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05-27-2009, 09:41 AM #1
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- May 2009
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- North Carolina
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- 118
Looking to buy an LS1 Trans am, few questions!
Hey guys my name is casey.
i currently have a 79, that i want to sell because i want something that can make some more power
so i have been looking at 98-02 trans ams....
either WS6 or formula
just wondering if there is anything spacific that i should look at when looking that these years?
any help would be every greatful!!!
thanks guys
-Casey
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05-27-2009, 09:53 AM #2
An '01-'02 WS6 would be best. After that then whatever your dollar affords you
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05-27-2009, 09:53 AM #3
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- Mar 2009
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Arctic White, red/gray- 1997 Corvette, 92 Typhoon
The 6 speed manuals are pretty strong and its easy to tell if a manual is going since your shifting it. If you want an auto pay clsoe attention to how the tranny shifts and acts during acceleration. The rear end in these cars is the real weak point. Listen for noises from that area. These cars do have some rattling, a nice pair of sub frame connectors can help with that. Check to see if the window motors are slow, that means they will need to be replaced eventually, not a fun job but can be done cheaply. Head light motors will make a grinding noise after you fold them down for a couple seconds if the gears are starting to go.
01-02 doesnt really make a difference, it has the ls6 intake manifold but a smaller cam than the earlier years so it almost evens it out with a slight advantage for the 01-02. I always like to look for cars with 241 casting heads.
Have fun and good luck
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05-27-2009, 09:57 AM #4
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- May 2009
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yea the headlight motors is one thing i was worrying about. thanks for the help, i will keep an ear out for the rear end and lights. anything else that i should check?
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05-27-2009, 12:34 PM #5
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- May 2009
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no more info for the newby?! lol
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05-27-2009, 12:40 PM #6
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- Mar 2009
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- Milwaukee
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Arctic White, red/gray- 1997 Corvette, 92 Typhoon
Look at it like you would any car. All we can do is tell you common problems, which i did. Tranny if its an auto with some mielage on it, rear end is just weak. The headlight and window motors. The ls1 engine itself is very strong and with proper maintanence can run strong for 300kmiles and still make great power.
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05-27-2009, 01:52 PM #7
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- May 2009
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- North Carolina
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05-27-2009, 01:59 PM #8
Check the inside tops of the door panels, alot of them crack. if not you can stop it before it happens.
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05-27-2009, 02:24 PM #9
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05-27-2009, 02:41 PM #10
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
- Location
- Indianapolis
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- 5,188
Black- 2000 WS6 6spd Hooker LT
^^^Great advice here. One more thing you will LOVE, when you get the one you want, is the power, braking/handling ability, no overheating! I had a 1967 400 4-speed Firebird for 11 years, sold it in 2000. Bought my first LS1 car, a '98 automatic with 2.73 gears. It ran 95% as fast as the '67 did, and almost triple the MPG. Now, the WS6, 6-speed, is way faster, it ran 105.5 before I did any modding. Now I'm usually 13.2s @ 107, with a nice cool night I ran 109-109.85 with a best ET that night of 12.89. On street tires. You'll love the new F-body. And I've gotten over 28 MPG as it is now!
Just drive the car before you buy it, listen for any differential noises. don't worry about slight knocking noise in the engine, especially cold, it's normal piston slap around 2,000 RPM.
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05-27-2009, 05:50 PM #11
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- May 2009
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- North Carolina
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- 118
good to know! thanks. and yea i have a buddy that has an 04 GTO that can come with me to listen for an weird noises like that, and help me out a little. i am really wanting a 99 or a 00. the 01 and 02 are a little out of my price range...
it all depends on what i get for my 79 T/A
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05-27-2009, 06:30 PM #12
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- Mar 2007
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
- Posts
- 2,064
yellow- 02 Collector Trans Am
great advice!! youll love any bird
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05-27-2009, 06:36 PM #13
dont get a 98 if u wanna make power with the stock short block... 98 have week rod bolts and tuning is a pain in the ass ive seen 3 98 ls1s lose a rod bolt and blow b/c of it
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05-27-2009, 06:37 PM #14
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- May 2009
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ok also every good to know my good sir.
idk what my plans are cuz i dont have the car yet.
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05-27-2009, 08:03 PM #15
the ls1 is a engine with a lot of potential...in the event you do buy one i would look at a carfax or have it thoroughly checked out. The newest trans am you can buy is at least 7 years old and a lot of them have a tendency to have been beaten up in the past
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05-27-2009, 09:54 PM #16
What is your price range?
Here are some examples
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/vehicl...6-w-409ci.html
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/vehicl...ns-am-ws7.html
you're high if you don't consider this one
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/vehicl...6-495rwhp.html
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05-28-2009, 05:07 AM #17
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- May 2009
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- North Carolina
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- 118
what do you guys think about me selling my 79 TA...
i dont think i will get much with the way the economy is.
its the 403 olds in it so not much a performance car, at least not for what i want.
but i dont wanna basicaly give it away cuz the economy.
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05-28-2009, 05:48 AM #18
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- Sep 2008
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- Atlanta, GA,Ft.Walton Bch,FL
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- Blog Entries
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silver- 99 ws6
vats
either year look under the dash under the knee broad for a bypassed VATS theift deterant sys. most likely it will have been bypassed w/ a eletrical resistor.
if it has been use it as a negosheation. also use well worn brakes & tires to bargain.
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05-28-2009, 06:01 AM #19
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- May 2009
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^what? lol
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05-28-2009, 08:00 AM #20
if you look at WS6's make sure the door sticker lists WS6 on it!
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