Al & team: THANK YOU!!! This is exactly the level of detail I was hoping for and
far beyond what I was expecting when I posted this question. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to provide actual lap time data to help make this decision.
Here's some things that stand out to me:
• The SS 1LE is 8.5s faster than the non-1LE on a ~2 minute course. WOW! I thought they would be much closer.
• The lowering/handling kit alone provides a much bigger benefit than I was expecting and gets you about
55% of the performance benefit of the 1LE package.
• The lowering/handling kit + SS 1LE wheel/tires get you about
77% of the performance of the 1LE package.
• I was expecting a much bigger benefit with the ZL1 1LE suspension kits on the road course. I guess you need the ZL1 1LE wheels/tires to reap the benefit of that stiff suspension setup. This also highlights that it's important to match the tires to the suspension tuning and that stiffer isn't always better (for a given tire choice).
The lowering/handling kit + SS 1LE wheel/tire seems like the sweet spot for what I’m looking for and would work perfectly in my goal of creating a "budget SS 1LE." Actually, the lowering/handling kit alone may be enough! Either way, it's nice to have data to make this decision. The lowering/handling kit combined goes for around $1500 depending on the vendor and SS 1LE (or similar) OEM wheels could be had for probably ~$1500-1800 used and $~2200 brand new if I remember correctly.
I do have some follow-up questions in mind:
• If shocks from the lowering kit wear out down the road, can those be purchased separately? If so, what's the GM part #? I assume they can be since you can order new ones with this option (though it might be dealer installed).
• Can the tire size be changed in the body control module (assuming that's where that info is stored) to reflect the SS 1LE size, so that the speedometer will be accurate and the stability/traction control will have accurate feedback?
Last question. Al, is your team hiring engineers?
