1le?
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+.
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28
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From: Rockwood TN
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.
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.
Last edited by Willie 1le; Jul 13, 2010 at 07:21 PM.
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From: Dallas, TX
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!
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.
I'm curious as to where GM and even perhaps Scott Settlemire stand on the issue.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 59
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From: Pinson, Alabama
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Dallas, TX
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. 
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 59
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From: Pinson, Alabama
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....