Camaros rear thinking
08-09-2012, 07:26 PM
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Nashville Tn.
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Camaros rear thinking I recently had time to discuss with the reps from Strange Eng. about replacing the independent rear in the Camaro with there S60. Won't fit! The gas tank is designed for the independent rear only. The 9" for the COPO has the gas tank removed. So spend $3000. to beef up the independent. Or, buy a Mustang with the 8.8 rear. Note to Chevrolet. If I want a Corvette I'll buy one. Put the S60 in the next Camaro. Morons.
08-11-2012, 12:53 PM
#4
Wait. Let me see if I got this right...
You want to put a solid axle rear in an independent rear suspension car, and you're pissed that the solid axle won't fit?
Welcome to the world of 'custom.'
You might want to buy a helmet, too. Life sucks when you're ignorant.
You want to put a solid axle rear in an independent rear suspension car, and you're pissed that the solid axle won't fit?
Welcome to the world of 'custom.'
You might want to buy a helmet, too. Life sucks when you're ignorant.
08-11-2012, 01:01 PM
#5
It was very very short sided of GM to think EVERYONE in the trailerpark wants a Indy rear at the dragstrip. They (indys) are great for old guys, road course, cruisers and chicks that dont race. Its just another overly complex thing to cause problems down the road.
I'll keep my PONTIAC F-bodys with a solid rear.
I'll keep my PONTIAC F-bodys with a solid rear.
08-11-2012, 02:16 PM
#6
It's very *short sighted* of you to believe that the car was designed with heavy (Yes, swapping rear suspension types is a *heavy* mod) chassis modifications in mind.
It's not like the rear suspension is hidden before you buy the car, if you don't want IRS then don't buy it. I don't get what the problem with it is, anyway; you can't beat IRS for handling and from when I've seen, it's not bad at straight line, either.
The car was designed to be driven on the street, and handle corners. It was never designed to be a quarter mile wonder as 99% of the buying public drives their cars on the street, not at the drag strip.
Oh, enjoy your solid rear axle. You did replace it with a $2500-$3000 unit, right? Otherwise they tend to blow up.
It's not like the rear suspension is hidden before you buy the car, if you don't want IRS then don't buy it. I don't get what the problem with it is, anyway; you can't beat IRS for handling and from when I've seen, it's not bad at straight line, either.
The car was designed to be driven on the street, and handle corners. It was never designed to be a quarter mile wonder as 99% of the buying public drives their cars on the street, not at the drag strip.
Oh, enjoy your solid rear axle. You did replace it with a $2500-$3000 unit, right? Otherwise they tend to blow up.
08-12-2012, 09:34 PM
#7
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Pittsburg, Kansas
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recently had time to discuss with the reps from Strange Eng. about replacing the independent rear in the Camaro with there S60. Won't fit! The gas tank is designed for the independent rear only. The 9" for the COPO has the gas tank removed. So spend $3000. to beef up the independent. Or, buy a Mustang with the 8.8 rear. Note to Chevrolet. If I want a Corvette I'll buy one. Put the S60 in the next Camaro. Morons.
Trending Topics
08-12-2012, 09:46 PM
#8
TECH Apprentice
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: ny
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
08-13-2012, 12:37 PM
#9
What they should have done is design it like the 03-04 Cobras. You could pull the IRS out, and install a straight axle with no mods at all. Straight bolt in. That way you could go straight axle for drag racers, IRS for those who like to turn corners.
08-13-2012, 10:21 PM
#11
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Nashville Tn.
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK, lets walk through the staging lanes and see how many cars have an IRS. Given a choice, NO ONE. I'm just pissed that the design of the fuel tank/rear compartment pan prohibits swapping to a better, stronger rear. This makes a 07-08 Mustang with an 8.8 look really cost effective for my new build. Rather painful after working at Chevrolet 30+ years. Knowing GM, and I do, I bet they couldn't get a supplier for the solid differential. Quantity was to low and price was way to high. No one at powertrain would be this stupid. This is right out of purchasing/accounting. Morons 2.0
08-13-2012, 11:29 PM
#12
I haven't seen any 5th gens blow their IRS up at the track but I'm sure it happens, I also haven't seen one run faster than 12s. I think the manufactures listen to the magazine pundits too much and give us stuff that nobody wants but automotive elitists. Look at the new Boss 302, it does just fine with a live axle.
08-14-2012, 07:44 AM
#13
Ok, now count all the cars in the staging lanes, then count all the cars in the street. Which one has more?
Once again, GM didn't build the car for the .01% that wants a drag strip vehicle. They built it for the other 99.99% that drive their cars on the street, every day, who want better handling and ride quality.
Want a solid axle in a 5th gen? Bust out your plasma cutter and welder, and quit crying about it.
I've driven both cars, a solid axle mustang and a 5th gen. The 5th gen blows the solid axle mustang out of the water when it comes to ride quality and handling.
These threads are making me loose faith in humanity and LS1Tech.
Once again, GM didn't build the car for the .01% that wants a drag strip vehicle. They built it for the other 99.99% that drive their cars on the street, every day, who want better handling and ride quality.
Want a solid axle in a 5th gen? Bust out your plasma cutter and welder, and quit crying about it.
I've driven both cars, a solid axle mustang and a 5th gen. The 5th gen blows the solid axle mustang out of the water when it comes to ride quality and handling.
These threads are making me loose faith in humanity and LS1Tech.
08-14-2012, 09:24 AM
#15
As have I and I find your conclusion to be a lot different than mine. After driving the new Camaro at Bondurant for a full day, I can honestly say it's a very nice handling car. But not one bit better than a live axle Mustang. After driving a new Camaro on the street for two days, I felt the same way...very nice handling car...albeit, really heavy feeling car...but again, no better than the Mustang.
08-14-2012, 10:25 AM
#16
Something else to consider - the Camaro is based on the Zeta platform. That platform isn't designed for a solid axle in the first place. Instead of totally redesigning the entire rear chassis, suspension, and drivetrain it probably made more sense to stick with what the chassis already was meant for.
Next gen will be IRS for BOTH cars.
Next gen will be IRS for BOTH cars.
08-14-2012, 11:10 PM
#18
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Nashville Tn.
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's exactally what you have to do. Move the gas tank to the trunk. It's still a bitch. Figure, the Camaro is the most popular drag car of all time and it gets an IRS. Really? I'd like a name on who made this happen. Even a short list would do. The guys from STRANGE told me don't even think about it. (S60). Funny, the COPO cars have, a NINE INCH !!!! No ****. Ya think. Wait till one of these cars sends a tire/wheel/axel shaft into the crowd. This is what happens with borrowed platform builds. You get a bastard car.
08-14-2012, 11:36 PM
#19
Again, whether we like it or not GM didn't build the car for the 1% that drag race their cars, but rather the 99% that drive them day to day. To them it really doesn't matter, or in marketing they can say they have the "better" IRS setup (which all else being equal IRS will technically be better on the street).
08-15-2012, 08:27 PM
#20
Teching In
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 03-04 Cobra's IRS swaps out so easily because Ford adapted the IRS to an existing platform. GM isn't going to base the suspension of a brand new car on a design that debuted in 1982 and was discontinued for 8 years before resurrecting the nameplate.