98 fbody vs later years?

[evo462]

I know in a lot of cars I've owned previously, the very first year of a new body style/drivetrain can have some differences or quirks that get worked out in the later years.

I'm looking at a '98 Z28 m6 and was wondering if there is anything in particular I should know or look for vs buying something like a '00, '02, etc.

Thanks

[0rion]

yeah, there are some differences. The oiling system isn't quite as good as the later years, the same goes for the rod bolts. The pcm is a little different although you can still tune them but there aren't as many options for handhelds as the later years. The heads didn't flow as well. The 02's got the LS6 intake. There are a few other differences there but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. With all that being said there's nothing wrong with the 98's in my opinion. I have a heads/cam 98 with 96k miles on the stock block and ran 11.89 with it this year.

[evo462]

So stock for stock they're going to be a bit slower? IIRC, they're rated at 305 HP, what are the later models rated at?

It's an 88k one owner car, traded into a dealer then wholesaled a bundle of cars to a used car lot, which is where I found it. They're asking higher than book value (want $6900, NADA $6500 clean retail) I was thinking for a long the lines of $5500.

Wasn't sure if any of the differences would make it a deal killer and just better to wait on a deal for a 99+ or something.

[0rion]

So stock for stock they're going to be a bit slower? IIRC, they're rated at 305 HP, what are the later models rated at?

It's an 88k one owner car, traded into a dealer then wholesaled a bundle of cars to a used car lot, which is where I found it. They're asking higher than book value (want $6900, NADA $6500 clean retail) I was thinking for a long the lines of $5500.

Wasn't sure if any of the differences would make it a deal killer and just better to wait on a deal for a 99+ or something.

stock for stock they all dyno and run about the same for the most part. 98's had better gauges, different cam, and bigger injectors so they have their good points. Most people end up modding these cars so that the heads/cam differences are moot really.
I couldn't really tell you what they're going for as I haven't kept an eye really on their value. I certainly wouldn't pay more than the book value and since it's late fall rear drive car prices should be lower than they will be next spring. I would probably offer them the 5500.

[Spaz]

98 formula/TA/WS6 have a single exhaust outlet... not sure if the camaro's do as welol...

[evo462]

No, it has the ugly (imo) dual rectangular exhaust tips.

[0rion]

98 formula/TA/WS6 have a single exhaust outlet... not sure if the camaro's do as welol...

you mean just the ws6 models right? The base forumla and T/A's have normal exits.

[tep98ws6]

the fuel pump assembly & regulator is slightly different, i believe

and this should help!

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27514

[hutch1999]

yeah, there are some differences. The oiling system isn't quite as good as the later years, the same goes for the rod bolts. The pcm is a little different although you can still tune them but there aren't as many options for handhelds as the later years. The heads didn't flow as well. The 02's got the LS6 intake. There are a few other differences there but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. With all that being said there's nothing wrong with the 98's in my opinion. I have a heads/cam 98 with 96k miles on the stock block and ran 11.89 with it this year.

didn't some 01's come with the ls6 intake also?

[c5z28]

didn't some 01's come with the ls6 intake also?

all 01-02 came with ls-6 intake.

[0rion]

didn't some 01's come with the ls6 intake also?

yeah, my bad. I was rushing through that and wasn't thinking.

Not sure why I didn't just link the sticky thread anyhow.

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27512

[vetteemt]

98s also had larger fuel injectors at 28lbs., a more aggressive cam profile, all the gagues were analog and are accurate and work!, also no black box crash data recorder, and no oil life monitoring.

[shady milkman]

the oiling system was not as good on the 98s..in terms of passages etc..also the casting material for the blocks changed sometime after the 98s.

[Smittro]

98s also had larger fuel injectors at 28lbs., a more aggressive cam profile, all the gagues were analog and are accurate and work!, also no black box crash data recorder, and no oil life monitoring.

You sure about the oil life thing? My 95 v6 Camaro had it..

[shady milkman]

You sure about the oil life thing? My 95 v6 Camaro had it..

i have the area on my dash for it..but it never comes on..98s dont have it.

[shady milkman]

oh since no one said it.....
98s are perimeter bolt valley covers (pain in the ass)

[Smittro]

Differences also in the v6 cars was in 2000 all the v6 f-bodies came with drive by wire throttles..

[Smittro]

i have the area on my dash for it..but it never comes on..98s dont have it.

Interesting..Wonder why?

[shady milkman]

Interesting..Wonder why?

i would assume as with the perimeter bolt valve covers...the deadline came before testing or certification could be finished for that part.

[Smittro]

i would assume as with the perimeter bolt valve covers...the deadline came before testing or certification could be finished for that part.

Business as usual for GM them..