Hey everybody whats up. Im new to the forum, been lurking around here for a while and decided to post this question. Ive got a 98 Z28 with 43k on the odo. Its got ram air and a borla catback. Here is my question. Ive been lookin alot at 03 cobras or Mach 1's. I finally talked my parents into getting me one, and of course sellin my Z. I was talking to her today about it and i started to feel a little guilty about having to put her into a loan and all that, and also most of all going over to the Ford side :eek: Back in the day i just wanted to switch it from an auto to a manny, but then i had the cobra urge. Now i am thinking again of just thinking of getting it converted. I know that if i just beef up my auto tranny it will run quicker times and all that, but i just really want that 6 speed. I was wondering how many of you have done this and what costs might be. Also how about some pictures? and opinions would be awesome. Thanks guys for looking at this and thanks again for any future help!

ORIGINAL: ls1yankee

Hey everybody whats up. Im new to the forum, been lurking around here for a while and decided to post this question. Ive got a 98 Z28 with 43k on the odo. Its got ram air and a borla catback. Here is my question. Ive been lookin alot at 03 cobras or Mach 1's. I finally talked my parents into getting me one, and of course sellin my Z. I was talking to her today about it and i started to feel a little guilty about having to put her into a loan and all that, and also most of all going over to the Ford side :eek: Back in the day i just wanted to switch it from an auto to a manny, but then i had the cobra urge. Now i am thinking again of just thinking of getting it converted. I know that if i just beef up my auto tranny it will run quicker times and all that, but i just really want that 6 speed. I was wondering how many of you have done this and what costs might be. Also how about some pictures? and opinions would be awesome. Thanks guys for looking at this and thanks again for any future help!

Well I just went the other way. Here are the main points.
Since you have an auto you can keep your engine harness (I had to switch them). It's really a pretty easy swap as long as you have all the parts. The hardest part for you will be cutting a hole in the firewall for the clutch rod. Cost wise it's going to vary, I got lucky and found a guy like you who wanted a 6 speed and we traded everything even up. To put a price on it I would say $1500-2000 if you had to buy everything out right and found a good deal on some stuff. Before you do this though I highly suggest you go for a ride in a staled auto car, it might just change your mind. I can see going for a Cobra but not a Mach1 they just are not as easy to make fast as the LS1.

Would the conversion be well worth the money spent? Where's a good place to find the best parts? Or should i just drop the idea and snag the cobra? I need some help!

well if your looking at it speed wise.. than stick with the a4.. its faster

ORIGINAL: ls1yankee

Would the conversion be well worth the money spent? Where's a good place to find the best parts? Or should i just drop the idea and snag the cobra? I need some help!

That all depends on what you want to accomplish, I wanted a fast car in 1/4 so an auto is a no brainer. Parts are going to be a bit hard to find unless you run into a guy like me who wanted the auto. Check the boards, LS1tech has a bunch of people selling stuff so it might be a good start. You might be able to get alot of the parts at the junk yard as well.

Get a Vette!

ORIGINAL: boudreaux601

Get a Vette!

Anf your reasoning for that would be???

Whats the point of getting a Vette? I'm still having no luck with the parts and services:(

How exactly is an auto faster then a 6-speed?

I'm not doubting that the A4 is faster, I'm just curious.

ORIGINAL: morbid

How exactly is an auto faster then a 6-speed?

I'm not doubting that the A4 is faster, I'm just curious.

When you put in a higher stall torque converter, the auto is faster. It has to do with gear ratios of the 6 speed, 1st gear is a tall gear in the T56. This makes getting the car to launch difficult and unless you run a crazy gear out back, it just won't ever 60 foot where it should. Plus the auto is a lot easier on the rear ens and other drive line parts. Like I said with no other changes I went from a 12.1 to a 11.8 after the auto/stall swap. And yes I do know how drive a stick better than most.

how do u launch with an automatic

do u just slam the pedal when the light turns green or what

Depends on the tires you have and how well they grip. I put my left foot on the break and bring the rpm's up to 2500 rpm, when the light turns I mash the gas. So far my best 60 foot has been a 1.54

hey what kind of tires are you running? those are some very respectable times JD 1969!

I run a BFG 275/40/17 Drag Radial. Thanks for the compliment