Hey Guys..new '98 Z28 owner here, and LOVIN' it! This car is a 6-speed and is my first muscle car! What a BLAST to drive this thing! I would like to ask two questions...The previous owner(s) did some minor modifications that I can confirm. New Airbox lid w/ K&N, better crankcase breather and it looks like an MSD ignition mod have been done. However, the exhaust tips are rectangular (not bowties) with a WONDERFUL tone, albiet a bit loud, and I'm wondering....do I have factory exhaust or is it after-market? Also, I heard there is a wire I can disconnect from the transmission to kill that stupid 'Skip-Shift' system. Where is it and will the dash light stay on if I pull it? Is there any way to tell if the computer has been changed/re-programmed? Thanks, Gentlemen, I appreciate the help!

 

cant help with the skip shift, but with the exhaust, stock exhaust is fairly quiet at idle, low tone, nice tone at wot. look for any areas disturbed by the cats, i.e new bolts. my guess would be gutted cats or aftermarket muffler.

 

my guess is an aftermarket muffler withstock tips as well.

as for the skip shift. you CAN just pull the plug on the tranny, by you WILL see the SES light on the dash.

several companies sell the skipshift eliminator module for $25 or so. or you can do it yourself for about $1.

check out the "how to page" on the website in my sig. i have a write up and pics on how to do it.

very easy.

 

Considering that your saying its a bit loud, then you definitely have an aftermarket exhaust, stock exhuast is pretty quiet.

As far as the skip shift, I don't know how the previous owner drove with that feature still on. But there a $30 part you need to bypass it, go to http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?P=21008. Very easy to install, just plug it into transmission. But the skip shift light will still come on, whenever in 1st between those certain RMP's

 

oh yeah...about the MSD ignition...

why do you think you have it?

cause to my knowledge there is no MSD upgrade for the LS1 ignition. since it runs on a "coil per cylinder" system it doesn't really need it.

however MSD does now make new coils for the LS1, but unless you are making SERIOUS power they are a big waste of money. you could just have new plug wires and some dressed up electronics and wires.

enjoy the new car

 

how can the skip shift be annoying you people? I have had it since day one (august 2002 on my 2002 Z28) and have never had any issues with it..
why would you need a diffferent gear when you are that low in the rpm range? Makes no sense..

anyways.. sounds like you have the stock rectangular tips. the bowtie tips you speak of are aftermarket cheesy addons that some people use.

As for the exhaust, look at your muffler.. if its large (about 22" or more) it could be the stock factory unit. if its small, say about 16-18" then it may very well be just and aftermarket throw on.. look at he welds and the tubing. If it looks like it was welded and patched in place then its not stock.

Your first move should be to get an AC Delco filter in there and get rid of that K&N garbage. Its been proven to rob you of some HP. (not kidding.. not making this up. No lie)

Enjoy your stay on the site.. we share tons of info here and are always pretty laid back!

 

Thanks for the help, Gentlemen!
So far, I concluded that I probably have at least factory exhaust tips due to the shape and that is a start. I found the 'how-to' on getting rid of the 'Skip-shift' system (Thanks!) but would rather not be staring at the dash light if I can help it. Does the light still stay on if I bought one of the after market systems to kill it? I found one for $27 from one of your links (again Thanks)but I don't want to see the light when I'm done. There is a 'MSD' sticker in the engine well making me think the previous owner added something, maybe not.

 

The only light you will see is that skip shift light that comes on for a few seconds while in 1st between those rmp's. 1800-3000 or whatever it is.

 

you shouldnt be driving and staring at the dash. the breif moments its lighting up shouldnt be of any consequence considering you should be looking at the road.

Then again, I wonder how you people drive that you want to baby it to 2500 then romp on it.. ohh well..

 

Your kidding right... Okay so if you dont want to run your car all the way up around 4000rpms, in order to go in to second, you have to go into 4th at 15 mph. Who wants to drive like that

 

Can we please see some proof to this claim, perhaps dyno sheets to back this up… I not going to hold me breathe

 

New to the site huh?? ... ok.. the RPMS, no where near 4K for skip shift.. more like 2500..
and if you are going to be shifting.. odds are, you are in trafffic or driving slow.. wow.. real life happens while driving our cars! who would of thunk it!?!!?

I have posted extensively, other sites and other members from this site have posted as well.. If you like to believe what an advertising claim wants you to believe nothing I say or show you will ever convince you otherwise.. But, during my tests, I found that the Stock PAPER Air Filter produced more power in both stock and with a lid. Not only that, but the stock paper produced more power than without any filter.

The aftermarket filters - K&N, Accel, Holley (all cotton gauze) and Amsoil (foam) will not flow as much and may or may not filter as well.. (depending on the current state of the paper filter)..

In my dyno tests I have found that the stock AC Delco paper filter produced 3rwhp on average more than the others. Thats 3 to the rear.. meaning its a noticeable amount.. I have done more than 40 pulls and all my pulls are super consistent.. meaning I dont have odd deviation.. I had 1 pull out of all of them where my car went into what seemed like Open loop because it produced a near perfect AF ratio and produced 10+ more hp than what it should be producing.. sure it sounds good but it was an anomaly so it was thrown out and the majority ruled. Consistent means that I can run back to back within 45 sec or even doing swaps in less than 3 min and keep the car hot and still put down numbers such as 314.4/336.7 and 314.5/336.6... all possible. .all happened.. I used RSI for my Dyno runs.. I had another member meet me there (Warlock I believe his name is) as he wanted me to test compare the Stealth lid (produced by some company doing some Ferrari design) with the stock and aftermarket lids.

Aftermarket lids regardless of cost seem to all give you 8-10 rwhp.. which is a plus.. so why not get the cheapest you can in the design you want. again.. will add more interior noise and make the engine sound louder.. ok if you like that.. I personally dont.. I prefer to beat modded cars with my bone stock one... Back to topic, the Stealth lid which uses a larger K&N (sized for Vettes) still did not produce more power than the aftermarket lids (MTI, Whisper). The Stealth lid cost somewhere around $220 with aftermarket lids going for around $50 used.. (not a high wear area, so I would have no qualms about using a used lid as long as its right for your car.. keep in mind, Clear plastic lids will not discolor *from my research* but will tend to have hairline cracks (harder plastic) here and there.. they look breathtaking but the cracking is a deterrent in my opinion..)

see.. and you didnt even have to hold your breath...

 

Ok I know its not 4000 look at my post above , whatever it is the point is that it’s a hassle, and the driver does have to go higher into the rpms then desired.

My problem is that you were making it seem that you will lose hp from the K&N over the stock filter. Any with any mod, it all depends on your application, you may see small differences but I highly doubt you will actually feel a noticeable difference between the K&N or any other filter.

 

You can get the skip shift eliminator from here:
http://www.ws6project.com/user_stor/...roducts_id=651

I have bought this and am trying to find the time to put it on. You can not beat the price and also has free shipping.

 

hahah then why do the free mods? you people sit here and harp on about getting every last HP.. and guess what.. thats what the stock paper filter lets you do.. simple..
And the paper filter will beat out the aftermarket ones..

as for the skip shift... you are telling me that you are say in traffic and going at a whopping 15mph and for some reason you feel that the torque from 1st gear is too much and that you want a little less torque but to keep the speed at about 20mph so 2nd is the only gear you are wanting.. not 3rd or 4th.. just 2nd... because its only locking you out of 1 gear.