[KingLT1]

It isn't any different than putting 20-30k into a ZL1. There are lots of modded ZL1's for sale that have 20-30k in them listed for as much or less than buying a stock one. The OP mentioned eventually wanting 900whp from a ZL1. That will take 20+k to get there. His current SS is only a Supercharger and fuel system away from 700whp. The trans and stock bottom end will hold that. The cam that is in the car now bleeds off enough dynamic compression it will actually have a wider tuning window vs a stock cam car. So do the supercharger and fueling fist. Put a forged bottom end and build trans later when you want the 900. It will cost less to hit these power goals with the SS in this case.

Again, If the OP was still stock, yes it makes all the sense to go to the ZL1. But sense he is upside down already on it, might as well keep modding it.

Now if you just want a ZL1 because the grass looks greener on the other side, then cool! They are nice cars for sure!!

[KamZL1]

Originally Posted by Dmoney2SS

That’s exactly what has me contemplating this move. Yes a stock ZL1 might not make a lot more than my car currently does, I have no intention of keeping it stock and I’ve seen plenty bolt on ZL1s making 700+whp which is ideally where I’d like to be (until I decide I want to make 900). Like others have said, I’m pretty much maxed out power wise unless I decide to dump 10-20k on essentially a full rebuild (fueling, engine, trans, power adder)

There is no ZL1 making 700+ wheel without fueling mods. or spraying crazy amounts of meth (to each their own.) At that point, is it still bolt ons? Addressing fuel is what starts to really cost money on these cars and you HAVE to do it if you expect that power level.

[Dmoney2SS]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

It isn't any different than putting 20-30k into a ZL1. There are lots of modded ZL1's for sale that have 20-30k in them listed for as much or less than buying a stock one. The OP mentioned eventually wanting 900whp from a ZL1. That will take 20+k to get there. His current SS is only a Supercharger and fuel system away from 700whp. The trans and stock bottom end will hold that. The cam that is in the car now bleeds off enough dynamic compression it will actually have a wider tuning window vs a stock cam car. So do the supercharger and fueling fist. Put a forged bottom end and build trans later when you want the 900. It will cost less to hit these power goals with the SS in this case.

Again, If the OP was still stock, yes it makes all the sense to go to the ZL1. But sense he is upside down already on it, might as well keep modding it.

Now if you just want a ZL1 because the grass looks greener on the other side, then cool! They are nice cars for sure!!

With that being said, would it be better to go LT4 fueling or PI? Or is there something else I’m missing?

[KingLT1]

Originally Posted by Dmoney2SS

With that being said, would it be better to go LT4 fueling or PI? Or is there something else I’m missing?

Depends on fuel. If you want to run Full E without blending then you will need PI. If you are ok with blending in the E40-50 range or running MS109, LT4 fueling will be sufficient and you can do PI down the road.

[MisterMarauder]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

...a properly supercharged SS 1LE is very close, if not better than a stock ZL1.

Based on what?

[18.2SS.1LE]

Originally Posted by MisterMarauder

Based on what?

This is why I justified buying an SS 1LE vs a ZL1, at the time the ZL1 was a minimum of $20K more. I put a little over $20K into mine and have a faster, better handling car. Another thing is a ZLE will apparently beat you to death on the street, whereas the SS 1LE is a great middle ground and the ride is great on the street.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by MisterMarauder

Based on what?

Mostly beacuse it will have a much larger capacity Magnuson or a Whipple that delivers more power at similar boost levels, and is much less or not at all prone to heat soak, unlike the Eaton 1.7 that the ZL4 has. Tens, if not more, threads here on this subject. Also, the SS 1LE has the most relevant ones from the set of upgraded parts that the ZL1 was equipped with (compared to an SS).

[MisterMarauder]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Mostly beacuse it will have a much larger capacity Magnuson or a Whipple that delivers more power at similar boost levels, and is much less or not at all prone to heat soak, unlike the Eaton 1.7 that the ZL4 has. Tens, if not more, threads here on this subject. Also, the SS 1LE has the most relevant ones from the set of upgraded parts that the ZL1 was equipped with (compared to an SS).

ZL1 has a little bit better brakes than the SS 1LE and I'd wager that the non-forged LT1 is less likely to hold up to boost long term than the LT4.
But what do I know.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by MisterMarauder

ZL1 has a little bit better brakes than the SS 1LE and I'd wager that the non-forged LT1 is less likely to hold up to boost long term than the LT4.
But what do I know.

You're splitting hairs.

Sure, one can't go to crazy high boost levels with a non-built LT1, but then you don't have to, a Maggie will give you the same power at 7 psi as the LT4 can push at 11 psi, plus you'll have cooler IATs which helps with longevity.

The brakes are a bit better on the ZL1 (390 mm vs 370 mm front discs, the rears are identical), but smaller rotors are also lighter and it isn't like you couldn't swap the ZL1 brakes onto a 1LE or even on a plain SS.

[dfxrte]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

But your ZL1 has a cam and headers...so you already sunk money in it because stock evidently wasn't enough?

The difference in cost trying to sell his modded SS (which he is going to take a loss on the mods) and buying a clean ZL1 would easily pay for a forged bottom end, supercharger, and fuel system. If the SS was still stock, then yeah, I can see the logic behind it. But nobody wants to pay top dollar for a modded SS... especially a cam car because half the time they are not done correctly, and people are trying to unload them.

Prior to my zl1 being cammed and somewhat built. Bone stock vs my SS which was mainly stock as well, I would still say it was night and day. I tracked both cars stock and with some mods, and have yet to track with the cam as it was done this winter.

Agreed on ppl dumping poorly modded cars however cant speak for OP on his mods, but mine were done very spot on, decked the heads, block checked, cylinders etc etc. didn't spare much $, once i had the engine out we did a full inspection

[dfxrte]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

No contest to the fact that a ZL1 straight out the gate is more cost effective. This isn't the question here, though.

At this point, however, we've reached subjective territory. My current setup with 735 rwhp is absolutely night and day vs a stock SS and it's much faster than a stock ZL1, too. However, I rode in 900-1000 rwhp modded ZL1s, and those are the only Camaros that I feel are yet another notch higher up the "crazy pole". So to me, personally, a 200 rwhp difference (starting from sub-1000) is where "night and day" kicks in, but to someone else a much smaller gain could be life changing, too. As I said, subjective stuff.

Corner speed and out of corner acceleration depends heavily on tires and suspension, too, a properly supercharged SS 1LE is very close, if not better than a stock ZL1.

Agreed on most of what you said, just again we get to the same argument. Dumping X amount of $ into an ss 1le to be at best, marginally better than a stock zl1 which at that point, the zl1 would likely cost less & gives you that much more of a platform to work with.

Both are great options whichever direction someone goes, time and budget usually are the constraints why one picks one over the other. Ego too I guess, it's same argument the m340 guys have with the m3 guys and vice versa. At the end of the day one is an ///m or ZL1 and the other isn't.

[dfxrte]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

You're splitting hairs.

Sure, one can't go to crazy high boost levels with a non-built LT1, but then you don't have to, a Maggie will give you the same power at 7 psi as the LT4 can push at 11 psi, plus you'll have cooler IATs which helps with longevity.

The brakes are a bit better on the ZL1 (390 mm vs 370 mm front discs, the rears are identical), but smaller rotors are also lighter and it isn't like you couldn't swap the ZL1 brakes onto a 1LE or even on a plain SS.

No one wants to slap a maggy on an SS and run 7 pounds of boost!! Unless they are 100% fine with that.

I think we can just all agree that if you want to buy an SS, and get to similar power levels of a ZL1, that is totally possible and will save you $ vs selling your SS and buying a ZL1. But you're also maxxed out on the LT1 without putting significantly more money into an SS. Again, timeline and budget really dictates this all.

If we take a stock SS and a stock ZL1 - and put 20K into both cars, it will be two very diff cars. So the comparisons are really not worth anything cus the starting points on the two cars are vastly different.

If OP has money to mod his ZL1 and intends to do so, then that is for him probably a better choice than dumping more and more into his SS and taking on a much more extensive build and part list (to get to 700+)

[18.2SS.1LE]

Originally Posted by dfxrte

Agreed on most of what you said, just again we get to the same argument. Dumping X amount of $ into an ss 1le to be at best, marginally better than a stock zl1 which at that point, the zl1 would likely cost less & gives you that much more of a platform to work with.

Both are great options whichever direction someone goes, time and budget usually are the constraints why one picks one over the other. Ego too I guess, it's same argument the m340 guys have with the m3 guys and vice versa. At the end of the day one is an ///m or ZL1 and the other isn't.

I wouldn't consider making 200whp more than a ZL1 only marginally better...Lol.

[dfxrte]

Originally Posted by 18.2SS.1LE

I wouldn't consider making 200whp more than a ZL1 only marginally better...Lol.

no one would, and that's not what we're talking about. As you can see he said, then we get to a subjective matter. prior to that we were saying to get to a stock ZL1 levels from a stock SS, is roughly the cost difference of buying a ZL1 instead of building an SS.

To get to 200+ whp from a stock ZL1 is not the same cost $

stock ss + 20K
sock zl1 + 20K

2 very diff cars and thats the only way we can take subjectivity out of it. no point really discussing this as OP just needs to decide dump more and more into an SS, or get a ZL1 and dump a little bit more. It's probably, give or take, the same total amount of $ to get either platform to 800ish whp including car cost + build cost. ZL1 is more up front, SS is more on the build