guys to tell me about your car. What kind of numbers are you putting up, (dyno, track) with what mods? Everyone on this site seems to be against 98's. You look at every post that is "what ls1 should i buy?" And EVERYONE one of them bash 98's. I have read and researched, but Id say 75% of the people on this site have 99 and newer. My buddy just got a 2002 ws6 a4, and his doesnt SEEM near as powerful as mine, but his track numbers as VERY close, and my car has $2500 in mods? I know that the main difference is the ls6 intake and better flowing heads. But have YOU been satisfied with your 98, or found yourself wishing you had gone with a newer year. The reason for this post is before I put too much more money in this car, should I stay with the 98 or sell and get vette or 2000 newer ls1? So for you 98 guys out there let me know your thoughts.

David

 

That's interesting!

Typically '98's dyno a little less than 99-00 fcars, and '01s and '02s got a few upgrades, better exhaust manifolds and the LS6 intake. There's not a HUGE discrepancy over the years, though.

 

The 01s and 02 also got the Z06 clutch and hydraulics. I would say keep you car because if you try selling it you won't make as much as you would like. If you want to jump to a corvette then I'd say do it.

 

i have a 98 ws6 m6 and with my mods list (read the sig) I have about 340 rwhp. I love my 98 and wouldn't sell it for anything. Plus the 98s (along with some early 99s) came with blue side view mirrors like mine and those are the awesome

 

Nothing wrong with '98s. I've had a '98, '99, and an '00. I don't have any direct comparison dynos or track times, but I can say that my '99 felt the weakest stock of all three. Of course, that probably had more to do with just the differences from car to car.

'98s are nice, they have a working temp gage Also bigger stock injectors than '99-'00 cars and far, far fewer Torque Management & trans solenoid DTC issues than '01-'02 cars when adding higher stall TCs. Also a stronger stock flexplate than '01-'02 cars. So yeah, '98s do have their advantages. '00 might be a tick faster stock because of the improved exhaust manifold design and '01/'02 obviously has the LS6 intake and different cam on top of the exhaust improvement, but still they are all very close......

 

I recently bought my 98 Trans Am. It was pretty much stock. The only mods the previous owner did is an SLP lid . The car is an auto, with 2.73 gears, and factory exhaust. It also has over 100K on the clock, but it is very well maintained. Im still getting the hang of launching the car on street tires. The best run so far is 13.79@104 in about 80 degree weather. I will be starting the mods soon.

 

I ran a 13.5 stock..if I could drive it would have hit a 13.1 by doing very simple rudementry math (pulled a 2.196 60 footer..if I got a 2.0 I should get a 13.1). That is right on par with a 99, 00, 01, 02 for 1/4 times.

98's are fine and the only reason to get them is the price. Don't listen to anyone who says that 98's are worse than 99's.

My 98 will put out the same numbers as a 02 with the same mods (long tubes, lid, ls6 intake, magnaflow catback, asp pulley, and a ported tb)

 

Here is the trick, if you have the upgraded intake manifold and exhaust manifolds of a later year car you will win in a race (more than likely). Here is why:
98-00 have a much more agressive cam
98-I think 99 have a much more aggressive stock timing table
but...some of us get about 4 degrees of KR from about 3500-4200 RPMs

There are tons of interesting tidbits out there about these cars. Basically, if you are going to do everything except tear into the engine and swap the cam, a 98-00 should net you more power because of a better stock cam.

 

I'am happy with my 98,it has 73000 plus miles on it & it runs like a top.The only negative thing I heard about the 98's is that are knock sensors are to sensitive causing false knock.

 

I have a 98 trans am . I ran a 13.5 with a catback, I know shes capable of hitting lower times though.

 

Fewer 98's are available. There was a work stoppage in 98 and the ones that were made have had more opportunity to meet their doom and go to car heaven.

Nothing wrong with them mechanically or performance wise.

RPMWS6

 

Only reason I bought a 98 b/c it was the cheapest at the time. I would have rather had an 01-02 for the intake, !EGR, !AIR, and Z06 clutch/hydraulics. Honest truth.

 

I never was too concerned with what they did stock because I never intended it to stay that way. I have no numbers yet, but hope to soon!

 

i wanted somthing with an ls1/t56 and i diddnt care if it was PURPLE, i was going to pimp it. if you read JRP's sticky about the differences among the years, it is pretty interesting. it seems the 98's had a few things different. i think my car runs damn good for having 98k miles on it and i wouldnt have done anything different.

i like the way the cruise controll box is down where my AIR pump *used to be * and not on the passenger side fender with crap running all about. i'm on a never ending quest to make my engine bay cleaner, i'm about to do the hidden wire mod as soon as i can get a good holesaw

 

I really dont care about the years, i love my trans am either way... An LS1 is an LS1, if u want ls6 intake, GET IT...Better clutch? GET IT, Better headers? GET 'EM

Matt

 

have a 98 .as you can tell its not stock.cant get rid of it.sunk in too much $$.its for the street use but once in awhile some track duty.love bangin gears.

 

hell i love my car!

only a 13.7 so far, but new tires would help, plus my local track is in a bit of need. AND that was in like 90 degree weather on a humid day. I dunno what it dynos, but for those numbers it should be somewhere around 300 rwhp. Either way it gets the job done.

Plus, i paid a lot less to buy it, a lot less to insure it, AND it still runs just as well!
I suppose the newer the better, but I have no shame in posting that I own a 98 LS1 Z28.

 

I have 127,000 miles on mine and still running strong and doesnt burn oil or smoke. I would run better times if I wasn't burning out to the 330ft mark. IMO 98's and 2002's are the better of all LS1's

 

have a 98 Z here got it new in july of 98. but every mile and mod on it my self. but heads and cam in it at 127,xxx miles and now have 143,xxx miles on it still running strong

 

I also love my 98z