Any particular reason why the 98-02's are still considered 4th gens? I mean, they have different styling, new interior, even if it changed in 97, and especially a new motor. So why aren't LS1 f-body's considered 5th gen? I never understood that.

 

They weren't drastic changes. Same thing happend later in the 3rd gen era, and after 74 the 2nd gens changed.

 

It's the same chassis.

 

A different engine and fiberglass don't make it a whole new gen.

 

who gives a ****. there's a noticable difference between the 70-73 and 74-81, and a noticable difference between the 82-86 and 86-92.

 

and 86-89, and 89-90, and 90-92.

 

I know that just cosmetic differences don't warrant a different generation. I would say though that the introduction of the LS1 was pretty significant.

 

Realistically if that was the case then we would be on a 12 -15 gen right now.

Every time there was a front end change or engine change it would be another generation? There was no signifigant change other than cosmetic and engine. Sure its a huge change from LT1 to LS1 but its just an upgrade not a change in the car.

What else changed on the car besides engine and front clip in that time? 98-02 not much else. THe interior was done in 97 so its a middle ground between both.
Updates and refreshing of cars do not make for a new model.

The 4th gen was to be a totally new car but if memory serves me they scrapped the new floorpan and used the existing one and that was the only carry over to the new car. But everything else was new to the Camaro.

My short take is. Its a new gen when you really cant swap parts out of each gen a newer to an older car and its not a hassle or a problem.
1st gens you could do as they had the same structure. 2nd same thing. You could swap and have fun cus of the way things peiced together. same with the 3rd gens. You could fit peices together that looked correct.
4th gen is just the same.
I think its a generation when nothing can be swapped or used in its place that looks factory. (sure I know engine interiors and drivetrains can be but I am talking about the whole car.) The 98-02 just had the front clip basically upgraded thats normal with any car.

 

...then you should know that every time they change an engine, they don't add a generation...it's the major body design that warrants a generation change, not just anything they can bolt to it.

 

Bingo! This and the fact that GM says it is. It has to do more with the amount of retooling that GM has to do when changing styles. It's about the body(chassis) more then the drive train. If you look at 93-02 Camaro's it's obvious. They have the same LOOK. They have the same width, length, height, track, wheel base, stance, windshields, side windows, same windshield angle, etc. All the metal body pieces are stamped on the same press; floors, rear quarters, tops, etc.
Also GM didn't have to build a new factory or new assembly line to make any of these changes.
The convertible which has major changes to the body, isn't a new model.

Look at the C3 Corvettes, they went though fairly dramatic styling change, but there is no question that they are all the same generation.

P.S. The LSx is most certainly a new generation of SBC.

 

They didn't change the engine, I saw a 97 with a 3.8 and a 99 with a 3.8. Oh wait you're talking about the v8, apparently the poster forgot that they made these cars with more than one engine.

 

i was scrolling down to post that exactly, aside from being the same chassis, and my car is a 97 so the interior is the same, so in all reality the only difference between a base 97 and a base 98 is some different headlights, which hardly warrants a gen change

 

Take the third-gen for example, there were several engines options that popped up during their run, it still wasn't enough to warrant a new generation either.

 

Good point, didnt they start out carb'd, move to tbi then ultimately to tpi (although tbi was still available on lower model v8s)