I have to echo what most have said, but I will add a little more.

It depends on what the purpose of the car is, if it is a daily driver don't do it, if it is a fun car, go for it.

I just sold my 1992 Trans Am Convertible to buy my 2003 MCSS, reason I was daily driving the 92 TA and it was getting old. I also have a 99 TA so I had to make a decision which TA to sell to get a better driver. My 99 only has 25,xxx so that is why it was not a daily driver. As for the 1992 TA Vert they only made 663 that year so it was rare, but that doesn't matter when you daily drive them.

I am really enjoying the modern features of the MC and I think I made the right decision.
Better HVAC
Better Brakes
Better Lights
NO LEAKS
and the rides are different so I can't compare them, but the MC is sure easy to drive.

So you are the only one who can make the right decision, think about what you are using the car for and weigh that against the cars features.

The Aero coups are very cool. When my son and I went to the Mid West gathering yesterday in St. L we saw about four of them, they are rare to see driving, but I still think there are a lot of them out there.

 

x a million on the DD argument


Yes there is, it is called boost


Even if the v8 rear wheel drive performance car puts down less power to the wheels than his v6? (weren't they like 180hp?)

 

bumpin i gotta say it's not all about HP... gotta think of the torq ... v8 will always pull out the torq a v6 cant... anyways keep us updated on what you do...

 

i usually agree with bumpin but on the whole boost being a replacement for displacement i disagree, but thats a whole nother argument. i would go with the aero coupe if it wasnt a daily driver or if you plan on fuel injecting it and putting in a proper v8. even if your keeping it the way it is its a better investment.

 

Trade it! No matter what! It should have a 305 in it and those things are bullet proof, and they get decent gas mileage if they are left stock. My moms 86SS had over 300k original miles on the 305.

 

I would jump on that Aero coupe. They are getting harder to find.

 

mouse i wouldn't quite say bullit proof 305 but they will run even with it beat to hell

 

i agree. as far as being tough motors, the 305s are great! i've put them through many demo derbies and haven't had one quit on me ever. i would recommend swapping the 305 for a 350 or bigger, then selling the good running 305 to demo derby-er to help pay for the mods for your 350. people will put those sbc's in mopars and fords as well as gm's.

 

Anybody know the torque rating on an 87 SS then? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

What I meant by my comment about 'only 180 hp' was that the late 70's and into the 80's wasn't really the best time for performance engines. I think the 305's of that year were like 150 hp... yikes.

I'm all for big torque engines at the expensive of horsepower for trucks (ie towing vehicles, off road vehicles, hauling vehicles)- but IMO for a sporty car, I would prefer a more even hp vs tq. I still think it would probably be a pretty good race between his current monte and the 87- aren't they like high 15/low 16 second cars with the 350?

Its one thing if you like it because of how it looks, but I just wouldn't buy it because its a 'rwd v8 performance car', thats all I'm saying.

Please explain- with boost, you can get an engine significantly over 100% VE, and you can thus make a smaller engine have the horsepower and torque output of a larger engine (while usually still getting better gas mileage), with the only main downside being a little extra maintenance for the power adder (ie belts and oil for a supercharger).

 

the way i look at it is a 350cid motor making 1hp per cubic inch is 350hp not breaking a sweat. a 231cid motor needs to have a super charger and what not to do it. its not really a replacement it has to work that much harder. i dont know about you but i would want the biggest motor i can get working as little as possible to make power and then throw a power adder at it. just because a small motor can make the same power doesnt mean its the way to go. just because i can walk 5ft on my hands doesnt mean i should. it would be easier to do it on my feet. same deal with front wheel drive and rear. and i know what your going to say you can take a big turbo and make the power of a big block on a small motor and be lighter. but i think that if a few hundred pounds makes or breaks your car then youve got more issues then weight. this isnt a shot at you personally i like your car just a difference of a opinion. a bigger motor with a power adder shouldnt have to work as hard as a smaller one with a power adder. just my 2 cents. and yes i think that the 3.8 would beat the 305 in the ss. but it would be a fight.