keep my car stock (its rare) or mod it? or sell it?

[2MCHPWR]

i got this thing for hardtop formulas. bought one new in 99, sold it in 05.
Just bought this stock 98 ws6 hardtop formula with 1LE option (1 of 15). super clean. 101k miles. $5k spent by previous owner restoring the suspension (1le bushings, koni's, etc).
love it.
roll up windows
manual locks.
i love it :)

I figure its worth 12k to the right buyer (few and far between).

But I have been thinking of modding it with 12 bolt, lowering springs, c5 front brakes, watts link, decoupled torque arm, cam, headers, alum flywheel, etc.

Would be so much cheaper to sell/trade this and buy someones else's car that already has all that stuff. But I can't find any ws6 formula hardtops anyways.

blah blah blah:facepalm:

[NJ346]

It'll be a hard sell to get the right buyer that appreciates the rarity. IMO, at 101k it doesn't have collector value, just mod it and have fun.

[ThoR294]

With that many miles its not worth a lot. Personally I'm glad the previous owner drove it. I'm not a fan of people who just have a car sit. Enjoy the damn thing.
Like ^^^ said, mod it and have fun!!

If you don't wanna mod it..... You can mod my car :):) I'll take a new rear!!! Lol ;)

[Dudbird113]

Mod it, to many miles and its a 4th gen.

[91chevyz28]

Leave it the way it is and enjoy it.

[elle]

Have fun with it and enjoy it. You will have plenty of time while searching for the person that's gonna pay $12k for it.

[BonzoHansen]

Bolt on mods can be unbolted at a later date....

[NJSPEEDER]

Scott nailed it.

It will be a while before 4th gens are worth big money so it you are planning to keep it a long time just keep the stock stuff around to be dropped back in. With how cheap LS1's are used I would even suggest if you want to build a motor grabbing one from a wreck and stuffing the stock engine and trans under the work bench until it is worth the time and effort to restore the car to 100 points.

-Tim

[WildBillyT]

Scott nailed it.

It will be a while before 4th gens are worth big money so it you are planning to keep it a long time just keep the stock stuff around to be dropped back in. With how cheap LS1's are used I would even suggest if you want to build a motor grabbing one from a wreck and stuffing the stock engine and trans under the work bench until it is worth the time and effort to restore the car to 100 points.

-Tim

X3

If you mod, do bolt ons only and keep all of the parts.

That is a rare car, and its rarity has some markers of desirability.

[r0nin89]

I mean the production number might make it rare, and yeah its a desirable performance option from a collectors standpoint but its still a 4th gen. I mean third gens arent really even worth anything yet, or the 80s gbody's other than Grand Nats and honestly their value isnt even much for how rare, cool, and desirable they are...

I guess my point is, you're doubtfully ever going to have that car at a point in time where it will be worth enough money to say "damn I shouldnt have done heads/cam" etc.

[NJ Torque]

You said love it twice. Keep it. Mod it. Be happy.

[2MCHPWR]

yeah guys
thanks a lot
leaning towards modding it especially since all parts are easy bolt ons at this stage.

[69RSZ]

Sounds like that car was made without the options that would make the car a road race car.Remember the 1LE cars were big brake cars,also they had baffles in the gas tank so the fuel would not gravitate to one side or the other, also limited in production the 1LE cars are collector cars and yours sounds like it was made for that reason,to race and not be a car with air conditioning and all the other options you usally see in a regular street car.Did the car have a AM only radio from the factory or was it a radio delete car?I have seen 2 1LE cars with radio delete,no air,roll up windows,no power seats.You best check the option decal and check the vin to see if the car was destined to be a road race car.Just a thought.You might have a diamond in the ruff so to speak.The history on the 1LE is something you should check out.The 1LE option was started in 1988 for cars that were raced in a road race series.I cant remember the name but it was north of the boarder in canada were most races were held.Challenge series sound like its the name but I could be wrong.Anyone know the series that the camaros and firebirds raced in back in the 90s?Check the 1LE website I think someone there might know of all the vins that were 1LE cars and if they were raced or not.

[2MCHPWR]

its a true 1LE car:

http://www.ponycars.net/images/ws6/ws6_album7.jpg

http://www.ponycars.net/images/ws6/window_sticker.jpg

15 were made in 98 and 2 were silver:

http://www.ponycars.net/images/ws6/1998-2002-firebird-production-no-breakdowns-new.pdf

1LE options changed throughout the generations and this has all the 1LE options because they only come in a package (you can't choose this or that). See window sticker above.

1LE's from 98-99 have AC standard and can't option it out :)

[jts98z28]

if you are considering selling it at some point then just do the bolt-ons like Bonzo said
keep the stock parts if you have the space, a bolt-on ls1 is still gonna be quick enough to be fun and will be faster than a lot of other cars on the road, plus it will still get good mpg and looks great, god forbid you do decide to sell it just sell all the after market parts you bought and put the stock stuff back on, ls1's will always have a big market for used parts, similar for fox body mustangs