Alrighty, i have owned a 96 Z28 for about a year now, and i loved every second of it.. minus it getting fixed. i have wanted an SS for awhile, and i just graduated so i am gonna have some money to get one. originally i wanted to get a 97 SS w/the lt1, but i have come to the decision that i want an ls1. im just picky about the color.. has to be black, and must be a 6-speed. how much money do you think i can get one for. i have my eye on a 99 right now, with 45k on it.. its got a 12 cd changer,leather,and t-tops. the guy is asking 11,900/bo for it.. how much you think i can talk him down?? also what should i look for mechanically etc.. for problems. sorry for all the q's but i dont know as much about ls1's as i do lt1's

 

11,900 isnt bad, but you can bring him down some more I think


The LS1 is like an LT1 with headers imho only it keeps on pulling up to about 6K + or - from what I hear. The LT1 is pretty much done by 5500, but then, the LS1 is just hitting its sweetspot. You will be MUCH!! Happier with the LS1 imho.

Problems

Look for bent pushrods (indicative by the tapping they give).

Have him wait UNTIL YOU GET THERE to crank it and determine how much piston slap, if any, is present(not bad, but if its not there its jsut better

Obviously check for an SES light

Un-plug the PCV and hold your finger over it and then hold your hand over the socket it went in to feel for blow-by, this will tell you if something is shot, some "smoke" should rise out and dissipare 6-12" into the air, if it feels like a leaf blower you have issues.

Check the oil (obviously)

Erm.....lol, im all out. Oh, if its driven hard the left hand tire on the rear will show appreciably more wear than the right one due to how the GM differential works from what I have seen. run your hand under the fender wells for rubber debris, etc. etc.

 

take it for a test drive and make sur eeverything is in proper working order, and then get on it a bit to see if anything breaks

 

If its an SS its a very good price.

 

that sounds like a good price for a ss. and go for the ls1, my friend got a 97 lt1 and he wishes he would of stepped up to a ls1

 

Take it to a mechanic and let him go over it with a fine toothed comb after settling on a price dependant on it passing your inspection, this will cost you, but its WELL WORTH IT!

 

cant agree more! The little price you pay now could save you THOUSANDS in the long run.

 

the car is like 2 hours away.. i went and looked at it today. its pretty immaculate. my cousin is a mechanic so when i bring it home ill have it looked at.. the agreed price is 11,700 hopefully i can pick it up saturday!! im psyched.

 

Ok.. drove the car home.. so far it is fantastic, i havent really had a chance to get on it yet, as it is not registered yet.. but it drives nice, and sounds amazingly smooth.. much more so than my lt1 z28... i am 99% sure the guy cryed when i drove it away.. i dont blame him, i pretty much stole it for 11,700

 

The engine power band on an LS1 seems much different than an LT1 IMO. LT1 seems to make more torque down low where the LS1 lives at 3k and above. I owned a 94 Z28 and once I got an LS1 I was amazed at how much harder it pulled from 3-6k.

Good luck with your new car and keep your foot out of the gas until you get a good feel for the car. It's scary fast and can be dangerous when your not used to it. Within a month you'll be wanting to mod it to make more power.

 

Okay price, maybe a tad high. I'd buy it for that given that it's in excellent condition, inside and out. Maybe offer him 10,500. It never hurts to ask. If not and you think it looks and drives good I'd be happy paying maybe 11,300.

My brother just got a '99 SS with 16,000 miles. We found out that '99-02 cars have a dummy guage; the engine temp guage stays at 210 unless it is overheating, then it climbs higher. So it doesn't move from there. Just something to look out for.

 

11,300 for a 99 SS with 45k on it is high? What are you smoking?

 

i payed 11,700.. and the guy wasnt goin any lower. i dont blame him. ive been looking for almost a year now.. and this is the first time i have seen one priced so low.. so i jumped on it

 

im happy for you. You wont regret the purchase of the LS1!!! now chop off your exhuast over the axle and go take it for a cruise.

 

You stole that car! it books for easily 4k more. You should feel like you got a fantastic deal on it!

 

Congrats. Any pics yet?

 

none yet.. hopefully with in the next week.. im a busy boy right now.. and yes, i know i stole it from him muahahahaha

 

that car near me would cost 15 to 17k. you got a great deal. like everyone said, you wont regret it. enjoy your new ride.

 

Wow, congrats on the great deal. If that car was near me I would have paid the asking price.

 

i think it's a good deal tooo but about the lt1's not pulling after 5500rpm---NOT mine,
she will wind to 6400 before shifting, i have only minor mods and a programmer to set
shift points, translates to about 85-90mph before shifting out of 2nd and barking khumos-- she will take my bone stock 01 ss out of the hole but the ss will pass about the time she shifts-- this is with me in 94 z and 24 y/o daughter in ss matting 'em both--i swear the z was built on a wed as i've been around others not as fast and strong--she 's a freak but i love 'er!!!