Camaro ZL1 Goals

[Blackdevil77]

After looking around a bit, I'm curious.

Where would a 9.55" lower pulley, Roto-fab CAI, Vmax TB, ARH long tubes, ID850's and tune get me? After looking at some dynographs in the dedicated dynograph thread, it looks like this combo gets you nearly an additional 100RWHP, and is far more simple.

Also, what primaries for the long tubes should I be looking at? 1 7/8" or 2"?

[hognutz]

IMO if your not doing the cam yourself skip it can just port the snout and run the 102mm tb.

you don't need a cam to hit your goals and the labor is high.

if I was goign to spring for cam i think I would look at the brian tooly stage 1 personally.

there is just much more tear down in a cam wich is fine if you do your own labor but if paying $80-90 I would skip it based on your goals.

you my want to think about something to deal with IAT2's at that boost level IE chiller or HX.

[Blackdevil77]

Originally Posted by hognutz

IMO if your not doing the cam yourself skip it can just port the snout and run the 102mm tb.

you don't need a cam to hit your goals and the labor is high.

if I was goign to spring for cam i think I would look at the brian tooly stage 1 personally.

there is just much more tear down in a cam wich is fine if you do your own labor but if paying $80-90 I would skip it based on your goals.

you my want to think about something to deal with IAT2's at that boost level IE chiller or HX.

So you'd recommend the 102mm TB over the Vmax ported one? Does it negatively effect drivability at all?

Would the set up I previously mentioned (without the cam and just the lower pulley) be enough to stay side by side with a GT500?

[Kevlar382]

Get the ZL1 and send it to Lingenfelter's. Tell them how fast you want to go and hand them your check book. They are get people to deal with.

[white ZL1]

Originally Posted by Kevlar382

Get the ZL1 and send it to Lingenfelter's. Tell them how fast you want to go and hand them your check book. They are get people to deal with.

I disagree. Be an informed consumer and understand what you're getting into. Ask questions, just like the OP is doing.
Then send the car and a blank check to a shop you trust.

[mylftft]

Make sure you do your homework when you pick a tuner, just about anyone can tune for wide open throttle & get you maximum rwhp out of your mods. What separates the great tuners is tuning for drivability at any rpm, speed & driving situation. Andy at ADM is 20 steps above anyone I've ever dealt with, I'm sure Lingenfelter is the same but I've never dealt with them. Look around & pick carefully, sounds like you need a phenomenal tuner for your goals of driving like stock. I'm in California & I've had ADM do 2 cars for me now, once I bring them home Andy can do any tweak I might need remotely. I'm not trying to sales pitch him to you at all, I'm sure there are other shops that can do the same, just letting you know a tuner is extremely important & I wouldn't let a little distance scare you off, you get what you pay for, ask around, do a search, some people have alot of negative reviews out there, others have none at all. On another note, I have an LS9 cam in my car & I love it, makes really good broad power, idles great & sounds very stealth, I'm a turbo car now though.

[hognutz]

Originally Posted by Blackdevil77

So you'd recommend the 102mm TB over the Vmax ported one? Does it negatively effect drivability at all?

Would the set up I previously mentioned (without the cam and just the lower pulley) be enough to stay side by side with a GT500?

if you going to go upper pulley and pull the snout. (I have not done this yet) I just think it is logical to port it and throw on the larger TB. seem like people get 10-15hp from the porting and the cars with 102MM seem to be running well.

the Vmax is a good choice if not porting the snout.

there is an issue with the motor on the 102MM not being strong enough at somepoint that people have brought up but they seem to all be beyond you goals. you can find tons of info on this issue I have not seen anybody in the range you are looking at having it.

I do my own work so I aways look at things from a do the labor once kind of thing. If I ever go upper pulley this is what I will do. right now I just have the LS3 TB as I am lower only.

there are people approaching you goals with 10" lower only and standard or l3/ls7 TB.

[Frost]

Originally Posted by BPG

.....

Most importantly, the GT500 is a better choice if drag racing is you're thing. Anyone that tells you differently...is wrong.

No, this is not the case... coming from a shop that works on both of them. It's not hard to get a bolt-ons ZL1 into the 10s even with the stock Tq. converter. Automatics are drag strip kings. The GT500 is *ONLY* available with a manual trans. You get tq multiplication at launch through a tq converter; you don't have that with a manual trans. Also, the driveline is also not preloaded with a manual.

Originally Posted by BPG

... Rowing gears on a roots blower takes some getting use to. The torque these things make cause the RPMs to come up a lot faster than I'm use to. I believe this is the reason you don't see as many M6 guys on the fast list in the 10s.

You said it yourself here.


The GT500 comes from the factory with a good bit more native boost than the ZL1 does.

[Stephen12ZL1]

Listen to Frost...he tunes my car and tunes it well. Just go with a 10.0" lower and be done as it is not too much. I started with a 9.55" lower and pullied up because the upper pulley wasn't necessary and there was room to grow. The tuning part is so important because the timing curve can only be as high as the octane available. With 93 octane, there are limitations but not as limiting as you may think. With 100 octane or meth injection, the tuner can dial in a few more degrees of timing and get 25ish more hp. The crazy guys here that run a 2.55" upper and 9.55" lower are lunatics IMHO. They are way past eaton's high rpm threshold for our blowers. Keep the IATs lower with a reservoir of some sort via an ice tank in trunk or smaller version underhood and larger heat exchanger. Of course, weather conditions make a huge difference and can vary .3-3mph easily. Your mod list looks good just so you get the car on a dyno and get it tuned properly. Good luck!

[Blackdevil77]

If I go with a larger lower, I don't think I'd bother with the upper pulley so Vmax seems like a good way to go.

I'm so torn between the two cars it's unbelievable.

Quick and simple question, that I feel like I must of asked before.

After some thinking, all I would really want to do is probably the 9.55" lower (MAYBE 10" based on Stephen recommendation) Roto-fab intake, ARH headers, ID850 injectors and tune. What should this car trap in the quarter with these modifications at sea level? Lets say I trap 118mph stock, take away the driver difference, what SHOULD the car be trapping with these modifications if it traps 118 in stock form at, let's say ATCO? 123? 125?

[Stephen12ZL1]

at least 125mph...most likely more in an A6 car.

[Frans96ss]

Give me a call if you need any help. We have done plenty of these and can steer you in the right direction.

[BPG]

Originally Posted by Frost

No, this is not the case... coming from a shop that works on both of them. It's not hard to get a bolt-ons ZL1 into the 10s even with the stock Tq. converter. Automatics are drag strip kings. The GT500 is *ONLY* available with a manual trans. You get tq multiplication at launch through a tq converter; you don't have that with a manual trans. Also, the driveline is also not preloaded with a manual.

The OP wants a bolt action tranny, which takes the rest of your auto argument completely out of topic
A stock GT500 will out trap a a stock ZL1 all day....everyday, no debate. The GT500 is a faster car M6 vs M6 through the quarter given the same driver despite skill.

You said it yourself here.


The GT500 comes from the factory with a good bit more native boost than the ZL1 does.

Yup, the GT500 is the "faster" car in stock form.

[Blackdevil77]

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

at least 125mph...most likely more in an A6 car.

I like the "at least" part I'd definitely be getting an M6. That's probably the most mandated option for me. Sounds like it should put it right with the GT500.

Originally Posted by Frans96ss

Give me a call if you need any help. We have done plenty of these and can steer you in the right direction.

Thanks Fran, I appreciate it. As soon as my current car sells, I'm gonna be picking up a ZL1 (or GT500, depending on price/deals etc). I'm going to the NY Auto Show on the 19th. I'm hoping they have both cars there available to sit in, maybe that will help me further make a decision.

I wish I was a Ford or Chevy fanboy, this decision would be so much easier lol. I just love American cars, I love both of them.