F-Body Decisions, ...I'd welcome feedback

[PJ Reynolds]

OKay, I signed up with this group within the last week. I am impressed with the knowledge of the group. I have to decide; Do I tweak my beloved 91 RS 305 tbi Camaro. I've added cold air induction, cat back with flowmasters already. Next is either an engine upgrade with a rougher cam, hypertech chip etc. I sure would like to hear how you all would tweak this showroom pretty teal Blue RS if it was yours & you had some cash!! Or, do I just upgrade to something like an 02 WS6 vs. an 02 SS, I'm leaning heavy to the WS6, or perhaps, since I own the RS outright.... Swap the meager 305 tbi 700r4 combo out for a beefy 383 stroker motor w/400 HP and a T-400 tranni (both of which I can get at cost!)with a rear end upgrade to match. I could swap out the drive train for about $19.000.00 less than signing up for 5 more years of car payments. Hummm, what would you do?

[gimp19]

Thats a tuff one, personally I'd rather have the WS6 but I also wouldnt mind a 3rd Gen with a 383stroker. Have you thought about doing a GN turbo 3.8 swap, thats somthing I've always dreamed of doing. I guess it comes down to cost and witch one you prefer the looks of, a stroker should make more power then a LS1
if done properly.

[DeWynter]

I own a 89 formula ws6 and I love my 3rd gen but I like the 4th gens too, I would keep the 3rd and just get a 4th to go with it. if your set on getting a 02 I guess then you pay more but a 98 is the same car. I belive there is one for sale on the boards right now for 16,000 or something close. To replace all the drive train in your 3rd would cost almost that much anyways even at cost. Or sell the 3rd and buy a 4th gen, not something I would do, I would buy both.

[Benm109]

If I had the money, I would keep the 3rd gen and put what you suggested into it (383 stroker, 400 tranny, etc.). As you can tell though, I am partial to 3rd gens . I would personally like to see more clean and modified 3rd gens around (seems to be plenty of clean 4th gens around). I think it will be cheaper to keep what you have than buying another car and modifying it. That's my 2 cents.

[LoudLT1]

my vote is to keep the 3rd gen camaro and install the 383 stroker, 400 tranny, etc. nothing like pulling away from lt1's and ls1's for that matter. plus that 3rd gen body is sweet. i had a 85 z28 and a 91 z28 before getting my 95 z28.
ed

[TraceZ]

my vote is to keep the 3rd gen camaro and install the 383 stroker, 400 tranny, etc. nothing like pulling away from lt1's and ls1's for that matter. plus that 3rd gen body is sweet. i had a 85 z28 and a 91 z28 before getting my 95 z28.
ed

I'm on my 6th f-body, all Camaros.

I've had 3 3rd gen cars and 3 4th gen cars.

I can honestly say that the 4th gen is twice the car as a 3rd gen. They are stiffer, handle better, have better suspension in front, have better stock motors, better paint and a much improved build quality. Plus you can get a T56 6-speed.

Appearance is a personal preference, but the rest is fact. The 4th gen is a better car all around. I'd recommend getting the 4th gen car if budget allows.

[Mirroredshades]

Do them both!

Turn the RS into a wicked fast street predator and get a new WS6 for your twisty road needs!

[NorthernSS]

I would also go with the 02 WS6 or SS. I love the looks of the 3rd gens(esp 91-92 Z28) but I think overall a 02 would be a better choice. Stock it will probably dyno in the 300-330ish RWHP range. I mean thats alot of power to start with.

[CLWILSON]

I vote for do them both.

[fastTa]

My vote is for the WS6!

[TruckMuddr]

Well, insurance on a older v6 camaro will be alot less then a 98-02 with v8.

[PJ Reynolds]

Good Stuff

Hey, good stuff, all of you. To clarify though my 91 RS is a 305 v8 TBI with 700r4, cold air(more or less), K&N, Cat Back with FlowMaster. This car has a 12 inch shine, tiel blue with grey leather,and looks showroom. I am getting whomped by every 19 year old in a v8 Mustang though. Car sounds great, but just doesn't have the balls I need. I am definately in a mid life crisis here. At 53, having grown up & graduated high school in 69 I am re-living my youth through my wheels. I have made a decision though. I am going to beef out my 91, she looks f-ing brand new to begin with, and down here in FLA I can keep it that way without too much agony. I am going to pour my Car cash into a stroked 383/t-400 combo, change out the ass end with a rear end from the bone yard out of a 92 Z28 (to get the disc brakes), change up the gears, with a quick low end for whammping mustangs off the line, and a good high way gear because I will be giving up the overdrive I have now with the 700r4 I need to acclamate myself on gear ratios now to decide which gears I want for the rear end, any suggestions? I listen to all you guys, because you know your f-bodies. I am trying to borrow a digital camara to enhance my entry image here, so stay tuned I hope to have a photo of my baby soon. Thanks again for all of the feed back!

[DJ Taso]

It's a hard decision. You're gonna have the 3rd gen guys say keep it. You're gonna have the 4th gen guys say get the 02 WS6/SS.

Coke or Pepsi?

[alenstein]

Half full or Half empty. If the RS is in a prestine shape why alter it, keep it if possible and go with WS6 for given power.

[TraceZ]

Hey, good stuff, all of you. To clarify though my 91 RS is a 305 v8 TBI with 700r4, cold air(more or less), K&N, Cat Back with FlowMaster. This car has a 12 inch shine, tiel blue with grey leather,and looks showroom. I am getting whomped by every 19 year old in a v8 Mustang though. Car sounds great, but just doesn't have the balls I need. I am definately in a mid life crisis here. At 53, having grown up & graduated high school in 69 I am re-living my youth through my wheels. I have made a decision though. I am going to beef out my 91, she looks f-ing brand new to begin with, and down here in FLA I can keep it that way without too much agony. I am going to pour my Car cash into a stroked 383/t-400 combo, change out the ass end with a rear end from the bone yard out of a 92 Z28 (to get the disc brakes), change up the gears, with a quick low end for whammping mustangs off the line, and a good high way gear because I will be giving up the overdrive I have now with the 700r4 I need to acclamate myself on gear ratios now to decide which gears I want for the rear end, any suggestions? I listen to all you guys, because you know your f-bodies. I am trying to borrow a digital camara to enhance my entry image here, so stay tuned I hope to have a photo of my baby soon. Thanks again for all of the feed back!

In keeping with the RS, I think you should keep overdrive. Have a good stout 700r4 built for it. Put 3.73 gears in the rear. It will have good power, and still get decent gas mileage. Then build your 383 or 400 and have some fun blowing away all the mustangs.

I would recommend subframe connectors and a strut tower brace too. On your 3rd gen's chasis, it will make a night and day difference. This 3rd gen cars are pretty sloppy stock.