Allright guys I've been lurking for a little while reading everything I can and looking at your classifieds. I currently have a 1994 Dark Green Metallic Trans am with the LT1 and T-56 6 speed and all the bolt ons (76K miles). I love it other than the fact it's not a corvette lol Now that I bought my truck (02 Avalanche) I really want to sell the TA and get a C5. I'm about half-way saved up because i want to pay for 95% of it in cash.

I do have some questions though. What are the major pitfalls to look out for in a C5. I've seen the prices on parts and corvette is the only car where engine parts are reasonable and structure parts are outragous. On F-bodies the little 10 bolt 7.5 " rear-gear is just worthless.(I've shelled two out pretty bad) Also I can tear apart the top half of my LT1 in a weekend and have it back together by monday morning. Are LS1's as easy to work on as all the f-body guys say they are.

I am no mechanic but I could never afford to have my 420 hp vortech blown Trans Am worked on when I was in highschool. (it's not blown anymore thank god) so I did most of the work myself and figured out I'm pretty good...How many guys in here do most of their own work including heads/cam/timing chain. All the support and veteran info will be greatly appreciated. I'm real excited about all this

 

Oh yeah and all my old F-body Guys that have switched over...Glad you did it? worth the money?

 

I can answer some of your questions. First, I am a former F-body lover, (i still think they are cool cars) turned Vette nut I had 2 94 LT1 Z's, then a 99Z. Most people don't regret moving into a Vette and are glad they did. The biggest difference I think is that the F-bodies with the solid axle are much easier to race/launch in the 1/4 mile because they don't have the IRS like the Vettes do.

Having said that, the most common problems IMO you'll see with the C5 are

Steeringwheel Column Lock-- #1 biggest most common you'll see
Leaky Rear Diff
Ground issues that produce electrical gremlins
Weak Drive Train**** when you start adding big HP like over 420 or so
Marbles in Can sound with T56 tranny- which being in the F-body you might already know about.

As far as working on the LS1 in the Vette vs F-body, what you have been told is TRUE..and I am no mechanic..I can do minor stuff..but usually have help..I have worked on my F-body's and the vette with friends that are mechanics and the Vette is much easier IMO.

Read this thread also,, tons of info, don't let it scare you, it's ver detailed and will go into more depth

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=984927

 

Steering column lock...weird I followed that post and there was A LOT of information on there. At first glance I was like wow, then I realized that both of my firebirds did most of those things lol.

 

yeap at least GM had the same type of issues with both cars so if you switch over your used to it already.
Yea, the Column lock has an easy fix..there is an aftermarket column lock bypass kit you can buy from a few vendors here on the forum..it's about 55 bucks and very easy to install, works without flaw 99% of the time. If you get an C5 with the Auto Trans..the latest recall(there have been about 5 or 6 on this issue) finally by GM is that they will take the locking plate out of the column all together.