Bandits96ss

while on the topic of 1le how would u know if a 96 ss car was one is that on the slp option sheet would that be the level 2 bilestein?? supsension ?

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

All '96 1LEs were Z28s, not SS. Not sure if SLP offered optional "1LE content" to be added to SS that year, I didn't think Y2Y SLP options were offered until '98+.

Willie 1le

99 and before all 1le content was assembly line. Slp didn't buy rights until
01 model year,and they added supension parts. There is info out thier that shows exactly what SLP added for thier 1LE VS GM. I'm in the process of moving,but if I run across my copy I'll post it.

Brangeta

No 1LE SSes for '96-'97 at least.

I'm not sure if SLP has ever released production numbers for the '96 SS extra options or not. If they have, I haven't seen them... and I definitely want them!

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

88-99 had the RPO 1LE, whereas the 01/02 just have Y2Y and SLP add-ons -- this is what is arguable as being a "true" 1LE or not.

I'm curious as to where GM and even perhaps Scott Settlemire stand on the issue.

Bandits96ss

what exactly is 1le anyways i know it deals with suspension or somehting but what did it consist of

LateBrakeU2

iTrader: (3)

Here's how the party started-
http://www.cartersclassicmusclecars....g%20series.htm

01stngkiller

what is this "1SC" you speak of?

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

It's the "stripper" model - no options.

LS14EVR

iTrader: (3)

Not to mention how now they are going back to the SS being a lower model and the Z28 being the top dog.

01stngkiller

See GM is about to start confusing the **** out of people by making the Z28 the top dog. Pretty soon there will be d-bags everywhere claiming the Z28 was the badest car of the 60s. I can already see it coming.

69camaross

iTrader: (4)

The Bilstein suspension used on LT1 Hawks and SS contained mostly 1LE parts except for the Bilsteins and use of Eibach springs. The lower control arms bushings, transmission mount, and I think sway bar bushings were all 1LE parts.

SLP did offer a ton of extra options on 96-97 SS.

hurst
TOTL exhaust
bilstein suspension
torsen diff
Castol fluids
floor mats
car cover
R-1 compound BFG racing tires mounted on 2 extra wheels (so your car came with 6 wheels)
They also ported the exhaust manifolds on all 96s and most 97s

69camaross

iTrader: (4)

Also on the 93-95 1LEs your only choice of options were leather (not sure why) and rear defrost. Nothing else.


Regarding the Z28 being top dog. GM is going to mess this up as the Z28 was NEVER top dog over the SS. They were two separate models that went in 2 totally different directions. For the most part the Z/28 was primarly created to allow GM to compete in SCCA Trans Am. You had to build x amount of cars with a 305 or smaller engine and certain allowable suspension and brake parts in order to use that on your track cars.

The 1LE from 88-99 should basically have been called Z28 as that's truely what that option package was for. To allow you to race with better parts by offering them on limited number of street cars. The problem is Z28 became a marketing tool in the late 70s and morphed into an SS type trim package.

01stngkiller

^^ Agreed

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

Utilizing the Z28 as the top model of the Camaro makes complete sense.

Historically, "SS" vehicles are most abundant and available across the Chevrolet showroom. It was only the late 80's and 90's (no SS's from mid 70's to mid-80's sans g-body) that Chevrolet swapped for a brief period with "Zxx" branding as a general performance option and making "SS" a special model. In the early 2000's, SS was dropped back down to the "maintstream." When there is a "Zxx" model, it's the serious performer of the platform.

You can thank the horrible GM "vision" of the mid 70's to mid 80's for bastardizing brand-name equity.

I've said it several times, any Chevrolet can be a SS, but only a Camaro can be a Z28.

01stngkiller

also true ^^

Brangeta

We're off-topic now, but since we're talking about this...

I remember a few years ago (maybe in 2008) there were people ALREADY saying stuff on camaro5 like "YES! The SS will come out and be the standard V8 model and the Z28 will be the top dog later on! Just like in the first generation!" And I was like... really?

The SSes back then had much larger engines that were much more powerful. The main reason people were crazy about Z28s was because their engine was a 302, it weighed less than the big block engines, so the car could actually handle turns pretty decent in comparison. It wasn't really the top dog or anything as far as I'm concerned.

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

They served equally important purposes. I'm not sure how many of us were actually around in 1969 to compare the performance of a Z28 to a 396 SS, but from what I've heard of stories back home, the Z28 had no problem keeping up with the Stingray's on the street. Of course, my mother was only 13 at that time, so I was nowhere near being around to witness it! According to magazine tests, both the SS and Z28 were neck and neck.

Either way, Chevrolet has realized that SS is a model group for the entire brand -- just like their base LS, mid-level LT and top-of-the-line LTZ. The Z28 is a specific model of vehicle, just like a Z06.

Brangeta

All I'm trying to say is I think it'd be funny if the 5th gen Z28 ended up having a 427 or something in it. I'm not against it. I just think it'd be kind of odd. Personally, I like the idea of a twin turbo V6 like the Jay Leno Camaro concept being the Z28. Great gas mileage, wicked fast, and better looking than the current Camaro and SS.

01stngkiller

Well my dad grew up and started driving in the 60s and he had a 70 1/2 z28 when he was 22. he said for a car at that time it handled really well and would walk all over big-block chevelles all day long. He said that there werent too many big-block camaros running around tho. and even the first gen Z28s ran really well with that high revving 302. you could turn that thing 7500 rpms and it was still pulling! Born into the wrong generation i swear....