so im kinda torn here... the prices are high i know but its close to home so no hassel with inspections or anything... anyways im trying to decide between two 1996 z28s... both mint, beautiful cars..

one apparently has corvette drivetrain from factory??? It has a 350 Lt1 with 330 hp, posi rear, msd dist, new rear tires and flowmaster blue thunder exhaust. but its an automatic. 185,000 kms. $7000

the other is stock (possibly exhaust) one family owned car, has foose rims and tires which recieps show $3000... hurst shifter/short shift kit.. 145,000 kms. $10,000

so one is a 6sp which i want and has rims but the other is $3000 less and has 45 more hp to start...

 

I couldnt justify spending that much for LT1 cars. I think you should wait until a better deal comes around. IMO spend less money on a stock car and use the saved money to mod it the way YOU want it.

I bought my 1995 Z28 nine years ago for 10k and it only had 50k miles on it.

 

that is probably really good advice.. i did find one for $4000 im waiting a reply to see if its still available but it has 220,000 kms on it.. as far it saving a ton of money its not a huge issue.. when it comes to this kinda stuff i almost have ocd ahaha. at this point in time these are the two i have narrowed it down to.

 

I seriously doubt that one of them has a "corvette drivetrain from factory". The Corvette 350 LT1 engine was identical to the 350 LT1 F-Body engine. All V8 4th Gens (93-97) have a 350 LT1 engine. The Corvette LT1 had a higher HP (300, not 330) rating because it had a more direct air intake system and an true dual exhaust. In 1996 GM installed an "LT4" engine (330HP) in some Corvettes (6-speed models). It was NEVER installed in a 1996 F-Body from the factory. In 1997, SLP installed the LT4 engine in 106 1997 Camaro 30th Anniversary SS models. The specific cars can be traced by their VIN numbers through SLP. Unless its a 97 SS from SLP, it does not have an LT4 engine from the factory.

Then there's the tranny. Both the Corvette and the F-Body used the 4L60E. The Corvette had some minor differences in the servos, but otherwise, its the same unit.

Then there's the rear axle (part of the drivetrain) - the F-Body has a solid axle rear suspension, with lower control arms, a pnahard rod and a torque arm. The Corvette has a fully independant rear suspension, with the diff bolted to the frame, swing axles, etc. The fact that it has a "posi rear" means nothing. ALL V8 4th Gen F-Bodys have a posi rear. Installing a Corvette rear axle in a 4th Gen is a major re-engineering job.

 

thank you for the useful information, im assuming that the "330hp corvette lt1 from factory" is just some smoke and mirrors to help make a sale?

 

That would be correct.

There were only two factory LT1 engines in 1996 - the "stock"/base 285HP version, and the ones installed by SLP in the SS's - 305HP. No internal differences, just air intake and exhaust. SLP offered another 10HP with an exhaust option..

If you are thinking of buying an F-Body, you should arm yourself with the facts:

http://www.ws6.com/faq/4_1.htm

 

I would get the stock car with less miles.