ZL1 Style Rock Guard Comparison - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

newb · 04-04-2013, 07:00 PM

I recently purchased the ZL1 rock guards from Showstopper and RPI to do a little comparison.

Showstopper ZL1 rock guard- $125/ free shipping

vs

RPI Rock Guards- $29.95 + $8.85 shipping= $38.80 (shipped to Hawaii, may be less in CONUS)

I also have the factory ZL1 rear guards for comparison of color texture and finish. I will be installing the front ones on my car soon but first wanted to compare side by side.

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I also wanted to show a comparison of the shape against the factory rear guard.

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And finally the material thickness.

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What these pictures couldn't capture well was the material texture. More importantly, the difference between them. I am one who like to mod in a few that doesn't take away from factory design. Many people want you to see what they have added but I do not. I believe the sum is greater than any one of the parts. So I wanted the parts to blend in and match the texture as well as color as close as possible. That was not the case. Both aftermarket guards have a more coarse texture than the factory parts(ZL1 sideskirts included)

newb · 04-04-2013, 07:09 PM

What you can clearly see is that the Showstopper piece closely follows the shape of the rear guard. But the RPI piece is smaller. Once i get them installed i will show how the coverage varies between the two.

On another note, the finish of the RPI piece seems better. More care was taken to round edges and clean the drilled holes(or the manufacturing process was neater).

Nick S · 04-04-2013, 07:18 PM

Can you list which one is which in your pictures above? I know which one is the OEM rear one but I do not know which one is the Showstopper and which one is the RPI.

Thanks.

right to travel · 04-04-2013, 07:22 PM

ok whats what here? i just got the $125 ones from RPI and then today i saw the $109 front and rear kit.

newb · 04-04-2013, 07:24 PM

1st picture from left to right is Factory ZL1 rear, Showstopper, RPI

Quote:

Originally Posted by right to travel

ok whats what here? i just got the $125 ones from RPI and then today i saw the $109 front and rear kit.

Are you sure you didn't get the Showstopper kit? The RPI site is odd it works. I went there expecting it to be 60 something but when I selected front only the price dropped to $30. No idea why but I'll take it.

right to travel · 04-04-2013, 07:33 PM

so i think i got the showstopper ones from rpi. i installed them on the front though are the the same ones for the rear? and what did those oem zl1 rear guards run u

newb · 04-04-2013, 07:37 PM

I don't remember what the rears cost. I ordered from MaureenM@rodgerschevrolet along with some other parts. I think they were around $60 but don't quote me on that. I try not to keep track of how much money I put into my toys.

OVERPAR73 · 04-04-2013, 07:41 PM

I still don't know why guys don't make their own, Auto Zone, $10!!!

newb · 04-04-2013, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OVERPAR73

I still don't know why guys don't make their own, Auto Zone, $10!!!

Honestly I was hoping one of them had a better material match than the products I was able to find. I was wrong

Mersades · 04-04-2013, 09:38 PM

Thanks for posting! Interested in seeing the additional photos. I installed the ZL1 rear guards and have been trying to decide what to for with for the front.

OHBuckI81 · 04-05-2013, 07:54 AM

Could you take the time to show the slide clips at the top of the showstoppers when installing??

I've made my own guards, but I'm not entirely satisfied. I only have $17 invested so far, so I'm going to perfect my design/template with these and then just go buy another set of DeeZee universals from Summit and make the final product. Texture matched perfect... my craftsmanship, not soo much. Mine follow the ZL1 shape.

Anyway, I can't figure out how to secure the top (skinny) portion of the guard. Looks like I'll have to drill. I bought a few different clips at auotzone with fastners but I'm nervous to do anything permanent (drill holes) without certainty.

cbass · 05-13-2013, 08:59 PM

NIce. Thank you for the comparison. Which ones where thicker? Did you get to installing them and posting pictures?

orangecamaro12 · 06-02-2013, 08:59 PM

Bump, any installed pics? Can't decide what I want to go with.

04-04-2013, 07:00 PM	#1
newb Drives: 2013 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: DMV Posts: 1,548	ZL1 Style Rock Guard Comparison I recently purchased the ZL1 rock guards from Showstopper and RPI to do a little comparison. Showstopper ZL1 rock guard- $125/ free shipping vs RPI Rock Guards- $29.95 + $8.85 shipping= $38.80 (shipped to Hawaii, may be less in CONUS) I also have the factory ZL1 rear guards for comparison of color texture and finish. I will be installing the front ones on my car soon but first wanted to compare side by side. I also wanted to show a comparison of the shape against the factory rear guard. And finally the material thickness. What these pictures couldn't capture well was the material texture. More importantly, the difference between them. I am one who like to mod in a few that doesn't take away from factory design. Many people want you to see what they have added but I do not. I believe the sum is greater than any one of the parts. So I wanted the parts to blend in and match the texture as well as color as close as possible. That was not the case. Both aftermarket guards have a more coarse texture than the factory parts(ZL1 sideskirts included) __________________ It's a Dingledarm. It's there to dampen side fumbling. If your marzelvanes fumble too much they can cause total protonic reversal. It gets ugly from there. This is really the biggest problem with the new Camaro. That and the tri-pronged blivot. Delivered 21 Jan 2013

04-04-2013, 07:09 PM	#2
newb Drives: 2013 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: DMV Posts: 1,548	What you can clearly see is that the Showstopper piece closely follows the shape of the rear guard. But the RPI piece is smaller. Once i get them installed i will show how the coverage varies between the two. On another note, the finish of the RPI piece seems better. More care was taken to round edges and clean the drilled holes(or the manufacturing process was neater). __________________ It's a Dingledarm. It's there to dampen side fumbling. If your marzelvanes fumble too much they can cause total protonic reversal. It gets ugly from there. This is really the biggest problem with the new Camaro. That and the tri-pronged blivot. Delivered 21 Jan 2013

04-04-2013, 07:18 PM	#3
Nick S Drives: 2013 Camaro 1LE Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Verona, WI Posts: 1,925	Can you list which one is which in your pictures above? I know which one is the OEM rear one but I do not know which one is the Showstopper and which one is the RPI. Thanks. __________________

04-04-2013, 07:37 PM	#7
newb Drives: 2013 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: DMV Posts: 1,548	I don't remember what the rears cost. I ordered from MaureenM@rodgerschevrolet along with some other parts. I think they were around $60 but don't quote me on that. I try not to keep track of how much money I put into my toys. __________________ It's a Dingledarm. It's there to dampen side fumbling. If your marzelvanes fumble too much they can cause total protonic reversal. It gets ugly from there. This is really the biggest problem with the new Camaro. That and the tri-pronged blivot. Delivered 21 Jan 2013

04-04-2013, 07:41 PM	#8
OVERPAR73 2018 Garnet Red ZL1 conve Drives: 2013 & 2018 ZL1 vert Join Date: May 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 1,471 View My Garage	I still don't know why guys don't make their own, Auto Zone, $10!!! __________________ Build Thread: 2018 ZL1 Vert Purchased (Overpar73)

04-04-2013, 07:22 PM	#4
right to travel Drives: 2013 Camaro 1SS 1LE SW Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newport RI Posts: 835 View My Garage	ok whats what here? i just got the $125 ones from RPI and then today i saw the $109 front and rear kit.

04-04-2013, 07:33 PM	#6
right to travel Drives: 2013 Camaro 1SS 1LE SW Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newport RI Posts: 835 View My Garage	so i think i got the showstopper ones from rpi. i installed them on the front though are the the same ones for the rear? and what did those oem zl1 rear guards run u

04-04-2013, 09:38 PM	#10
Mersades Web Geek Chick & NHRA fan Drives: 2010 2SS LS3 RJM Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 412 View My Garage	Thanks for posting! Interested in seeing the additional photos. I installed the ZL1 rear guards and have been trying to decide what to for with for the front. __________________

04-05-2013, 07:54 AM	#11
OHBuckI81 Drives: 2014 GMC Sierra (All-Terrain) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: OH Posts: 57 View My Garage	Could you take the time to show the slide clips at the top of the showstoppers when installing?? I've made my own guards, but I'm not entirely satisfied. I only have $17 invested so far, so I'm going to perfect my design/template with these and then just go buy another set of DeeZee universals from Summit and make the final product. Texture matched perfect... my craftsmanship, not soo much. Mine follow the ZL1 shape. Anyway, I can't figure out how to secure the top (skinny) portion of the guard. Looks like I'll have to drill. I bought a few different clips at auotzone with fastners but I'm nervous to do anything permanent (drill holes) without certainty. __________________ 2013 2SS/RS/1LE AGM NPP NAV Last edited by OHBuckI81; 04-05-2013 at 07:58 AM. Reason: proof-read

05-13-2013, 08:59 PM	#12
cbass Drives: . Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,012	NIce. Thank you for the comparison. Which ones where thicker? Did you get to installing them and posting pictures?

06-02-2013, 08:59 PM	#13
orangecamaro12 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LS; 2002 Trailblazer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Near Chicago, Illinois Posts: 128 View My Garage	Bump, any installed pics? Can't decide what I want to go with.