[FenwickHockey65]

Reuss: Chevy may revive Z/28 racer from pony car days of yore
AutomotiveNews

June 1, 2015

DETROIT -- After the revamped 2016 Camaro arrives this fall, Chevrolet could be looking to the car's past to flesh out the lineup beyond the three models available at launch.

At the unveiling of the 2016 Camaro here, General Motors product chief Mark Reuss hinted at what may be coming: a Camaro race car that pays homage to the Trans Am Camaro Z/28s of the late 1960s.

The Trans-American Sedan Championship was a racing series that started in the mid-1960s, around the time pony cars such as the Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Ford Mustang, Plymouth Barracuda and AMC AMX and Javelin were most popular.

Chevrolet's Trans Am car was a special version of the Z/28. It featured a 302-cubic-inch engine that generated more than 480 hp. Reuss said GM is studying a rebirth of the car.

"We're looking at the original formulas of the Trans Am homologation of the Z/28," he said. "Why was the 302 engine so special? So, the formula may change a little, but it still needs to be a wicked fast track car more capable maybe than the comfort- and driver-oriented models."

[titanfan]

Translation: GM will have a response to the GT350.

And look, the Camaro and Mustang were referenced by GM as pony cars, not muscle cars.

[motorhead]

To me the modern formula would be a 1LE type handling package with more HP at a reasonable price point. The current Z28 shot way over the Z28 mark of the trans am series.

[SpeedIsLife]

The way I read this is...

They're looking at a new Z/28, duh. However the mention of the 302 from the Z/28 is telling. I may be reading to much into this but it almost sounds like a hint/tell that they may be going to something around a 5 liter, higher revving engine...IE a direct answer to the GT350.

[velocity149]

YUP, I'm going to be waiting... My car will be paid off in 2017, and I'll be in a 2018 IROC or Z/28.

[Iroc_Z28]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

"We're looking at the original formulas of the Trans Am homologation of the Z/28," he said. "Why was the 302 engine so special? So, the formula may change a little, but it still needs to be a wicked fast track car more capable maybe than the comfort- and driver-oriented models."

This makes me think that the next Z28 will be forced induction with a similar formula to the c7 z06 by combining the Z28 and ZL1 into one car..... I hope i'm wrong as i would love to see a successor to the LS7. I would rather them switch to a NA DOHC v8 than use a FI v8 for the Z28

[whiteboyblues2001]

Originally Posted by SpeedIsLife

The way I read this is...

They're looking at a new Z/28, duh. However the mention of the 302 from the Z/28 is telling. I may be reading to much into this but it almost sounds like a hint/tell that they may be going to something around a 5 liter, higher revving engine...IE a direct answer to the GT350.

Back in the day, GM had to go 5.0L or less to compete in the Trans American Series. Unless GM is going after a specific racing series, they no longer have that restriction. In fact, Ford INCREASED their displacment for the GT350 (5.2L). Why would Chevy go with less displacment than Ford?

If I were running the Z/28 program, I would consider two options:

1. A high output high reving variant of the LT1 at 6.2L.
2. or taking the LS7 and adding VVT and DI for a more modern 427 small block.

Either of these would fit the heritage of the Z/28. And don't forget, GM stated that they were working on a N/A motor for the Z06 'vette, but couldn't meet emissions targets in time. Perhaps they are still working on that motor.

One way or the other, I doubt they would use 5.0L of displacment. Remember the main competition is a flat plane crank 8000+ 500HP+ N/A 5.2L motor from our friends at Ford. Add to the consideration that the 5th Gen Z/28 didn't sell well due to the price. GM won't make that mistake again (GM has proven to attack the main weaknesses of their Camaros, like addressing the weight and interior of the Gen5). Making a 5.0L engine capable to compete with the Voodoo might prove too costly.

[SpeedIsLife]

No you're right on all that...I just found the explicit 302 reference interesting

[IOMike]

To make the LT-1 a higher revving engine, you could alter the cam/intake manifold but if you really want it to rev, it needs to be de-stroked. I'm not sure if they can increase the bore of the LT-1 much past 4.06 that it is now, so this would result in a reduction in displacement.

If room, I'd like to see GM work with 3v and 4v heads like they have messed with in the past as any upgrades they do to the LT-1 if they have to destroke it, will likely result in a lower power increase due to the less displacement.

[90503]

...Sounds like a weak rationalization for putting a very small engine in a Z/28 track car....Ford's GT supercar is going V-6...I think we'll see track Camaros with V-6s sooner than later...

...Interesting though, that he brings up old, retro type stuff....Especially with the 6thGen claiming to be not retro at all...

[whiteboyblues2001]

I don't think they will go forded induction for the Z/28. Remember, the ZL1 was originally going to be called Z/28, but GM felt that the FI engine was not in the original spirit of the Z/28 heritage. They renamed the car to the ZL1, and started on a normally asperated track beast. The LS7 was an obvious choice when GM started looking for a high reving N/A engine.

If Mark Reuss says Chevy will stay true to the hertiage of the orignal Z/28, then I think FI is out.

[Denis]

how about a totally new high revving DOHC 302 with direct injection? that sounds promising to me.

[Denis]

Originally Posted by whiteboyblues2001

I don't think they will go forded induction for the Z/28. Remember, the ZL1 was originally going to be called Z/28, but GM felt that the FI engine was not in the original spirit of the Z/28 heritage. They renamed the car to the ZL1, and started on a normally asperated track beast. The LS7 was an obvious choice when GM started looking for a high reving N/A engine.

If Mark Reuss says Chevy will stay true to the hertiage of the orignal Z/28, then I think FI is out.

the Z06 really isn't supposed to be forced inducted either...we saw how that worked out. and no one is really complaining other than the 7 or 8 purists out there.

[whiteboyblues2001]

Originally Posted by IOMike

To make the LT-1 a higher revving engine, you could alter the cam/intake manifold but if you really want it to rev, it needs to be de-stroked. I'm not sure if they can increase the bore of the LT-1 much past 4.06 that it is now, so this would result in a reduction in displacement.

If room, I'd like to see GM work with 3v and 4v heads like they have messed with in the past as any upgrades they do to the LT-1 if they have to destroke it, will likely result in a lower power increase due to the less displacement.

If Chevy were to destroke the LT1 for high reving purposes, what displacement would end up with (aproxamately)?