Your Recipe for Turning a 1LE Into a Z/28 Performer

[Col. Brain]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

Being cost efficient, what's your ideas for taking a 1LE to Z/28 performing levels?

add cam, intake, headers, exhaust, and possibly heads. Should be over 450whp which the Z/28 will be at. (wont have the dry sump though)

Z/28 wheels and tires. Sell the 1LE - probably take a little hit but if a brand new 1LE should be able to do this swap for little cost.

Call up Pedders

Remove rear seats and anything not needed in the car (can probably get it lighter than the Z/28 depending how much you want to take out).

I priced something similar but going with a procharger and i am confident i could build a very nice Camaro 1LE for under 60k and i wouldnt need the LS7 swap

Granted this is not a shop doing the work either and depending on what track you visit the most boost might not be the best option either

[BullF-16]

Here's what i have done to get my 1ss up to Z28 levels

HKE built LSX 427 at 14 psi, 758whp...overkill i know but its fun

custom Earls extra wide 16 row oil cooler...factory is garbage

I have made 3 trips down to see Justice Pete himself and have the full Justice road course package with Pedders ZL1 sways and dual adj supercar coilovers.
Upgraded to 12kg coils on all 4 corners with a corner balance. We got all 4 corners within 5 pounds of each other! Surprisingly with a full tank and the iron block and the meth and blower the car weighed in at 4112 lbs. So with a little effort i could easily get it to 3800lbs.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300581

Pedders adjustable camber plates....4 minutes and im at -2.8 camber

Pedders Camaro Forgeline DE3Ps 19x10.5 wrapped in 305/30R19 Michelin Pilot Supersports and R compounds for the track if i feel the need(no dry sump so probably not)

CTSV-6 piston caliper and larger rotor running Cobalt Friction XR1/XR3 pads

GForce engineering 9" rear end with Strange Strac 3.50 diff 35 spline. 3.5" alum one piece Dynotec driveshaft

Going twin turbo in Jan, PTE6766 turbos and 20psi for about 1100rwhp. Yea, i know, but this car is more of a "jack of all trades" than can run a good road course time and still run 9s in the quarter.

Plan on a boost controller and low boost setting for the road course....or just learn to control the right foot.

[Mgizzle]

Small engine mods, i would go katech kit, z/28 engine and diff cooler, 6 piston from zl1 brake kit, actually red cts v, and get nitto or other r compound tires. pfadt coils, bucket seats 1pc, rear seat delete with 21lbs deka battery and i am certain you will have a quick car.

Seats will be $1500 with hardware, 50lbs lighter. Rear delete 50lbs lost too. Battery is $100 worst case, 20-30lbs lighter. Coils $3000, and 10-15lbs lighter. Not sure if cooling features would work on 1le but that will be expensive $2000 lets say, ~30lbs added weight. Brakes $2000, a lil heavier. Tires amd wheels will be lighter if u buy the z ones but u can get good money for 1le ones too.

100lbs lighter and around $7k. Plenty to drop on motor or the prefered choice, pads and tires.

[SnoopyAce7]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

Cool idea. Z/28 on a budget.

Here would be my list for a low cost Z/28b (for bargain):

Start with a bare white 1SS with NPP and Recaros only. Really this is still a very well equipped car. (But I love tunes so I also would add BA) Every other option adds weight and is not in the spirit of the Z/28.

• LT Headers (get the stepped or 2" for extra power)
• Hiflow Cats
• CAI
• CAI Scoop
• Tune (Skip this and keep your warranty)
• 18" Wheels - Picking TSW Interlagos (in Black) here, light (< 20 lbs), but fairly inexpensive. You will need to trim the roller skates and notch the knuckle? to get big 18s on the front. No spacers!
• Michelin Pilot Sports (Biggest square setup that will fit the 18's)
• A slightly larger rear sway bar
• Full differential and cradle poly bushings and the few other rear bushings
• Radius Rod Inserts (Every Camaro should have this)
• Catch Can
• Tick clutch line and separate clutch reservoir
• Upgraded brake lines
• Better brake fluid
• Fender hash marks, also on the hood like the 1LE prototype (A must)
• Plastidip all chrome (very important to set the mood)
• Tow hook (Another mood setter. Could come in handy, but I hope not)
• GoPro and suction cup to get good movies of the pretty Z/28 tail lights

The SS brakes are really good. Only if you seriously track will you need anything more. Stick with the stock pads. There are some things you can do to shed 100 pounds more, but this gets expensive fast.

I would wager with equal drivers the Z/28b would be able to keep a stock Z/28 in sight on any track. At least for a while.

And finally add a mild cam and real track tires to get even with the Z/28. If you can DIY the cam is not that expensive.

Would you like some candles to go with all that mood

[2cnd chance]

Lovin' the ideas! For reference see below.

[Dropspeed]

Very simply: Tons of seat time and a couple of mods:

IMO 1LE has 2 glaring weak spots. Front brake repeatability and power delivery in a corner. It also has 2 areas of concern: power deficiencies and its weight. Once those have been solved you can look further at wheels, tires, suspension.....

1. Brakes can be cured with the CTSV front brake set-up w/Motul 600 : $1,700ish
2. Needs a real rear diff: $800 (if you pull the diff and take it to get installed)

1. More Power: That has been covered...pick your poison, but stay away from adding the weight of forced induction if this is going to be a track car.
2. Weight: How far are you willing to go?:

• lighter battery
• remove rear seats
• install lighter front seats (how to defeat airbag light?)
• CF deck lid (save 10lbs)
• Coilovers, lighter exhaust, sound deadening....ect.

TONS And TONS of seat time......


-Matt

[woodside783]

Originally Posted by BullF-16

Here's what i have done to get my 1ss up to Z28 levels

HKE built LSX 427 at 14 psi, 758whp...overkill i know but its fun

custom Earls extra wide 16 row oil cooler...factory is garbage

I have made 3 trips down to see Justice Pete himself and have the full Justice road course package with Pedders ZL1 sways and dual adj supercar coilovers.
Upgraded to 12kg coils on all 4 corners with a corner balance
Pedders adjustable camber plates....4 minutes and im at -2.8 camber

Pedders Camaro Forgeline DE3Ps 19x10.5 wrapped in 305/30R19 Michelin Pilot Supersports and R compounds for the track if i feel the need(no dry sump so probably not)


CTSV-6 piston caliper and larger rotor running Cobalt Friction XR1/XR3 pads

GForce engineering 9" rear end with Strange Strac 3.50 diff 35 spline. 3.5" alum one piece Dynotec driveshaft

Going twin turbo in Jan, PTE6766 turbos and 20psi for about 1100rwhp. Yea, i know, but this car is more of a "jack of all trades" than can run a good road course time and still run 9s in the quarter.




Plan on a boost controller and low boost setting for the road course....or just learn to control the right foot.

Z/1000 edition

[BullF-16]

Originally Posted by woodside783

Z/1000 edition

LOL! pretty much though.

I still have my LS3 broken down in the garage. Plan is to sleeve it and run about 440 or so cubes. Go with 12-13 to 1 CR with a good road course cam. probably gonna set it up dry sump also.

I think the LSX will be fun for quite a while though.

[j-rho]

What is wrong with the 1le diff?

[Firefighter]

Originally Posted by j-rho

What is wrong with the 1le diff?

It's just the standard locker from an SS. The Z/28 uses the same rear with a different cover that has a built in fluid cooler, it also has a Torsen carrier/differential that has a worm gear mechanism. It's very similar to a Trutrac from Detroit Locker. They are both better for road track duties.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by SnoopyAce7

Would you like some candles to go with all that mood

Yes, good idea! I fixed it for me.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by woodside783

Z/1000 edition

Exactly!

[Dropspeed]

Originally Posted by Firefighter

It's just the standard locker from an SS. The Z/28 uses the same rear with a different cover that has a built in fluid cooler, it also has a Torsen carrier/differential that has a worm gear mechanism. It's very similar to a Trutrac from Detroit Locker. They are both better for road track duties.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

Yes. And 10/10ths drivers will notice that it opens up (slips) on track and you end up with a peg leg or one wheel peel instead of putting the power to the ground.

[BullF-16]

Originally Posted by BullF-16

Here's what i have done to get my 1ss up to Z28 levels

HKE built LSX 427 at 14 psi, 758whp...overkill i know but its fun

custom Earls extra wide 16 row oil cooler...factory is garbage

I have made 3 trips down to see Justice Pete himself and have the full Justice road course package with Pedders ZL1 sways and dual adj supercar coilovers.
Upgraded to 12kg coils on all 4 corners with a corner balance. We got all 4 corners within 5 pounds of each other! Surprisingly with a full tank and the iron block and the meth and blower the car weighed in at 4112 lbs. So with a little effort i could easily get it to 3800lbs.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300581

Pedders adjustable camber plates....4 minutes and im at -2.8 camber

Pedders Camaro Forgeline DE3Ps 19x10.5 wrapped in 305/30R19 Michelin Pilot Supersports and R compounds for the track if i feel the need(no dry sump so probably not)

CTSV-6 piston caliper and larger rotor running Cobalt Friction XR1/XR3 pads

GForce engineering 9" rear end with Strange Strac 3.50 diff 35 spline. 3.5" alum one piece Dynotec driveshaft

Going twin turbo in Jan, PTE6766 turbos and 20psi for about 1100rwhp. Yea, i know, but this car is more of a "jack of all trades" than can run a good road course time and still run 9s in the quarter.

Plan on a boost controller and low boost setting for the road course....or just learn to control the right foot.

I added a link to Justice Petes writeup from my last visit down to Pedders HQ.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300581

The common SS and the 1LE can be upgraded close to the Z28 imho for quite a bit of coin. Why is this thread a good read? Because based on the numbers GM plans to crank out.........it will be a very, very difficult car to obtain. Not as bad as the COPO but......still difficult.

I personally dont care about the value of a 2014 original Z28 40 years from now with 5 miles on it. I built my car to drive the hell out of. Its still a work in progress and have yet to get it out to the road course but the time is fast approaching.

Its a ton of fun on the back roads of north Texas. And the drives down to Kerrville/Fredericksberg (Pedders HQ) was also quite a rush.