OK, I was the proud owner of a 1995 Z28 Camaro for several years until a month ago when my wife rolled it in a bad traffic accident. I recently replaced it with a nearly identical 1997 Z28 SS and need to learn as much as possible about the stock SS before I start modifying it!

Here's what I know, or think I know... *The SS in 1997 was about 305hp and has Ram Air of course, with 17" wheels and a different rear spoiler. SS badging here and there is the only other external hint of the SS. *Underneath the SS had bigger sway bars and stiffer springs with stiffer shocks and poly bushings at least on the sway bars, maybe on the suspension mounts as well? *Hurst shifter.

Here are some things I'm wondering: *Did the SS cars have poly suspension bushings? *Does the Ram Air ever actually produce boost or does it just provide fresh cool air and reduce vacuum at high mph? *How many SS cars were made in 1997? *Is it possible to find out how many of each color, how many 6 speeds, how many with t-tops, etc, wer made? I wrote to SLP for more info but haven't heard back yet. *What exhaust did they come stock with? I just ordered a LoudMouth for mine, but know this wasn't stock. Mine is much too quiet, an SS should be seen AND heard!!!

OK, that's enough for now, please let me know anything at all you can, or just share anything you want about your own ss. Mine is Metallic Green with most of the options including leather and T-tops. I flew fron Winston-Salem, NC, to Newark, NJ, with my 4 year old son and drove it 11 hours back just because I couldn't find anything local! It was a Grand Adventure for both of us for sure! Great Bonding Time... My Son's first Airplane Ride too! Tell me your story!

 

That is so cool, great father son trip indeed! Your son is lucky to have a father such as yourself. If I ever have kids (especially a son) hopefully I can do the same.

 

i'm not aware of any poly bushings on the SS models, although there were some upgraded bushing for the 1le optioned cars, but i'm not sure if many (or any) were available in 97.

the ram air is basically a cold air kit, it really doesn't produce any noticable "ram air" untill 120+ mph. check out this article on the SS hood and you should understand what i mean.

i think you can go through SLP and get a detailed list of info on your car, check their website or give them a call. www.slponline.com

not all SS/ws6 models came with the hurst shifter, i think. if you have the H embosed leather **** then yes you do, but if it is is the round **** than it is the standard shifter. if you do have the shifter, get yourself a lou's short stick for it, cause the stock stick SUCKS...

there were several exhausts available i think. one was the "two on the left" or TOTL, or the SLP dual outlet/dual tip. i'm not sure what the choices were for particular years.

 

do a google search on 1997 camaro production numbers to find out how many were made and such

 

Yeah, mine has the 'H' embossed in the ****, and to be honest I don't see the shifter being any better than the stock one my '95 had. I have (still have the '95 wreck to use for an LT1/M6 transplant into my '78 Malibu...) a B&M Ripper in my '95 and it's WAY better than the stock or the Hurst for sure, much more precise and shorter stick... I plan to swap it for the Hurst and of course keep the Hurst along with all the other stock parts I remove... I also have a lighted flaming shifter **** that I love that goes on with the Ripper!!!

I'm putting the SLP Dual/Dual LoudMouth on, which I'm sure wasn't stock since it has NO muffler at all, and is much too loud to pass most noise ordinances I'm sure, but will probably look stock for an SS with the tips...

Thanks for the Tips!!! (Sorry, Bad Pun!)

 

Wow! I hope I can decipher mine down as close as you have yours done in your sig line!!!

 

LOL Thanks!!!!!!!!!

 

According to the Camaro White Book, there were 3,137 SS's sold in 1997. Of those, 241 coupes, 466 t-tops, and 251 convertibles had the 30th Anniv. package. The book includes the breakdown on M6/A4 for the 30th SS models. The fastest 97 SS I ever saw (and drove) was this 30th M6 convertible:

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun.../DCP02600z.jpg

8.60@160mph

 

You can order a 'Restoration Kit' from GM for free. They'll send you about 50 pages of useless specs, numbers and information about your car. I got one. I think you can find the information needed to order it through http://www.camarosource.ca

 

where exactly do you go to order it, I can't seem to find it on that site???

 

Heh, that's one of the things I don't like about that site. Too much garbled crap in there. Just find a contact for the owner of that site and he'll point you in the right direction.

I just flipped through mine and there's EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about the car; weights, options, colors, how many made, etc. Actually there's probably over 100 pages of information.

 

There is a sticker on the door jam, that says what SLP content was added.
There is a lot of info on http://www.camarossoa.org/ (Camaro Super Sports Owners Asso.)
Which exhaust do you have?

 

I'm not sure I buy this guy's 'guesswork' about the ram air hood 'heating' the incoming air. If that's what the article said, he sort of contradicted himself there in the middle, so I'm not even sure I read it right. I did seem to see it as you said above, basically a cold air intake, although this guy says it heats the air when the hood is hot, which I totally disagree with.

If that were the case, wouldn't every other cold air kit heat the incoming air too, because say my SLP kit on my '95 was steel dual inlets, and probably ran at the underhood temp of 180 degrees, but the cold air inside could easily have come through at a colder temperature without cooling the CAI or without the CAI heating the air, see what I mean? I think the guy was full of crap and made a statement that his testing didn't back up without doing real research.

Anyone agree? Disagree?