You had absolute hell with that I remember, I dont think any one suspected the motor being the cluprit. Thats why for the time ebing I'm staying out of this cars motor, cant afford to break it and it wont break with bolt ons.

 

The heads can definitely level the playing field but it's not a swap for everyone. Most people are happy with 400-425 rwhp and for that... you got everything you needed with your stock motor. Now if you wanted to make bigger power with a wimpy cam like the LS guys do, a head conversion just may be your ticket. Not a project for the faint of heart though. Also keep in mind that you can swap a gen1 sbc between the shock towers with the BMR k-member. Goodbye opti, hello any cylinder head available to a sbc.

-Mindgame

 

So MG... did you have to have custom headers fabbed up to those Brodix heads?... if i remember correctly. It seems there sure is a lot of work envolved in converting gen 1 heads to fit our blocks and intake but the headers must have been the worst hassle.

 

I bought my LT1 new, and don't ever plan on selling it.

It's been a great car. Only drawback is the need for a 2nd car in the winter.

I love the looks, the 6-speed, the low end TQ and power of the LT1, the handling (with my mods), the sound, and the T-tops in nice weather.

Dan

 

i have to drive my formula in the winter...how much of a bitch is it???

i just moved to VA and it doesnt snow much here, but sometimes we get freezing rain, not all the time though.

 

Brad, I'm running a GM 15º head.

I have a good friend here local who builds headers for alot of drag racers. He's not well known, just a welder/fabricator by trade and fellow gearhead, but he does some of the best work I've ever seen.
I'm running a BMR k-member so that eased things a little by giving us some extra room to work with but it really wasn't that tough a job for my buddy to do.
According to him, "That wasn't near as bad as I thought it was going to be... lets get some beer", lol.

He buys the flanges and mandrel bends from Headers By Ed, then figures the routing using wire, then welds/heats/tweaks until he gets what he wants.

-Mindgame

 

I just recentely picked up my first LT1 car and I thought I was going to miss my Maxima. I haven't even thought about the car I LOVE this T/A. Don't get me wrong the Maxima was an awesome car but... come on this is a Trans Am. Once I start full time work this summer I'll catch the mod bug that's been going around Take care of the car and it'll take care of you. Also, the T Tops are a MAJOR + during the summer. Since I've gotten this car ALL the girls turn and look Ahhh yes, this summer will be good.

 

They SUCK driving in the snow/ice. I've been driving in all sorts of cars in the Michigan winters, and the Z28 is the worst by far. My other rear wheel drive car(80's Cutlass) was o.k. in the winter. The LT1 is about the worst car there is in the winter. The low end TQ wants to break the rear end loose all the time.

If you have to drive it in the winter, I recommend a set of rims with dedicated narrower winter tires.

My Z28 has only seen snow twice, and it wasn't pretty either time.

VA isn't as bad as MI so it's not quite the issue that it is here.

Dan

 

thanks man, i used to have a 97 mustang gt i drove in the winter it wasn't bad at all. but va barely snows if it does it lasts on the ground for like a day. im just worried about freezing rain. i know how bad things get, i lived 17 years near chicago

 

I love my LT1. my friend used to have one know they suck because he has an LS1. and he talked so much crap about how his was faster stock and blah blah. so he went to the track 13.6@103 and im a 13.5@100 so im faster and he isnt stock. he has 10,000 now bought with 5,000 when baught it has piston slap and chevy said its normal. i like mine more than his. i just like his dash better.

 

I'm not partial to any motor. If Mustangs were faster and were in the same price range as when I bought my car I would have bought one. I'm happy with my LT1...it sure sounds neato all cam'd up .

Ryan

 

I'm going to be brutally honest. I've owned two LT1s now, and an LS1, and I just love the torque and the sound of the LT1, it makes for a very fun daily driver. But I really hate how easily the upper intake heats up on the LT1, making your car slow down by 3-4 tenths from one run to the next once it gets hot. My LS1 didn't do that, I could run 30 times down the strip in a row and it wouldn't slow down (trust me, I did indeed do this at the strip one day, in a two hour timespan)

I think the LT1 is an excellent motor, very reliable, and with the right combo of parts, it can be made into a serious contender at the track. But for me, the C5 Corvette is my ultimate goal, I'll be getting one in 2006 or 2007. Just like my Formula, the C5 will be my daily driver too.

 

I love my LT1 but thats probably because thats the engine i really grew up around, my dad bought his 1LE back in '97 and ever since then i 've loved the LT1. So back in 2001 when i graduated I took all my graduation money and bought my camaro. Oh BTW the family really loved to see where my money went

 

When I was in high school my first car was a 69' Dodge Charger. I was hooked on Mopars because no one really had them compared to Fords and Chevy's (I was the underdog). Then my senior year of school I sold (which I regret) and bought a 93 Ta M6. I loved it compared to having my Charger. Don't get me wrong my Charger was a beast, but it didn't drive like a TA does, especially around the turns. I thought I missed having a Mopar so I bought a 68 Dart w/360. I had both cars for about a year and then sold them both. I figured I should be responsible and buy something practical, so I did, I bought a 99' S-10. I had everything in the world done to it, but it wasn't me. So I sold it and bought my 25th anniversary. I love my car and don't plan on selling it. I want to get a LS1 car probably in a year or 2, but I'm not selling my LT1 for it I had the chance to get a LS1, but I didn't. I love this car and treat it like it's my child

Sorry for the long post

 

I've always wondered how a Hotcammed LT1 would do against a bone stock LS1. I wonder how close it would be.