[kwav8r]

Originally Posted by Sakudog

I'd like to know which size lock washers I'll need to keep the end links in place.

For the ZL1 (not 1LE) you'll need 12mm Nordlock washers. They're not easy, but also not impossible, to find but will definitely hold better than the OEM.

[Tachitup]

Originally Posted by Electron Mike

Nice! Hope you enjoy your ZL1!



Thanks, Guards red on a Porsche is one of my favorites!



Edge Addicts are a great group, I'm jealous as I can't make that weekend!

I'm not sure which size washers I used, just had some laying around that fit plus blue loctite and as much torque as I could put on the end links. It's a pain since you have to hold the allen key while torquing it.. ugh

Other than that, just SRF brake fluid, oil change to 0w40, track alignment, and brake bed in is all I did. I would mark the suspension bolts too so you can see if they back out visually. Some were marked from the factory on my car. Have fun!

Hey Mike,

thanks for sharing your impressions and the photos of your cars. I approve of your first change being to SRF.

Getting out of a GT4 into a big ass Camaro with 650 pd/ft of torque would be quite a change. Glad you like it so much.

[Stephen12ZL1]

Originally Posted by kwav8r

For the ZL1 (not 1LE) you'll need 12mm Nordlock washers. They're not easy, but also not impossible, to find but will definitely hold better than the OEM.

Amazon has M12 Nord Lock washers in a 10 pack.

[Sakudog]

Thank you for the tips guys. I'm going to use my existing stock of ATE 1st then move to SRF when I do my track rim/tire setup next year.

M12 Nord washers on the way.

[bensf]

Thanks for the assessment and write up. Your comments seem fair and balanced to me especially given some of the problems you were having with the car. I'm coming over from the Porsche world too and have extensive seat time in a GT4 as well. Very easy to miss the GT4 as the handling is sublime. I've had 3 track days in the ZL1 1LE and thankfully have not run into the problems you've encountered. I'm still adjusting to the weight of the car lol. Despite that I'm having a lot of fun with the car. Hope the problems get sorted out and the car grows on you

[FringBirdAloha]

Beautiful cars! For anyone coming from a GT4 to speak so highly of a Camaro is a huge compliment to the Camaro. Great write up!

[ZL1 1LmE]

A good review and you are going to get some negative attention considering you are on a Camaro forum talking about another car. I also watched your other vid (assume it was you) in the GT4. From what I see that is a pretty tough track (COTA) and I can see why a GT4 would do well on it.

Looks like your oil temps got close to 270, not sure if that is high in Camaro or not, but it is getting up there for sure.

Overall wondering how you would rank the cars you had / drove on track only?
Z06 (looks like it didn't have the Z07 pkg?), GT4, 1LE, ZL1
thks

[VcrusaderV]

Nice info as well as your cars. I’ve only done drag races but I’d like to start doing some track days.

[Electron Mike]

Originally Posted by bensf

Thanks for the assessment and write up. Your comments seem fair and balanced to me especially given some of the problems you were having with the car. I'm coming over from the Porsche world too and have extensive seat time in a GT4 as well. Very easy to miss the GT4 as the handling is sublime. I've had 3 track days in the ZL1 1LE and thankfully have not run into the problems you've encountered. I'm still adjusting to the weight of the car lol. Despite that I'm having a lot of fun with the car. Hope the problems get sorted out and the car grows on you

Thanks, I hope I get the issues figured out too, it sure would make tracking a ton more fun! I may never get a GT3 or GT4 allocation, so I have to try!

Originally Posted by FringBirdAloha

Beautiful cars! For anyone coming from a GT4 to speak so highly of a Camaro is a huge compliment to the Camaro. Great write up!

Thanks. I think GM has a unique car in the ZL1. My wife and I drove our 2014 ZL1 from Texas to California and did a track event at Laguna Seca, then through Yosemite, up the coast, through the wine country, etc. I had hoped to do that again with my wife and son with the 2018 ZL1 because it was epic! I certainly could not and would not do that in a Porsche GT car.

Originally Posted by ZL1 1LmE

Looks like your oil temps got close to 270

Overall wondering how you would rank the cars you had / drove on track only?
Z06 (looks like it didn't have the Z07 pkg?), GT4, 1LE, ZL1
thks

270 isn't bad for oil temps, but we will see when it is 100 degrees outside.

Ranking cars for the track is an interesting and fun question! For track use ONLY, here is how I would rank them with their model year (recent stuff only):

Formula Mazda (2001)
Porsche GT4 (2016)
Nissan GTR BE (2014)
Corvette Stingray Z51 (2014)
Jaguar F Type R (2014)
BMW M3 (2015)
Corvette Z06 (2011)
Corvette Z06 (2002)
Camaro ZL1 1LE (2018)
Camaro ZL1 (2018)
Camaro ZL1 (2014)
Corvette Z51 (2008)
Jaguar XKR (2015)
Jaguar XFR (2015)
Cadillac CTSV (2016)
Cadillac ATSV (2016)
BMW M3 (2001)
Mustang GT (2010)
VW GTI (2010)
Corvette Z06 (2015)

The Formula Mazda is by far the best in my opinion, and I would be tracking one now if more groups allowed open wheel cars. 1300 lbs, 200 HP, no ABS or nannies, and slicks makes it great fun!

Originally Posted by VcrusaderV

Nice info as well as your cars. I’ve only done drag races but I’d like to start doing some track days.

Thank you. Give some track days a try, they are great fun and you meet some really cool folks! Just be prepared to lighten your wallet a bit.

[RedHot18]

I've got three track days completed so far, one at Sebring and two at Daytona. I've been fairly impressed with the car so far, it does make you work to drive it fast. I'm still running everything stock with the exception of the brake fluid. Reading your post I guess I should check my sway bar end links, I'm assuming rear? but not sure where to look. Thanks. Was able to run 2:08 or better at Daytona with traffic which was a few seconds faster than my best lap in 16 Stingray. The car pulls like a beast and I was faster than most of the Porsche guys, though I can see this car being not as fast on tighter more twisty tracks.

[Electron Mike]

Originally Posted by RedHot18

I've got three track days completed so far, one at Sebring and two at Daytona. I've been fairly impressed with the car so far, it does make you work to drive it fast. I'm still running everything stock with the exception of the brake fluid. Reading your post I guess I should check my sway bar end links, I'm assuming rear? but not sure where to look. Thanks. Was able to run 2:08 or better at Daytona with traffic which was a few seconds faster than my best lap in 16 Stingray. The car pulls like a beast and I was faster than most of the Porsche guys, though I can see this car being not as fast on tighter more twisty tracks.

The end links make noise when they loosen up, and in my case make a loud clunking noise over bumps. The front lower bolts were the offenders on my car.

If you jack the front up onto jack stands,l and remove the wheels, you will see four bolts in question. Two higher ones at the strut connection and two lower ones at the sway bar. Prepare to hate these as you need a 6mm allen wrench on the center to tighten the outer bolt.

[RedHot18]

I have the nord lock washers on order from Amazon and will be checking mine out as soon as they come in. I did hear a clunk the other day so would not be suprised if I have one loose. Thanks for the info Mike and your track cars are all very nice. I also have a fond spot for Porsches, have many hours in a friends GT3 RS and nothing I've driven so far is remotely close to the way a Porsche goes about running around a race track!

[Bosse'sBoss]

I used to track a '02 Porsche 911 Carrera. Porsches are amazing cars for the track. It's good that GM raised the bar with the Camaro ZL1 & 1LE, but there is no excuse for the suspension to get lose, that could be very dangerous at high speed.

[drfeelgood]

OP, I think that the difference between you, and some other folks that post reviews, is that you ACTUALLY own the car. You gave an honest review of a car that you owned and tracked, and compared it to a known track car. I don't see it any different than the post last week that someone put up of an online neutral reviewer who also posted his honest opinion and he was MUCH more brutal and everyone raved about it.

Thanks for the post, great cars, enjoy them!