Z28 Back with a vengeance!
11-11-2009, 07:17 AM
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Z28 Back with a vengeance! Feb. 2010 GMHTP magazine states that sources as high up as GM Vice President Ed Welburn have confirmed that the Z-28 is back in the production plan. It's supposed to have beefier driveline and suspension components are also in development, and it's clear that the new model is going directly after the GT500!
-SS
-SS
11-11-2009, 08:16 AM
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has GM made anything at all official about the return of the z28?
perhaps theyre going to use the LA auto show to roll it out, and take a little of fords thunder when fmc announces the new mustang engine lineup?
perhaps theyre going to use the LA auto show to roll it out, and take a little of fords thunder when fmc announces the new mustang engine lineup?
11-11-2009, 08:39 PM
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Its always been my understanding that "SS" has been the top of the performance food chain. Why do you all think GM would bring out an SS and have it be outperformed by a
Z28??
Z28??
11-11-2009, 09:00 PM
#6
Actually in a way, the SS and Z28 originally weren't better than one or the other overall, just one was tuned differently than the other (drag vs handling I think). Something along those lines.
But chevy has so many SS vehicles that setting apart the Z28 as the top dog makes sense. Any number of Chevys can be an SS, but only the Camaro can be a Z28
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11-15-2009, 01:18 PM
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Read up on some Camaro history - the SS hasn't always been at the top, just the 4th gen swapped it
Actually in a way, the SS and Z28 originally weren't better than one or the other overall, just one was tuned differently than the other (drag vs handling I think). Something along those lines.
But chevy has so many SS vehicles that setting apart the Z28 as the top dog makes sense. Any number of Chevys can be an SS, but only the Camaro can be a Z28
Actually in a way, the SS and Z28 originally weren't better than one or the other overall, just one was tuned differently than the other (drag vs handling I think). Something along those lines.
But chevy has so many SS vehicles that setting apart the Z28 as the top dog makes sense. Any number of Chevys can be an SS, but only the Camaro can be a Z28
A 396/375HP L89 with aluminum heads was the top engine option for the first gen SS. The Z/28 came with a 290Hp 302 with no low/mid range torque.
The 375HP SS first gens were running average 12.80 quarter times compared to the Z/28's 14.70. The Z/28 was made famous by its winning streak in SCCA 68-69 winning the manufacturers championship both years. Other than impressive sales the Z/28 was no where near the top of the food chain in quarter mile or stop light to stop light power/performance.
11-15-2009, 01:41 PM
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The SS has allways been the premier powerhouse when available.
A 396/375HP L89 with aluminum heads was the top engine option for the first gen SS. The Z/28 came with a 290Hp 302 with no low/mid range torque.
The 375HP SS first gens were running average 12.80 quarter times compared to the Z/28's 14.70. The Z/28 was made famous by its winning streak in SCCA 68-69 winning the manufacturers championship both years. Other than impressive sales the Z/28 was no where near the top of the food chain in quarter mile or stop light to stop light power/performance.
A 396/375HP L89 with aluminum heads was the top engine option for the first gen SS. The Z/28 came with a 290Hp 302 with no low/mid range torque.
The 375HP SS first gens were running average 12.80 quarter times compared to the Z/28's 14.70. The Z/28 was made famous by its winning streak in SCCA 68-69 winning the manufacturers championship both years. Other than impressive sales the Z/28 was no where near the top of the food chain in quarter mile or stop light to stop light power/performance.
11-15-2009, 02:43 PM
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I have owned approx twenty first gen Camaros, most restored original cars. I am the former president of the local classic Camaro club. I also worked for Worldwide Muscle cars restoring/documenting muscle cars of all makes with my specialty being Camaros. I drove/restored/wrenched on cars from Carrol shelbys personal 68 KR500 Conv to the #38 69 ZL1 Camaro. I even rebuilt the top end of the ZL1 while we had it. I still have my bidder pass from the Russo and Steel auction where I was the winning bidder on that car in 2002.
I have owned three original restored 69 Z/28's, one 34k original mile car with over the counter headers and the off road camshaft. Stock Vs. Stock the 375HP cars were very much faster than a Z/28. I have driven several 375HP cars and tons of Z/28s.
Just because your buddy had one and couldnt make it do better than a 14.50 doesnt mean they were all 14.50 cars.
My current car is a well optioned all original triple black RS/SS convertible.
11-15-2009, 04:56 PM
#16
the Z28 was made because of the IROC restrictions on a 5.0 liter engine, hence the 302 5.0 liter engine that still put out around 300 gross hp stock.. It was optioned with a better suspension then the SS according to everything I have ever read. Now I have never had the pleasure to drive in either, but I did race a 69 Z28 the other day..... that sounded as if he had some aftermarket done to it, and if that car is getting 300hp I'll eat a terd because I made him look silly in my near stock 2002 z28...
All in all the 69 Z28's I have seen typically sell for more at auction. For some reason people really like that 302 engine...
All in all the 69 Z28's I have seen typically sell for more at auction. For some reason people really like that 302 engine...
11-15-2009, 06:13 PM
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What about it? You can call Nickey Chicago and talk to Dennis Barker to order 1 if you want. 100k and you can have 1 of the 50 they are transforming. Is it worth 100k, who knows in the long haul, but it will be a better investment than any of the Gen 4 specialty cars.
11-15-2009, 06:42 PM
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290 was a gross under estimation made by GM. They claimed 290 at 5000 rpms. They failed to mention the 7000+ redline. And it would pull ALL the way up. I was reading a Hot Rod from 69 and they had the cross ram on their Z28 test car and some dealer installed headers and they were running as strong as the 427 COPO cars. At least thats what they said in the article. They said it ran like a 427 but didn't die before 6000 rpms.
11-15-2009, 07:02 PM
#19
The SS has allways been the premier powerhouse when available.
A 396/375HP L89 with aluminum heads was the top engine option for the first gen SS. The Z/28 came with a 290Hp 302 with no low/mid range torque.
The 375HP SS first gens were running average 12.80 quarter times compared to the Z/28's 14.70. The Z/28 was made famous by its winning streak in SCCA 68-69 winning the manufacturers championship both years. Other than impressive sales the Z/28 was no where near the top of the food chain in quarter mile or stop light to stop light power/performance.
A 396/375HP L89 with aluminum heads was the top engine option for the first gen SS. The Z/28 came with a 290Hp 302 with no low/mid range torque.
The 375HP SS first gens were running average 12.80 quarter times compared to the Z/28's 14.70. The Z/28 was made famous by its winning streak in SCCA 68-69 winning the manufacturers championship both years. Other than impressive sales the Z/28 was no where near the top of the food chain in quarter mile or stop light to stop light power/performance.
The SS was the big dog. As I recall, around here, some of the guys working at the Norwood assembly plant knew how to order '69 Camaros with no badging, just bowties, Z28 hoods, deck lid spolier, body colored wheels with baby moons and 60 series tires, 427 engines, and performance gearing. They were bad. I guess they saw what Yenko was doing, IDK.
The first one I saw was yellow and my reaction was that some dumb *** put a Z28 hood on a brand new 6-banger. I only saw 2 colors on these cars, yellow, and orange. I guess it could have been done with any available color though?
There were a bunch of '69 Z28s in the area too. Seemed like more Z28s than SS Camaros. It was a popular car around here and some of the guys made them very competitive at the strip with 4.56 and 4.88 gears.
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
11-15-2009, 10:05 PM
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290 was a gross under estimation made by GM. They claimed 290 at 5000 rpms. They failed to mention the 7000+ redline. And it would pull ALL the way up. I was reading a Hot Rod from 69 and they had the cross ram on their Z28 test car and some dealer installed headers and they were running as strong as the 427 COPO cars. At least thats what they said in the article. They said it ran like a 427 but didn't die before 6000 rpms.
I see a lot of talk about the Z/28 having a super special tuned suspension unique to the Z/28 only..wrong. Although a little different due to the extra weight the SS also came with the heavy duty suspension and shared the same 11/16 sway bar with the Z/28. The corner carving ability of the Z/28 was better due to less weight on the front end.
