This is kind of interesting. Yesterday I discovered a detailed list of all the differences between the F-body models from 1998-2002 (year-to-year changes, upgrades, etc.). Despite being the oldest year of the F-body’s final revision, 1998 looks to have several interesting advantages. Here’s the complete list. My dad may be particularly interested in this since he has one of these cars too:
- Had differnet casting heads which had perimeter bolts and valve covers.
- Ignition coils were mounted to the valve covers one at a time.
- The water temp gauge actually works.
- 98’s do have an oil life monitor, they just don’t tell you anything when its time for a change. You can find it in Auto-Tap
- WS6s had single outlet exhaust (all others had duals)
- Steering wheel controls were completely different part with indentations on the buttons, and were better built
- Only year that Purple, Gold, and Green were available
- Some very early Trans Ams came with LT1 style headrests
- Rear hatch release was poorly designed and often caused problems releasing mechanism
- Early model 98 Monsoon stereos didnt have capability to control 12-disc CD changer
- 1998-1999 automatic transmission LS1s could be started in 1st gear even with the shifter in 2nd. Starting 2000, if you put the shifter in 2, it would start off in 2, even from a stop.
- 1998-1999 LS1 cars had a smaller throttle body cam, which caused the throttle to open to WOT faster than 2000+ cars
- 1998 cars had 28 lb fuel injectors from the factory (later years got 26 lb)
- 1998-2000 cars had a larger cam than the 01-02 cars
- 1998-1999 cars had more restrictive exhaust manifolds
- 1998-2000 cars had an LS1 intake with EGR
- 1998 and some early 1999 cars had blue outside rear view mirrors (Trans Am only)
- 1998 only LS1 blocks had a much smaller cylinder sleeve that only tolerated a .005” hone
- Last year F-body to use the old 15.5 gallon steel fuel tank.
- Only year LS1 F-body to contain a gascap with a tether long enough to actually hang from the fuel door while open
- Only year LS1 F-body to not contain the famous GM black box used in the event of an accident to record up to 5 seconds of pre-crash data
- 1998 only cars had a different PCV system with the PCV valve located above the passenger side valve cover
- 1998 most cars did not have an idle adjustment screw on the throttle body. Some 98 cars do have the idle throttle stop set screws.
- 1998 cars have a completely different PCM from 99+ cars
- A production shortage of F-body cams caused the use of a C5 cam to be installed in F-body LS1s for a very short time
- 97-98 LS1’s used a paper water pump gasket. The only gasket that isn’t reuseable
- SSs did not ALL go to SLP starting in 98. Y2Y was the RPO code that sent them to SLP for additional options
- SS option did not “include” the Synthetic oil package, it was a SLP only Option
