best year?
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 269
From: Wichita Falls, TX
There are no MAJOR differences between the 98 to 02 models. They all run about the same stock. Any can be built to 400 rwhp real easily. Just find the cleanest, lowest mileage car you can afford and buy it, there wasn't a single bad year in the group. Between my son and I we have owned a 98 Z28, a 99 Z28, a 00 WS6 Trans Am, a 01 Camaro SS, and a 02 Z28. I liked my 98 better than any of them.
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 330
From: portland, OR
a lot of people say that 98-99's will dyno lower than 00 and up. while this may be the case, and i haven't done a study on it, my 99 dynoed at 336 with basically a lid, cutout, and a hypertech (which most people say is good for nothing). not too shabby.
personally, i don't think there's one year that stands out as superior to the others... (but oh man, if i could get the sought after '03....)
personally, i don't think there's one year that stands out as superior to the others... (but oh man, if i could get the sought after '03....)
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 182
From: Earleville, MD
Here are some of the changes:
99 smaller injectors than the previous 98s (98s tend to run a little richer also but are cheaper in the power adder dept due to the larger injectors) Heads switched to center bolts for the valve covers. Heads are 853 castings
00 Change from S.S. exhaust manifolds to higher flowing cast iron.
01 changed to LS6 intake, no EGR, different cam (less lift and less duration, see below) LS6 clutch, better flowing 241 head castings (about 9cfm at cam peak lift).
stock 98-00 cam
duration@.050 198.86 intake 209.25 exhaust
lift .498 intake .497 exhaust
LSA 119.45
stock 01-02 cam
duration@.050 196.37 intake 208.72 exhaust
lift .464 intake .479 exhaust
LSA 115.92
My 01 runs a lot faster than my 99 did.
99 smaller injectors than the previous 98s (98s tend to run a little richer also but are cheaper in the power adder dept due to the larger injectors) Heads switched to center bolts for the valve covers. Heads are 853 castings
00 Change from S.S. exhaust manifolds to higher flowing cast iron.
01 changed to LS6 intake, no EGR, different cam (less lift and less duration, see below) LS6 clutch, better flowing 241 head castings (about 9cfm at cam peak lift).
stock 98-00 cam
duration@.050 198.86 intake 209.25 exhaust
lift .498 intake .497 exhaust
LSA 119.45
stock 01-02 cam
duration@.050 196.37 intake 208.72 exhaust
lift .464 intake .479 exhaust
LSA 115.92
My 01 runs a lot faster than my 99 did.
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 330
From: portland, OR
Originally posted by LeadSled1
My 01 runs a lot faster than my 99 did.
My 01 runs a lot faster than my 99 did.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 182
From: Earleville, MD
Your 99 dynoed really well. My 99 put down 321rwhp through the auto with a lid, filter, ported maf, ported TB, MAC headers, and cutout. With a 3200 MidWest it ran 12.2s @ 111mph. The best it did stock (except for a change of sparkplugs) was 13.5 @ 103.5mph.
The tracks here are closed for the winter, and I've only had my 01 for a month but the pull in 4th (1:1) versus drive in the 99 (1:1) is much stronger on the 01 with the 01 being stock. even in the lower gears the 01 pulls harder but I wont have that awesome launch with the M6. I might try to take a trip up to Atco while Cecil is closed to get a run in.
The tracks here are closed for the winter, and I've only had my 01 for a month but the pull in 4th (1:1) versus drive in the 99 (1:1) is much stronger on the 01 with the 01 being stock. even in the lower gears the 01 pulls harder but I wont have that awesome launch with the M6. I might try to take a trip up to Atco while Cecil is closed to get a run in.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 656
From: Staunton, Illinois
when building a car, would these small changes from year to year like no egr make a difference? would that be a benefit or not? i am not worried about cam or injectors as those will both be changed.