I'm actively looking for an LS1 Camaro SS M6, and had some questions I was hoping you guys could help me answer.

#1 Which gears are the best for highway runs and MPH in the 1/4 mile. I'm willing to sacrifice a few tenths to get a higher trap speed. What are the best overall gears? What do these cars come with stock? 2.xx ?

#2 What is a good online place to order parts from, that everyone trusts?

#3 What do most people run with heads/cam on an LS1 with all the supporting mods? What are the supporting mods they need? Fuel? Spark? Both?

#4 How strong are the bottom ends? I heard the LS1s are designed to burn a little bit of oil, is this true? How reliable would it be with heads/cam?

#5 If I upgrade to 12bolt rear, can I keep ABS? How tough is it to swap a 12 bolt, and do companies make rear ends that already come with upgraded gears, so I can just replace the whole thing myself?

#6 How reliable are the 6spd transmissions?

#7 What are the main weaknesses of these cars?

#8 What should I look out for when I go car shopping?

Thanks guys!!!

 

I'll give it a crack

1) The best performance gears are 4.10s with the M6. They will get you to your powerband fast. It feel like a 40rwhp increase (however no actual hp/tq increases are gained). Stock the SS comes with 3.42's.

2) DMS ..actually all the sponsors here can be trusted.

3) What exactly do you mean what do they run? Times? Heads/cam packages typically come with all the necessary mods.

4) The bottom ends will do fine with all the basic bolt ons and even heads/cam and nitrous. Once you start boosting..then the question of how long your bottom end will hold is what you should start asking yourself.

5) Yes you can get them w/ upgraded rears. There are rear ends that allow you to keep the ABS. I wouldn't switch it out until you're at least making well over 400rwhp

6) Very reliable. At least in my experience on my SS

7) That's a subjective matter. Some people are more picky than others. One problem in my eyes is that your F-body will develop squeeks and rattles over time if you don't install SFCs.

8) Listen to the engine and see if you hear excessive pings and detonation. Did the previous owner bend pushrods? Does the interior develop a lot of squeeks and rattles. How modded is the car? This can give you a little inkling as too how hard the person drives the car. Take a look at the clutch..does it hold well. A good test is to drive at about 30mph...then shift to 6th. You'll severely bog..but the rpms should increase gradually as you increase in speed. If the rpms shoot up..then the clutch is toast. If you have a friend nearby with an autotap..take it out and check out the diagnostics of the car (is it running too lean?). There are other things as well...basically your typical "what you should look out for" list that you can find from Consumer Reports, Edmunds, etc.

Good luck. Hope this helped some.

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to answer #7 I'd say power windows and brake rotors...just about everybody has problems with those.

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99 Z28 M6, Black, SS Hood, Sport Appearance Pkg., RKsport Front Fascia Spoiler, Direct Flo Lid, K&N, !MAF, TBB, !FRA, Air Dam Intake, !EGR, B&M Ripper, Hooker Classic European Dual/Dual Tips, Cut-Out, Torq Thrust II 17x9.5's w/ Hankook Ventus 255/40/17's(front) & 17x11's w/ Yokohama AO32R 315/35/17's(rear)
336 RWHP
http://www.geocities.com/vendela99z28/99camaroZ28.html
Pics Updated 5/17/02

 

I agree..both my power windows keeled out and my rotors warped..surprise surprise...ahh gotta love warranty (especially the extended kind!!)