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As ordered from the factory:

Camaro Z28 Convertible
  • GM model # 1FP67-Z28
Colour:
  • Pewter exterior, ebony cloth interior, black roof fabric
Factory Options:
  • 6-Speed Transmission (MN6);
  • Power Steering Cooler (Standard)
  • AM/FM Cassette (UL0) -- CD player delete;
  • 12 Disc CD Changer (U1S);
  • ASR/Traction Control (NW9);
  • Z-Rated 245/50/16 tires (QFZ) (160 MPH electronic speed limiter)

If they offered this car with 4 wheel drive, we'd be all set... Factory ride height on the day I picked it up; the wheel gaps were 3" front, 3.5" rear.  The gaps are currently ~1" f & r.

Modifications:

Engine:
  • Stock LS1 (I plan to change the factory airbox/lid soon)
Exterior:
  • OEM GM SS hood (Bought from and installed by dealer)
  • Clear front corner lenses
Interior:
Chassis Mods:
  • Weld-in 1 5/8" tubular SFC's
  • Custom 1 3/4" 6-point Roll Bar with crossbar and extra bracing
Front Suspension:
  • 2"+ drop;
  • Suspension Techniques Speedtech (p/n 63045) springs: 428 lb/in, linear rate w/ 1.5" drop; Factory: 290 lb/in
  • H al Coil-over shocks, custom valved, adjustable for compression/rebound/perch height; Poly endlinks
  • 32mm hollow 1LE swaybar, poly bushings and endlinks; Factory: 30 mm hollow, rubber bushings and poly endlinks
Rear Suspension:
  • 2.5" drop;
  • Suspension Techniques Speedtech (p/n 63045) springs: 168 lb/in progressive rate, 1.7" drop + 1 loop removed; Factory: ~90-130 lb/in
  • H al Shocks, custom valved, adjustable for compression/rebound; Poly endlinks
  • LCA relocation (anti-squat) brackets;
  • Swaybar - Factory; 19 mm hollow - the 21 mm 1LE part was too much in combination with the airbags
  • Airlift 1000 airbag kit p/n 60797, independently plumbed, with fill points mounted under the fuel filler door;  if your lowered F-body is bottoming out at the rear, this is the way to go.
  • 1LE LCA's (trailing arms); harder durometer bushings
  • 1LE Panhard rod; harder durometer bushings (Note: after lowering, the rear was only shifted 2mm, so an adjustable PHR was not necessary). More 1LE part numbers
Wheels:
  • 18 by 10.5" Z06 replicas, offset 56 mm (OEM Z06 have more offset and 'sink' further into the wheel well without spacers)
  • Colour: OEM silver, to match the Z28 centre caps from the 16" wheels
  • no spacers or other modifications required.  Tape weights used for appearance, and for clearance on spindle
Tires:
  • 275/35/18 Yokohama AVS dB.  Same OEM tire diameters, quiet ride, minimal tramlining, fast transient response -especially when mounted on 10.5" wheels!
Exhaust:
  • SLP "Loudmouth" Resonator Cat-back system p/n 31039A (Loud!) with the 3.5" slash-cut tips; vroom.wav (recorded using my Casio WinCE PPC in is 'best' quality sound setting).  This is the way a muscle car is meant to sound.

It's low: 2: front, 2.5" rear drop. Clears 99% of the speed bumps around here when taken slowly.  Rides clear of the bumpstops.  When it does bottom, it does not upset the handling or the occupants, thanks in part to the rear airbags.  The airbags give the rear suspension a very progressive spring rate - stiff to very stiff, not to be confused with the 'comfort' progressive springs that go from 'soft' to 'stiffer' rates. The adjustable spring perches allowed me to lift the car a bit as the front springs settled.

The ride: firm but smooth.  Adjustable shocks allow balancing of the front/rear handling. Subframe connectors (SFCs) welded under each side reduce cowl shake (chassis 'wobble').  Three or four adults can ride in the car without them or the car complaining.  The firmer shocks appear to help dampen the cowl shake that is inherent in drop-top f-bodies. 

Handling: corners flat, with minimal dive/squat. The overall balance of the car is more neutral, keeping only a little of the understeering nature that GM prefers to give their production cars.

Disclaimer: While the adjustability in my suspension has allowed me to get the results I wanted, it also means that a working knowledge of suspension systems  is needed to duplicate my suspension setup in addition to matching the components.  YMMV.

Future Mods:

Possible Mods

Never Mods (modifications that I won't consider)

Last edited Tuesday, August 23, 2005

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