Had a Run-In with Reality (a Trans Am discussion)

[WheelmanSS]

LS1 cars are absolutely awesome. I love the TA, more specifIcally the WS6. It's so mean. I got great numbers out of my heads/cam car. It's was a beast. I would look for a 01 or 02 more specifically. Then you have a chance of gettin a LS6 intake and block.

[dragonZ28]

Here are some pictures of mine: 28,000 miles. 2001 WS6, SOM

[MikeSVX]

The WS6 cars can easily be pushed up into the 400+hp range. no need to swap out the engine. If you start doing everything your talking about (LS3, tranny, mods) your going to be pushing the total investment that is the same or possibly more then buying a new 1SS. Keep the factory engine and go with a manual tranny. Full exhaust and some forced induction and a WS6 will give you all the hp you'll want and still not brake the bank on you. Even if its high mileage, it will be alot cheaper to rebuild the engine the change it out to another (LS2/3/7) engine. If you change to another engine, your talking about a lot of rewiring and tuning.

[WheelmanSS]

Originally Posted by dragonZ28

Here are some pictures of mine: 28,000 miles. 2001 WS6, SOM

Holy crap that thing is flawless. Please keep me in mind if you ever sell!

[dragonZ28]

I was thinking of seriously selling it one time. However since Pontiac is finished, and this is the last T/A Model to be made. I decided to keep it. I drove it one time last year to get the oil changed, and not at all this year "YET".
Every time I actually take it to a car show, someone wants to buy it.

Thanks, Roger

[Mrs. Blur]

Originally Posted by KungFuHamster

what's your rank? If youre an E-5 or below with under 5-6 yrs, then just forget hot rodder (your married).

i say just wait till you go out on your next cruise and when you come back with all that loot (if your wife hasnt spent it all) put it down on a new camaro.

hoo yah shipmate.

AT1

If I haven't spent it all? Ha. I am the reason we have a very large savings. And it is our savings, especially considering I work two jobs!

[shank0668]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Blur

If I haven't spent it all? Ha. I am the reason we have a very large savings. And it is our savings, especially considering I work two jobs!

Lucky Blur!

[Iam Broke]

I have one here for you for sale...details below.

I had tuned it for E85 but backed it down to 93 to sell fwiw.

PM me if interested. Only selling it because I bought Phat Bee.

2002 Trans Am WS6
23,300 miles, 5.7 liter LS1 engine, Tuned 4 spd Auto 4L60E transmission
Original window sticker & build sheets

Stored winters, never driven in rain since purchased in 2005

Comp 54-424-11 (212/218-115 ~.560 lift) cam, hi rpm springs, retainers & pushrods, 6500 rpm shift points
Very mild lope, very streetable. Stock 1850 rpm stall
F.A.S.T. 90 mm intake manifold, 92 mm throttle body
JAAM forced air induction kit, SLP lid, 85 mm Z06 MAF
50 lb/hr Bosch fuel injectors @ 58 psi (42lb @3 bar greenies)
BBK shorty headers, Random Tech hi flow catted y pipe
SLP Powerflo catback exhaust
New Continental Extreme Contact DW tires
American Racing 17” Torq-Thrust M Chrome wheels
New Premium R1 Concepts D&S rotors and Hawk HPS pads
New battery
Pillar mount Autometer Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio gauge (integrated into ECU for datalogging via HPT)
UMI strut tower bar & BMI tunnel brace
Factory Monsoon sound & 12 disc cd changer


$16,900

[72MachOne99GT]

Originally Posted by dragonZ28

I was thinking of seriously selling it one time. However since Pontiac is finished, and this is the last T/A Model to be made. I decided to keep it. I drove it one time last year to get the oil changed, and not at all this year "YET".
Every time I actually take it to a car show, someone wants to buy it.

Thanks, Roger

Can you blame them? After looking at how poorly it's been treated over its life, someone just wants to take it home and rescue it from it's terrible life.

That looks CLEAN!!!! Hard to believe it's over 10 years old in that condition. Definitely DON'T sell, but you sound like you know that already.

[jrc1122]

I use to own a 2002 Pontiac Trans AM WS6, 6 speed manual- It was a very fun car to drive.

[demonspeed]

You will have no problem making a reliable 400rwhp with bolt-ons and a cam with a LS1 4th gen. This, assuming one can drive, is good for high 11's at 120+ in the 1/4. There is no reason you couldn't have such a combination, including the price of the car, for under $20k. 98-02 Camaro or Firebird, Z28 or SS, Formula or T/A, WS6 or not -- they're all the same under the skin, so don't get hung up on *needing* to buy a WS6 for your goals.

You have an entire 4th gen section at your disposal on this site. There is also the endless resource that is LS1tech.

[dmginc]

bah...i need another WS6...all this talk is making me miss mine...

[02sscamaro]

The 4th gen LS1 F-bodies are legendary and timeless. The reason being:

they are fast, good looking, EASY to mod/work on, and best of all.. inexpensive.

If you're set on a T/A and you want to mod it heavily, don't even bother looking for a WS6 as you will pay thru the nose.

Differences between WS6 and standard T/A:

WS6 has "upgraded" (aka slightly better than crap) shocks
WS6 has a meaner hood
WS6 automatic cars have a 3.23 rear end whereas a standard T/A has 2.73
WS6 cars came stock with wider 17" wheels, T/A came with 16s

If all that sounds like stuff you would be replacing anyway (or if you're looking for a 6 speed) then don't bother with a WS6 as they are very sought after and you will likely be paying a lot no matter what the mileage. Now a Firehawk on the other hand.. is a good way to start, preferably an 02'. Comes stock with an SLP Lid, SLP catback, and most came with very good Bilstein shocks in addition to everything else the WS6 has. You WILL be paying through the nose for one of these, but there is also the collector's value to factor in.

[Hylton]

I'd never swap out an LS1 for an LS3. The LS1 is bulletproof (great internals) and there are some really easy mods if you want a bump in HP.