Quote Originally Posted by DieselNuts View Post
I went back through this thread and saw some misinformation that needs to be cleared up. I work part time in an LSX based shop so I figured I'd drop some knowledge for a second...

There was never a "3:73" option for F-bodies. Autos with a steel driveshaft got 2:73's, Autos with an alum driveshaft and/or "performance axle ratio" option got 3:23's, and ALL 6 speed cars got a 3:42. There is no such thing as a factory installed 3:73 geared car in a regular LS1 powered F-body. You are correct on the 01-02's being the best years, but everything else is incorrect. 01-02 cars actually got a SMALLER cam than the previous years to compensate for intake charge due to lack of the EGR valve. They came with 241 casting cylinder heads, that flow the exact same as all the other years. There's no such thing as "extra flow" from 01-02 cars. Furthermore, ALL 98-02 cars weigh within a certain range of each other. The Trans Ams weigh about 150lbs (on average) more than the Camaro's due to the heavier lumbar seats and pop up headlights, but there's no significance in weight difference from year to year.

LS1 GTO's got the same exact engine that 01-02 F-bodies got. Absolutely nothing is different, except the PCM controlling the engine.



No. Again, the cam is not "more aggressive" at all. 01-02 Fbody/04 GTO cams actually have less total duration than previous years, making it less aggressive.

The 241 heads are superior castings.
The 01-02 cam DOES have slightly less duration and lower total lift numbers, but its also ground with a more aggressive ramp profile, has more advance, and significanly less overlap (around four degrees difference).
The overlap change was what allowed for removal of the EGR, not the duration change.

You're right on the gears. Big oversight on my part.