Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Hey guys I do not know what has come over me but all of the sudden I want a trans am with a LS1.
Anybody know about these cars?
Any real serious problems with these cars/ engines.
Opinions?

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

piston slap, oil consumption, main caps start dancing around at about 600whp

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Hard to change spark plugs in, ugly, always sound like crap with an exhaust, attract mullets. But they make good power.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

its a ghey F body!

V8, hard to change those spark plugs....gotta like pull the engine to fucking change them...haha


-Colin

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

You'd have issues with my geh 3.4 V6 too haha. Spark plug issues amoungst a POS in itself.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I have a new found respect for them after helping my brother-in-law rebuild his 3rd gen. Built 355 with a mini ram intake and a Procharger make a damn nice combo.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

600 whp and 500 something Tq right? I'm assuming you are talking about Joes. That car is a fucking beast :) Now he just needs to finish making mine a beast...

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

So it sounds like the main problem is changing the plugs (besides the expected general dislike for american power). :p

Mabye I will keep my Eclipse and get a LS1 down the road

Do they really sound like crap w/ exhaust?????
Cause DSM's don't really sound the best either.
Not like Subys :)

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

heavy cars. spark plug changes are almost as bad as a porsche. rwd.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Actually, spark pulg's on LS1's are not that bad to do. On the LT1's they are a little (Okay, A LOT) of a bitch to do. But on LS1's if you can get under the car it really isn't all that bad. Been there, done that.

As far as sounds, I tend to agree and disagree. I hate how they get raspy about like 3500 after an exhaust, but before that they sound awesome. And the rasp-sound isnt even all that bad after a little while IMO.

The T56 Tranny is AWESOME, holds up to a hell of a lot of power.

There are a few trouble areas on them though. The 10bolt doesn't like to get much abuse and will tend to break on anything under a 1.8 60'. Also, the stock clutch tends to suck ass and start slipping pretty early on, so a new clutch is needed.

Believe it or not, they actually handle pretty decent, especially after some suspension mods, and they are tanks at 3400-3600lb's.

All in all I love both cars, and would like to have both, but then again I am not biased on turbocharged 4cylinders, especially when a LS1 tends to get better gas mileage then a DSM anyways.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Depends on how fast you want to go. I've built an LS1 powered '98 SS that drove 3 hours each way to the track and ran 10.60's @ 128 on pump gas, DOT's and through the exaust, with a 125 shot. It was an auto so driving the car down the track was pretty uneventful. Plug changes shouldn't take more than 30 minutes with an LS1. An LT1 with stock manifolds takes 1.5-2 hours, headers bring the plug change down considerably.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

^Yep, id imagine he knows what he' talking about. Haha
I like the cars to an extent, easy power but whats the fun in that! look decent.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

A DSM will get way better mileage than any Fbody. Im not sure who told you that... I got like 25 street and 30 highway running rich.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I've gotten 28mpg with a heads/cam/M6 LS1 car on the highway, around 25mpg with a heads/cam/A4 LS1 car also on the highway. I think 25+mpg is common with an AWD DSM. My FWD DSM has gotten 33mpg several times.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I've gotten 31-33 mpg from a fwd eclipse gst. 30 is often.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I don't know about anyone else, but if i had any V8 and i got spanked by a four cylinder (dsm), I would be pretty angry to say the least. So if i had one it would have to be the fastest car in town, but i am a DSMer to my bones so i wouldnt ever by one.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

i think the LS1 is a pretty damn good engine.

6 bolt main bearing caps! and the stock blocks/bottom ends have been know to hold over 500 HP easy.

yes the 10 bolts are weak, and they DO have piston slap... but its minor.

also, there are TONS of aftermarket items you can buy to make them very very fast.

as for the exhaust issue, well im a V8 fan, and i think they sound great, depends on what system you go with... a borla muffler sounds COMPLETELY different then a flowmaster.

spark plugs are hard to change? c'mon... if your worried about changing plugs, your in the wrong sport/hobby.

ugly? yeah sure, and DSM's are beautiful?

not saying there better then DSMs but ive been in both, and ill take my 617hp fbody over a 800hp dsm. even if the little laddybug lookin turbo fart can car whoops my ass.

theres more to cars than winning a street race against an all wheel drive pung pung punnger rice burner.


my saying: 110... not uncleben, thats whats in my gas tank!





i should probably settle down as im sure ill get bashed after this.... just stated my opinions, as if they matter anyways.

i know there are some die hard DSM guys here, but seriously, muscecars and hotrods are something DSMs will NEVER BE!! on the other hand a 35th anv. SS camaro might be worth something someday. in fact it will be worth something one day!! and a 199? DSM, what are they worth clean? $8500?? sweet dude, put a fart can on it and call it a racecar!


ok, let the bashing begin......

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

oh yeah... and gas mileage.... get a F U C K I N hybrid if thats your thing. or a 3 cyl metro! 50+ mpg wooooo hoooo!

i think i get about 1mpg hahaha.

josh, your car will be done soon,... but a beast it will not be.

quick though!

J.k


see ya later.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

LS1s are awesome engines. Many of my friends have various F-bodys powered by LS1s. They've almsot turned me into a V8 guy. I do like the whole underdog thing, and the feeling of whoopin' a V8, only because of people like him ^. And who says a DSM can't handle? I'm sure it could have some balls in the twistys with some Hoosiers, suspension goodies, and big brakes. I personally am a fan of many different types of cars; I'm just getting sick and tired of biased owners.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

to each his own i guess

some want high rpm high boost awd fun.

others want idle torque and a car to match their questionable hairstyle (i should be talking)

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

i didnt mean to offend anyone... afterall this is a DSM board.

i too like many many vehicles. until i saw forsfed's talon i didnt care for the cars at all, but that is one nice ride, its quick as hell v8 v6 4 cyl whateverm its a quick little car.

fbodys by no means are the coolest car outthere, hell there not even cool...

i was just saying in my opinion, they not ugly compared to a talon, and the dont sound crappy compared to any 4 cyl.

now even some of you diehards have to agree that the rumble of a v8 sounds better than the buzz of a 4 or 6 cyl?

and also, talons or whatever, are for sure not the best lookin ride out there... right?

we all have are own opinions, and it would be mighty queer if we all drove the same cars all day every day. i love to see a built up DSM, but in comparison to a built up fbdy, there is a large difference in value in more than one way.


do you think youll ever see a DSM in a classic car trader in 20 years? i sure the hell hope not, otherwise there will probably be 92 tempo's considered collectors in about 10 years, it just isnt goin to happen.


buy what you want, drive what you want, but please dont bash a superior automobile.

sure you can beat him in a 60' race but a 99 T/A WS6 is still sweet! no matter how you look at it.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

oh, and i only know one fbody owner with a mullet...

yet i know several ricers who are geeks!


just kidding hahaha, anyone hate me yet?

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

ha, ya Shane is in the wrong hobby! Get a clue

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I've got V8 cars at home, a '70 GTO and a '01 Mustang. They sound awesome. But sound isnt everything... And did anyone say DSMs would be worth anything in 20 years? Comparing a DSM to an Fbody and saying it's a superior car based on what? That it has a more favored exhaust note? That they aren't pretty, but they're prettier than DSMs? I could compare a Ferrari to and Fbody, and point out why the Fbody sucks compared even to a 360 Modena. The Ferrari and the Fbody are different classes of cars, as DSMs and Fbodys are. Not trying to start a firefight here, just keeping the conversation going.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I would prefer to just keep my DSM and buy a ls1 powered car next spring but I am not sure if my funds will permit that, as I am trying to move currently.
My biggest thing is I want a RWD car and I have not yet owned a V8 and I would love to have a ls1, as a summer/drag car.
So I guess I will wait and see what I can find.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

lol, Joe you went nuts haha. I think you should show this guy what an Fbody can be ;) I've always been partial to cameros, but I prefer dsm's to anythin realistic.

My car will never be fast. Especially when im this broke. The best my car will see in the near future is scraping into a 12 if I'm lucky.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

gflo383: Chill out. We just mentioned some small inconveniences/quirks of the FBodys. I said they make good power. The do often sound like ass with some of the exhaust systems on them, compared to a Mustang. Some of the sound as raspy as all-motor Civics.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

i wasnt seriuos, im a smart ass, ask forsfed.

i was just fuckin around...

i dont mind dsm's, at least they're quick (or have the potential to be)

i was just saying that in comparison an fbody would be a better choice for a long term vehicle IMO, not that my opinion matters haha.

and also, Mustangs for some reason do sound GREAT with an H pipe and a set of flowmasters, probably the best sound out there for a somewhat stock v8!! i will agree on that.



josh, dont kid yourself, your car can run 11's if you want.... just get a bigger turbo and run about 30#'s of boost with some race gas, and maybe a little methonal (sp?) injection to cool the charge and prevent abnormal combustion ( detonation) and your in the 11's like that!!! :)


see ya guys.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Fuck land vehicles, I'm getting a helicopter.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I was thinking about getting one when I was looking for a new/different car. Nice units, I guess I just prefer mitsu's more.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Do any of you with actual experience with ls1's know of any high mileage related problems?
Would I be safe going with a car that has over 100K Miles.
I am not afraid of doing any work to the vehicle. Most of the vehicles I have owned have had over 100k miles on them when I bought them. My GSX indluded.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I love my WS6
I traped 124.22 at CF on Sat. on a 125 shot.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

No They sound good. I recomment FlowMasters or Borla. DSM's break. And the plugs aren't that bad [coming from a girl]

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I'm sorry but I have to say that gflo has a lot of very good points. Buut.. he also has some points that I don't nessicarily agree with as well.

Coming from a girl who went from being all american when it came to cars, to having her eyes opened [if you will] to the world of imports as nice cars, I guess it's easy for me to see where everyone is coming from. ;) I'm not biased. haha

V8's- IN MY OPINION- sound a lot better than a four Cyl. Maybe it's all the rice that floats around, but I don't like that lawn mower racket most 4 Cyl. put out. However, if a 4Cyl is done right, it can sound really good, so I am not bashing either.

In all reality, I think it is a bit easier to work on an American car. The set up isnt as complicated and if you are dealing with a carb. you will have a much easier time working on them. DSM's seem a bit more complicated. Um, Hello? Intereference engine? Never had to deal with that on my boyfriends '82 Mustang.

I don't nessicarily agree that they are better than DSM's are better in the long run. For what you want the car for, yes, I do agree. But if you plan on driving some what lightly, American cars are good. But imports are also good cars. I've seen them run over 200k. And actually, now that I think about it most American cars won't last that long. DSM's still break though. Haha.


And he's right. By the time the cars of today are classics, I'm sure most of the DSM's will be in the junk yard. Deffinately not going to be considered a true "classic," but I am also not saying they won't be worth anything. DSM's are going to be very rare by then. I'm sure they will be worth something.

Domestics and Imports all have their share of problems and I honestly think it would be unfair to hold either superior to the other. Come on now. They both can [IMO] look great, sound great and perform great. And some can even compete against each other. Neither are superior, both are great. My advice is do what you can afford!

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

LT1s sound better than the LS1s IMO. But seriously, exhaust notes shouldn't be as big a topic as it is--even Ricers don't care about sound of exhaust! :rolleyes:

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Gee, I wonder why :D

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

I've never seen an LS1 with any sort of serious cylinder wall wear. Something to look out for though, the oil pump bypasses will stick if you get any trash in them. If it sticks, say goodbye to oil pressure and you're bearings too. Clean fresh oil is a must. Just like any car with 100,000 miles though, if you keep it maintained well, mileage isn't a huge issue. I hear lots of LS1's with noisy valvetrains, with stock and aftermarket cams. That can be solved, but it doesn't threaten the life of the shortblock, just false knock/timing issues. Don't get me wrong, DSM's are ok, always broken, but ok. Something that a DSM can never do....HUGE BURNOUTS! Oh how I love huge burnouts.

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Mmmmm, Burnouts!!! :p

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

Yeah the last thing on my mind is exhaust note I am really anxious to do a huge brake stand. my GSX just hooks up and goes..Which is not all bad :D

Re: Sell my Dsm for a F body
 

back from the dead.

100k + LSx motors have loud piston skirt slap on cold start up, other than that they are pretty stout.