Plain Ls Or Sport, Heeeeelp!!

vettetols

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the parts people in this town have me totally confused. can you guys set me straight on the difference?
 
Non sport has chrome trim on the bumpers.
 
Four simple clues for a Base GEN I LS....

A base model LS will not have an SST shifter.
A base model LS will come with 16" wheels & tires.
A base model LS will have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A base model LS will have a half wood steering wheel & a wood shift knob.

Four simple clues for a Sport GEN I LS....

A sport model LS will have an SST shifter.
A sport model LS will come with 17" wheels & tires.
A sport model LS will not have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A sport model LS will have an all leather steering wheel & leather shift knob.
 
Four simple clues for a Base GEN I LS....

A base model LS will not have an SST shifter.
A base model LS will come with 16" wheels & tires.
A base model LS will have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A base model LS will have a half wood steering wheel & a wood shift knob.

Four simple clues for a Sport GEN I LS....

A sport model LS will have an SST shifter.
A sport model LS will come with 17" wheels & tires.
A sport model LS will not have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A sport model LS will have an all leather steering wheel & leather shift knob.

this was a funny reply, i can't believe i read the bottom half, lol
 
Four simple clues for a Base GEN I LS....

A base model LS will not have an SST shifter.
A base model LS will come with 16" wheels & tires.
A base model LS will have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A base model LS will have a half wood steering wheel & a wood shift knob.

Four simple clues for a Sport GEN I LS....

A sport model LS will have an SST shifter.
A sport model LS will come with 17" wheels & tires.
A sport model LS will not have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A sport model LS will have an all leather steering wheel & leather shift knob.

i have an 04' which is a 2nd gen, correct? what are the differences
 
i have an 04' which is a 2nd gen, correct? what are the differences
Correct.
The same as the 1st gen minus the woodgrain. Although, it was possible to order a LS with any kind of options mixed together like some here have. Like a sport package LS with chrome inserts on the bumpers.
 
I am sure it was possible to order a sport with other interior options but I am sure it was not a option to have the non sport bumper. As far as the ext goes that is one thing about the sport model cars. It provides a more sportier look that makes up the biggest percent of it being noticed as a sport. So, car companies in general either paint the molding or are void of them when they release a sports package. They follow that up with better suspension, sportier stance in wheels and in some cases more HP.

The base models did not come with SST but all sports had them. It was not a option to not have the SST with a sport.
 
The easiest way to tell the difference between a Sport and non-Sport 2nd Gen LS (at least for the V8s) is the shifter. If it's an SST shifter, it's probably a Sport; if it's a non-SST shifter, it's a probably non-Sport (you can change the shifters, but almost all 2nd Gen V8s are Sports).

The SST shifter has the pattern P-R-N-D5-D4, and you can switch over from D5 to a +/- area. The non-SST shifter has P-R-N-D5 in a line, then a jog over to D4-3-2-1. There are pictures of them posted around here somewhere.

As noted above, the only functional differences between the two are the shocks, sway bars, and shifter; other than that, the parts are all the same.
 
the gen 1 sport had an added oil cooler too...
 
I have an 04' which is a 2nd gen, correct? What are the differences?
Very well, lets move on to the GEN II LS, specifically, your 2004.

For the V6, the LS came in two forms....

Luxury, which is the Base model and Premium, which included the addition of Homelink, folding outside mirrors, wood trim, adjustable pedals and memory drivers seat.

For the V8, the LS came in two forms....

Sport, which is the Base model and Ultimate, which included optional items like, moonroof, AdvanceTrac, cooled seats and wood trim.

Bottom line for your 2004 LS is this....
There is nothing mechanically different between the two trim groups. All V6's had the same shocks, sway bar and engine. All V8's had the same shocks, sway bar and engine. So if you are trying to get a "mechanical" part for your LS, it doesn't matter which trim group you have. They are all the same.
 
Very well, lets move on to the GEN II LS, specifically, your 2004.

For the V6, the LS came in two forms....

Luxury, which is the Base model and Premium, which included the addition of Homelink, folding outside mirrors, wood trim, adjustable pedals and memory drivers seat.

For the V8, the LS came in two forms....

Sport, which is the Base model and Ultimate, which included optional items like, moonroof, AdvanceTrac, cooled seats and wood trim.

Bottom line for your 2004 LS is this....
There is nothing mechanically different between the two trim groups. All V6's had the same shocks, sway bar and engine. All V8's had the same shocks, sway bar and engine. So if you are trying to get a "mechanical" part for your LS, it doesn't matter which trim group you have. They are all the same.
You forgot the LSE package available on the 04 & 05 (became standard on 06 V8's) BTW I do not think the 04 Ultimate had the sport suspension as it was way softer and wallowed compared to the Sport. Also the parts book lists three shocks for the 04, standard, sport and in older books there was also a European shock for the exported cars. The LSE package was only available on the Sport and included the front treatment, side skirts, rear deck spoiler, LSE Walnut burl interior trim and 17" surprisingly light wheels.
 
Here is an options list for the 04 LS

LS Options a.jpg
 
You forgot the LSE package available on the 04 & 05 (became standard on 06 V8's) BTW I do not think the 04 Ultimate had the sport suspension as it was way softer and wallowed compared to the Sport. Also the parts book lists three shocks for the 04, standard, sport and in older books there was also a European shock for the exported cars. The LSE package was only available on the Sport and included the front treatment, side skirts, rear deck spoiler, LSE Walnut burl interior trim and 17" surprisingly light wheels.

As for the wheels, you say theres a noticeable difference in the weight compared to the other sets. Is this year specific, model specific, or only for the LSE trim...?
 
As for the wheels, you say theres a noticeable difference in the weight compared to the other sets. Is this year specific, model specific, or only for the LSE trim...?
I can't say, as I only weighed the 17" LSE wheels when I was shopping for 18" wheels that were as light as the originals. I settled for a set of 18" wheels that were a lb. and a half heavier at 23.5 lbs, each. The overall weight of the wheel tire combination was almost the same due to the lower weight of the lower profile 18" tires. To get 18" wheels in the 22 lb. range would have raised the per wheel price from $785 each to over $1200 each.
 
vettetols, Why do you need this info? Are the Parts dept. giving you a hard time about some part that you need to replace?
 
I have the 03 v8 ultimate sport, with grain steering wheel and shifter
 
Four simple clues for a Base GEN I LS....

A base model LS will not have an SST shifter.
A base model LS will come with 16" wheels & tires.
A base model LS will have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A base model LS will have a half wood steering wheel & a wood shift knob.

Four simple clues for a Sport GEN I LS....

A sport model LS will have an SST shifter.
A sport model LS will come with 17" wheels & tires.
A sport model LS will not have chrome inserts on both bumpers.
A sport model LS will have an all leather steering wheel & leather shift knob.


You sure about the wheels part of that? My 2002 LS V8 has 17" chrome wheels (it has chrome inserts on both bumpers, half wood steering wheel and wood shifter knob, AdvanceTrac, VCS (Vehicle Communication System), no SST). Any ideas what mine is?
 
I have the 03 v8 ultimate sport, with grain steering wheel and shifter

The easiest way to tell the difference between a Sport and non-Sport 2nd Gen LS (at least for the V8s) is the shifter. If it's an SST shifter, it's probably a Sport; if it's a non-SST shifter, it's a probably non-Sport (you can change the shifters, but almost all 2nd Gen V8s are Sports).

The SST shifter has the pattern P-R-N-D5-D4, and you can switch over from D5 to a +/- area. The non-SST shifter has P-R-N-D5 in a line, then a jog over to D4-3-2-1. There are pictures of them posted around here somewhere.

As noted above, the only functional differences between the two are the shocks, sway bars, and shifter; other than that, the parts are all the same.
:
 
You sure about the wheels part of that? My 2002 LS V8 has 17" chrome wheels (it has chrome inserts on both bumpers, half wood steering wheel and wood shifter knob, AdvanceTrac, VCS (Vehicle Communication System), no SST). Any ideas what mine is?

Its a non-sport. The original buyer may have ordered the vehicle with the 17" wheels or purchased them later on.
 
I just meant premium vs. ultimate. I know mine isn't a sport, but because mine has 17" wheels, it just shows that not all base models have 16" wheels (that's what I meant with the wheels comment). Is ultimate a '03+ thing, and premium a '00-'02 thing?
 
You sure about the wheels part of that? My 2002 LS V8 has 17" chrome wheels (it has chrome inserts on both bumpers, half wood steering wheel and wood shifter knob, AdvanceTrac, VCS (Vehicle Communication System), no SST). Any ideas what mine is?

You have the non-sport V8 is my guess. Because I thought all V8s whether non-sport or sport had the 17s.:shifty:
 

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