A bunch-o-questions, pleez help

[big_sam_2004]

Sorry If I'm dumb 4 askin all of this, but Im getting a car in late Jan./early Feb . and I have 3 options, 93-97 camaro Z28 M6 w/ T-Tops, 91-93 3000gt M5, or a 93-96 caprice. I cant find too many Z28's like that still in good condition, and maintainence on a 3000gt is a bitch I heard, so I want to know a little more about a caprice. I know that the years I'm looking at it had a 4.3 a 5.0 and a LT1 (5.7). the LT1 I know about already because of the camaro, but the other 2 I cant find any info for, so here it goes:

1) Do they give that mean LOUD growl when you put an exhaust system on it?

2) I dont know anything about bore and stroke, but i think it makes the engine bigger, how big can these be? comparable to the LT1?

3) Are mods easy to find?

4) Whats The Best Exhaust?

5) reasonable to maintain?

6) on the 94 - 96, can you convert the digital dash to analog (bad exp. with digital dashes)

7) if I find a digital dash car, will the mileage be screwed because of dash malfunction?

thanks in advance for all of yer help!

[big_sam_2004]

Oh and is it easy to put a sunroof in like the impala SS's?

[TommySS]

RUN AWAY from the 3000

You'll be happy in the F-bod, but insurance is a bear.

What is it that you want this car to do? Go fast? Look cool? Be easy on the wallet? Remember, you can't get all 3, but you can compromise one for another.

Anyway, unless you're running a 350, the (4.3, and 5.0) engines don't have enough oomph to get the Caprice moving fast enough. It's a heavy car.

Exhaust sound is a function of the muffler (or lack thereof). You can get it to sound good, but the car still won't move fast enough.

Don't waste your money on stroking a 4.3/5.0. For not a lot of $$, you can get a new crate engine.

Mods are no different than on other SBC engines, but with a 350, you have a much better starting point.

Exhaust = your choice (how much do you wanna spend?) Magnaflow is a good one.

Caprice is an easy car to maintain/work on because you can get at everything a lot easier than on an F-bod.

No experience w/digital dashes (I do not like them).

You may need to reset the odometer (easy on analog, no experience w/digital)

Good luck.

[big_sam_2004]

thanks alot, i really appreciate your input, now i got a few things to think about!

I want it to go fast and look cool at the same time, i dont race, but when i hit the gas, I wanna feel it pull me back!

[HLandin]

While on the topic of exhaust systems, does anyone know where I can find a complete dual exhaust system with dual cats and dual mufflers for my '90 Caprice?

[CD Smalley]

Sure HLandin, start by heading to one of the ImpSS sites and buy the complete system that some has taken off there ImpSS or 94-96 9c1.

[HLandin]

Originally Posted by CD Smalley

Sure HLandin, start by heading to one of the ImpSS sites and buy the complete system that some has taken off there ImpSS or 94-96 9c1.

Later models are compatible? I know they did some minor changes between years of caprice and I was not sure if equipment designed for later years would be backward compatible. Thanks.

[CD Smalley]

You will need the transmission crossmember, modified slightly. and can reverse some of the hangers for the left side. But using a set of LT1 exhaust manifolds will allow it to almost completely bolt in....

[TommySS]

A good muffler shop can custom bend one for you for a LOT less than a pre-fab unit.

They can't alter the location of the cat(s) though.

[PeteA216]

Yeah, thats the best way to go... You might have to run the pipes parrallel to each other due to lack of space.

[Hooptie]

Originally Posted by big_sam_2004

1) Do they give that mean LOUD growl when you put an exhaust system on it?

2) I dont know anything about bore and stroke, but i think it makes the engine bigger, how big can these be? comparable to the LT1?

3) Are mods easy to find?

4) Whats The Best Exhaust?

5) reasonable to maintain?

6) on the 94 - 96, can you convert the digital dash to analog (bad exp. with digital dashes)

7) if I find a digital dash car, will the mileage be screwed because of dash malfunction?

1) 4.3=262 5.0=305 5.7=350
They should all give you a good small block rumble, but I'd recomend the 5.0 and the 5.7. Not because they are better, they are just cheaper to upgrade and therefor have more potential per dollar.

2)I aree that you shouldn't mess with building a 4.3 or a 5.0

3) Mods are plentiful. Check out some of the Impala and B-body sites. They will have tons of tips and tricks.

4)Any thing mandel bent and free flowing is best. The reason why you pay more for a bolt up system is that they are mandrel bent, unlike your local exhast shop. This makes the diameter of the pipe the same front to back, even in the bents(aka no wrinkles or kinks)

5)About the same as a Camaro. Don't know anything about a 300GT

6)Yes you can convert to analog. With a little engineering you can put in a Camaro analog cluster

7) Maybe, I dunno

Hope this helps

[big_sam_2004]

thanks alot everybody i appreciate it

[Monte_SS]

I cut my tranny mount and re welded so the exhaust would fit down the drivers side. Took some time but duel exhaust clearence was no longer an issue...

[ebones]

Originally Posted by big_sam_2004

Sorry If I'm dumb 4 askin all of this, but Im getting a car in late Jan./early Feb . and I have 3 options, 93-97 camaro Z28 M6 w/ T-Tops, 91-93 3000gt M5, or a 93-96 caprice. I cant find too many Z28's like that still in good condition, and maintainence on a 3000gt is a bitch I heard, so I want to know a little more about a caprice. I know that the years I'm looking at it had a 4.3 a 5.0 and a LT1 (5.7). the LT1 I know about already because of the camaro, but the other 2 I cant find any info for, so here it goes:

1) Do they give that mean LOUD growl when you put an exhaust system on it?

2) I dont know anything about bore and stroke, but i think it makes the engine bigger, how big can these be? comparable to the LT1?

3) Are mods easy to find?

4) Whats The Best Exhaust?

5) reasonable to maintain?

6) on the 94 - 96, can you convert the digital dash to analog (bad exp. with digital dashes)

7) if I find a digital dash car, will the mileage be screwed because of dash malfunction?
thanks in advance for all of yer help!

first off a LT1 is a lot better than 305 GM 5.0 that comes in a box caprice and a 85' camaro and the newer camaro have the Ls1 not the LT1 I don't think.. some mite do, and the caprice with the 9C1 4.3 police/security cars have single Exhaust Systems, the caprice with a true LT1 has dual Exhaust and posi rear end great for burnouts and yes with a caprice or impala ss you can do a lot more performents. parts than camaro, they have borla Exhaust,flowmasters or a cheaper types if you want too, a performents chip workes good too and the only time it's good to bore and stroke is when your going to burn alcohol fuel, if you wont some really fast fun nitro in a supercharge LT1 but that's a little to much for me. no you would have to take it to a chevy dealer and have them roll the miles back on the digital cluster it will cost

[Hooptie]

What are you talking about? Just for the record:

The LT1 was in the Camaro 93-97 and the Impala/Caprice 94-96 LS-1 was 98-02

I have no clue on the exhaust, but the Posi (G80) was an option, no matter what the engine. AKA not all LT1's have posi's.

I would have to disagree on the amount of performance part for the Impala SS vs. Camaro. But there are alot of parts out there for the Impala.

And I"m not even going to comment on the chip and bore/stroke comment.

In closing I don't think he want's a digital dash, he want's analogue and it can be done without going to the dealer.