[BFella]

Do the supercharger, and all the upgrades that follow. I promise you won't be disappointed.

[Fraxum]

To keep it simple the SS is 70% of a ZL1. Now the SS is one of the best performance values in the world. It is fast and even the base SS is a car that excels at the drag strip and road track. The ZL1 is one of the best performance cars in the world. That extra measure of performance is what you are paying for and the fun of owning a rare car that so many people notice and go out of their way to discuss your car with you. If you like that sort of thing, your 15 minutes of fame.

Both cars are engineered from the ground up to put a smile on your face. The difference is the ZL1 engineers had more $$ to play with. It is not cost effective to try to build a Zl1 as there are so many differences you will never get there. Like for example the ZL1 aerodynamics and advanced cooling not to mention additional performance software built in and PDR. You will not get the Ediff either, but you will only see that difference on a race track.

Check out this too:
Gen 6 Camaro Performance Manual

You can make your SS as fast in a straight line as a stock ZL1 for around 10K, maybe a little less with the A8. If that is your goal, start with a 1SS as a loaded 2SS will put you very close to 2017 used ZL1 prices, $50-55K.

As for modding I have done all of that up to a twin turbo 5th gen 1LE. And have now owned both a 5th gen and CA6 ZL1. Of all my late model Camaros my current ZL1 is my #1 favorite and not far behind is my 5th gen ZL1. I did enjoy all of my SSes, but the ZL1s are special cars.

I can say the building part of modding is the most fun. It is so cool to add or change something and see if you can notice a difference. Or put your car in a shop to get a major overhaul just like on television. If you do this pick a good shop very carefully! The best price should not be a factor. You get what you pay for. I have lived that.

But now that your car is modded you have to live with that car. Some mods that sound like a good idea are not and can ruin your driving experience. For example my TT 1LE was a blast, but after living with the turbos for a while I realized I enjoyed driving it more as a bolt-on car. I was even thinking of taking them off when bad things happened to that car.

Also think about the $$. As you invest in modding expect at the very most 25-33%of your investment back. And if you leave your mods on the car expect less. Only a very few people will buy your car, it will be hard to sell. And dealers will fleece you on a trade where you will not even get stock value on your car.

ZL1s like all CA6 Camaros will take a big depreciation hit after you buy it. But they will hold their value over time better than a modded SS and will be much easier to sell or trade.

As for the M6 <> A10 controversy, for years I only bought manual hi-po cars. For the first time though, with the 6th gen Camaro SS I was buying the slower car. I did tell myself I enjoyed driving the manual more. And most of the time it was true. But after driving the A10 ZL1 I am a convert. The transmission is so good it gives you a new kind of fun driving, playing with the modes and how it reacts to your driving. Amazing. And I can't get enough of the rapid fire SC whine, bang, SC whine bang.

What drove me away from the M6 was the GM built-in bog. But it was a good thing, my A10 ZL1 with 10 second stock potential is the perfect car for me

[DavidinGA]

Definitely, go with a ZL1 (very slightly used one for a huge discount). Upgrading a SS to ZL1 levels is just a money pit. ZL1 offers the better bang for the buck and still maintains good resale value.

[L99BEN]

Originally Posted by cleoent

Last but not least, the idea of warranty. ZL1 with warranty, 2ss without. One major thing blows up and all the money I was afraid of spending (loss on SS, and additional money down for ZL1) goes out the window.

That’s the biggest caveat making it not worth it imo. New or rebuilding an lt1 is $10k+

[GuywithL86]

Originally Posted by L99BEN

That’s the biggest caveat making it not worth it imo. New or rebuilding an lt1 is $10k+

yeah, here's a 416CI built shortblock for $6k
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-4412-t...ort-block.aspx

so that figure is absurd

Right way to do it

Buy an SS 1le, buy a 416 built long block for $10.5k, sell stock lt1 for $7k, buy TVS 2300 + lt4 fueling + intercooler + tuning
$9k

total = SS 1le + $12.5k = reliable 800whp zl1 slayer

[KingLT1]

You can rebuild a LT1 for much less then 10k and you can make sock ZL1 power for much less then 10k. Again The Weapon X LT4 blower package is 4500.00 or 6k installed and tuned. At 550whp the LT1 will live a long happy life at that power level.

The ZL1 makes more sense if you are concerned about warranty and don't want to mod... It's truly a bad ass car.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by DavidinGA

Definitely, go with a ZL1 (very slightly used one for a huge discount).

This is the way to go, if you can find one. You are basically looking for an impulse buy that didn't work out. The Ford dealer near me had one for sale for almost a year.

[BCT6956]

Originally Posted by laynlo15

I added a Magnuson Heartbeat and love it. Much cheaper especially if you started out with a 1SS like I did and will run better then the Zl1 since the aftermarket Roots blowers are all larger displacement then the 1.7 eaton that comes on the Zl1. However if I were 10 years younger (65 now) I would have bought a Zl1 A10, but I'm not and very happy with my choice.

I’m not sure where all the talk about adding a SC is cheaper. I sold my ss and bought a zl1 because it was about a wash. $20k to supercharge a SS with vengeance racing. If your looking to go that route buy a Z!

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by BCT6956

I’m not sure where all the talk about adding a SC is cheaper. I sold my ss and bought a zl1 because it was about a wash. $20k to supercharge a SS with vengeance racing. If your looking to go that route buy a Z!

You're responding to a 6-year-old post using today's prices...

[Wolfman1]

I need to find a shop close to San Antonio to install a Magnuson on my 2017 2SS. Recommendations please.