Which car to HI- Performance

[Rhode Island Red]

Sell both, Buy This 1969 LS1 Paddle-shifter Camaro

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Why stop there. My neighbor is building a guy a LS1 427 for his C5 Vette.

427 is too extreme for me... when it comes time for some motor mods, I am really going to have some difficulty deciding what to do... there is way too much tire-shredding torque involved with a built 427. I don't want my 1st and 2nd gear to be useless. I'm sure they would be in a 408 as well... but I was just giving a little personal preference... I know I'm not going to go all the way to a 427 when it comes time for me.

Right now... I am thinking about an all-bore 382 with a G5X3 cam (very top end - 7400 RPMs ) and LS6 stage 2 or 3 heads...

[raroZ28]

Jay makes a good point. On second thought I would invest in the Vette. I doubt you'll run into anything serious with that motor anytime soon. It would suck to spin a bearing though and have them not fix it!! Doubt it though..

One more for the vette

[Ponyrider]

Okay I have been told from the better half which car to MOD. It's not the vette. So okay I need your advise to up grade the Z28. I would like to have about 490 to wheel. I have a nitros dry kit 150 shot already. I would like for the engine to produce about 475 hp

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

I would like for the engine to produce about 475 hp

This is so much easier with the Vette. You can do that on stock cubes with a simple H/C upgrade. With some cams, you can even do that cam-only.

[Nightrage]

It really depends on what you want. I see both sides of the spectrum. I say, why destroy that Vette by making it a drag racing car? It's so nice already. The Camaro is pretty much cheap muscle to begin with.

Jay, you said you don't understand why you would do work that to the Camaro as it would end up costing as much as the car is worth. Look at what people to to early 80's Malibu's. They take a cheap car and turn it into a 10 second beast. That's the fun of it. When something breaks on a cheap car, it's no biggie. Just fix it. Corvette's are totally different. They're pretty much there for the prestigious image. The name alone makes the car much more expensive. My car would probably outperform an early C4 in every way but they're still just as expensive. If i had a Vette and i chipped the paint, i'd be in tears. If i chipped the paint on my T/A, whatever. It's only a $8,000-ish car anyhow. No one expects an LT1 to be in mint condition. They're old and usually have some wear and tear. An LS1 is relatively new though so they're expected to be in better shape.

However, I also see the Vette arguement. It's already faster, lighter and everything is already pretty much stronger. Maybe do up the Vette and keep the Camaro as a peppy daily driver? If you're not looking for a straight out track car then why not just enjoy both of them as they are? There are always cars that are already done up and the general rule of thumb is that you'll never fully get back what you invested. You can get a car that has loads of work already done to it for cheap.

[Nightrage]

Tell me what you think of these-

http://cars-on-line.com/6846.html (worked '78 Chevelle)

http://cars-on-line.com/6620.html ('79 Camaro with a claimed 500 hp)

http://cars-on-line.com/19329.html ('80 Malibu which allegedly runs consistant 10.4 in the 1/4)

All pretty affordable and all fast as heck.

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

It really depends on what you want. I see both sides of the spectrum. I say, why destroy that Vette by making it a drag racing car? It's so nice already.

Woah, woah, woah... I never suggested that. I think that would be a ing shame. But a simple cam/heads package could put that beast into the 11s without sacrificing it's turning abilities...

[raroZ28]

If i had a Vette and i chipped the paint, i'd be in tears. If i chipped the paint on my T/A, whatever.

Chipped a little paint on my front bumper, right beneath the hood. I was so depressed when I saw it.

[Nightrage]

Chipped a little paint on my front bumper, right beneath the hood. I was so depressed when I saw it.

When i got my car and washed it for the first time, i noticed that i had some really weird thing on my front bumper. It looks like a birth mark lol. There's not only an indent where the mark is but it's maroon whereas the rest of my car is bright red.

Jay, i know that an 11 second car would be fun and all but he's got a warranty on it and it's the last year of the C5. Personally, i'd rather have that as a weekend car for taking my girlfriend down to the beach or something like that. Bone stock it can already beat 90% of the other cars on the road. Why not do some suspension mods to the Vette and make that a car for taking turns and curves at mach speed? Then take the Camaro and do a nice LT4 set up. Port and polish everything, get a supercharger or a turbo or even nitrous, whatever you're into. Since it's already a relatively inexpensive car to begin with, if something bad happens, so what? You still have that C5 for you.

I definitely see where you're coming from however. The heads and cam swap for the Vette would cost a lot less and would reap better results too. I just think that the Corvette is awesome to begin with where the Camaro is mediocre. At the same time, the Vette really is more of a "weekend car" and since i'd bet you drive that a lot less (i'm assuming the Camaro is your daily driver?) you might as well set it up to eat everything you come across. Just make sure that if you do make the Vette an 11 second car to bring it to Long Island. My dad's going to get another Viper and he's yet to lose a race. All he does is brag non-stop so i think he needs a lesson in humility. Would be much appreciated if you smoked him in a race Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Performin Norman]

In my opinion, you should mod the car that you would enjoy driving more. There are characteristics of each car. If you like driving the Fbody more, mod it. If you like driving the Corvette better, mod it.

[DeWynter]

well I dont know if anyone read that his significant other says NO to moding the vette so this might just be a moot argument

[Ponyrider]

I recieved everyone opinion and I feel the same way everyone else. I would rather do the vette for what I wil get for the money. But I really think I enjoy the Z28 for cruising and racing. Because like someone said if something happen I woulded want it to be the vette. I was thinking of AFR heads 190 or 210. But which one would work and with what cam? Comp cam, Crane, Edelbrook or who? I throught about LT4 comb but not sure if its enough power. I would like to stay within my budget. My budget for now is about $5000. What can this buy for me?

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

well I dont know if anyone read that his significant other says NO to moding the vette so this might just be a moot argument

I seriously doubt the significant other quite understands the investments necessary for the Camaro to reach the same results as the Corvette...

[95TransAm]

I recieved everyone opinion and I feel the same way everyone else. I would rather do the vette for what I wil get for the money. But I really think I enjoy the Z28 for cruising and racing. Because like someone said if something happen I woulded want it to be the vette. I was thinking of AFR heads 190 or 210. But which one would work and with what cam? Comp cam, Crane, Edelbrook or who? I throught about LT4 comb but not sure if its enough power. I would like to stay within my budget. My budget for now is about $5000. What can this buy for me?

What kind of power do you want? Do you want to stay N/A or go F/I?

Turbo + some suspension upgrades + built up drivetrain and rearend =

It would exceed your budget by a bit, but it would be the cheapest way to make your f-body just tear it up.

A blower plus some minor suspension and possible drivetrain modifications can keep you within the budget.

Just my $.02