Just traded in my 93(still in sig) for a 99 Z28, M6. Its got 87k miles, but is in excellent shape. Engine bay is spotless, runs like a dream, perfect interior, one minor crack on front fender. It's bone stock.
So, what should I do first? Cat-back, gears(3.73), lid, or short-throw(had one on the 93...really miss it.) The thing with the short-throw is the only manual I've ever owned, the 93 Z28, had one. So after driving it for so long, I've gotten accustomed to it greatly. I think adding one will probably improve my times(once I start going to the strip) as much or more than the few extra ponies the cat-back will give haha.

 

Get the sound first! Then the lid...

Then the shifter.. If you plan to do some heavy 1/4 mileing you should invest in a stronger rear. If you do a lot of mix driving but somewhat baby the car, 3.73's in the 10b will be fine.. I was going to do the same too..

 

Anyone of those in any order would be a great start. But if it were me i'd go.

1. Lid
2. Shifter ( Pro 5.0 )
3. Cat-back ( Borla's my favorite )
4. Gears (3:73's ) But like Bayer-Z28 said. If you plan to do some heavy 1/4 mileing you should invest in a stronger rear. 12 bolt, 9in, or Dana S60

 

It'll be a street/strip car. I would hope the 10bolt will hold up with 3.73s at least for a lil while. I'm paying out the *** for insurance on this thing($309 a month), plus I'm making payments on it, whereas my old 93 I paid cash for, and only carried liability on. So the mods will come slower on this one. A 12 bolt is an arm and a leg right now for me. So I'll work my way up and take it slow with this one. The cat-back I have in mind is Bassani. Don't see many camaros running it, and I love the sound of it on some GTOs and Mustangs I've heard. Going 3.73 cuz I don't wanna limit my top-end as much and annihilate my gas mileage like the ole LT1 with 4.10s. And ya, Pro 5.0 is most definitely the shifter I'm leaning towards. As for the Lid... any suggestions? No clue there...doesn't really carry over from the LT1 haha.

Oh ya, and I've posted this in LS1tech already, but what the hell. Do you guys think I should seafoam this car at 87k miles not having known if its ever been seafoamed before? Looks like its been well maintained...but I dunno if I want to risk 87k miles worth of gunk coming loose and causing me problems(fouled plugs, clogged filters and such) if its not as clean as I think it is.
Thanks for the opinions guys. Keep em coming!

 

Lid will give the most for the least. Any lid will do as they are all about the same disign.
Then the shifter.
Definitely Seafoam the motor.
The 10 bolt is a crap shoot in an LS1 car even at stock power levels. It could last for a long time or break on your first pass at the strip. I definitely wouldn't put a dime in one behind a stick.

 

I think the 10B is stronger than people give it credit. I've been driving on mine for 5 years now w/ the occasional HARD shifts. No track time yet, but plenty of races.

The 10B will hold up fine w/ 3.73 for street use and occasional track passes. You'll REALLY push it w/ stickier tires, tho.. That's when I'd start to worry.

 

i say the lid... i got some good power out of mine

 

A 99 should have a 3.23 gear in the rear so, that should be the last thing to swap. And why not go /w 4.11 if you're going to the strip?

 

He has an M6.

Get a lid, catback, and shifter for now. You will be happy with the difference.

 

I was debating between exhaust and lid...I voted for lid, but I bought my car with flowmaster in it...but have no lid...so poo on me for being a hippocrit [or cheap] (sp?)

 

Don't want to limit my top end with the 4.10s like I did in the LT1. I feel for a street/strip LS1 3.73s will be just right. 4.10s were fine for the lower torque curve in the LT1.
So I think I've decided what I'm going to do tho: Lid, Shifter, Gears, Cat-back. The first 3 are cheap, with the exception of install on gears possibly. The Lid and Shifter I will do myself, and both are in the $100-200 range. Gears are too, but I dunno if I'm comfortable messing around in the diff, so gotta include install in price. Then cat-back. Take care of the cheap stuff first until I see where I'm at financially with the new payments and insurance. I can live with a quiet car until I can actually comfortably afford the Bassani cat-back. I'm on base right now but my time in the dorms is about up and I'll be moving off and getting my own place, which requires money. So I don't need to be spending a lot at once right now.
Thanks guys.

 

This is the second time that you've made this statement. Why? An LS1 is not an LT1. The factory rev limiter is 6190rpm and with 4.10s in a stick car with stock size rubber you can still run 120mph in forth gear. And in 5th or 6th it's going to pull even harder than with 3.73s.
Unless you're looking to trap over 120 in the 1/4 on stock sized rubber 4.10s are the way to go.

 

My roommate's car with 4.10s only pulled 137 in fifth.

BTW the shifter from your old car should've bolted right on. Free mod there. My hurst came out of a modded 95 Z.

 

Ummm, ya it is the second time I said that. Cuz someone didn't read and asked me again why not 4.10s. Then you didn't read that he didn't read and asked me why I said it twice. So if you all would take the few seconds to read the thread before replying that'd be great. Kinda forum etiquette there anyway ya know.
Anyway, still thinking about the gears. For now I'm leaning towards 3.73s for BOTH of the reasons already stated. From what I've seen theres quite a difference between even the 3.73 and 4.10s in gas mileage as well. Sure once I get the money and really mod the car, like break into the engine and whatnot, 4.10s are the way to go no question. Thats a long way off. So if all I'm having for quite some time is the simple stuff like full exhaust, intake maybe, TB, Lid, etc, and driving on the street a lot, 4.10s are more a hindrance in gas mileage than they are productive for me I think.
I know the LS1 is not an LT1. Thats kinda y I bought it... The LS1 is known for its top end, while the LT1 is a torque monster down low. So where I was going with that is 4.10s seem to be more at home in an LT1. Don't get me wrong, I love 4.10s. Believe me. I'm still deciding, just stating what I'm leaning towards now and why. By all means, if you can combat that with accurate and informative info and convince me 4.10s are the way to go for me, please do. I'm here asking questions for a reason.

Also, don't think the dealer would of liked me sitting out in the parking lot swapping shifters before swapping cars(traded the LT1 in on this car).

 

Sorry, I was merely clarifying. I own a 3.73 car, and it is my gear of choice. That being said, I think bolt ons are the better route. Put in gears once it's fast.

That being said, I ran neck and neck with a bolt on LT1 on the highway. My car is slow.

as for the shifter thing, I would've swapped on a stock one before trading it in. Easy way to save some money.

Thanks for the etiquette lesson. I never would have known otherwise. I was merely adding a GPS recording for a LT1 with 4.10s in 5th.

I know my fifth gear rolls to a nice 160. It's good for a stock/bolt on car.