Just curious if anyone here knows the biggest differences between the 2, and has any suggestions, warnings, etc... about them.

ss had the ram air and 10-25 hp more , cant go wrong with either , the 00-02 are better

[quote=97cavie24ls(™)]ss had the ram air and 10-25 hp more , cant go wrong with either , the 00-02 are better

any reason for the power jump, is it in the tuning?

Quote:

Actualy, there is no substantial difference in the engines. The SS comes with a "ram air" cold air induction hood -- a hood scoop that really works (there are underhood channels that route the air to the engine) and an upgraded catback exhaust, and as a result is rated at 20 more HP. The SS also came from the factory with 17" instead of 16" wheels and fatter tires if I recall, and a few other goodies, I think a power steering fluid cooler, etc.

In actuality the SS typically makes only about 10 more RWHP than the Z28. Both the Z28 and the SS are a bit underrated by the factory. Based on many dyno tests I've seen the M6 Z28 has about 325 HP rating from the factory and the SS about 337 (compared to the C5 vette 350).

from camaroforums.com

for the extra price that you pay for the ss you can add some performance mods to the z28 and make it quicker then the ss.

Mostly just GM fudging the numbers. SS typically had more options, which added a little more weight.

O noes!

I'd personally go w/ a Trans Am...but that's just me


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4 Cams...32 Valves...5 Liters...This Could Get Fun!

well like i said speaking from experience, LS1 regardless but we are partial to Z's around here....
got a 71 and an 02
the 71 is well yeah show and go
the 02 is my dads daily driver. so far he put on the SS hood on it, SLP air lid, Flowmaster American Thunder Cat Back. Chrome ZR-1's with FAT tires in the back, Pro 5.0 Solid short Shifter, SSBC brake kit all the way around, and of course the skip shift eliminator.

You will see a post if you search enough or read the magazines about "free" mods, i would advise against them as they only net about 13 HP total if you do all of them but really isnt that safe. i think one i can remember was removing the screen from the MAF and another was the coolant bypass for the TB.

Does the SS have traction control switch? i know the Z does.

There really isn't a power difference at all. They will say that the exhaust and ram air make a difference, but they don't. It's been covered on all kinds of different forums. The only thing the SS has going for it, is that it looks better with the wheels, hood, spoiler, and it sits a tad lower. No matter whether it's a Firebird Formula, T/A, WS6, Z28, SS, Firehawk, or whatever, they're all going to make the same power. And actually a Z28 has the record for fastest bone stock LS1 F-body with a 12.8X in the 1/4.



98 Trans Am
6.0, L92 heads, LS3 intake, TSP 231/236 cam, and much more

Don't get a 98, the software for tuning is different from 99-02 and there widely regarded as having other subtle differences. Best is 01-02 because they use ls6 intake manifold.

SS is

SS Performance Package - includes 325-hp 5.7L LS1 V8 with forced air induction system, unique hood air intake, low restriction exhaust system, synthetic engine oil, P275/40ZR17 Goodyear Eagle F1 performance tires (maximum speed rating), 17" x 9" 5-spoke aluminum wheels, specially-tuned performance suspension with larger front stabilizer bar, stiffer springs, unique shock valving and stiffer bushings, specific exterior and interior "SS" badging and unique rear deck-lid spoiler

Which equates to a Hood/Spoiler/Some Badges and a 15-20hp jump, which is lost once you throw bolt ons in the mix.


Heres a Breakdown of the Yearly Changes

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1740880&postcount=2

I forgot to mention, I like the SS because it looks the best, but if your going for performance, skip the 3-4k SS cost and spend that money on H/C/I for your Z28. It will reward you well.

Wrench Monkey wrote:[quote=97cavie24ls(™)]ss had the ram air and 10-25 hp more , cant go wrong with either , the 00-02 are better

any reason for the power jump, is it in the tuning?

intake and exhaust differences

some time in 00 they switched to what is known as the Z06 intake , which is alot better than the earlier 1's

the ss ram air helps , more than the exhaust , since even the upgraded ss exhaust isnt really as good as most of the top aftermarket systems , so it usually gets toss any ways

[quote=97cavie24ls(™)]

some time in 00 they switched to what is known as the Z06 intake , which is alot better than the earlier 1's


Like I said above it was 01 model years that got the LS6 intake and deleted EGR.

i got a 98 Z28 maro 4 months ago.
the only thing im worried about is the rear end. they are weak



Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!

99redz24 wrote:i got a 98 Z28 maro 4 months ago.
the only thing im worried about is the rear end. they are weak

Moser 9''


And then repin your harness so you can get a good tuning software. Then call texas speed and say you want the magic stick 4 and some stage 2.5 L92s.

[quote=97cavie24ls(™)]

Wrench Monkey wrote:[quote=97cavie24ls(™)]ss had the ram air and 10-25 hp more , cant go wrong with either , the 00-02 are better

any reason for the power jump, is it in the tuning?

intake and exhaust differences

some time in 00 they switched to what is known as the Z06 intake , which is alot better than the earlier 1's

the ss ram air helps , more than the exhaust , since even the upgraded ss exhaust isnt really as good as most of the top aftermarket systems , so it usually gets toss any ways
The ram air doesn't do anything. There was a test done with ram air on a WS6, which has a better ram air setup than the SS. The air is forced right into the air lid instead of to the hood scoop and routed to the air box. And you get maybe 1 hp at 100mph. At anything lower, there are no gains. And the 01-02's with the LS6 intake were given a lower profile cam so that there would be little to no power differences from the 98-00 models.



98 Trans Am
6.0, L92 heads, LS3 intake, TSP 231/236 cam, and much more

Also keep in mind, the SS is produced in limited numbers, compared to a regular Z. Might not seem like much now, but look at Camaros from 40 years ago, and how sought after SS models are today...




14.330 @ 96.37mph

Wait a min, so the 01-02 F-bodies had an ls6 intake manifold on them? Did I read that right? Or is it a popular upgrade that is done in the F-body world?


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4 Cams...32 Valves...5 Liters...This Could Get Fun!

the new ones did come with LS6 manifold stock

Darkstars wrote:the new ones did come with LS6 manifold stock

This man speaks the truth.

OMFG Just read the chart on the link I posted. It explains all the key differences.

Personally, with the hood, spoiler, and lower stance the SS if anything is the best looking Camaro model. But these days you can get those cosmetic upgrades just about anywhere.






2007 Corvette Z51 | Suzuki Swift GTi SCCA racer | 2008 Edge