[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by 2023_ZL1-AUTO

Great points and thank you! That's the first time my tank has even been under 1/4 to be honest. I ran it low as I have to take the car up to Katech for a bit of additional misc. work and didn't want them to have to deal with a tank for of gas! But good points! As for tires, I'll probably find some bead lock wheels I like and go with MT Street Rs ? I know I will need to change the size.

Fitment on those carbon fiber mirror covers looks pretty good, I have a bunch of Carbonaddons pieces for the interior and they are all top notch, too.

I have to qualify my statement on tires, because I assumed you'd want actually streetable tires, of course there are drag radials that stick like glue, but they're unusable on the street.

Not sure where those Mickey Thompsons fall along the range, but they have little to no tread, if you drive the car in the cold and/or wet in Ohio with this much power, you'll either feather the throttle and avoid puddles like the plague or just not drive at all. They only come in up to 18" sizes, so you'd need new wheels and hope the rear brakes still fit. The ET Street S/S looks more street friendly, comes in more sizes and uses the same compound, so it should be equally sticky, at least in dry and warm weather.

Either way, a man's gotta do what he's gotta do when his ZL1 has +200 hp above stock It's your car and your money after all, and it never hurts to experiment. I will say that I got rid of the Toyo R888Rs as fast as I could because of the whine, heh, never even got to testing them in a downpour, but they didn't blow me away at the dragstrip either.

[JSH]

I drove my new 2020 350 miles and then changed HX, CAI, heads, valve train, LT, and lower pulley, which made a nice street car.

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

Good points arpad_m ! My car has only been in the rain once since I bought it new and that was on the drive back from the dealership!

I completed the install of the new carbon fiber parts. WOW do they look great! The door pull trim looks nice along side my carbo fiber wheel! Also, WOW does the hood scoop look way better IMHO vs the high gloss black speckle painted stock one. Everything fit perfect and the hood scoop only took about 20 minutes from start to finish. There are different length bolts that hold it all in place. So, I made note on a piece of paper where the longer vs shorter bolts went. The advice above to use a heat gun on the stock scoop to let the sticky tape pull off easier was a life saver !

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

and... now I'm bugged by the visually high gloss black side skirts... UGH !

[arpad_m]

Now you want those in carbon fiber, too? Next thing you know, you'll be swapping the splitter, the wing and the rear diffuser

[SierraStormZL1]

Wow...what a journey! Took me two evenings of reading to get through it all, haha. Two years of updates...Thanks for sharing. I love all the detail and as a new ZL1 owner (just picked up a 2023 Convertible with 2400 miles on it, bone stock), I learned a fair amount from this thread. So thanks again and I look forward to doing my own build in the near future.

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

Congrats on the ZL1 - What an awesome car to own !!!! It looks good, the red with the black trim and hood scoop, looks wicked !!! Glad you found my thread useful! I made some good choices and a few not so good choices, and some bad mistakes. But, I had a lot of help and encouragement from many members here, and that really helped me get to the finish line! I think at some point I will do a "If I could do this all over again post". List out all the things that I did or didn't do that I I liked and what I didn't and what I would change or not do at all! This is a great community and we all share one goal: The Chevy Camaro ZL1 is part of us and it will never die even if GM tries to kill it!

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

I thought it would be an interesting read, if I recapped my build and mod process since it’s been two years since starting it. So, basically attempt to describe the good, the bad and the ugly, what I did, what I wish I would have done, and what I would and would not do again!

A little history that I may have posted at one point or another. I originally bought my 2023 ZL1 in December, 2022. I did so without doing much research if any at all on the car itself. I just knew it was a Camaro, one of the higher performance stock packages you could get and it had a supercharger! I mean really, what else would need considered before buying it!

At the time, one of the main reasons I rushed into buying the car. Was due to the talk ramping up that it was possibly the last year for the Camaro. I knew if I was going to buy one, I wanted to buy it new. The day I got the itch to buy one, I was at a client of mine that bought their fleet vehicles from a Chevy/GM dealer. I asked my client if he would call his guy up and find out if they had a 2023 ZL1 A10 Coupe in stock. He made the call, the guy had one and I provisionally bought it over the phone. The rest as they say, “is history”!

A bit of a back story on my love for the Camaro. For me, a Camaro was always the dream car I wanted to own. Back in high school, if you would have given me a 1969 Z/28. I would have thought I died and gone to heaven. I wanted that kind of car so bad, all through high school (1983-1986) I dreamed of owning a car like that. Many of my friends in high school had 1970 - 1975 Camaro’s. Their Camaro’s ranged from looking and sounding BAD AZZ, to ugly as stink with tons of body filler, 3 colors of primer and sounded like a riding lawn mower! But, I just loved those cars! I can still remember the feeling to this day. How it felt to be the lucky one that rode shotgun verses riding in the back and sitting in the middle between the two seats right over top the hump where the driveshaft was.

When I was a freshman in high school, my neighbor sold me an old beat up, but good running 1970 ½ Pontiac Firebird on payments. I paid her $50 a month for a total of $400. If I’m remembering correctly, it was the color, Coronado Gold, it had a 400 small block and a 400 Turbo transmission and I was thrilled to own it. The car had rusted quarter panels around the wheel wells and the frame was trash, and had no back seat. But, I had something to tinker around and mess with. I learned how to do body work, learned the mechanical work and basically had something to keep me out of trouble after school and on the weekend. My dad eventually got tired of it blocking the garage door and he sold it to a scrapper. But, it was something that became part of me during my high school years. Believe it or not, I knew someday later in life I’d eventually get a dream muscle car!

During my 20’s, here and there, I had the opportunity to buy several Camaro’s, both older and newer models. But at the time, I was more interested in motorcycles (“crotch rockets”). I had a Ninja 600, Ninja ZX-7 (what was an AMA Super Bike at the time), and later a Ninja ZX-10 and that was my thrill. I even got my WERA (Western Eastern Roadracing Association) provisional license and tried to do that a few summers as a provisional amateur. But, after crashing for like the 12th time and ending up in the ER for the 5th time with a major knee injury and then several months of recovery. I decided enough was enough and to stop tempting fate. So, I sold the last of my motorcycles and called it a day.

I started driving what I considered nicer cars, BMWs and a Toyota Supra Turbo etc. But, I always felt like something I wanted in a car was missing. Shortly after my motorcycle phase, I got married, bought a house and started a family. So needless to say, extra money to buy a “fun” car was not possible.

Eventually, kids got older, completed college (the youngest still has a few years to go), moved out on their own and started their lives as young adults. It was at that point I had the option to get a fun car. I didn’t do much research on the ZL1 before buying it. I knew the ZL1 package was one of the top packages Chevy offered for the Camaro and I figured that’s the one for me!

The test drive was very impressive. My brother in-law who’s a great car guy himself (he owns and bought new, a 1984 Camaro IROC-Z that he’s built over the years), took me to the dealer to buy the car. In fact, I let him do the first test drive, and wow was he impressed with the car. Eventually, we switched seats and I took over the driving and I too, was overly impressed with the car! This car had amazing performance and handling! I finalized the deal and 99 miles later, I arrived home and pulled it into my garage and parked it and then it happened. I knew I was going to mod the car, just didn’t know what I’d mod at the time.

So, I started buying tools, tool chests, an air compressor, air tools and other garage items, including a set of 7000TL QuickJack’s! I started thinking, all muscle cars needed a race cam, a bigger carburetor (throttle body now a days), headers and a high-performance exhaust! At least that’s what I remember from back in high school! That brings me to today, the end of my build/mods to my ZL1. I’m not saying I’ll never mod anything else on my ZL1 again. But, anything major at this point, probably won’t be done.

So, what did I do and what would I have done differently. First off, I’m still glad I didn’t open the engine, meaning glad I didn’t do a CAM, heads, pistons etc. I’m thankful I’ve been able to hit the 784rwhp and 678rwtq @ 19psi boost with all bolt on mods. Below, is a list I’ve posted before and is basically my camaro6 signature (I am having the FI Interchiller Stage 2 kit installed currently):

CSP 2" Long Tubes made by Stainless Works
Gesi G-Sport High Flow CATs
Stainless Works Legend NPP Axle Back
Roto-Fab Big Gulp
Kong NM103mm
Kong X-Port
Griptech 2.3" Upper
ATI Super Damper w/9.45" (18%) Lower
TooHigh PSI Port Injection w/Siemens 875cc Injectors
Brisk RR14S Plugs
Granatelli Malevolent Coil Packs
FI Interchiller Stage 2 w/IAT3 : TBD
Katech Low Profile Billet Valve Covers
Katech Duel Fuel Pump System
Mighty Mouse Wild 1000HP CC
DSX Flex Fuel Kit
DSX Billet Lid
DMS 2gal Fender Tank
Unlocked T93 TCM
NT555R2's 285/305
Katech Tuned
Straight E85 = 784rwhp / 678rwtq @ 19psi

What would I have done differently or not at all? It’s tricky to say, but knowing the amount of time and money I spent modding my ZL1, and the mistakes I made, a side from almost losing a thumb due to a jack stand incident. If I did it all over again, I personally would have taken it to a shop, most likely Katech from the beginning and had them do the complete built. Don’t get me wrong, I loved working on my car and modding it every minute I spent doing so. I learned a ton during the process and it was extremely enjoyable, yet frustrating, but also rewarding. I’m also not the kind of person that needs to step back and say, yep I did all that myself and beat my chest, and it’s not an ego thing with me either. For me, it was more of a challenge and a learning process vs anything else.

One major thing I would do differently now before starting the build myself. Would have been to do research, research and research even more before ordering the first part. I should have learned more before starting my build, especially from everyone that had already been there and done that. I would have loved to learned better what parts work good with each other and which ones didn’t.

Additionally, I would have planned out what I wanted at the beginning. I should have started with what was my goal for rwhp/rwtq and then planned how to get there. If I would have known this from the beginning, it would have been less money and time wasted and less stress incurred.

I know now how important it was to know what my end goal was before getting started. This would have allowed me to make less mistakes and planned out things much better. I went through a few unneeded processes during my build, processes I could have skipped if I had just done more research prior to ordering parts, tools etc.

I also didn’t expect the number of tools I needed and had to buy to complete the build correctly and efficiently. Things like specialty tools such as exhaust tube cutters and fuel line disconnect tools. When I started working on my car, I didn’t know what I was doing and truth be known, I probably still don’t know! I didn’t know how to get from stock to rock, didn’t know what mods/parts I needed or even what parts worked ok, good, great or bad.

For instance:

I’m not sure why I went with 2” long tubes vs 1 7/8”. I figured bigger had to be better and bigger had to directly relate to less exhaust restriction.

I first went with a 100mm throttle body because the blower was still stock, not ported. But then, went with a 103mm after I had the blower X-Ported by Kong. I knew from the beginning I would probably eventually do an X-port and not sure why I didn’t do that when I started.

I went through three cold air intakes: A Cold Air Induction’s carbon fiber intake (stock TB), a regular Roto-Fab (100mm TB) and then a Big Gulp (103mm TB).

I originally replace my stock axle back with the Corsa Xtreme NNP. But, after it was installed, to me, the sound (maybe since I had 2” long tubes) was too rattle’ly / tin can’ish sounding. So, I switched the Corsa’s out for the Stainless Works Legend Series NNP. This gave me the deeper volume of sound I remember V8 muscle cars sounding like that I grew up around.

I replaced my stock coil packs and if I remember correctly, just because the red Granatelli Malevolent’s looked cool and they produce 3x the output voltage vs the stock coil packs, 85,000v vs 25,000v (not even sure why I thought that meant anything)!

I went with a few other items to dress the engine bay up, coil relocation kit, valve covers, and DSX supercharger lid. Then, additional mods later down the road required the coil relocation kit and the valve covers to be replaced with other parts compatible with the most recent engine mods I was doing. So, yeah, I should have done a million times the amount of research I did before removing the first screw or bolt!

But, to get back on the topic if I did it all over again. I would have been happy with a Stage 3 level build targeting 800rwhp. For me, that would have been the sweet spot for how I drive my car. Meaning, not too aggressive for the street, but really good power and performance for any street car to be impressive! I feel I would have maybe skipped the whole E85 mod just to prevent needing to overhaul the fuel system and run 94 pump gas.

Many of the reasons I listed above for not doing the work myself. Is why I eventually decided to take my car to Katech earlier this year and have them install the THPSI Port injection, Dual drop in fuel pump, replace/add the fuel lines, add their FlexFuel adapter and add a Griptec 2.3” upper, an ATI Damper and the 9.45” lower and a few other items. Katech now has my car back in their shop and they are installing my FI Interchiller Stage 2 kit! I can’t wait to get the car back, even though winter is just getting started here in central Ohio. But, when I dropped the car off this past weekend. I noticed every lift had a corvette on it and probably 6 more parked in the garage along with a few Camaro’s, all being worked on or waiting to be worked on. I’m glad their busy, I’m also glad it’s winter time!

Hope this wasn’t boring or too much for a “I’ve already posted all this”. Thanks for being part of my build!

[Patriot Motorsports USA]

Originally Posted by 2023_ZL1-AUTO

Hope this wasn’t boring or too much for a “I’ve already posted all this”. Thanks for being part of my build!

I wanted to tell you this has been a great read and I swear its only later in life we cherish the builds.

My Sophomore year in High School, my friend's parents gave him a 1984 red Z28 and I was jealous. I then worked my ass off at a Toyota dealership until I could get my feet into a 1985 MR2, then moved on to a 1985 LX 5.0 convertible!

It would not be until the 1988 Camaro 1LE would surface for SCCA Road Racing that I would actually drive a Camaro for the first time. I would go on to have a 1989 350/auto 1LE, a 1991 B4C/1LE Texas DPS pursuit car and then a 1995 Z28 Convertible. I then switched the game and went on to a 1995 CobraR Mustang, a 2000 Cobra R and then a 2003 Terminator Cobra but not without testing the waters with a few Vipers.

Fast Forward to 2023 and I was pushed by my Daughter to stop messing with Offshore boats and come do some track days with the Family once again... I started with a test drive of a 2018 Shelby GT350 at Sebring and loved it for two sessions before the seller took it out and it's oil pump failed! I drove a 2019 ZLE M6 and it was just a few videos on YouTube from Scott Weatherford, that had me hooked on the A10. The search was brutal but I found my ZLE!!

So over the past year, I have documented my video and the journey in a new video from my channel and posted elsewhere on this site. I have several questions about your build and wonder if you are suffering the same issues I had battles with that are limiting my power. I know Katech builds a strong platform and I know for a fact when they tune a customer's car, there is a lot left on the shelf which is not the case with my brother tuning my car.

My guess is that trying to run the boost levels you are, the timing is being killed, the fueling is way too high which you get the horsepower numbers but the torque is WAY off! I was on a Mustang dyno which is typically far lower as I am spinning two rollers and not just one weighted drum... so to see what the output was in consideration of the build, help me to understand and maybe my video and the path I had to go, will help you too.

[tortilla-flats]

I agree this is a great read! Your experience has definitely influenced how I will approach my build, so thank you for that.

Out of all of this, I want to (good naturedly) pick on something you wrote in the very first post.
Your comment about the the tail lights looking like the belong on the Vette made me chuckle pretty good.
I clearly remember when the C7 was first unveiled and was almost universally criticized for the tail lights looking like they belong on a Camaro.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your journey.

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

ZLElvira - Thanks and we'll chat after the new year !

tortilla-flats - I remember that too! I changed course on my build more times than a ship that can only turn left !

Thanks all !

[cajunzl1]

2023_ZL1-AUTO

Just a few questions on your build:
1) You were able to run E60 with only a BAP, headers and intake, just to clarify the supercharger was untouched at that point?
2) Like the way you did the wiring for the BAP and repined for the JMS. Where did you get those male and female pins from?

3) Lastly could you access the red and purple wire from the trunk while it was in the harness before it goes to to the connector?

Thanks working on finalizing my mods on my ZL1.

[Bird71]

Originally Posted by 2023_ZL1-AUTO

ZLElvira - Thanks and we'll chat after the new year !

tortilla-flats - I remember that too! I changed course on my build more times than a ship that can only turn left !

Thanks all !

2023_ZL1-AUTO... any updates since the new year?

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

Originally Posted by cajunzl1

2023_ZL1-AUTO

Just a few questions on your build:
1) You were able to run E60 with only a BAP, headers and intake, just to clarify the supercharger was untouched at that point?
2) Like the way you did the wiring for the BAP and repined for the JMS. Where did you get those male and female pins from?

3) Lastly could you access the red and purple wire from the trunk while it was in the harness before it goes to to the connector?

Thanks working on finalizing my mods on my ZL1.

1) Yes - 100% Stock blower and stock upper and lower pulleys and the car was ripping and had the feel of a lot of power! I had a 100mm Soler TB at the time and not a 103mm TB like I have now.
2) Advanced Auto Parts, but also found nicer ones on Amazon that were water proof and seemed easier to connect/disconnect as needed.
3) Multiple builders told me, that is a bad idea and to intercept the wiring as close to the fuel pump controller as possible.