The Camaro Club (UK)

Ok all you hardened Camaro petrolheads I need some advise please. At 63 Iv'e past the so called 'mid-life crises' but as an English born ex-racer I still hanker after the adrenilin rush of driving a performance machine which is why I have a 'chipped' BMW Z3 here in Spain, but having bought a condo down in Florida, feel that is is time to sample a piece of American V8 muscle! With a budget of $5,000 or so I know I am somewhat restricted in choice but I have seen 4th generation Camaros around this price, and ask if the LT1 Z28 would be a good for my needs. As a mere novice to the American car market any help would be appreciated.

with that budget I believe you maybe able to strech to a 98-99 LS1 4th gen. If you like the face lift vrsion with the peanut headlights, as the LS1 engine is far superior to the LT1. LS1 gets coil on plug so no optispark to fail, ali block, ali heads, strengthened auto box (used a few different parts), decent economy 30 mpg highway etc etc

Get youself on craigslist, a classified ad sit in US, for example:

http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/1535091259.html

but spend a little time looking, because people buy these cars to be driven, which is not bad if they are maintained but as you will know hard driving and poor maintanance = problems

hope you find something

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'99 Z28 A4, 253 LS2 heads, 228R TSP cam, Patriol Dual Springs, Double roller timing chain, LS6 ported oil pump, OBX LTs, 3" True Duals, LS6 intake, 42lb/hr injectors, SLP lid + bellow, EFIlive COS 3 Speed Denisty Tune (self tuned), 3200 Circle D stall, CAI mod, KYB AGXs, Eibach Pro Front Springs, UMI panhard, LCA + Brackets, Strut Brace, Custom Subframe connectors, WS6 axle with 3.42s, 18" American Racing Rebels, US mirrors, 93 tail lights, 3.5 inch custom cowl hood. Mickey T's Street DRs on Vette-ZR1 wheels for the strip !
Best ET: 12.0 @ 116 mph (on a 0-60ft of 1.8 s)

Probably true, but I've had 2 Lt1 and there are still pretty good. Personally I think the LS1s look like an ugly fish at the front. I'd recommend a good lt1 over a poor LS any day.

I was a bit nervous buying a US import, but its been a very easy experience. probably 5 years camaro LT ownership now, and no looking back.
parts are cheap, the car is basically simple and rugged.
LT1 brakes are useless and LS1 are merely poor.

Probably true, but I've had 2 Lt1 and there are still pretty good. Personally I think the LS1s look like an ugly fish at the front. I'd recommend a good lt1 over a poor LS any day.

I was a bit nervous buying a US import, but its been a very easy experience. probably 5 years camaro LT ownership now, and no looking back.
parts are cheap, the car is basically simple and rugged.
LT1 brakes are useless and LS1 are merely poor.

ha ha, yep we have a joke going around on the american forum i am on, about the "catfish" front end. It whatever you prefere, but i still stand by that LS1 are a better engine throught, im not saying anything bad about the LTs just that the LS1 refinements are monumental. Jimbo, i agree with you that a well loked after and maintained LT pre 98 car is better than a poor LS1

I wouldnt slate the brakes too much, I have the large twin pot calipers on the front and discs all round on mine with semi metalic pads (squeek but better stopping than ceramics) and they are pretty damm good, stop me from 100mph + fast enough for my liking anyway ( at santa-pod i always brake and make the first exit to the left after the 1/4 run )

The only issue with the cars in general is the suspension, yeah some say the suspension on the 4th gen is quite good ( most of the americans say this) but they dont know real country lanes ,but they are adequate as standard for spirited driving and should be fine for bazzajc to use in the states.

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'99 Z28 A4, 253 LS2 heads, 228R TSP cam, Patriol Dual Springs, Double roller timing chain, LS6 ported oil pump, OBX LTs, 3" True Duals, LS6 intake, 42lb/hr injectors, SLP lid + bellow, EFIlive COS 3 Speed Denisty Tune (self tuned), 3200 Circle D stall, CAI mod, KYB AGXs, Eibach Pro Front Springs, UMI panhard, LCA + Brackets, Strut Brace, Custom Subframe connectors, WS6 axle with 3.42s, 18" American Racing Rebels, US mirrors, 93 tail lights, 3.5 inch custom cowl hood. Mickey T's Street DRs on Vette-ZR1 wheels for the strip !
Best ET: 12.0 @ 116 mph (on a 0-60ft of 1.8 s)

Maybe its just the LT1s that have poor brakes -only single pot for me

I've actually found the suspension OK. My first has standard and the current one has the SLP/SS upgrade and is rock hard and very uncomfortable.

As am LT1 owner I will continue to assert that its just as good as an LS1. Otherwise I will want to buy a new car and I can't afford it.

Has anybody dropped a LS1 into an LT1 car. Clearly easier to just change cars, but who cares what the easy option is.

ha maybe, i know mine are the 12" twin pots (rough size)

Well my suspension is now rock hard, eibach springs and kyb adjustables and controls arms and the works ( in my sig) Its mighty hard and i love it, fell every movement of the car rather than it being like a matress

The LT1 is still good , and like you said most people prefere the hoods and light on the pre 98 cars, they dont look like catfish that way.

With regards as swapping the LS1 into the LT1s spot, you need the full wireing loom or separate ecu cause the lt1 us an OBD1.5 vs. the new OBDII interface and also the newer cars have a body control module (BCM) for the heater, dials etc, you'll also new a subframe (k member) and it should bolt to the trans as they are the same but dont quote me on the bell-housing link up and stuff?? The engine swap itself wouldnt be that bad if you mechanically minded but the electronics could be a pig!! With a nice cam, and some head work, full exhaust, intake etc the LT1 can be built to a very good spec anyway

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'99 Z28 A4, 253 LS2 heads, 228R TSP cam, Patriol Dual Springs, Double roller timing chain, LS6 ported oil pump, OBX LTs, 3" True Duals, LS6 intake, 42lb/hr injectors, SLP lid + bellow, EFIlive COS 3 Speed Denisty Tune (self tuned), 3200 Circle D stall, CAI mod, KYB AGXs, Eibach Pro Front Springs, UMI panhard, LCA + Brackets, Strut Brace, Custom Subframe connectors, WS6 axle with 3.42s, 18" American Racing Rebels, US mirrors, 93 tail lights, 3.5 inch custom cowl hood. Mickey T's Street DRs on Vette-ZR1 wheels for the strip !
Best ET: 12.0 @ 116 mph (on a 0-60ft of 1.8 s)

I think that the later LT1s were OBDII, although I could be wrong. Still I can't really see me doing an engine swap, so it doesn't really matter.

Partly right. Early 4th gen models have OBDI, 93-95 IIRC and from 96 on went to OBDII. LT1s are great, few things are weaknesses IMO, IRON block, Opti spark, metal intake manifold, intake, and the heads.

LT1 exhaust note>LS1 exhaust note.

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