All I have to say is SWEEEEEET !! Alright, the car I bought has no SLP optionis and my old LT1 was very well kept up with 1LE parts, but the SS feels the way I hoped the Z/28 would feel. I don't under stand it though and I have this question. Since my SS is basicly an LS1 Z/28 with bigger tires and wheels is that where the improvment is comming from?

 

No SLP options meaning no improved front springs?

The car should be a bit lighter, but bigger rubber should make it grip much better. Try to compare your tire compounds too though, if you had 400 treadwear stuff on the LT1 then... thats not going to be great, even 300 compared to 160 is a huge difference to me.

You will have a larger front bar too, and fresh bushings of course

Why didn't you get a Vette? How much was your SS?

 

Dr. Mudge,

Although I really would like a Vette the deciding factors were: price difference of about 10k (98+ Vette with same miles) and two seats versus 2+2 baby pretend seats. Why no vette? I was too impatient to wait till this fall to buy the vette, I wanted a sports car for the summer. I had driven a 98 Z/28 and it handled as poorly as my LT1. Then I went to a dealer and they had just sold a black hard top 98 Z/28 for $9k with <70k miles. I LOVE SAVING MONEY so I kept looking for a bargin. It is possible to find good deals (like $1000 less) for a Z/28 in February vs. May. My wife just about killed me when she found out we woud have another Camaro in the garage. I kept telling her that it was like a 4 seat Vette (Just spousal marketing going on here ) and then her highnes leadfootus drove it and changed her tune What a girl, as a Compromise for letting me save money and get a SS she MADE me prommise I would get her a Yellow Vette either a C5 or C6 depending on what the specs and what C6 looks like.

Other deciding factord in the SS's favor were the 0-60 and 1320 times. If I got the Vette I would feel like a major puss if I got beat by a stang or f-bod. In additioin I drove a brand spanking new 2002 Vette at a dealership, the car was a vert and I was not impressed with the snap lane change handling (I think it was adjustable suspension on wimp setting) I know this is far from a demonstration of the Vette's ability but it was a nagging factor. I will have to get Z51 or build it up.

Dr. Mudge due to your helpfulness and others comments here I realize that the biggest way to improve my car's handling is to tighten that NUT behind the wheel. I am hopeing to attend SOLO class and may drag the wifey along. I probably will not do much auto X but I finally realized that I don't know how to drive worth pizz. Luckily, I am OK in the other area that Sterling Moss said no man would ever admit to being deficient in

I always purchased good tires so I don't think that was the problem. I paid $15,000 for the SS, it has a perfect iterior (Cloth ), the body is good, it has 66k miles, hurst shifter, t-tops and CD, thats about it. Sort of a strippie SS I thought. It has no dash plaque, no SS floormats, no SS fob so I really doubt that it has SS springs (Or does it? It always seems that people are dumping on the SS for ONLY being an appearance package) How would I tell? I have looked for a good SS Faq but havn't found one.

 

The SS gets a 3" exaust, and they do have some suspension options like the sway bar, 1LE spring/shocks, etc etc

I seem to remember at some point though that the spring/shocks were removed as an automatic option, although it could be that only Pontiac did that. I remember hearing something around Y2K that Pontiac let thier Trans Am go soft and it got no spring/shock upgrade?

What color are your front shocks?

9k for LS1s??? Wow, and 15k for an SS. I could not bring myself to pay for the SS, but getting a Y2K car vs a 98 you also got some better engine stuff, heads and intake I believe, and hopefully less bugs in the car

 

LOL,greenZ94 I just had to laugh @ the coincidence of that statement. no offence Z94
Nothin wrong w/what you said Doc just a little thing I know

 

I am guessing the handling improvement is because you have a newer car with less miles on it and bigger wheels/tires? I think there are only minor suspension differences between an LS1 car and LT1. FS 01 should be able to answer that question. As far as suspension components and geometry, no major improvements there. You do get an LS1 though!

I decided to keep my '97 TA because of the above. Handling is what I am interested in. I did get a lot of Global West suspension components, however, my SLP SS/Firehawk Bilsteins and springs are a less than desireable match for them. Can't wait to replace the shocks with some Strano revalved Bilsteins and some stiffer springs.

 

" hopefully less bugs in the car " - I found bugs on my MAF screen and the guy lived on a dirt road so I may have bought a clunker. Now the "check engine" light is on and I have only had the car 2 weeks

Unfortunatly the front shocks are orange not yellow. I will measeure the intermediate pipe to see if it is 3".

That $9k LS1 I never saw, the dealership guy told me that I had just missed it, so it may have never existed for all I know.

I don't think I got the good heads, I think that happened in 2001. I wish I could find a good resource, any ideas?

 

I had to promise my wife a Vette in 2008 too. She wants a Z06.

 

I'm pretty sure the SS and WS6 cars recieved a 2.75" exhaust... however it is mandrel bent so it's still plenty of flow.

 

I guess I can say that I graduated from Z28 to a M3...

WOW!!! :-)

It has been 10 months since I got the M3 in Germany. It is 6 speeds just like the Z28.

M3 never ceases to amaze me. Now I want the same things from the Z28 but I think that is asking too much!!! Cruise at 120 mph at 6th gear. Put it in 5th and floor the pedal. M3 amazingly launches forward like came out of a catapult, engine zings to 8200 rpm redlight, then 6th... Accelerate until I scared myself and let the gas go around 175mph. The 155 mph speed limiter never worked in this car, I guess they don't program that Germany delivered cars.

Still love my Z28 though.
Click to see the cars...

 

Are you saying that the M3 is quicker than the Z/28? I would buy that the M3 is a better handling car but I didn't realize that the M3 was still potent (The last one I read about had the 3.?L 321 hp engine 98 or 99 model year I think.

 

depends on the driver cuz less torque but more top end.

w/ 333hp motor, supposedly capable of 13.3s in the right hands.

guess how much it weighs? american version is 3700+ lbs !!!

friend has a red 2002 M3 vert, drove it. major impression i had was, "damn this thing is smooth. smooth revving, smooth handling...i guess that's where $60,000 goes.

the only negative i can remember is the shifter felt flimsy compared to my B&M Ripper and 94Z. i could feel the stick flex 1-2, even 2-3, and i wasn't conan'ing it either. also clutch is so light, like a toyota.

 

According to Muscle Mustang magazine. A stock coupe M3 runs 12.8 and 110 mph something with street tires.
To me it is way faster than stock LT1 Z28. Which is what I have. And it is faster. Power rushes after 4500 rpm, kind of like turbo..

Mine is also US spec. But no sunroof, no power seats, or navigation system (those add ons are heavy. Close to 300lbs).

:-).. I paid $42,400.00 plus another $700.00 for shipping.
(options: 19" wheel package, Bi-Xenon headlights)

 

That is a nice car you now own. Good Luck with it.