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View Full Version : Best year?


nascarnate326
10-17-2009, 08:44 PM
So I am really looking into Trans Am's (doing my homework) and I was wondering if there was a year that was better than all the others?

I know 93 had the chip based system, and a buddy says 95's run strong.

Any other differences that I should take note of?

I plan to cam/heads/exhaust the car so if anything makes getting LT's in easier....that would be good :)

thanks
jaysz2893
10-17-2009, 08:59 PM
1993 FTMFW!!!
Read Here:

http://www.speeddensity.org/showthread.php?t=679

My 1993 runs very strong and the chip based ECM is easy to tune IMHO. My 93 has the m29 version of the M6 and the 3.23 rear. It has gone 13.2 nearly stock and I am pushing high 12's now with all bolt ons.

As you may have noticed, i am a little biased here... LOL
AZ2ENVY
10-17-2009, 09:01 PM
1995 FTW ! Vented Opti , OBD1 :D
Noah's95z28
10-17-2009, 09:04 PM
Well I dont think any year f bodys are easy to get long tubes into. Some of the MAIN differences are 93 had the speed density system and it was only one year. 93-94 had non-vented optis 95-97 had vented. 94-95 had OBD 1 computers and 96-97 had OBD2. about 95 1/2 on up had dual cats. 96-97 had 10 more ponies at 285hp. In 07 they changed the interiors a little especially the instrument clusters. Thats all I can think of right now. Im sure others will chime in.
Tarheel'Z'
10-17-2009, 09:04 PM
everybody knows the 97 is the fastest:cool:
nascarnate326
10-17-2009, 09:11 PM
Well I dont think any year f bodys are easy to get long tubes into. Some of the MAIN differences are 93 had the speed density system and it was only one year. 93-94 had non-vented optis 95-97 had vented. 94-95 had OBD 1 computers and 96-97 had OBD2. about 95 1/2 on up had dual cats. 96-97 had 10 more ponies at 285hp. In 07 they changed the interiors a little especially the instrument clusters. Thats all I can think of right now. Im sure others will chime in.


This is what I was looking for.

Does that mean 96 97 cars are easier to tune because of OBDII ?

Why did they have 10 more hp? Was it a better stock tune or slightly aggressive cam, or heads?



Whatever I get I am going to put lots of money into and keep for a LONG time. My V6 car has served its purpose, I am tired of always being the slow one :)
AZ2ENVY
10-17-2009, 09:13 PM
97 LT1s had the better flowing set of heads
jaysz2893
10-17-2009, 09:16 PM
Ease of tuning is really up to the discrestion of the tuner. I have tuned a OBDII car and i found it tedious and slow. I prefer to burn a chip. Actually now i use a Moates Ostrich in place of my chip.
Tarheel'Z'
10-17-2009, 09:17 PM
to be honest any f-body will be sick with the mods you plan on doing,,i say find one you like for a price you like and go for it
popo8
10-17-2009, 09:34 PM
I think there is no "BEST YEAR", rather there is a "BEST YEAR FOR YOU".... what are your abilities, what are your aspirations for the car....I think you have to answer those questions and then people can give you advice as to what would be better FOR YOU.....

IE: are you gona try to tune yourself.... if yes, the chip burning 93's prob not where you wana be

IE: are you looking for a clean DD that you are not gonna mod mechanically.... then maybe you want the more powerful years....

etc....etc....etc.......:D
Noah's95z28
10-17-2009, 10:38 PM
This is what I was looking for.

Does that mean 96 97 cars are easier to tune because of OBDII ?

Why did they have 10 more hp? Was it a better stock tune or slightly aggressive cam, or heads?



Whatever I get I am going to put lots of money into and keep for a LONG time. My V6 car has served its purpose, I am tired of always being the slow one :)

Well I have the OBD 1 and I know if I want to do a cam I can call one of many companys and tell them what I have done and they will send me a chip for it and it will be close to right. Dyno tune will get you a little more hp but more expensive.

If I had the OBD 2 I would need software to upload a tune or preferably a shop with uplaodable software dyno tune it.

Its a fine line, and is debatable wich is better. As far as the 10 more hp I think it was partly because of the dual cats or is that the third gens? I cant remember for sure.
Tarheel'Z'
10-17-2009, 10:44 PM
Well I have the OBD 1 and I know if I want to do a cam I can call one of many companys and tell them what I have done and they will send me a chip for it and it will be close to right.


isnt that the same thing as a mail order tune for the OBII,(not the exact same but in theory i mean)
i can put a cam in my car and get a madz or pcmforless mail order tune that will be close to right

the 10hp thing shouldnt even be part of the equation,,that 10 hp (supposedly) aint gonna mean shit after you do heads and cam etc,,hell it dont mean shit stock for that matter,,i think youll be fine no matter what year,,put the emphasis on a good deal and what you like(color,body,etc) and youll be fine
WhiteGhost94
10-18-2009, 12:35 AM
1995 FTW ! Vented Opti , OBD1 :D

mine is a 94 and has a vented opti on it:hmm:
SexyTransAm
10-18-2009, 01:10 AM
1995 FTW ! Vented Opti , OBD1 :D
hell yea!
nascarnate326
10-18-2009, 08:47 AM
This isnt going to be a DD, just a toy. Though I do like to put a lot of miles on my car in the summer. (woodward is just too much fun)

I dont plan to do the tuning, but I would like to learn or at least understand what the logs mean.

I think I have put my self to 95-97 TA's because they have the newer steering wheel, and vented opti.

I guess I will have to just see whats out there when I go to buy. I really want a DPM or BPM car. Some color you dont see everyday.
Noah's95z28
10-18-2009, 11:51 AM
isnt that the same thing as a mail order tune for the OBII,(not the exact same but in theory i mean)
i can put a cam in my car and get a madz or pcmforless mail order tune that will be close to right

the 10hp thing shouldnt even be part of the equation,,that 10 hp (supposedly) aint gonna mean shit after you do heads and cam etc,,hell it dont mean shit stock for that matter,,i think youll be fine no matter what year,,put the emphasis on a good deal and what you like(color,body,etc) and youll be fine

I know, but he wanted to know the differences between the years I was merely explaining to the best of my knowledge those differences.
Bowtie4Life
10-18-2009, 12:34 PM
also the 93-95 cars have the better heads for porting, 93's are pretty unto themselves, different intake manifold, speed density tuned, two different manual trannys(M29 is preferred), different fuel injectors. there are some certain colors that were only available certain years. I'd just look around and figure out what color and options you want on the car. Oh, and since you said Trans Ams, the WS6 cars were in 96&97, and have Ram Air and larger sway bars, and I'm not sure but possibly different shocks too. You're starting off right by doing research before you buy one, I wish I would've done more, but I'm happy with my bird and glad I got it.
bluebird94
10-18-2009, 01:07 PM
94-95 get a transmission perform button :finger:
AChotrod
10-18-2009, 02:11 PM
96-97 Had the WS6 option!! :):):):):):):)!!! Nuff said!
CALL911
10-18-2009, 04:39 PM
If you just want it for a toy, I'm not sure that any of them are really superior to others. Just little differences already mentioned.

Personally I think 95 was the best over all with the OBD-1 and vented opti. I do think I would rather have a tranny out of a 93 though with it geared differently, however, the chip will be more limiting on its tuning capability. 96-97 was OBD II (more of a PITA IMO), but if you want to keep it stock, then the different exhaust will give you another 10 HP.

Most guys looking for a toy are looking to mod though, and then you'll probably end up changing the performance of the car anyway and most of the factory performance options make no difference since you'll be modding it. Computer system, exuast, even trannies and opti's can be all changed to something aftermarket that would perform better.

I'd just pick the color you want, the options in the car you want (BOSE, leather, T-Tops, ect.), then mod it how you want, as it will end up the same in the end no matter what the year is. This is to say unless you want to keep all the car like it came from the factory, then you'd just need to pick what you want out of the little differences between the years.
joelster
10-18-2009, 04:56 PM
1995 FTW ! Vented Opti , OBD1 :D

DING!

We have a winner!

Vented Opti is better than a non-vented opti. OBD1 diagnostics are simpler to tune. OBD1 cars are SIGNIFICANTLY easier to get to pass state inspection laws where I am from because they DO NOT get plugged into the state DMV's computer. Your car can be cammed, belching raw fuel out the pipes, and as long as it asses the safety part you are good to go. With a '96 or '97 car they plug it into the state DMV computer and if there is a check engine light on, chances are it won't pass. Good luck with a modded OBD2 car in New York State. The tunes are vin specific as well.
BaddAss93TA
10-18-2009, 08:33 PM
93

MAFs are for losers
nascarnate326
10-18-2009, 09:03 PM
Good dicussion guys, thats why I came to this site.


I do plan to mod, nothing super crazy. Heads, cam, headers into true duals. Im not set on a huge cam but my friends tell me to go big or I will wish I would have later.
Noah's95z28
10-18-2009, 10:04 PM
Good dicussion guys, thats why I came to this site.


I do plan to mod, nothing super crazy. Heads, cam, headers into true duals. Im not set on a huge cam but my friends tell me to go big or I will wish I would have later.

Yeah a lot of people say that, I would reccomend going to LS1tech, they have a good sticky about cam selections in the LT1/LT4 forum section. I would personally recommend a GM 846 or CC503 cam. Its about as big a cam as you want to go with stock port heads and intake. A lot of people reccomend custom grind cam for your application but thats also more money to shell out.
nascarnate326
10-19-2009, 06:00 AM
Yeah a lot of people say that, I would reccomend going to LS1tech, they have a good sticky about cam selections in the LT1/LT4 forum section. I would personally recommend a GM 846 or CC503 cam. Its about as big a cam as you want to go with stock port heads and intake. A lot of people reccomend custom grind cam for your application but thats also more money to shell out.


Isnt a 846 more of a drag racing cam? Can you still cruise long distances on that cam?

I want to be able to drive to Kentucky if I want to. :) I want it all. lol
AChotrod
10-19-2009, 10:31 AM
just sayin I passed emissions, with NO cat,egr, air, cammin its ass off and 3"TDs with bullets dumped b4 the axle. Thats the beauty of OBD2 not to mention around here obd2 is way easier to dyno tune since nobody has Obd1 equipment for tuning.
Ill stick with OBD2 and a vented opti. :)
nascarnate326
10-19-2009, 10:35 AM
Here in MI we can do anything. lol. And we dont have emissions or tests. :)
AChotrod
10-19-2009, 10:38 AM
Your so lucky!!! Here in IL its only for OBD2 cars,OBD1 is exempt now.
njrextreme
10-19-2009, 10:41 AM
everybody knows the 97 is the fastest:cool:


x2:laugh:
stilltime
10-19-2009, 01:01 PM
Your so lucky!!! Here in IL its only for OBD2 cars,OBD1 is exempt now.

And only certain parts of IL at that. I've never had to worry about emissions with any of my cars. Front license plates on the other hand :disagree:
Noah's95z28
10-19-2009, 01:43 PM
Isnt a 846 more of a drag racing cam? Can you still cruise long distances on that cam?

I want to be able to drive to Kentucky if I want to. :) I want it all. lol


I know a couple of guys who daily drive there cars with the 846 cam in there. You might be thinking of the GM 847 cam. Its def bigger and less street friendly. Here in Iowa we dont have to worry about emissions either. Its nice.