The Sad News
01-05-2007, 07:53 AM
#212
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Here's a from left field flame suit and armor on idea.
The original Z/28 had a "small" motor dictated by the rules yet came with the "good" hardware. Since the HP race is getting stupid, especially when one goes to track events and sees many street cars putting down a lot more HP than race cars, and the V6 is rumored to deliver near LT1 performance, how about a V6 based Z/28 .... all the good stuff, suspension, brakes, seats, etc. from the SS in a less powerful configuration.
The original Z/28 had a "small" motor dictated by the rules yet came with the "good" hardware. Since the HP race is getting stupid, especially when one goes to track events and sees many street cars putting down a lot more HP than race cars, and the V6 is rumored to deliver near LT1 performance, how about a V6 based Z/28 .... all the good stuff, suspension, brakes, seats, etc. from the SS in a less powerful configuration.
01-05-2007, 09:43 AM
#214
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01-05-2007, 10:10 AM
#215
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Not really.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the old LX formula, but I'd consider it FAR from a comprehensive performance package, in the same vein as what we're talking about for the Z/28. It was essentially a "motor in a box", and I DO mean box.
It was thrilling to row through the gears, but the handling just wasn't there, it was squirrely at high speed and it's brakes were kinda scary.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the old LX formula, but I'd consider it FAR from a comprehensive performance package, in the same vein as what we're talking about for the Z/28. It was essentially a "motor in a box", and I DO mean box.
It was thrilling to row through the gears, but the handling just wasn't there, it was squirrely at high speed and it's brakes were kinda scary.
01-05-2007, 10:32 AM
#216
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Z/28 is not a one trick pony (ie., 1/4 mile only). But it's focus as a total performance package (during the years in which that focus was actually there), made it the Camaro 1/4 mile king. And historically, it usually had the baddest biggest motor in the line up as well.
I like the idea of a V6 performance package, Art. Certainly not a Z/28 though.
Here's a thought. What if Z/28 is as we describe, NA 450++ hp smallblock, all the road racer stuff, for a reasonable price (say mid 30's or so).
And what if a version of the SC LS9/LSA, with 500++ hp, is packaged as a ZL1, at a substantially higher price?
Last edited by Z284ever; 01-05-2007 at 10:50 AM.
01-05-2007, 12:00 PM
#217
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Well, Most all Z28s I can think of had hardware over looks.
The 1st gen Z28 was low keyed (labels and an optional hood) as was the 2nd gen prior to it's return in '77 1/2 (rims and badging). Compared to the later IROC and the ricer wing on the Z28's 2nd return from the dead, the early 3rd gen Z28 was relatively low keyed next to other Z28s.
Sounds to me like the Mustang LX 5.0 stole the Z28's formula.
The 1st gen Z28 was low keyed (labels and an optional hood) as was the 2nd gen prior to it's return in '77 1/2 (rims and badging). Compared to the later IROC and the ricer wing on the Z28's 2nd return from the dead, the early 3rd gen Z28 was relatively low keyed next to other Z28s.
Sounds to me like the Mustang LX 5.0 stole the Z28's formula.
Here's a from left field flame suit and armor on idea.
The original Z/28 had a "small" motor dictated by the rules yet came with the "good" hardware. Since the HP race is getting stupid, especially when one goes to track events and sees many street cars putting down a lot more HP than race cars, and the V6 is rumored to deliver near LT1 performance, how about a V6 based Z/28 .... all the good stuff, suspension, brakes, seats, etc. from the SS in a less powerful configuration.
The original Z/28 had a "small" motor dictated by the rules yet came with the "good" hardware. Since the HP race is getting stupid, especially when one goes to track events and sees many street cars putting down a lot more HP than race cars, and the V6 is rumored to deliver near LT1 performance, how about a V6 based Z/28 .... all the good stuff, suspension, brakes, seats, etc. from the SS in a less powerful configuration.
Interesting.....
Z/28 is not a one trick pony (ie., 1/4 mile only). But it's focus as a total performance package (during the years in which that focus was actually there), made it the Camaro 1/4 mile king. And historically, it usually had the baddest biggest motor in the line up as well.
I like the idea of a V6 performance package, Art. Certainly not a Z/28 though.
Here's a thought. What if Z/28 is as we describe, NA 450++ hp smallblock, all the road racer stuff, for a reasonable price (say mid 30's or so).
And what if a version of the SC LS9/LSA, with 500++ hp, is packaged as a ZL1, at a substantially higher price?
Z/28 is not a one trick pony (ie., 1/4 mile only). But it's focus as a total performance package (during the years in which that focus was actually there), made it the Camaro 1/4 mile king. And historically, it usually had the baddest biggest motor in the line up as well.
I like the idea of a V6 performance package, Art. Certainly not a Z/28 though.
Here's a thought. What if Z/28 is as we describe, NA 450++ hp smallblock, all the road racer stuff, for a reasonable price (say mid 30's or so).
And what if a version of the SC LS9/LSA, with 500++ hp, is packaged as a ZL1, at a substantially higher price?
01-05-2007, 12:07 PM
#218
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01-05-2007, 12:14 PM
#219
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Don't worry, we're comin' for ya, buddy!
01-05-2007, 12:15 PM
#220
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The only reason ZL-1 has been suggested up to now is because it sounds cool and has heritage. However it doesn't have the heritage, branding and marking value of "Z/28". If such a Camaro is ever built, GM would be fools to market it as ZL1 instead of Z28.
01-05-2007, 12:21 PM
#221
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Well, I don't think enough people have quite given our Podcast a fair listen much less take less than one minute to interact with it or a few minutes to tune in once a week. We have been doing the show for well over a year, we are offering a way to really get people voices heard, literally. We are not sure why more people don't take us up on that offer considering that it is a direct line to us as well as all our our listeners, and there are hundreds each week.
This hot topic here is also a hot one with us, and since it is so prominent right now, we thought that people might want to merge their thoughts here with our thoughts in the show.
That's all.
This hot topic here is also a hot one with us, and since it is so prominent right now, we thought that people might want to merge their thoughts here with our thoughts in the show.
That's all.
SS never meant 396. The first SS Camaros were small-block 350s. (The big blocks came later and SS always was available in both small and big block configureations.) Shelbys weren't all big blocks either. And furthermore, GM's most recent ZL-1 was a limited edition aluminum big block displacing 454 cubes.
The only reason ZL-1 has been suggested up to now is because it sounds cool and has heritage. However it doesn't have the heritage, branding and marking value of "Z/28". If such a Camaro is ever built, GM would be fools to market it as ZL1 instead of Z28.
The only reason ZL-1 has been suggested up to now is because it sounds cool and has heritage. However it doesn't have the heritage, branding and marking value of "Z/28". If such a Camaro is ever built, GM would be fools to market it as ZL1 instead of Z28.
01-05-2007, 12:23 PM
#222
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. Now, it didn't always stay that way ... he built up a pretty stout motor, and then was running ahead of Z/28's in the 1/4 mile, but stock for stock, he always told me the Z/28's were the ones to really look out for 
.
Originally Posted by jg95z28
I'm getting sick of the ZL-1 talk. The ZL-1 was and should always be a big block. Unless you guys are suggesting dropping a big block in this Camaro... please... drop the discussion.
. Who cares if it's "packaged" in a smaller block, it's still big-block displacement, big-block performance 
. I would give GM the biggest gold star if they A) build a Z/28 that menaces the GT500, and B) build a (albeit, high-priced) 427 ZL-1 that blows away all 
.
01-05-2007, 12:26 PM
#223
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lol yeah there was nothing "low keyed" about a 1st gen Z28.
Cowl hood
Front spoiler
rear spoiler
Chrome Shark gills
Z/28 badging wich replaced the bow tie and was the only badging that was offset
optional RS package but I perfered without.
Racing stripes
The only thing you couldnt get was convertible or auto which there was no reason for anyway.
01-05-2007, 12:27 PM
#224
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01-05-2007, 12:32 PM
#225
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A "true" ZL-1 would be an absolute stripper - dog dish hubcaps, bench seat, column shifter, no carpeting - and have the biggest, most exotic motor available.
Of course, it would also cost 2-3X as much as an average Camaro, and sit on dealers lots for a couple of years, until it could be sold at a huge discount.
Of course, it would also cost 2-3X as much as an average Camaro, and sit on dealers lots for a couple of years, until it could be sold at a huge discount.