Tell me about LS1 Camaros

After autocrossing for years in heavy, uncompetitive cars I'm debating the purchase of a 99 Camaro coupe to run in ESP. The car has the LS1 and 6-speed. I even went so far as to weigh the car before I test drove it to make sure it wasn't too heavy (it was 3,333 pounds). It seems to need a new trans mount but drives okay otherwise.

If I buy this car it will be a racecar only, so I don't really care about quirks like the infamous cat converter hump on the passenger floor or the huge blind spot from the C-pillar. It honestly seems like a pretty atrocious vehicle but it's obviously done well in ESP. I talked to Sam Strano about the Camaro to get his advice but I wanted to see if anyone here owns one. If so is there anything I should beware of or know before I bring this orange t-topped thing home?

Fun cars. They turn better than you'd expect.

Trans mounts break like crazy on those, just buy a polyurethane one and you'll be set. That c-pillar you are talking aboot is the b-pillar. You shouldn't worry about the cat-converter hump anyways because that's the passengers problem. It's an LS1 car so you have really not much to worry about. Just buy it.

I have Strano springs, 4th gen(f-body) Koni SA shocks up front, 3rd gen (f-body) Koni SA shocks in the rear (it's what Sam recommended to me), Strano 35mm front sway, his rear sway, Spohn weld in sub-frame connectors, LG Motorsports double adjustable Pan-hard rod, LG Motorsports single adjustable lower control arms, and the thing is a blast to drive and handles great.

Parts are pretty cheap and plentiful, headers aren't fun to install, large selection of factory style wheels to choose from, and they are awesome. The back spark plug on the passenger side is a PITA to change, a battery strap is strongly recommended, short throw shifter and short stick recommended as well (HELPS A LOT), check for pinion seal leaks as they show up randomly, and it prolly gets better gas mileage than what you have now :).

DILYSI Dave wrote: Fun cars. They turn better than you'd expect.

I try telling a lot of people that. They talk all kinds of E36 M3 about them being big, heavy, ancient pushrod technology, that can't handle or turn well, but have never been in one....

Mine won't turn On a completely unrelated note, when did the Dunlop D60 A2 go out of production? Has it been a full decade yet?

Also, big "high rise" penis compensating hoods are bad for visibility on right turns. If I autocrossed my car, I'd have to do it by feel.

I drove a 96SS for a short while.. I hated the overly heavy controls.. and the driving position.. but other than that, it did surprisingly well at going, stopping, and turning

They make great donor cars

mad_machine wrote: I drove a 96SS for a short while.. I hated the overly heavy controls.. and the driving position.. but other than that, it did surprisingly well at going, stopping, and turning

Bob Costas :)

and don't destroy a perfectly good ls1 f-body to put the motor in a gay miata...go to the junkyard or buy a crate engine for that.

The only ones I've driven with big hoods that I've literally had a problem with....are the ones with 4-5 inch cowl hoods...but most of those are strait line cars.

IIRC: Camaro + Stranoparts.com =

If I had a perfectly good f-body, I wouldn't destroy it. I have a 50-footer with chunks of bondo falling out of the rear fender and front fenders that the body shop never really attached, no shocks and crap 10-year-old tires. And a 4" cowl hood. But what a great drivetrain.

JMHO... incredible on paper, just above average in actual driving feel to me. They feel huge and wobbly with heavy controls. They're kinda limp-noodle in stock form. Welded-in subframe connectors, strut tower brace, and some control arm upgrades tend to firm things up a bit, but of all the F-bodies I've owned its really easy to get very high on the NVH scale. It seems like the rate at which you add stiffness seems to be disproportionate to the rate at which you add NVH. On a race-only car, who cares, but I feel that I do better in the turns without being pelted with violent inputs... but I'm not overly experienced either.

The suspension on the Z28 I test drove was so soft that it felt even heavier than my CTS-V (which is actually 450 pounds heavier than the Camaro). I'm hoping the car feels lighter on its feet with some good shocks, sway bars and springs...is that the case, or is it just a bit clumsy by nature?

the stock suspension is sofffttt, like pinchvalve said stranoparts.com will get your f-body where it needs to be. LG motorsports has wicked cheap deals on their f-body suspension parts right now as well. And if you are bitching about them having heavy controls....I've been driving mine without power steering for a couple months without a complaint so quitcherbitchin' and man up

DirtyBird222 wrote: and don't destroy a perfectly good ls1 f-body to put the motor in a gay miata...go to the junkyard or buy a crate engine for that.

In an amusing parallel to their owners, it's the secret wish of every f-body to stuff its driveline into the underside of a Miata.

I have had a 99 Z28 for 5 years or so. Never autocrossed it though; on my list of things to do. Great engine. The stock 10-bolt rear does not have an overwhelming reputation for longevity in these cars.

Plenty of information over at ls1tech.com for these cars/engines.

frrax.com is pretty good for info on these cars in regards to autox and road racing them.

On a related note....you don't see people drooling to drop 03/04 Cobra motors into their f-bodies, or M3 engines into their miatas, the list goes on....

I do find it amusing that my car is only worth as much as its engine and drivetrain.

Keith wrote: I do find it amusing that my car is only worth as much as its engine and drivetrain.

Makes it easy to park and easy to use to intimidate traffic. Dented fenders are just as worthless as pristine ones on that car.

2002maniac wrote: They make great donor cars

Good to know others think like this :)

DirtyBird222 wrote: And if you are bitching about them having heavy controls....I've been driving mine without power steering for a couple months without a complaint so quitcherbitchin' and man up

I am just saying that the controls are artificially heavy. My Uncle (who had the SS) swore that was "control at highspeeds" but I have driven porsches and BMW's who's controls were light and direct. I have even driven Box Trucks with a GRVW of 32,000 pounds that had lighter controls and better roadfeel.

I understand that wide tyres and high caster angles (both necessary for handling and highspeed stability) can lead to heavy steering, but even the shifter (an automatic) was heavy and reluctant to move unless you put some muscle behind it.

And do not get me started about the lousy "acceleration couch" sitting position and the headlights..