Sure similiar threads on here. I had several 3rd over the years. Love them but after 2 years and playing with audis I wish I could splurge for a audi tts.

that said the 3rd gen without money and mods from stock wont get what I want.

I have seen many 4th LT1 below 3000 for solid 93-95 120k daily cars all clean. need paint and love and drive away.

I know Lt1 have opti and different head/header setup
but is ls1 style car much different?

I have seen 98-02 camaro for 5k similar mileage but look cleaner/newer but overall same cars other then headlights on exterior?

LS1 for extra $2k is like $2k in mods I would want in the stock lt1 I am thinking? and Ls1 will have more legs for mods?

I love to have a weekend car that sounds great, clean, repaint if needed, runs into the high 12s on the street without major hookup issues to compete/beat my A6 (stage 2 3.0T runs 12.7)

and if mods get me lower great, and if I want real speed I am ok with adding 150shot for fun hopefully be 11s?

Id Lt1 vs ls1 much different for my end goal?

 

LS1 FTW, I've owned both now. Had fun with the '93 I had but replaced the Opti twice. The LS1 car is just better in a number of ways, unless you can find a super clean low mile LT1 car for a great buy I'd be looking to spend a little more for an LS.
Just my two cents having owned both.

 

That is what I am thinking. Not that money isnt an issue but clean LT1 are great deal at 2500-3000. Saw a nice trans am 94 probably 2k but needs dash and paint and minor plastic work. all that your at 5k for a lt1

the ls1 I ahve seen look failrly 'new' DD. 99-02 range paint still solid interiors clean. exterior now are mix of mexican specials (plastidip, grills, body kits, tinted roofs)

but 100-150k ls1 that looks basically stock 4.5-5.5 and some modded (cam exhaust rims at 6k)

I think I walk into a 100hp+ almost option for $5k vs $3k lt1. and my $2k into the ls1 gets me that much farther.

I now have to look what are some cool options for wrap/rims that give the 4th gen a more modern look without looking cheap? more modern not cragers and plastidip. more matte bmw/audi style rims maybe so something different with bumper/headlights

 

On paper the LT1 and the LS1 are almost equal with 285 fly wheel hp and 305 fly wheel hp. On the dyno is a different story. A bone stock automatic LT1 will dyno 235-250 rear wheel HP. 20% hp drop Fly wheel to rear wheels is considered normal. SO those number seem right. It is not uncommon for a bone stock LS1 to dyno at 300 HP to the wheels. Meaning a Stock LS1 is closer to 350 HP then it is to 305 at the crank.

The bottom end of a LT1 is very similar to an old school small block, most non-Vett Lt1's are two bolt mains and won't hold up to a beating. They do not handle boost or NO2 well.

The LS1 has a 6 bolt main. To give an idea how strong they can be in their stock form it is not uncommon to see 800-1000 HP turbo car with stock bottom ends. This is not to say they are indestructible but they don't normally break unless the oil pump fails, they over heat, blow a head gasket or burn a hole through a piston, something like that.

You can wake up an Lt1 a little with bolt on mods but to make a decent upgrade you are going to go after the cam/heads.

If you research the LS1 you find several bolt on combination that have very consistent results. Long tube headers, Ls2 intake plus a mail order tune will get you 350hp at the wheels. Something like that anyway, if you search the right sites you can find out a lot about proven combination.

The other advantage to the LS1 is if you ever need to replace your engine you have a lot of options. Any LSX motor will bolt in. That just about any GM V8 built after 2000 will bolt in and just require some tuning to get it running.

Back when there was a 10k difference between Lt1's and LS1's you could argue that you could make a LT1 faster for less but now that the gap is 2k there is no real argument.

 

Thanks guys, I am feeling the LS1 love. $2k-$3k difference for a 5 year newer/better/faster stock for stock setup with more mod future I am sold.

Plus I love the old trans am look hands down over the Z. That alone would make me get a WS6 LT1 but he newer 98+ headlights on z to me look better all around.

 

I did my homework and bought an '01 SS,more power than a standard Z28,it's rated 325 hp. The late LS1 cars have the LS6 intake, I believe 200-2002 is what you want if you can get a deal on one buy it.
Lots of mods available out there to answer the update to modern look and for more power questions. See my threads, I've changed the grille and just ordered some black projector headlights and black euro tail lights to update the look of mine.
https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...hts-way-80605/


https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...e-heads-80585/

 

the 02 would be my choise but depending on price ,i may get any of 98-02 cars the 310hp cars can be easly tuned to get the 15 hp out of them ,another is the 97 lt4 car if you can find one they had 330hp very rare but every now an then someone has one an dont know what they have i would like to see an lt5 in a 4th gen ,I like the old trans am cars too from 93 -02 standard on a TA is ground effects kits + is Pontiac is no more bring s up there value ,= i think will be parts in years to come,but alot of the parts are the same ,Another = to me is the pop up headlights they look better down ,an finaly the corvette in 05 lost the pop ups too ,the ls3 with 400hp is all a guy realy needs for the street