Just picked up a '98 Camaro SS with some SLP goodies.

• SLP Loudmouth exhaust
• Hurst short throw shifter
• Edelbrock stainless long tube headers
• Bilstein suspension
• Spohn panhard bar
• Spohn rear tubular control arms
• American racing Torq Thrust wheels W/ SS c caps
• Drilled and slotted rotors front and back
• Paint matched front lip, rear lip, and side skirts

Best of all it only has 44k miles. I know some people are going to say that's a bad thing but if you felt how great it drove you wouldn't say that. She looks brand new inside and out.

The only thing I need to address is it appears a PO put in a lower degree thermostat for some reason, so it runs at 185 degrees. Then Im going to get trans, brake, diff and oil fluids changed out. Will probably do plugs and such as well just due to age.

Anyone have recommendations for suspension/handling upgrades? This car will see track and autoX time.
Anyways, meet Delores!

 

Sweet ride,I have an '01 SLP SS six speed and she's a gas to drive.
A couple inexpensive goodies that will help handling that go under the hood and are easy to install are a shock tower brace and a Strano brake master brace.
Google Sam Strano for some good reading,national autocross champ in a 4th gen Camaro and check out Strano Parts.
I also have Strano springs and sway bars in my car,much stronger than stock.
Adding a driveline loop is also a good idea if you're going to be banging gears.
I also added a set of BMR bolt on subframe connectors ,some say they don't do much but I like the idea of some added strength.

 

This is the exact advice I was looking for. Thank you! I'll definitely check out Strano and the parts you mentioned. I've owned so many different cars but I am so excited to have this one! Can't wait to get to work on it.

 

Glad to help,keep us posted.

 

All good info. I would add an alignment check first off to make sure the goodies you have where installed right. All the great parts in the world will not help if the front tires and rear tires are not pointing in the same direction. From the factory 4th gen does not need a 4 wheel alignment because the rear wheels have no adjustment. As soon as you add adjustable parts you have the opportunity to align the car better then factory. I would ask around at the races to find the best shop for alignments. Your plugs should not really be effected by time. Those materials don't degrade with time but they do with use. Your plug wires will build resistance over time and they are more prone to discharge as they age and this can cause coil to work harder and fail over time.

Then maybe hit the track as the car is. This would give you a base line so you can see how much performance increases with each upgrade. A low miles 4th gen may not benefit much from frame connectors because these cars are very ridge from the factory but as she gets some race hours on her she could loosen up a little. Tracking the car before and after each upgrade is nice to be sure you are going in the right direction. I hate to see cars with a bunch or bolt on parts and not get tune or alignment actually end up running slower the a stock unit. Also each driver is a little different and something that may help one driver may have no effect on a difference driving style or track. Maximize what you have figure out what is holding you back, address that and repeat. Camaro is a heavy car depending on the track and length of the race brakes may be your first concern.

 

Good points! Yeah, I'm heading to the track on the 17th to give her her first good shake down. That'll give me a baseline and order of operations as far as mods go. I don't have plans for power mods at this time - stock power seems perfectly adequate for now.

 

very happy with strano hollow tube sway bars. really made a difference. shock tower brace had a noticeable difference, did that before the sway bars.

 

Nice Camaro - nice name
Welcome to the club.
I have an '02 SS w/6-spd, Rita, and yes, fun in driving.
I just wish she had a larger rear axle and then I would install a 3.90/4.11 gear.

 

Thanks everyone! I think sway bars and a strut brace would be a good start. I'm tackling fluids next weekend and fingers crossed for good weather on the 17th!

 

For those of us without SS just going to the hallow SS sway bar was a big upgrade and getting rid of that steering rag joint in favor of the SS u-joint style steering joints also made a big difference. The SS does not have a lot of upgrades compared to the Z28 but the ones they do have make a difference. Carful with the rear sway bar there where some "upgrades" out there that I am told that just made the car worse. They where too stiff and cause cars to slide off the track, cars that where fine before the "upgrade". Its good to have a line to other racers.