How Many HP in an Impala SS

[ctrcbob]

While I'm in Rochester NY for a couple days, I visited with a friend who owns a 1996 Impala SS. In comparing cars, he tells me that the SS has "only" 280hp.
I thought it had more. Bigger engine than the Marauder, so it must have more.

Anyone out there know?

[Smokie]

Torque, that pushrod engine has a 4" bore. Torque is what he has more than we do. About 350 ft/lbs and it comes in at real low rpm's.:)

[Joe Walsh]

Impala SS came with a 350cid V8 rated at 260 Hp and 330 Ft/Lbs of torque at 3300 rpm.
Marauders came with a 281 cid V8 rated at 302 HP and 318 Ft/Lbs of torque at 4300 rpm.

Impalas have lots of low-end grunt but run out of 'breath' at 5500 rpm.

Marauders don't have a lot of low-end grunt but really wake up and run strong until 6100 rpm.

As much as I like low-end torque there is something intoxicating about the howl of a DOHC V8 at 6000+ rpm!!! (especially through a set of Kook's headers and Magnaflows!!!):banana: :D

[AzMarauder]

Impala SS came with a 350cid V8 rated at 260 Hp and 330 Ft/Lbs of torque at 3300 rpm.
Marauders came with a 281 cid V8 rated at 302 HP and 318 Ft/Lbs of torque at 4300 rpm.

Impalas have lots of low-end grunt but run out of 'breath' at 5500 rpm.

Marauders don't have a lot of low-end grunt but really wake up and run strong until 6100 rpm.

As much as I like low-end torque there is something intoxicating about the howl of a DOHC V8 at 6000+ rpm!!! (especially through a set of Kook's headers and Magnaflows!!!):banana: :D
What is the difference in weight between the two behemoths?

[Joe Walsh]

Minimal difference in weights....

I believe that they are both @ 4400 LBS!!!

As has been said before on this site: "TWO TONS OF FUN"

[Blackened300a]

Only 260hp for the Impala???? I could have Sworn they had 285 since its the same engine thats in the Z28.

[texascorvette]

Only 260hp for the Impala???? I could have Sworn they had 285 since its the same engine thats in the Z28.
My sister's SS has about 550HP..........when she has the nitrous hooked up. She has put that two tons of steel down the track at 12.16. She doesn't want to go any faster than that. Dip below 12 and ya gots to do all kinds of crap to the car. They are a neat car. Still one of the best looking on the road. The stock suspension is awful, though. They just wallow all over the road. They are also too pricey. You can't find one with reasonably low miles in good shape for a decent price. The only model that had the shift on the console is '96. All the earlier models had it on the column.

[Shaft333]

Same engine... but different.
At the very least the motor was all iron.

['03BlkMM]

What is the difference in weight between the two behemoths?
I looked up the weight specs on the SS before and it was approx 200 lbs lighter than the Marauder.

[Fourth Horseman]

And I'm still kicking myself for not buying one in '96 when I had a chance. A dark red one would have looked sweet parked next to the Marauder.

[MENINBLK]

Only 260hp for the Impala???? I could have Sworn they had 285 since its the same engine thats in the Z28.

The 1996 Impala SS had the OBD-II, 5.7L SPI V8 engine used for the Corvette.
The distributor cap sits behind the coolant pump and is driven directly by the camshaft.
The Engine has REVERSE COOLING, and it was one of the first Sequential Port Injection V8 engines
used across the board for Chevy, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac.
The only difference was the camshaft and tuning.
The Corvette version was a 400HP beast ! :eek:

Before 1996, it was the OBD-I, 5.7L TBI V8 engine.
The Throttle Boby had 2 injectors, each had to feed 4 cylinders.

I think all of this is correct, as my poor memory serves me.
If any of this is wrong, please correct my post...

[MENINBLK]

And I'm still kicking myself for not buying one in '96 when I had a chance. A dark red one would have looked sweet parked next to the Marauder.

There are a few around here, parked in Used Car lots...

Still Interested ???

[Blackened300a]

OK we Kissed enough Impala SS Ass on this thread! However Was the HP really only 260??

[Shaft333]

OK we Kissed enough Impala SS Ass on this thread! However Was the HP really only 260?? HAH! :D:D:D

Yes, it did have 260hp at 5000RPM. And it had 330ftlb of torque at... he he... 2400RPM. :D

[Wires]

And I'm still kicking myself for not buying one in '96 when I had a chance. A dark red one would have looked sweet parked next to the Marauder.
Me too. Back in 96, my friend told me to go buy one. I said he was crazy. Turns out, I was the crazy one (or at least short-sighted.)

In my area of the country, one can't get a decent Impala for less than 20 grand - one as nice as the MM I bought would be about 24.

Heck, the last police Caprice (same engine) I looked at was a worn out, 200K miles beast that they wanted 4500 for.

I hope the Marauder holds its value as well.

['03BlkMM]

The 1996 Impala SS had the OBD-II, 5.7L SPI V8 engine used for the Corvette.
The distributor cap sits behind the coolant pump and is driven directly by the camshaft.
The Engine has REVERSE COOLING, and it was one of the first Sequential Port Injection V8 engines
used across the board for Chevy, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac.
The only difference was the camshaft and tuning.
The Corvette version was a 400HP beast ! :eek:

Before 1996, it was the OBD-I, 5.7L TBI V8 engine.
The Throttle Boby had 2 injectors, each had to feed 4 cylinders.

I think all of this is correct, as my poor memory serves me.
If any of this is wrong, please correct my post...

The LT-1 in the Impala SS also had iron heads where they were aluminum in the LT-1 Camaro and Corvette.

[rookie1]

OK we Kissed enough Impala SS Ass on this thread! However Was the HP really only 260??

yup, a severely detuned version of the LT1. I had one b4 the MM it is remarkable how similar the 2 are.

[Fourth Horseman]

There are a few around here, parked in Used Car lots...

Still Interested ???

Frankly, no. Not after it's been beat on for 10 years.

[b4z]

Car and Driver ran a '94 Impala SS 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, but they were the ONLY mag to get that time. I am sure that engine was a ringer and had been blueprinted.

Most mags were reporting 7-7.5 secs. With 7.5 secs being an actual street number.

Remember, Impala SS only had a 3.08 and you guys have a 3.55.

If you ran one you might be even or ahead to 60 and after that it is all Marauder.
And if you did a hwy kickdown at 50-60 mph it would be ALL Marauder.

The fastest B-body in 1996 was not an Impala SS, but a Caprice with the towing package that gave it a 3.23 gear.

I have run many stock Impala SSs in my '87 IROC-Z and beat them all, and that is with a (215hp)5.0L and a 5 speed.

[BillyGman]

Car and Driver ran a '94 Impala SS 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, but they were the ONLY mag to get that time. I am sure that engine was a ringer and had been blueprinted.

Most mags were reporting 7-7.5 secs. With 7.5 secs being an actual street number.

Remember, Impala SS only had a 3.08 and you guys have a 3.55.

If you ran one you might be even or ahead to 60 and after that it is all Marauder.
And if you did a hwy kickdown at 50-60 mph it would be ALL Marauder.

The fastest B-body in 1996 was not an Impala SS, but a Caprice with the towing package that gave it a 3.23 gear.

I have run many stock Impala SSs in my '87 IROC-Z and beat them all, and that is with a (215hp)5.0L and a 5 speed.Running any LT1 engine equipped car that is a big boat, be that an Impala SS, caprice, or even a Buick Roadmaster and beating it(especially with a stock Marauder) depends on how good the driver of that car is, and if he knows how to walk it out of the hole at half pedal for the first 20 feet before he hammers it. If he knows how to do that, then you will NOT beat him with your stock Marauder, atleast not until AFTER 60 MPH.

How do I know that? Simple.....because I used the "G-tech" G-meter device several times on three different days with my Marauder to record the 0-60 MPH time on the street when it was bone stock, and I got 7.0 seconds as a best. The times were pretty consistent too. All at 7.0 and 7.1 seconds since there never was any tire spin since stock Marauders don't have the low-end torque to spin the tires when stock ( unless you use the brake pedal ofcourse).

My brother has a 94 Buick Roadmaster which has the LT1 engine, and also is stock with 101,000 miles on the odometer. And on that same stretch of road with a temperature that was within 5 degrees I ran a 6.3 second 0-60 MPH time with his car, but knowing how much that car can spin& smoke the tires off the line from a dead punch, I walked it out of the hole using half pedal. And the Roadmaster is 300 LBS heavier than the Impala SS and the Marauder. I also recorded a 15.0 sec ET with his Roadmaster, while my Marauder's best while stock was 15.2. So in the quartermile run they're very close, and it would depend on the driver skills of the Impala SS, Caprice, or Roadmaster, and if he knows what he's doing, your Marauder will definately not beat him out of the hole, nor from 0-60 MPH if it is stock.

[Vortex]

Did the SS have that bogus 120 mph limiter like our MMs? I dont see why our cars can cruise all day long at 150. I heard driveshaft balance but...

[01 Interceptor]

As far as I know, my stock 96 Impala SS has NO limiter. However, there is fuel pump cutoff at about 154mph I believe.

[BlackHole]

Did the SS have that bogus 120 mph limiter like our MMs? I dont see why our cars can cruise all day long at 150. I heard driveshaft balance but...


The reasom MM's have a speed limiter is because Ford didn't want to have the $1000 gas guzzeler tax on the vehicle thats the only reason. Plus to have a good standing with CARB California Air Resorces Board. :depress:

[b4z]

Interesting comparison.
Although iI have found Gtechs to be a little off.

My IROC does 0-60 in 6.8 secs(via stopwatch) and quarter is 15.0 flat at 90 mph.

I don't own a Marauder, was just sharing my experience with Impala SSs
10-12 years ago when they first came out.

[BillyGman]

Interesting comparison.
Although iI have found Gtechs to be a little off.

My IROC does 0-60 in 6.8 secs(via stopwatch) and quarter is 15.0 flat at 90 mph.

I don't own a Marauder, was just sharing my experience with Impala SSs
10-12 years ago when they first came out.Hey, it's all good my friend. I appreciate your input. Whether or not G-meters are accurate or not doesn't matter here (although I've found them to be as long as your tires hook), but what DOES matter is that they're repeatable, therefore, they're excellent for using to compare vehicles, or to measure how much difference a modification made to your car. If they recorded, a 15.0 second ET, and your car really is running a 15.5 ET, that doesn't matter for comparisant sake as long as that same G-meter will always register that same 15.0 ET for that same car provided it isn't modified. And that also stands to reason for using it on multiple cars to compare which is quicker in the quartermile, and where in the quartermile it's stronger and weaker. And as long as the G-meter is repeatable, then that can be determined by using it.

Where the meter becomes useless, is if your car doesn't hook well on the street, but because of the traction compound at the track, it hooks well. In that case, you're not going to get even close to the same reading on the street as you will at the track. However, that's because of the traction issue on the street being quite different, and NOT due to any error or inaccuracies of the G-meter. My car runs a 12.8 ET on the street measured by yhe G-meter, and a 12.0-12.2 ET at the track. but that's simply because I have to walk the car out of the hole at half throttle for 20 feet before I can hammer it while I'm on the street. but at the track, using the same drag radials that i run on the street, I can hammer the throttle all at once, and the tires grip real good. that's because of the traction compound on the track.;)

[hitchhiker]

Here Ya Go...

http://i7.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/3d/62/66_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6169&item=4554917860&rd=1#ebayphotohosting)

:D

['03BlkMM]

The reasom MM's have a speed limiter is because Ford didn't want to have the $1000 gas guzzeler tax on the vehicle thats the only reason. Plus to have a good standing with CARB California Air Resorces Board. :depress:

Actually it has nothing to do with either of those reasons.
The gas guzzler tax is based on a combined highway/city mileage calculation, I don't know the formula used. If it falls below a certain combined mpg then a gas guzzler tax is required. Trucks are exempt from the tax. Top end speed doesn't even come into play in the calculation. Likewise, CARB doesn't give a hoot about the top end speed of any vehicle, only the emissions at normal operating speeds.

The reason a speed limiter is used on the Marauder is due to the weak driveshaft that will begin to flex over a certain driveline speed and could cause a catastrophic failure. Throwing a DS at 130+ MPH would make for a very bad day for someone...

[Vortex]

Here Ya Go...

http://i7.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/3d/62/66_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6169&item=4554917860&rd=1#ebayphotohosting)

:D
Thats a hellofa nice car and would be a great companion to my MM. Only problem is my GTO would have to go and that aint gonna happen. Somebody ought to get this though.

[bigjon]

i test drove a 96 buick roadmaster 5.7l with posi and i was not impressed over my 2000 vic.

just my personal opinion. :P

[BillyGman]

i test drove a 96 buick roadmaster 5.7l with posi and i was not impressed over my 2000 vic.

just my personal opinion. :PPersonally, I think the panther platform cars all look better than the Roadmaster, Imapla, and caprices do, and they ride nicer too. But that LT1 engine has more torque, and torque is what gets a big heavy car moving off the line. That's why so many Marauder owner rush to put taller gears in their cars. They're sluggish off the line. Some Impala boys use taller gears in their cars too, but mainly just the ones who are serious about racing. I think there's a greater percentage of Marauder owners who put taller gears in their cars, especially amongst those who don't even take their cars to the track, and there's a reason for the rush to get different gears for Marauder owners. but I also think that the buick Roadmaster (atleast in 94) has better brakes than marauders and CV's do. they stop so much better as long as the brakes are maintained good. my brother's Roadmaster is 300 LBS heavier than marauders, are, and with over 100,000 miles on it, and in stock configuration, it stops better than my Marauder ever did.

[RCSignals]

The fastest B-body in 1996 was not an Impala SS, but a Caprice with the towing package that gave it a 3.23 gear.




Yes, there's a lot to be said for towing packages