For the Camaro to be competitive it will need the 400hp LS2 at the very least.

Maybe an LS7 or supercharged LS2 to compete with the Cobras.

 

Why?

With a 50 horse disadvantage, an LS1 already has a top speed advantage over the current Mustang Cobra of 5-10 mph.

Despite a supposed 50 horse disadvantage, the new Mustang apparently accelerates at least as quickly as LS1 F-bodies.

Z06 Corvettes can run with Vipers with 100 less horsepower.

If the next Camaro is geared right, doesn't weigh in like a pig, and has alot of torque available down low, a 5.3 even with 350 horses should be plenty quick.

Also, Cobra is Ford's Corvette. If the next Cobra (supposedly it's going to push nearly 500 horsepower) is as quick as the top Corvette, Camaro ISN'T going to outrun it.

However, expect the next top Camaro to be as quick as a base Corvette, or maybe a tick quicker.

Forget chasing the Cobra. Ain't gonna happen.

 

Personally I think F/I will never happen. But what I think would be nice is the base v6, as you need to provide that to the market.

Then this 5.3L option you KNOW shouldnt be a 5.3L. If it's possible, use the 5.3L truck engine with atleast a higher rev cam(I'd ask for better heads too). And dont call it a 5.3L... 5.3L doesnt sound right... what's that in cid? 327! Now that'd be something to stir a few murmurs from below.

Then if you really want a 350, stick in a mildly de-tuned LS2, or something slightly below the vette in that regard.

That'd mean you'd still have the mass production cheaper v8 as well as the high end v8 for your "serious" enthusiasts.

Then If you wanted to make a collecters edition, I say drop in the Ls7, but for god's sake do something interesting. I say make 100 vehicles with a true Big Block engine, like perhaps the 496cid engine. If they are sharing the front end and mounting with other vehicles, and GM does offer mounting for the big blocks - it could be possible to do a low production special edition of some sort without being too unreasonable.

But then again, I think the standard vette engine should be the Ls7, and the "zo6" should get a big block. But that isnt about to happen. Then again, a big block with over 600hp should be easily enough to slam anything else on the market if it can be done for under $60k. Maybe an Enzo or an F1 would be able to keep up...

 

The GM 5.3L is 325c.i.

 

I know. And the ls1 isnt a 350. It's a 346. It annoys the daylights out of me. But that doesnt mean it cant happen with some different guts. Doubtful, I know. But isnt this a thread over what we'd like to see? Dish it out 2ci... Thats not much at all!

 

Simple, easy set up

3.9 V6 with or w/o DoD =250hp $20-24k
5.3 V8 with or w/o DoD= 335hp $24-27k
6.0 V8 w/o DoD= 400hp $28-32k

 

If that is the case, then god bless this board. I have probably been one of the most outspoken people on this matter when it used to come up frequently, and I am willing to put my $$ where my mouth is...I WILL BUY an '07-'08 Camaro base coupe so long as I can have t-tops, a V8 and a stick for around $25-26k in today's dollars.

I bought a Z28 because I wanted the 8, but quite frankly 285hp (300 or so the way I have it set up) is really as much as I need, if not more so. A 300hp base Camaro (RS mid-level edition maybe??? ) would be a great head-to-head with a Stang GT, leaving the potential SS for the Mach 1 and the potential Z28 for the Cobra???

I still say the 4th gen's biggest fault was no base model V8. When I sold Birds I had people buying Formulas who really DID NOT WANT ONE, solely to get a V8...or they bought a Mustang GT for $4k less....grrr....$4k difference is $80 a month over 5 years, enough to lose A LOT of sales...

If Scott is reading this, I would like to place my order for a Sunset or Hugger Orange '07-'08 Camaro RS with graphite cloth, PW, PL, 6 speed, t-tops and nothing else...no leather, no traction control, no CD changers. I'd like to pay $26k in today's dollars too

The GP will be paid off October 2006 in time for the Camaro's 40th anniversary, gentelmen. And no, that is not a coincidence...the GP will make a great daily driver so I can start payments on my '07 RS

 

keep it simple and affordable:

HF V6

6.0 LS2


Leave the window open for a 7.0L LS7 or whatever powered version.. but it'll be expensive.. depending on how much and how fast the future Cobra would be.

 

13.6L XV16 please and thank you.

 

well if they were 4ci off on the ls1 they can be 2ci off on the 5.3

yes, is a 4.10 or even 3.73 option so much to ask for on the 6 speed?

I honestly feel like I played a role in that decision, since I disagreed with gunion and never got a reply

 

Right on, good ideas.

Then you have something for everyone.

The middle V8 is great for those who want a V8 but can't afford what the 6.0 Camaro would cost.

 

I think having a mid weight 300hp V8 or supercharged V6 would be very appealing to people who want power, which 300-320 is PLENTY for your average joe, and then you have 400hp for us.

Then the SS and Z28 split the top role, SS be more luxury, and Z28 being more race.

 

There has actually been some serious talk about this. The thinking goes...the young college grad can only afford, say, 20 grand for a base V6 Camaro. In two years he's making more money and he can afford to go down to his local Chevy dealer and purchase the GMPD developed supercharger kit for his 3.9.

The even lower bucks down guy...who buys a used V6, still gets to pay GM a couple of thousand buck for the kit too.

 

Would you void your warranty by having the dealer slap an SC on your vehicle that was designed for NA use? I would see that as being the biggest hurdle.

-Jason

 

I think what was suggested by Scott in past threads was that a big advantage to this would be that the factory warranty WOULD remain in effect, assuming you had it dealer installed.