Im very interested in buying a 98-00 SS for around 9k. I found a 99 Z28 with t-tops, 6mt, blue ext with chrome wheels. The only thing holding me back is that its not an SS. I love the SS hood/wheels. The car I drive has 105k and its just giving me a few problems and I just want to move on to a different more powerful car. My questions are:

-With 89k on an LS1 motor whats needs to be maintaned?

-How much will a conversion cost to change over to an SS style? (still a 99 car)

-Chrome ring gauge/white gauges where Can I find these?

-Exhaust setup, Something mean and nice, Like letting you know not to mess with this car.

-Headlights/tail lights upgraded yes or no? Should I buy projector aftermarket ones or no?

-What type of bulb connection are these EXAMPLE: 9004, h4, 9007?

-Body kit, Just ground effects not the whole front and rear bumper replacement what looks sick the stock kit that you can get or aftermarket?

-Last but not least how would you rate these car for reliabilty, safety ect.. How long will a well treated motor last for?
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Thanks a lot. This is just a step closer to getting one if everything answered is what I like.

Thanks!

 

i'll see what i can answer:

converting to an SS:
it's mostly appearance...so probably $500-700 for a hood, $300 for the spoiler and then painting. rims are about $250 each plus tires. all these parts could be found cheaper used.
other than appearance, the main difference between z28 and SS is suspension. and aftermarket stuff is better than the SS stuff was so that all depends on what you want to change. $300 for swaybars, $200 for springs and $400 for bilstein shocks. i also suggest getting a good shifter, either track down a used factory Hurst and buy a short stick or just buy an aftermarket shifter like Pro 5.0. these should run you $100-200.

89K miles isn't bad, if it's not leaking anything. simple plugs/wires would be a good idea. as well as full fluid change so you know when everything is new.

there are probably a dozen places that sell white face guages. just look in summit or jegs. or look through the site vendors. i think they are $100-200.

exhaust....that's like asking what is the perfect woman?
www.ls1sounds.com decide for yourself according to sound, look and cost.
i suggest either the SLP loudmouth, magnaflow or if you ahve a bit more $$ the GMMG.

headlights can be upgraded several ways. you can just change the bulbs to alter the "color" or you can upgrade the harness to handle higher wattage bulbs and run 100w hyperwhites. the numbers are 9005 and 9006...dont' remember which is which high/low beam.

body kit....DON'T
maybe see if you can find some used factory appearance option GFX...they look nice. check out my webpage for pics of them on my car.

cars are very good as far as i'm concerned. good brakes, good handleing, and seem to crash well....i've wrecked an 87 and a 96 camaro and not had a scratch.

motor life...hard to say.
my car has less than 60k miles and has a bad lifter causing 0 compression on one cylinder...
some race every weekend and beat the dogsnott out of thier cars...without problem.

 

the SS hood is cooool. It's a big scoop used to gobble up those mustangs.

please don't think about a body kit. Those are for imports. Just extra weight.

 

grrr... i dont think i will ever like SS looks.. anyways...
as stated above, its all mostly looks.. not all SS cars had upgraded suspension..

My car is at 56K miles and I have had no issues whatsoever.. I get to the track and dyno when I can and otherwise I drive very fast. (im the guy that flies down the freeway, blowing by traffic... and no tickets on my record... I am also the one that fishtails for fun.. so I do get on her hard... but never stupidly.. I wont do my antics in traffic or where it may get me in trouble.. just be smart with the power..)

If your car is currently not as powerful as a Z, then you need to really learn to drive the car before trying anything... find some local SCCA and Drag racing action and learn the car.. that way you wont be amoung the countless "I had a Z/T-A/Firebird for 2 weeks and wrecked it" stories I hear all the time.

 

I currently Drive a modded 95 5-speed maxima. I have driven my friends 96 trans am with some serious work done to it. I hate full body kits. I have a kit on my car but pieces that go under the bumper's and on the sides. Ive seen the Performace package for a camaro with a factory body kit which basically goes under the bumper's and on the sides which makes it look sick. I personally love the SS look. The hood scoop is just sick and the wing is awsome. I love lux inter. Like woodgrain/leather/chrome ring gauges stuff like that. I hate hondas/integras. They swear to god they can kill any v8. Im just sick of the import thing not saying I hate my car but its just a bad rep due to those 4 cylinder idiots.

If I was to get a camaro my mods would be (If having a true 98 SS)
-Loudmouth exhaust
-Long tube headers
-Clear cornors
-White gauges with chrome rings around it
-Transfer over the Eclipse Cd8445 headunit
-Get hids maybe like 4500k-5000k
-viper alarm system
-Badges

That would be just about what I would do.

 

If you really want an SS, buy that instead of a Z28 and then adding a hood, spoiler and wheels. There will be no SS authenticity if you do that and try and sell it. Just hold out until you find the car you like, it'll come around.

As far as reliability, it's decent. There's always something breaking or going wrong, but for the most part, it's a pretty solid car.