My dad has a WS6 and we have done a lot of arguing about what exactly is different about them from a trans am. He claims that he has Ls6 heads, intake manifold, suspention, and a performance exaust system....but homestly he only knows about as much as the salesman told him. So I was wondering what he really has. Thanks, Jason

 

Your Dad is right and wrong.

- LS6 heads? NO .
- LS6 intake manifold? Yes if it's '01/'02, not if it's '98-'00 .
- upgraded suspension? I believe they got stiffer sway bars, but I'm not sure about springs or anything else though.
- performance exhaust? Yeah, they got the SLP cat-back exhaust, which is supposed to flow a little better than the regular Z28/Formula/Trans-Am exhaust, and contributes to GM rating the SS/WS6 at higher power #'s than Z28's/TA's.
- AFAIK, the air intake is like a "ram air" intake, instead of the regular intake.
- SS's / WS6's got 17" wheels, whereas all other cars got 16's.

Hope that helps?

 

Thanks, that helps a lot....and the heads were the main point I was doubting. I appreciate it!

 

Would there be any gains if he went w/ another cat back or should he just throw on some headers and leave that alone?

 

IMHO, that catback is fine. Sure he could probably have some small gains with a different one (maybe 5 hp) but it definitely would not warrant the cost.

 

It's not an SLP catback ... the company that does the WS6 upgrade has another brand that they use ...

 

their prettier lol

 

I was under the impression that 98-02 WS6s were built in-house at GM's plant, not subletted like the SLP SS or FIREHAWK. The shocks are different from the standard Trans Am or Formula.

 

No Suncoast Creations made the WS6s.

Oh and there is the possiblity that it has an LS6 block. Not LS6 heads but possibly the block. And the stuff mentioned before.

 

I appreciate the feedback....It is an 02 WS6. Does anyone recall the maker of the catback that is in the WS6 and if so do you know if it is any good or not? Thanks.

 

GM factory up grade.

 

ASC converted the LS1 WS6s, not SLP or Suncoast Creations.

"Performance" upgrades over a "standard" trans am or formula:
1. Larger air box opening to match up to Ram Air hood.
2. Free-er flowing catback.
3. 17" wheels.
4. Some suspension upgrades...this upgrade got less and less significant each model year...seems like the 02s may have just had larger sway bars and that is all.
5. Power steering cooler - though this was optional on all LS1 f-bodies, and standard on the later (01+?) ones.
that's all I can think of right now...

If he has an 02, then he has the ls6-style intake - but so do all 02 LS1s - that's not a WS6-specific thing. Same with the possibility of an ls6-style block - about 25% of *all* 02 LS1s supposedly have that block.


I don't know the maker of the catback. It does perform well though, and any change should probably just be made for sound...