Touring Build Recommendations - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Dirgam · 09-15-2023, 06:56 AM

Looking for suggestions / recommendations for mods. I am getting ready to retire and want to be able to enjoy the Camaro on cross country road trips. I can leave it stock but that's no fun. I also don't want to add handling and performance mods that make it difficult to spend multiple hours in day after day.

I have already ordered the MGW short throw and have a CAI installed. Am thinking of Borla Touring or NPP exhaust w/long tube headers. Ported throttle body and intake manifold probably will be fine. After that I get concerned about usability for long road trips.

Looking forward to your feedback

RupertPupkin · 09-15-2023, 07:12 AM

Stick with long tubes with hf cats, and npp. Ported tb, and intake not worth it unless you're cammed. If you want to increase power do it, but won't be noticeable. Borlas might create too much drone especially if you're going to be doing road trips.

MSgt O · 09-15-2023, 07:58 AM

If youre touring, leave it stock, get some new shocks, and hit the open road! I would ceramic coat it, makes it easier to wash the bugs off...

1JEWLDSSRS · 09-15-2023, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSgt O

If youre touring, leave it stock, get some new shocks, and hit the open road! I would ceramic coat it, makes it easier to wash the bugs off...

^^^^ This, agreed.. Once ya start messing with the suspension by lowering it to make it "more" aggressive, you lose some of the ride quality. As they are stock they make great touring cars. Before I modded mine I used to travel to and from NC which is about 750 miles one way, and it was a nice ride, even on the winding mountain roads. Again, start messing with the stock exhaust you run the risk of creating some drone, which will after awhile drive you nuts and give you a headache! If you are just going to use it as a "touring car", enjoy it how it is.

Dirgam · 09-15-2023, 12:36 PM

Thanks for the feedback. Agree on suspension and performance, I do want a bit more bark in the exhaust that why I was considering the factory NPP

morepowerjoe · 09-15-2023, 07:33 PM

I would definitely do long tubes and a mild tune and not mess with the transmission settings. It's really hard to find a good tranny tuner that's why I recommend not messing with it. You can do a mail order tune from GPI if you don't want to go with a dyno tune and their the best in the business for tuning in my opinion and their tranny tuning isn't that bad. As far as the exhaust goes I would keep the factory exhaust to keep droning on the highway to a minimum. CAI for sure and then call it done. It will really wake the car up and you will enjoy the extra power for sure

The only suspension upgrade I would do is a bilstein shock and strut swap out.

NiteProwlerSS · 09-15-2023, 09:22 PM

He has a stick shift car so he doesn't need tranny tuning. I have a Borla S-type and its fine with stock manifolds. You could look into a Corsa system, they're supposed to be drone free. Not sure how loud the Corsa systems are though.

myold88 · 09-15-2023, 10:59 PM

I put the Solo J/Pipe Axle-back Exhaust on my '10 SS L99 and never have any drone
at any RPM. Since I also bought mine for interstate road trips, I insulated my unibody
from the front seats back including the floors, 1/4 panels, wheel housings and trunk
floor 100%. Great sound outside and very quiet inside. perfect for the highway.
Note that there is 0 unibody insulation in these Camaro- Absolutely NONE !
And I would leave it stock. 14 years and 72, 000 miles without one problem.

1JEWLDSSRS · 09-16-2023, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiteProwlerSS

He has a stick shift car so he doesn't need tranny tuning. I have a Borla S-type and its fine with stock manifolds. You could look into a Corsa system, they're supposed to be drone free. Not sure how loud the Corsa systems are though.

I have the Corsa ZL1 Sport catback and it is pretty loud at idle and wicked loud at WOT, but there is absolutely NO drone at any speed cruising!! Expensive it was, but I love it and so do the folks at the shows/cruises.

rdavis · 09-16-2023, 05:18 PM

Im kind of in the same situation. As I get older [63] Im worried less and less about how fast it is. I have a retro fitted npp & absolutely love it. Keep the valves closed , still a nice rumble & absolutely no drone on the highway. I hear just enough to know the engine is running & thats it. Valves open & its pretty rowdy. I like having the choice. I have long tubes & 3.91's which are still fine for the open road. 2k is 75mph. Even though I have a baby cam I still have considered an even milder cam than I have now. But it sounds so gool lol ...

1JEWLDSSRS · 09-16-2023, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdavis

Im kind of in the same situation. As I get older [63] Im worried less and less about how fast it is. I have a retro fitted npp & absolutely love it. Keep the valves closed , still a nice rumble & absolutely no drone on the highway. I hear just enough to know the engine is running & thats it. Valves open & its pretty rowdy. I like having the choice. I have long tubes & 3.91's which are still fine for the open road. 2k is 75mph. Even though I have a baby cam I still have considered an even milder cam than I have now. But it sounds so gool lol ...

Dirgam · 09-17-2023, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdavis

Im kind of in the same situation. As I get older [63] Im worried less and less about how fast it is. I have a retro fitted npp & absolutely love it. Keep the valves closed , still a nice rumble & absolutely no drone on the highway. I hear just enough to know the engine is running & thats it. Valves open & its pretty rowdy. I like having the choice. I have long tubes & 3.91's which are still fine for the open road. 2k is 75mph. Even though I have a baby cam I still have considered an even milder cam than I have now. But it sounds so gool lol ...

Yeah I'm with you on this. Give me a bit of torque and some noise and I'll be happy.

xstuntman · 09-17-2023, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myold88

I put the Solo J/Pipe Axle-back Exhaust on my '10 SS L99 and never have any drone
at any RPM. Since I also bought mine for interstate road trips, I insulated my unibody
from the front seats back including the floors, 1/4 panels, wheel housings and trunk
floor 100%. Great sound outside and very quiet inside. perfect for the highway.
Note that there is 0 unibody insulation in these Camaro- Absolutely NONE !
And I would leave it stock. 14 years and 72, 000 miles without one problem.

I agree, most manufacturers skip on sound proofing and once you do it it's pretty amazing how much difference there is. My BIL did a dinky little Nissan and it was Mercedes quiet inside on the highway.

09-15-2023, 06:56 AM	#1
Dirgam Drives: 2012 VR GFX SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 94 View My Garage	Touring Build Recommendations Looking for suggestions / recommendations for mods. I am getting ready to retire and want to be able to enjoy the Camaro on cross country road trips. I can leave it stock but that's no fun. I also don't want to add handling and performance mods that make it difficult to spend multiple hours in day after day. I have already ordered the MGW short throw and have a CAI installed. Am thinking of Borla Touring or NPP exhaust w/long tube headers. Ported throttle body and intake manifold probably will be fine. After that I get concerned about usability for long road trips. Looking forward to your feedback

09-15-2023, 07:12 AM	#2
RupertPupkin Drives: 2014 Camaro SS 1Le Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: IL Posts: 1,606	Stick with long tubes with hf cats, and npp. Ported tb, and intake not worth it unless you're cammed. If you want to increase power do it, but won't be noticeable. Borlas might create too much drone especially if you're going to be doing road trips. __________________ 2014 SS 1LE Money Pit/ Forged 402 CAM 22X/24X, .619/.617, 113 LSA/ LS9 Heads FIC 1200cc/DSX Aux Pump//McLeod RXT Clutch 730whp: 630Trq

09-15-2023, 07:33 PM	#6
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,105	I would definitely do long tubes and a mild tune and not mess with the transmission settings. It's really hard to find a good tranny tuner that's why I recommend not messing with it. You can do a mail order tune from GPI if you don't want to go with a dyno tune and their the best in the business for tuning in my opinion and their tranny tuning isn't that bad. As far as the exhaust goes I would keep the factory exhaust to keep droning on the highway to a minimum. CAI for sure and then call it done. It will really wake the car up and you will enjoy the extra power for sure The only suspension upgrade I would do is a bilstein shock and strut swap out. __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

09-15-2023, 09:22 PM	#7
NiteProwlerSS Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: May 2023 Location: KY Posts: 78	He has a stick shift car so he doesn't need tranny tuning. I have a Borla S-type and its fine with stock manifolds. You could look into a Corsa system, they're supposed to be drone free. Not sure how loud the Corsa systems are though. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS LS3 M6

09-15-2023, 10:59 PM	#8
myold88 Drives: SUMMIT WHITE 2SS/RS CAMARO Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 2018: Lakewood Ranch, Fl. Posts: 8,112 View My Garage	I put the Solo J/Pipe Axle-back Exhaust on my '10 SS L99 and never have any drone at any RPM. Since I also bought mine for interstate road trips, I insulated my unibody from the front seats back including the floors, 1/4 panels, wheel housings and trunk floor 100%. Great sound outside and very quiet inside. perfect for the highway. Note that there is 0 unibody insulation in these Camaro- Absolutely NONE ! And I would leave it stock. 14 years and 72, 000 miles without one problem. __________________

09-15-2023, 07:58 AM	#3
MSgt O Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Vert LS3/M6 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 660	If youre touring, leave it stock, get some new shocks, and hit the open road! I would ceramic coat it, makes it easier to wash the bugs off...

09-15-2023, 12:36 PM	#5
Dirgam Drives: 2012 VR GFX SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 94 View My Garage	Thanks for the feedback. Agree on suspension and performance, I do want a bit more bark in the exhaust that why I was considering the factory NPP

09-16-2023, 05:18 PM	#10
rdavis Drives: 2012 SS Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 121	Im kind of in the same situation. As I get older [63] Im worried less and less about how fast it is. I have a retro fitted npp & absolutely love it. Keep the valves closed , still a nice rumble & absolutely no drone on the highway. I hear just enough to know the engine is running & thats it. Valves open & its pretty rowdy. I like having the choice. I have long tubes & 3.91's which are still fine for the open road. 2k is 75mph. Even though I have a baby cam I still have considered an even milder cam than I have now. But it sounds so gool lol ... __________________ 2012 2SS/RS 6speed, Howards asa cam on 113lsa Stainless works LT's, NPP exhaust, Z28 Cai, 3.91 gears. Tuned by Blue Thunder 2 racing Lubbock Texas.