TBSS: AWD or RWD?

98Camarod · 10-02-2011, 07:30 PM

I'm looking at two TBSS's and they are identical in price. One has a catback, cai, RWD and 20k more miles and the other is stock with 20k less miles and AWD. They are both 15k and they are both black 3SS's.

With everything aside, which one's better to have, AWD or RWD?

csikx · 10-02-2011, 07:37 PM

I suppose the question is... what are your intentions for the car?

Roll racing? 1/4 mile? daily driving?

1998ta__1991rs · 10-02-2011, 07:42 PM

I liked my 2wd. But i also like spining tires

98Camarod · 10-02-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csikx

I suppose the question is... what are your intentions for the car?

Roll racing? 1/4 mile? daily driving?

Daily driving, towing the camaro with the occasional track visit

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1998ta__1991rs

I liked my 2wd. But i also like spining tires

I do to, plus it's less shit to break

PapaBear · 10-02-2011, 08:04 PM

The transfer case and front diff/axles in the AWD are damn near bulletproof. Guys are running 700+ HP AWD and haven't found the limit to them yet. So that goes out the window. Worst things I have seen is leaking carrier bearings in the front diff, but that's not a huge deal.

I've yet to drive a 2WD TBSS to compare, but I LOVE the AWD. Towing a boat is simple, especially coming up a boat ramp, no worries there at all.

Will you be the only driver of it? Reason I ask is that my wife drives my truck fairly often, usually with my infant in the truck with her, and I don't worry at all. Even if you get a happy-foot, you can't break the tires loose, even in the rain. Safety is paramount when she is driving it, and I like knowing that while fast (flamesuit on) it is safe. If you need to dart a cross traffic and you pin it to the floor, it just goes, no tire spinning to slow you down.

I too love spinning tires. And this is my first AWD "performance" vehicle, and I LOVE IT. Thought that I would hate not being able to light them up, but being able to take just about anything off the line on the street makes up for that part. And if you turn Stabilitrak/TC off, you can spin em pretty good if you're making enough power.

Was going to offer you to take a drive in mine, but I see you're in GA. Offer is there though if you need to compare.

What CAI and exhaust is on the 2WD one? Has it been tuned?

BigdaddyDupree · 10-02-2011, 08:09 PM

get a diesel for towing, if thats not in the cards, go awd.

98Camarod · 10-02-2011, 08:15 PM

The wife will drive it as well. The 2wd has a magnaflow catback and I don't remember the name of the CAI. He says it has a bba tune.

PapaBear · 10-02-2011, 08:19 PM

BBA does good work from what I've heard. What year is it and how many miles? 2007 and up had the 5yr 100k mile powertrain, and tune voids that. And AWD with front sump oil pan = bad news for rod bearings. That's the only downfall.

It all comes down to the plans for the truck. If you want it for the track, go 2WD. If you want it for a fun DD, go AWD.

[/thread]

98Camarod · 10-02-2011, 08:46 PM

All the ones i've looked at are 2006, due to the amount. I thought that 2006 had the 100k mile warranty as well. If not, oh well. The chances of the motor going before 100k are slim.

PapaBear · 10-02-2011, 08:47 PM

Slim? Go to TBSSowners.com and do some reading. Chances of it going before 100K are actually better than it not.

Mine went at 59K.......for the second time.

98Camarod · 10-02-2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Slim? Go to TBSSowners.com and do some reading. Chances of it going before 100K are actually better than it not.

Mine went at 59K.......for the second time.

Sounds like a horrible idea to buy one then

PapaBear · 10-02-2011, 08:51 PM

Not at all. That's why you have that warranty. Buy one already modded / tuned, and warranty goes away.

There are lots of things you can do with these things to prevent the oil starvation issues. I run .75 quarts extra and it helps immensely.

98Camarod · 10-02-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Not at all. That's why you have that warranty. Buy one already modded / tuned, and warranty goes away.

There are lots of things you can do with these things to prevent the oil starvation issues. I run .75 quarts extra and it helps immensely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Slim? Go to TBSSowners.com and do some reading. Chances of it going before 100K are actually better than it not.

Mine went at 59K.......for the second time.

PapaBear · 10-02-2011, 08:54 PM

First time was with previous owner with 6K miles on it. Don't know the details.

Second time was a couple of months ago and was a rocker arm failure not a starvation issue. Oil pressure under launch in AWD is REALLY low, extra oil prevents the sump from going dry and/or letting cavitation take place in the system.

Don't be scared. If you take care of it and do the small things that people have learned over the years, you'll be fine.

1998ta__1991rs · 10-02-2011, 09:11 PM

2006's only had the 3yr 36k warranty. i put 50k very hard miles, 3 cam swaps, numerous bottles of nitrous, and towing, and it never missed a beat

jmd · 10-02-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapaBear

First time was with previous owner with 6K miles on it. Don't know the details.

Second time was a couple of months ago and was a rocker arm failure not a starvation issue. Oil pressure under launch in AWD is REALLY low, extra oil prevents the sump from going dry and/or letting cavitation take place in the system.
Don't be scared. If you take care of it and do the small things that people have learned over the years, you'll be fine.

the 6.0 in the gto has the oil pickup tube toward the front. if you launch hard the oil goes to the back. i also run an extra amont of oil because of this.

cmd · 10-02-2011, 09:22 PM

I had 2 front differentials go out on mine. So much for that whole "indestructable" thing. But I am glutton for punishment and just got my same tbss back after a year of someone else pounding on it...

csikx · 10-02-2011, 09:26 PM

What is the appeal of the TBSS? Or why the TBSS? The price point, power and the towing capability?

cmd · 10-02-2011, 09:44 PM

Appearance: check
handling: check
power: check
luxury: check
It's got 397 hp awd or 2wd factory 20's sport suspension 6k towing payload leather. nav. All the amenities of a tahoe or suburban but still able to hold it's own with "sport cars" all that for the high teen to lower 20 is a pretty decent deal

Plus its got an all aluminum 6.0 LS enigine and we all know LS engines were touched by the hand of god.

Nuff said!

LXtasy · 10-02-2011, 10:14 PM

i would get the non black one. lol. I personally only look for 2wd ones myself. All because of less crap to break in the drivetrain

10-02-2011, 07:30 PM	#1
98Camarod Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 1,525	TBSS: AWD or RWD? I'm looking at two TBSS's and they are identical in price. One has a catback, cai, RWD and 20k more miles and the other is stock with 20k less miles and AWD. They are both 15k and they are both black 3SS's. With everything aside, which one's better to have, AWD or RWD?

10-02-2011, 07:42 PM	#3
1998ta__1991rs Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: West Ash Posts: 4,283	I liked my 2wd. But i also like spining tires __________________ Funny

10-02-2011, 08:09 PM	#6
BigdaddyDupree Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MACEDONIA Posts: 4,967	get a diesel for towing, if thats not in the cards, go awd. __________________ . What you wanna do?

10-02-2011, 09:11 PM	#15
1998ta__1991rs Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: West Ash Posts: 4,283	2006's only had the 3yr 36k warranty. i put 50k very hard miles, 3 cam swaps, numerous bottles of nitrous, and towing, and it never missed a beat __________________ Funny

10-02-2011, 09:22 PM	#17
cmd Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 996	I had 2 front differentials go out on mine. So much for that whole "indestructable" thing. But I am glutton for punishment and just got my same tbss back after a year of someone else pounding on it... __________________ along for the ride

10-02-2011, 07:37 PM	#2
csikx Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,398	I suppose the question is... what are your intentions for the car? Roll racing? 1/4 mile? daily driving?

10-02-2011, 08:04 PM	#5
PapaBear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,809	The transfer case and front diff/axles in the AWD are damn near bulletproof. Guys are running 700+ HP AWD and haven't found the limit to them yet. So that goes out the window. Worst things I have seen is leaking carrier bearings in the front diff, but that's not a huge deal. I've yet to drive a 2WD TBSS to compare, but I LOVE the AWD. Towing a boat is simple, especially coming up a boat ramp, no worries there at all. Will you be the only driver of it? Reason I ask is that my wife drives my truck fairly often, usually with my infant in the truck with her, and I don't worry at all. Even if you get a happy-foot, you can't break the tires loose, even in the rain. Safety is paramount when she is driving it, and I like knowing that while fast (flamesuit on) it is safe. If you need to dart a cross traffic and you pin it to the floor, it just goes, no tire spinning to slow you down. I too love spinning tires. And this is my first AWD "performance" vehicle, and I LOVE IT. Thought that I would hate not being able to light them up, but being able to take just about anything off the line on the street makes up for that part. And if you turn Stabilitrak/TC off, you can spin em pretty good if you're making enough power. Was going to offer you to take a drive in mine, but I see you're in GA. Offer is there though if you need to compare. What CAI and exhaust is on the 2WD one? Has it been tuned?

10-02-2011, 08:15 PM	#7
98Camarod Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 1,525	The wife will drive it as well. The 2wd has a magnaflow catback and I don't remember the name of the CAI. He says it has a bba tune.

10-02-2011, 08:19 PM	#8
PapaBear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,809	BBA does good work from what I've heard. What year is it and how many miles? 2007 and up had the 5yr 100k mile powertrain, and tune voids that. And AWD with front sump oil pan = bad news for rod bearings. That's the only downfall. It all comes down to the plans for the truck. If you want it for the track, go 2WD. If you want it for a fun DD, go AWD. [/thread]

10-02-2011, 08:46 PM	#9
98Camarod Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 1,525	All the ones i've looked at are 2006, due to the amount. I thought that 2006 had the 100k mile warranty as well. If not, oh well. The chances of the motor going before 100k are slim.

10-02-2011, 08:47 PM	#10
PapaBear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,809	Slim? Go to TBSSowners.com and do some reading. Chances of it going before 100K are actually better than it not. Mine went at 59K.......for the second time.

10-02-2011, 08:51 PM	#12
PapaBear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,809	Not at all. That's why you have that warranty. Buy one already modded / tuned, and warranty goes away. There are lots of things you can do with these things to prevent the oil starvation issues. I run .75 quarts extra and it helps immensely.

10-02-2011, 08:54 PM	#14
PapaBear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,809	First time was with previous owner with 6K miles on it. Don't know the details. Second time was a couple of months ago and was a rocker arm failure not a starvation issue. Oil pressure under launch in AWD is REALLY low, extra oil prevents the sump from going dry and/or letting cavitation take place in the system. Don't be scared. If you take care of it and do the small things that people have learned over the years, you'll be fine.

10-02-2011, 09:26 PM	#18
csikx Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,398	What is the appeal of the TBSS? Or why the TBSS? The price point, power and the towing capability?

10-02-2011, 09:44 PM	#19
cmd Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 996	Appearance: check handling: check power: check luxury: check It's got 397 hp awd or 2wd factory 20's sport suspension 6k towing payload leather. nav. All the amenities of a tahoe or suburban but still able to hold it's own with "sport cars" all that for the high teen to lower 20 is a pretty decent deal Plus its got an all aluminum 6.0 LS enigine and we all know LS engines were touched by the hand of god. Nuff said! __________________ along for the ride

10-02-2011, 10:14 PM	#20
LXtasy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 9,564	i would get the non black one. lol. I personally only look for 2wd ones myself. All because of less crap to break in the drivetrain __________________