I'm the proud owner of an immaculate low mileage '94 Z28. After drooling over these 4th gen Z's I finally have one....... the best Camaro I have ever owned in my 35 years of driving. White full load with T-tops..... love it.
I've had a 95Z28 and an 89 IROC personally I liked the IROC more it handled quite a bit better than the 95 did but the 95 had more power, I have a 92 corvette now and I'll probably never buy another camaro after owning this!
Very impressive showing from the LT4 especially when the LT1 would be lucky to pull off a mid 13 in stock form. LT4 was very comparable to the late LS1 in power. Source: I had a 95 Z28 that only managed 14.1 @ 97mph stock while my 01 Z28 did 13.1 @ 108 stock.
@@S8ER Were both autos/manuals? And what were the rear end gears? (2.73? 3.42? Etc.). Just curious. I figure they were both M6 with those times. I had my share of LS1’s and an LS6
@@dr.lyleevans6915 I was speaking of M6/3.42 cars specifically. I owned 2 different LT1 Z28 Automatics (2.73 and a 3.23 geared) both were 14.1-14.2 @ 97-99mph at best stock. My 01 Z28 M6 did 13.1 @ 108 stock in similar conditions at the same track.
Love these things. One of the few times Camaro actually sneaked out a Corvette beater which was a big NO NO at GM. Firehawk did the same thing a few times. And GNX. It's too bad Camaro and Firebird always had to be restrained so as not to "beat Corvette". They were in a tough position where they needed to compete with Mustang but not beat Corvette. That's kind of like telling a Pro boxer he can hit hard, but not his hardest. Probably only reason the 97 F-bodies were allowed to get the LT4 was because by that time the all new C5 Corvette had the "superior" LS1. I still have this ep on tape from the original air.
You actually have the argument backwards. Camaro isn't and never has been "restrained" by Corvette. It's actually quite ADVANTAGED by the relationship. The ability to take on and beat Ford's Mustang was made easier by the Corvette. Chevy's quest to build more power into a Corvette has always trickles down to Camaro out of a desire to make "scale" work to offset the cost of development. Politics inside concerning the more expensive car needing to maintain something for the money spent by a buyer explains only the advertised ratings of engine power but every car guy knows a 70' LT-1 makes the same power in either car despite a 370 gross HP rating in a Corvette vs 360 in a Camaro. Still true years later they play the game of advertised power numbers bigger in the Corvette but ultimately each platform benefits both. Without Camaro Corvette often wouldn't have the scale on it own to justify development cost. Without Corvette the Camaro probably wouldn't see the same level of power development because Chevy attempts to make Corvette as close to super car status at a budget price tag as it possibly can.
Yup, that optispark was the worst design! And GM gave up on making replacement parts a number of years ago. So when I had to get that replaced and there wasn't anymore of those original parts available, it made me change my 97 Z28 for a 2013 SS and never looked back.
And then there were the 1997 SS Hendrick Editions .. Very rare cars and i ain't sellin mine :) Too bad i modded the the crap out of it .. does 11's and somehow passes smog in Cali :)
It might be hard to find one with low miles but the prices are dirt low because it’s been so heavily misunderstood and getting coverage on them is dirt cheap because of the years that have passed.
Those LT1/LT4 engines need at least 315 sized tires like the 17inch vette and I would say it would hit 0-60 at around 4.2sec versus 4.9sec. LT5,LT4,LT1 are one of the best engines ever produced.
my LT1 has 235K miles on it still runs strong. the car is actually not in terrible shape but it has allot of little stuff that needs to be replaced. the exhaust is shot along with allot of the interior stuff. i just dont have money to put into it right now beyond normal maintenance. its a 1996 camaro Z28 LT1, the fact that its still reliable, great engine. i will say the car is structurally sound and i have no intention of getting rid of her. still to this day, daily driven all summer long, parked in the winter.
With the newer fatter street tires and suspension mods both the LT and LS series 4 gens will run 12's. The old L98 tune ports will run 13's with these mods as well.
1996/1997 Camaro SS or 1998-2002 camaro SS? ... Both have ram air on the SS, the LT-1 has 305 horsepower and the LS-1 has 320-330 depending on the SLP options. ... Their value in time will be so much higher than the later ones .... How does the LS-1 respond to intake, exhaust, and chip mods? Can't decied whic is better any opinions?
Because the Camaro has a solid rear axle which hooks better in the 1/4 mile... the Corvette has IRS and is setup for circuit and not dragstrip... which is why past F-bodies have run better 1/4 mile times in road tests compared to the Corvette... but the Vette will outperform the F-body on the road course.
I agree but with today's aftermarket suspension parts you can get a C4 corvette to hook up just as good. My camaro I broke the 10bolt rear 3 times and then I said F*ck it and paid the outrageous price for a Moser 12-bolt with a 33 spline Tru-Trac posi and 4.10 gears with 33 spline axles. Only thing that sucks is that the Moser 12-bolt rears still uses the same crappy axle seals compared to a Strange 12-bolt. Strange machines there rear ends with a superb axle seal setup that will never leak. Since 12-bolt rear ends were not intended for sharp cornering which these f-body cars do well, the extra side loading on a 12-bolt axle seal can't hold up. Some people who has a camaro or firebird with a 12 bolt other than a Strange unit has to replace there axle seals every year.
@@Savineyard3 Yep, I went with the Moser 9" floating axil set up in my 93, because I road course race, I have torn up two ring and pinions in that also, with the tru track.
Out perform a stock F-body. With today's aftermarket stuff like Watt's links and 4 point subframe connectors, LCA relocators, adjustable Torque Arms, and your choice of springs, shocks, and struts, It's anybody's game on the road coarse.
Well, it's the future... but they can sure make the power, Just the fact you noticed makes you a gearhead, that's cool. 4:26 you can hear that LT trying to inhale that paper filter, sounds great doesn't it ! ? ! BA ride even with an LT, basically a C5 with a F4 body.
Say what? I never heard of a LT-4 Firehawk. This is a coold video and def a badarse car. Man, 13.2 and 4.9. I wonder if they got those numbers while burning sideways out of the hole like in the vid. If so, that's a 12 second car with dragradials. Thanks for posting. Thumb up and fav.
I had one of these...it looked just like the one they're testing (white, with red racing stripes)...I was 20 years-old when I got it, I'm 26 now, I sold that car & bought a 1979 Camaro Z28 that had a 350 LT-1 (NOT AN LT1, an LT-1, the one in my Z28 came out of a 1970 Corvette, pushed 370 Horsepower ROLLING OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. It was running 11:1 Compression, had a Forged Steep Crankshaft, the Camshaft was a little bit higher lifting, but nothing *that* radical...)
Well,I have one in a 96 corvette. It is more pleasure to drive than any other sport/muscle I have had,several. Pretty quickedy. Worst thing is ,high frame threshold makes it a bitch for my old knees ...fall in...crawl out. Long legs on these...she go 130 in 4th. Who knows in 6th.
Thanks for posting. I wonder if those numbers came from the run we see on here comming out sideways lol If so it's a 12sec car with traction. I never heard of a LT-4 Firehawk. what year was it 1997? That sounds cool but never heard of such a thing.
Just noticed the test car int he video lacks the houndstooth of white leather seats. Looks like this is one of the prototype cars that they led all the journalist to do their test with.
Wow, really ? I always was impressed with them and looks like I got to get my own SS some new struts and springs because I think such grip numbers would take me out in corners with my 12 y.o. suspension :)
Convertibles typically handle worse than Coupes and T-Top/Targa cars due to less chassis support from the missing roof, ironically they are also typically heavier.
ALL 96-97 SS models should have had the LT4. Why GM? Didn't want to step on the toes of the Corvette? SLP had the vision of what the car really should have been.
apples and oranges corvette touring competitor . camaro is sedan pony car. . Tork band and gears are different. corvette does like 188 camaro has factory lower rpm mph range/ pony get lower gears so around town ponys rule I been wooping both with stock lt1 Z28 LOL. Cause I know every bodys tork band with 561 heads . and racing 6.2 liter LT4s. the smaller intakes have better low end ... I shift early and as fast as I can. Embracing my low end Some thing to be said for the Later LT1 Z28 performance package. I beat them by better than 10 car lengths . It came with crazy spacers under coil overs and factory Hooker superformance exaust. as the performance exaust option. You notice the scca trans am racers dont have the stinger hoods; the 561 heads have a higher roof and better vortech . more horse power, I dont know how much . It has a 2.01 60 ft didnt make it through quarter though tire blew. Ihere something to be said for factory delco racers . its tuned like a lt4, not sure how. it has higher rpm bands , it revs higher
It corners better too harder ride no travel and is lower with Delco shocks LOL and a huge sway bar in front. thats why in 97 the camaro lost to ford a 3/8 exaust stud broke It was a mile ahead and lost cause driver didnt back off rpms !!!
and make it sound like shit or even worse a ford, fuck that. That firing order bullshit is the only thing wrong with LS engines . And no it does not make it run any smoother ,it sounds smoother at idle but has no effect on vibration and even a 60's big block with a wild race cam that is so choppy it won't idle is still smoother and has less vibrations then a good modern 4 cylinder , no matter how choppy the cam is the crankshaft balance is what determines the vibrations and cross plane v8's are inherently well balanced even more so when properly internally balanced, unless you run solid motor mounts in which case get fucked cause life is going to suck.
I Had A Chance To Buy One Of These Camaros In 2006 Of It Had T/Tops Though I Hate Hardtop Fbodys Im Glad I Waited & Got A 99 Black On Black WS6 Trans Am I Just Wanted A Fast Car But My Heart Always Beated For A Ram Air Trans Am So I Went With The Trans Am The T/A Looks Better Anyway
@@theeducatedredneck4144 oh wow didnt know the torque curve was that high yea i guess thats why my old lt1 feels beefier than the ls and 5.0 stangs, i went 8.90s on stock tires in the 1/8 with 3,73 but i spun bad sure miss that car
@@scottwilson599 thats true.. And its pretty easy to build a 400hp lt1 so that negates paying premium for a factory lt4 equipped fbody of which there are only abt 125 produced. Lt4 > ls1.. But ls1 > lt1.
a few differneces, remove the oil pan, it should have a 4bolt block, also remove the vlave covers.10239902 is the heads casting number, also the lt1 intake wont fit the lt4 heads.plus the lt4 will rev up 1k more than the lt1
Wow..some major under ratings. The slp 427 edition get close too 600 hp.and the price tag was well above 60g.a dealer could not even order one for 125g. And today you can build one for less then 10g.
@sydneyluna you would own the only black 30th anniversary car in the world... all 97's say 30th on the seat but to be a true anniversary car they are white with hugger orange sttripes with white interior and white ZR1s on the SS model and white std. 5 spokes on the Z28.
Anyone else watch this and question if these numbers are low? Just look at all of the dust on the test surface. No wonder it took mustnag years to finally better 4th gen Camaro's performance.
Believe it or not , more might have got the lt4s in there 96/97 camaro but they might not know it. When chevy introduce that ls1 . Where do u think most most of those left over lt4s went. Same with the 427 bbc back in the day when chevy went to "396" and told people this is the hot new motor , they don't just trash engines. Chevy is all about sales . And if saying lt4 sells so be it
The LT4 engines that were leftover were sold as a crate engine from GM for around $4,500.00 and they went fast. I've seen these crate engines in everything from El camino's to hot rods to S10 pickup trucks.
