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View Full Version : Hi everyone, I'm new


Gobo
09-30-2004, 02:12 PM
So, yeah, I'm new.

I'll be coming off a 6 year suspension on may 26th, 2005, so I'm beginning to look at cars, and I've found a 1998 v6 that caught my eye. All of my other camaros have been v8s (68 - 327, 70 - 307, 78 - 327 from 65 vette), and I really don't know much about v6s, carb'd or FI.

So, naturally, my first question is: would I be able to have a v8 installed in this thing without changing the trans? I know absolutely NOTHING about the inner-workings of these newfangled contraptions ;) so I need all the help I can get.

The car I'm looking at is absolutely fully loaded (minus dual power seats, it's a t-top, not convertible), and the asking price is $7550. So, that's a bit over bluebook, but the guy is willing to take a deposit and hold the car for me until December, when I'll be able to pay off the rest. So I'm generally happy with the price.

I had originally decided on putting about $10k into whatever car I got (car included), but I'm willing to go a bit over that if the gain is substantial. So, here is a brief list of the issues I'd like to tackle, and if anyone has any experience with any of them and can help me put together a price table, that'd be great.

1. Get it painted black. It's sport gold right now, with black and tan leather interior. I don't dislike gold so much as I prefer black. I'm thinking I can get away without getting the door jams/trunk repainted and still have it look sick. It may actually look better with black exterior and the gold door jams leading into the tan and black interior.

2. Get some performance out of the mother. Supercharger, turbocharger, v8 swap, transmission upgrade, exhaust upgrade. Whatever combination of things I can do to make this pony gallop instead of trot, I'm willing to do. The car will have about 5 months to make the rounds through whatever garages it needs to go to before I'll be able to drive it.

3. Da System yo. The original owner (guy I'm buying it from, that's always nice), got the 500 watt monsoon system factory installed. Exactly what is included with this system? Subs? Good mid-range? What what what? Has anyone with this sytem gone into upgrades for it? If so, what? Or is this stock system really as good as it "sounds"?

4. Anything else you guys can think of. Know of any ultra-cool mods that can make the physical appearance look even more badass than it does now? Know of some computer-confabulated-crap I can wire-up to this baby to make her growl? Any and all input is welcome and requested!

So, there it is, my inaugural post. Thanks for not flaming the new guy! :2guns:

SehlraC
09-30-2004, 07:31 PM
If you plan to do a V8 swap, the Bellhousing from the V6 tranny will not fit one for the V8, so if you buy a V8 make sure you get the matching tranny.

Powerdyne makes a Supercharger kit for the 3.8, actually the rksport sponsor is selling some right now.
http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=97393

Force Fed Fabrications (FFF) has a turbocharger kit for around $3000. Their website is currently down.

http://www.zzperformance.com/ has some heads and other engine performance upgrades if you wanted to go Naturally Aspirated.

Several companies make nitrous systems for our cars as well.

Welcome to the board. :)

Gobo
09-30-2004, 09:41 PM
Thanks man.

As I'm not extremely familiar with these cars, I'd appreciate it if someone could fill me in on what's most cost-effective (yes, I would prefer to remain naturally aspirated).

Also, if anyone here is in the Pittsburgh or Philadelphia area and can give me a good lead on a quality paint shop in either area, I'd appreciate it.

Mad Bunny
10-01-2004, 02:21 AM
All I can say is this. If you do the V8 swap have fun. You need the K member, wire harness, gauge cluster, PCM, tranny, rear end, moter mounts, several other things I am sure I am forgeting. Just easyer to get a V8 car than do the swap.

00_Z
10-01-2004, 07:31 PM
mad bunny is right you can pick up a used ls1 car for under 10 grand

Mad Bunny
10-01-2004, 09:18 PM
I keep seeing 98 and 99's for around 8-12k Depending on if it is a Z28 or SS. I just wish that the dallas morning news had a firebird t/a section like they have for the camaro....

Gobo
10-10-2004, 05:02 PM
ok so.... the front driver-side corner panel had been cracked "by the dealer, it was lifted wrong or something", and repainted...... the passenger door had been repainted because "it was hit by a piece of metal on the highway or something", all the clips on the bumper were OUT "maybe they were never in in the first place"...... and the car had 97,000 miles on it

so i looked at an impala the other day.... was a 2001 with a 3.1 v6, 35,000 miles..... i really liked this car... i felt much safer sitting in it *more comfortable, too..... i'm 6'3"*, and the power felt comparable to the camaro *180hp in the impala to 200hp in the camaro*

the salesman said they have a 2001 impala ls with a 3.4 coming in a couple weeks, and i think i'm gonna take a serious look at it..... so, here are my questions for anyone experienced

1) are there some "quick" computer upgrades i would be able to do with this car to get some performance out of it?

2) what should i be looking to pay *cash, not financed* for a 2001 impala ls with less than 40,000 miles? *assuming there's nothing wrong with the body/interior*

3) what can be done stereo-wise for this car? how condusive are they to systems/subs/DVD-players?

4) are there some common-yet-little-known issues that i should take a look for when i finally see this car?



thanks again for all the responses!

hrspwr00v6
10-18-2004, 09:50 PM
okay. are you wanting to do the fbody?
if so 95-99 have automatic trans problems generally appearing ~40k-50k i think some earlier... some later (had a 96 that it didn't show up till 116k) the code is p1870. if the trans has been touched. don't buy the car.all the fixes are just bandaids and it WILL fail again. overall great cars.

Gobo
10-18-2004, 11:06 PM
Are you referring to camaros or impalas? You lost me a little bit in there, hehe.

Thanks for the reply!

hrspwr00v6
10-20-2004, 06:47 PM
i was refering to the camaro. the term fbody is just the platform/basis of the car.

Gobo
10-20-2004, 07:43 PM
yeah that's why you lost me...... i had the original chevy fbody so i know what you're talking about ;)

i've now decided on getting an impala *latest bodystyle*, and i'm looking for some input on what to look for in those

hrspwr00v6
11-02-2004, 12:34 AM
if it has the l36/l67/l32 your getting a good deal, i think the newest ones actually come with a supercharged v6 if i'm not mistaken, but if they don't you can always mount the eaton on it!!