Where does the extra few hp come in on the SS.....is it the forced induction? or what.....from what i've heard the engine is basically the same....

 

engines are the same..
its in the exhaust..

The "ram air" induction is widely debated and most say that its "Ram Air" effect is negated due to the pathways the air has to take.

The engines are all LS1's.. (in the new ones)...

The rated HP difference? 15.. 310 for a 2002 Z28 and 325 for a 2002 SS...
I dynoed at 307. I am waiting to see what a bone stock SS will dyno at.

Again, some cars are just built differently.. Some have issues other dont.. some make insane power, others seem sluggish..

Mainly, for me making my purchase, I refuse to spend extra $$ on a car that has mods I dont want... I dont like the SS hood, spoiler or even the badges.. I prefer for my car to look normal.. Heck, I even prefer the more effecient single out exhaust tips.. But I got my car for what I wanted. It gets me where I want to go and allows me to play when I want to play.. I didnt get it to impress anyone as its just a Camaro.. I didnt get it to race people all the time as its not used.. I got mine new for a reason.. To keep it.. for a long while.. My race car project is the Porsche.. All in due time..

 

Intake and exhaust are different. The engine is identical. Suspension and brakes are also different. Forced induction is a myth on these cars. The car does not travel fast enough to force feed air into the engine. What the SS intake does have is a free flowing cold air induction, which is always a good thing. I got the Z for the same reasons as Psychocabbage. It runs mid 13s out of the box and can be made faster relatively easy.

 

GM rates the hp higher on the brochure because that's what people expect for their money.

The engines are identical. The intakes are the same, as is the 2.75" intermediate exhaust pipe, and both have 2.5" (internal) mufflers.

Until someone flow tests the SS muffler, or tests it back-to-back with the Zed muffler on the same car, the difference is trivial.

I bought a Zed because the only suspension upgrade in the '00 SS package was a sway bar and I wanted 18" wheels. If the package included better brakes, suspension, engine upgrades, or seats, or something that couldn't be bought from the parts counter and easily bolted on, I would have ordered it.

DaveH

 

The SS Is largley an appearance package. You get the hood, rear spoiler, exhuast, sway bar, and 17" wheels and tires. You could add (as SLP options) 2 different handling packages- the 1le or another one- a different rear end (I think an auburn? Maybe I'm wrong hear) the dual dual exhaust, the slp OEM style air lid, and probably something (performance wise) i'm forgetting as well as some cosmetic things and memorabilia (floor mats, portfoliio, key fobs etc). But as far as the standard SS you get the stuff at the top. The hood scoop is not sealed to the intake so ram air effect is negligble. The Install university looked at IAT on an SS and found that the engine heats up the hood so that when air does flow through the scoop (after sitting in traffic, in a parking spot for a few minutes or at the track in line to make a run) it is heated up and is actually hotter than outside air (by quite a bit). Now once you get going and it cools back down the scoop is good for outside temp air induction but it takes longer than the quarter mile.

I got my SS because I do like the looks of the rims, the hood and spoiler. I think the exhuast sounds good. I like the tone, although I do wish it were louder at times. The SS package is much cheaper than buying all of the this seperately. I like that is somewhat unique but that its still factory condition. One day I would like to do some engine mods but I don't want to pick out my own hood or different rims or any of that.

In the end you have to consider what YOU want the car for. And PSYCHOCABBAGE check my sig for BONE STOCK SS dyno numbers. The performance of the SS (on the dyno or at the strip) is the same as the Z28. Some SS might be faster and Some z28s faster but all in all they are the same.

Here is the article from Install University: http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...m_8.102000.htm

 

to sum it up:
SS is a Z28 with a crappy cat-back and a different hood.

 

well i've been running a few quotes on progressive.com.....and i'm getting some insane amounts....and i've only had one ticket....they are quoting me at $1636 for six months....it seems a bit extreme to me....what are you guys getting away with?...oh and the quote was on a 98 Trans Am.....I beleive it was Ram Air....

 

If I had to choose, i'd definitely take the SS... looks more aggressive IMHO...

 

I agree it is mostly an apperence/SS name badge package. But I HAD TO HAVE an SS so I paid extra. Go with what appeals to you best both visually and financially.

 

Like the rest have said it's pretty much appearance items a little better exhaust, different sway bar. Unless you purchase the second sticker SLP content than the rest of the suspension stays the same IMHO the second sticker content is not worth the $$$).

When I was shopping for a Camaro last year I found a SS loaded with second sticker SLP content right at $33k (dealership willing to let it go for $30k). I took it home for a day it was ok but not worth me spending $33-$34k out the door.

I did find a great Z28 loaded all options (except chrome wheels, and 12-disc) the dealership was willing to go under invoice to move it (2001 car). After a few minutes talking I walked out with a loaded Z28 (out the door price) $23,7xx v.s. $33-$34k the SS would have cost. A ten grand savings means much more than a (SLP build number), and appearance items.

I did how ever add many after market items to my Z. I added the SS hood, spoiler, exhaust, bowtie grill, and wheels (I like the looks of the SS). Even adding these items I have saved $9k and I am happy

I am paying $300 every 6 months for insurance on the Z ($600 a year from State Farm). The price was the same if I would have purchased a SS.

Several people purchased the SS because they think it is a limited production car which it is not.

2002

Z28s made- 12,906 (include 500 B4C's cop cars)
SS's made- 11,191

2001
Z28's made- 4,166
SS's made- 6,332

As you can see the SS's are not a limited production car seeing that they are just under 2k more 02 Z's made than SS's and for 2001 more SS's were made than Z28's (I guess that makes my 01 Z28 limited production



Sean

 

Of course it depends on age and where you live and M/F but for me...

I live in San Antonio TX 24 male and married plus ive been with the insurance company (through my parents) since I was 16. So when I started my own policy they gave me good rates. Six Months = $560. Oh and I have no wrecks and a few tickets but none on my record (defensive driving).

 

My insurance is about what you got quoted...I'm 22, single. I have a 98 TA and an 89 Grand Prix that I use as my daily. Insurance on the TA alone would have been $249/month, so approx. $3000 a year. By insuring both, I pay $251/month, so only $24/year more for insuring the 2nd car (My agent hooked me up nicely). My insurance should drop in another year though, because I still have 1 lingering accident.

 

yeah....that's still a bit much....that's paying pretty much in insurance what you are paying for your car per month.....

 

The Ram Air hood on the SS's do flow. I wouldn't tend to think that the pathway the air has to take would make a huge difference.

I mean, consider a vaccum cleaner, with a long hose extension. If you put some bends in the vaccum hose, does it affect the vaccum cleaner's suction? Not all that much.

The same would apply to an SS hood I believe. Perhaps the SS hood doesn't start flowing well until it reaches higher speeds due to the rather large ductwork of the hood.

 

Eventually (i.e. at a high enough speed...most likely well over 100mph), the SS hood will probably make a difference. However, a vacuum does not exist between the SS hood/intake that would provide "suction" of the air into the engine. Therefore, the only thing pushing the air in is the forward motion of the car. It appears that the ductwork is not of uniform volume throughout the entire path as well...a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. But I doubt that the SS hood will flow any more air than the direct openings of a Trans Am (not WS6).