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1998 Groups & Popular Options
Memory Package (AAB)
Periphery devices memory package. This option remembers outside-rear-view-mirror,
radio, heater-vent air conditioning control, and power driver seat settings.
Requires dual zone air conditioning (RPO CJ2).
Power Passenger Seat (AG2)
Optional, six-way, adjustable passenger seat.
Sports Seats (AQ9)
Special sport seats that featured inflatable lumbar support and power-adjusted side bolsters and were developed by the Lear Corporation. The sports seat option also required the power passenger seat (AG2) option.
Floor Mats (B34)
Color matching, carpeted, driver’s and passenger’s floor mats.
Body Side Moldings (B84)
Plastic adhesive moldings that ran from the body side coves to the end of the door and have two pieces per side (one mounting ahead of the door to the front fender, the other mounting directly to the driver and passenger doors respectively), and their thickness tapered from front to rear.
Removable Roof Panel, Blue Tint (CC3)
Single piece, transparent, removable glass roof top with blue tint.
Dual Removable Roof Panels (C2L)
Single piece removable roof top panels – one painted, one tinted glass. The color on the painted panel exactly matched the body color of the car. The glass panel was tinted blue but remained otherwise transparent, providing the driver with an open feel in the cockpit, even when the panel was in place.
Dual Zone Air Conditioning (CJ2)
Separate, zone-control, driver’s and passenger’s side A/C thermostats. This option was required when ordering the Memory Package (RPO AAB).
Luggage Shade and Parcel Net (D42)
A thin, fabric cover used to shield the luggage area from exposure. This thin fabric cover attached to the rear hatchback. If not desired, it could be stored in a separate storage bag (which was included with the Corvette.)
Selective Real Time Damping, electronic (F45)
Electronic ride control system which adjusted ride to existing conditions. Included a driver-adjustable ride control system. This option was not available on Corvettes that were ordered with the Performance Handling Package (PRO Z51).
Performance Axle (3.15 Ratio (Automatic)) (G92)
Optional performance axle ratio of 3.15:1 with automatic transmission. The standard automatic transmission featured an axle ratio of 2.73:1. By comparison, the standard transmission model featured a 3.42:1 axle ratio. For the entire model year, the axle ratio distribution is: 10,562 Corvettes equipped with axle ratio 2.73:1, 13,415 Corvettes equipped with axle ratio 3.15:1, and 7,106 Corvettes equipped with axle ratio 3.42:1.
Active Handling System (JL4)
Automated handling control system. This option was introduced mid-model year and provided additional control in slippery conditions or in extreme handling conditions. The Active Handling System compensated for oversteer or understeer by automatically engaging the vehicle brakes in tandem or to individual wheels as needed. Throttle control was not affected.
5.7 Liter, 345 Horsepower Engine (LS7)
Standard (and only available) powerplant from the 1998 C5 Corvette.
The LS1 was built by General Motors engine plant in Romulus, Michigan.
By comparison, most previous small block V-8 engines had been built
in Flint, Michigan and Tonawanda, New York.
Output was 345hp at 5,600 rpm, torque was at 350lbs-ft at 4,400 rpm’s
and redline was achieved at 6,000rpm.
Had the same 4.4″ bore spacing that the same displacement (345
cubic inches) as the 350 cubic inch engine family it replaced, but otherwise
was new (and state-of-the-art) in pushrod V-8 design.
The LS1’s composite intake manifold saved weight and improved air flow.
The aluminum valve covers had separate ignition coils mounted in close
proximity to each sparkplug. Spark timing/firing signals were sent by
crankshaft and camshaft sensors.
The block was closed-deck aluminum alloy with cast-in cylinder liners.
The block had a deep skirt that extended beyond the main bearing caps.
Four bolt-mains were also cross-bolted to the block for stability.
The shallow-cast aluminum oil pan had side reservoirs and was a structural
member of the engine.
An LS1 engine was 44 lbs. lighter than the 1996 LT4 engine.
Dual knock sensors were mounted underneath the intake manifold.
The engine firing order was revised from 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 to 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3.
Six-speed Manual Transmission (MN6)
An optional, no-cost, six-speed manual transmission. The rear transaxle combined a Borg-Warner six-speed manual transmission (utilizing a Computer-Aided Gear Selection (CAGS)) with a limited-slip axle built by Getrag.
Massachusetts/New York Emissions (NG1)
Specialized configuration of the emissions system to meet state requirements.
Magnesium Wheels (N73)
Optional magnesium wheel package replacing the standard polished aluminum wheels. This option was limited mainly to exports, with only 233 sets sold domestically.
Fog Lamps (T96)
Optional fog lamps installed in the front radiator air inlets on the front bumper.
Delco Stereo System with CD (UN0)
An upgrade from the standard Delco Stereo which featured a compact disc player.
Remote Compact 12-Disc Changer (U1S)
Remote 12-disc CD player/disc changer (installed in rear storage compartment. This option could be ordered either with the standard Delco Stereo with cassette, or the optional Delco Stereo with CD player (RPO UN0).
Front License Plate Frame (V49)
A “U” shaped plastic frame on the front bumper that a second license plate could slip into. This was an appearance item only, and was not required for mounting a front license plate.
California Emissions (YF5)
Specialized configuration of the emissions system to meet state requirements.
Indy Pace Car Replica ($5,804 w/Manual Trans.) (Z4Z)
Body package replicating the 1998 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. The Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Replica package included the Pace Car Purple exterior with black and yellow interior, a black convertible top, yellow-painted stock wheels, and special accents. Each of these special edition Corvettes came fully equipped, and the only available options that could be ordered in addition to this package included the front license plate frame (RPO V49, a 12-disc CD changer (RPO U1S), body-side moldings (RPO B84), and magnesium wheels (RPO N73). Total sales with this option included 616 with automatic transmissions and 547 with manual transmissions.
Performance Handling Package (Z51)
Upgraded suspension system for better performance and handling. This
option included stiffer springs and stabilizer bars.
It required the Performance Axle Ratio (RPO G92) with automatic transmission.
It was not made available on vehicles equipped with Selective Real Time
Dampening (RPO F45).
Notes
After a one year absence, the convertible option was again made available for the 1998 Corvette. The 1998 Convertible weighed 116 pounds less than the 1996 model convertible, but was more than four times stiffer torsionally.
For the first time since 1962, a separate trunk with outside access returned in 1998. It was a standard feature of the convertible body style; coupes continued to feature a hatchback design as before. The convertible’s storage space was just more than half that of the Corvette coupe (13.9 cubic feet in the convertible versus 24.8 cubic feet in the coupe.) Still, the convertible storage space was larger than any competing two-seater convertibles, and twice the space of the previous generation C4 convertible storage space. Even with the top folded down, the available storage space equaled 11.1 cubic feet, which provided enough space for two golf bags.
The coefficient of drag was .33 for convertibles with the top up (as compared to .29 for coupes.)
Noise reduction improvements included a revised accessory drive tensioner, removal of the alternator rear brace to eliminate high RPM whine, and clips to better hold window glass to seals during high speed driving conditions. A quieter fuel pump was also introduced after the start of the 1998 production run.
The transmission cooler was changed from copper-nickel to stainless steel.
The multi-piece cooling fan shroud was replaced by a one-piece unit.
For non-Pace car models, all exterior colors carried over, and two new exterior colors were added for 1998: Light Pewter Metallic and Medium Purple Pearl Metallic. Light Oak became the fourth interior color choice, added to 1997’s Black, Light Grey, and Red. Convertible top color choices included Light Oak and Black Cloth, and White Vinyl, all with black liners.
Many of the top automotive media publications praised the 1998 Corvette,
voting it North American Car of the Year in January at the 1998 North
American Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. (Reported in Auto Week, January
12, 1998)
© C5 CORVETTEWORLD
