Since I too have been looking at F-bodies, I figured I throw out the diff
question. How much of a wear item is the pre-99 diff? Or is that driver
dependent? Any thoughts on the '99 with the Torsen? I'd head that it is
not the best example of one, but have not heard direct input from somone
running a '99. I do like the idea of not having to worry about replacing
it. And they work so well in a Miata :-)
And the final question, can you get the 1LE with the 'Prefered Equipment'
package (that is, PW, PDL, etc.) the web pages contradict themselves, so I'm
not sure.
Thanks for all the info Alex!
Kevin McCormick
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alek Tziortzis [mailto:alextz@comm.mot.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 1999 8:44 AM
> To: vw_speed_racer@hotmail.com; autox@autox.team.net
> Subject: F-body info
>
>
>
> You can be competitve in any 4th gen car. Although the LS1 cars are
> quicker in the quarter mile, it is mostly upper RPMs, not usually seen
> in solo II.
>
> Some reliability things about LT1 cars vs LS1 cars:
>
> Engine and tranny are fairly bulletproof. On LT1 cars they have the
> optispark ignition (optical) which tends to kill itself every
> couple of
> years ($320 for the part alone).
>
> the power steering on both LS1 and LT1 cars is prone to
> overheating and
> fluid boiling, although 1LE LS1 cars, SS, and WS6 LS1 cars come with a
> power steering cooler which helps (I have never boiled my fluid at an
> autox).
>
> One thing that the LS1 car has over the LT1 car is the aluminum block,
> heads and plastic intake manifold. If you open the hood on an LS1 car
> for 10 minutes it will be stone cold again, while an LT1 car having an
> Iron block, aluminum heads, aluminum intake, retains heat a lot more.
> So you dont lose as much power because of a hot engine with the LS1
> although its probably not that big of a deal for autox.
>
> You do not have to have a 1LE car to be competitve. Just get
> a 6 speed,
> preferable no t-tops (power stuff doesnt add too much weight, so power
> windows, locks etc are really no problem).
>
> the only real thing to get is shocks (I recommend Konis).
> I use a bigger front sway bar too, but Dean Sapp is the current Fstock
> national champ in a stock (except for shocks) 1998 Firebird.
>
> 4th gen camarobirds are cambered challenged cars. you can
> only get about
> -.5 to -.7 degrees of camber on most cars. I run zero toe (Ive found
> that toe out doesnt help much except to increase slip angles on the
> tires and wear them faster).
>
> Thats really about it. you can really beat the crap out of those cars
> and they handle it just fine.
>
> Thats about all I can think of now,
>
> oh they are fairly inexpensive. Want to spend 18K, go for a 1998 Z28 6
> speed (more fun at the dragstrip).
>
> Alex Tziortzis
> 1998 Z28 1LE 6 speed
> 13.24 @ 107.5 quarter (2.12 60 ft)
> --
>
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