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NHRA427
Member
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Posts: 105
Location: Harrisburg Oregon
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 Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:21 pm Post subject: Questions about 3rd and 4th gen |
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| I will be selling my 05 Mustang next month and will be looking for a Z28 to replace it. Questions I have, do the 4th gen handle better then 3rd (I know they both have the same platform)? Is it a pain to work on the 4th gen engines, looks like it would be. Also what kind of fuel mileage do they get? I get around 24 with my Mustang and need something close to that. I run 50 miles a day mostly freeway. If anyone knows of a good one for a decent price let me know. Thanks |
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Demon
12sec Club
Joined: 09 Jan 2004
Posts: 1189
Location: You're not worthy
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Questions about 3rd and 4th gen |
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| NHRA427 wrote: | | I will be selling my 05 Mustang next month and will be looking for a Z28 to replace it. Questions I have, do the 4th gen handle better then 3rd (I know they both have the same format)? Is it a pain to work on the 4th gen engines, looks like it would be. Also what kind of fuel mileage do they get? I get around 24 with my Mustang and need something close to that. I run 50 miles a day mostly freeway. If anyone knows of a good one for a decent price let me know. Thanks |
If you're looking for an LS1 (98-02) 4thgen, assuming it's a manual, you'll average on the highway about 28-31ish depending on how light you can make your foot and if you learn the balance between the 5th and 6th gears, your mileage doesn't suffer at all anywhere.
3rdgen's and 4thgen's are often said to be similar... and in many respects, it's quite true... but they have their differences, and they make all the difference in the world.
the materials used on the 4thgen, being newer, of course, is great, reduces flex even on a t-top car, and there are more layers of material in the body itself, which unfortunately contributes to a bit more weight, subframe connectors often aren't needed, but if you're used to them on a 3rdgen you'd go with them on a 4th anyway.
The handling, they're great in most cases, the stock shocks are DeCarbon's... which are f***ing terrible, and much worse than most stock 3rdgen shocks.
Swaybars are also smaller than many 3rdgens (I believe, however, that the 3rdgen rear sways are interchangable with the 4thgen)
3rd and 4thgen rear shocks are interchangable, and occasionally recommended, however the front struts are not, and the 4thgen fronts are quite a bit more expensive.
torque arm setup is the same, and again, many are interchangable.
trans mounts/bushings are also the same
the LT1 F-Bodies are a bit easier to work on, but you have to deal with OBD1 and the Optispark, which is absolute shizzle any way you put it.
LS1 F-Bodies, the rear of the engine (both rear cylinders) are under the cowl, and the passenger side is a bitch to do much of anything on, it's doable, but it takes a little more effort, the drivers side is cake, even under the cowl. I've not had any major difficulties, but I'm not going to lie and say its a walk in the park
I noticed a huge change in my ride quality when I swapped the stock decarbons off for some bilstein HD's ... they're no Koni, but they're well worth being a suspension mod over stock. They ride a bit stiff, but I also do have 3 point SFC's on the car, so that doesn't help matters much.
having said that, try to keep your range for an LS1 F-Body into the 2001/2002 year ranges, you get the benefits of not having an EGR system, you have an LS6 intake vs. the LS1 intake (restrictive as hell), the clutch hydraulics were slightly revised, thus, slightly better (making a clutch swap, if needed, much easier), and various other bonuses as well...
I averaged about 28.5mpg on the highway before I did any modifications... adding longtubes caused that to drop, a lot, and the cam made it even worse... but running untuned hurts mileage a LOT in these cars... unfortunately  |
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blue89
Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 3482
Location: Bellingham/Eugene
1986 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:19 am Post subject: |
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The skinny I see with the 4th gens are that they have the same floor pan from the firewall back as the 3rd gen. In the front they use a coil over shock setup. Should be better than the old strut style. If you really want one, I would get a 95+ OBDII car. The 93-94 use OBDI and has a lot of engine flaws that were corrected starting in 95 with the release of OBDII.
The engines aren't bad to work on. I just replaced my opti last night. 220k on it and it took me maybe 3 hours to replace. That includes dinners, beers, and the dogs always interrupting. |
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