Modded Camaro SS can't live up to ETs?

[302 LX Eric]

Here is the scene:

I'm at the track last weekend for presumably the last time this year. It's a nice day, sunny with light winds and temps in the 50's - 60's.

I make my first pass with my new Tremec and go 13.3 @ 104.6. While in line, I take notice of a Camaro SS (newer stlye, '01, I believe) with BFG drag radials, LID (whatever this is?), and some other goodies that the driver is telling others in line what he has. The SS was clean, sounded very mean (I don't think it was the stock exhaust), and the driver appeared to be experienced based on his discussions with other drivers. As we proceed in line it becomes evident that I'm not going to get to line up against him (which I really wanted to do), but rather am two races behind him.

I see him do a burn out, then pull up the line. At this point I am very anxious to see his run considering all that I have heard and read about how ungodly fast these beasts are even in un-modded form.

Now, before I get to his run, I have heard and read about STOCK LS1 Camaro's going 12.7's @ 110 on street tires and the paper filter with 50 miles on them. So, with mods (especially the drag radials), I'm thinking this guy is going to go at least 12.4 - 12.5 @ 112 or so.

The tree goes green and he takes off - not spinning or anything, I hear him chirp 2nd and 3rd - should be a good run, right? Well, here is the result of the run:

13.3 @ 106

So what's up with this? I guess what I'm really getting at is that I have yet to see these so called "beasts from the factory" that many LS1 guys talk about. Do you guys see many of them at your local tracks? Or, is this just another case of over-hyped claims from people who talk about one guy who's friend has an uncle that used to own an LS1 that went 12.7 @ 110 on a 30 degree day with a 50mph down-track wind and 5% graded track?

No flames intended, I'm just really curious as to what you guys are seeing in your areas.

Take care,
E

[MMLX]

I am with you on this one, I have yet to see one run under 13.5 or so, the quickest one I have seen is a 00 with a 200 shot,2800 stall,exhaust etc. he ran a 11.8 but the ones with bolt ons usually running mid 13's

[bri32z]

Here in Atlanta I have seen most of them run in the low 14's to high 13 marks. Seen Vettes do the same. GT's running from 10's to 17's. Most of the 11 second cars here were the older chevelles and stangs. I guess it really depends on a lot of factors. Mainly the driver and track condition. Did see a dodge caravan 4cyl turbo go high 10's...That was awsome Nothing like having a bad a$$ family car eh?

[GONZO99TA]

well i personally have run 13.5@105 at kil kare raceway this summer in ohio. this with typical aug weather in ohio. my 99 is bone stock, all that has been done is routine maint. this on my usual crappy 2.2 60fts.
any factory car has there up and down in performance and to make it even worse you have to factor in the driver and weather when you compare times.
so is it possible there are factory stock 12 sec 1/4 mile ls1 cars out there? sure. i would not call that the norm though. most i've seen run mid to low 13's.
i would actually call mine one of the slower ls1's. i've driven mine long enough and i still go around and test drive a few here and there (just for the he** of it ) i will not forget 1 particular ss i drove. with 15 miles on the odo this 2000 (yes this was back in 2000, so it was new) made my ws6 feel slow. this driving them back to back. so the factory freaks are out there.

oh, and if everyone wanted to post what an ls1 ran off my 1st run down the track in it, these cars would be running mid 14's then.

[MMLX]

in GM's defense, I see most 96 and newer cobras running low 14's at my local track. I had a 97 cobra with an s-trim, and now I have an 89LX, you figure it out. Not impressed with the DOHC cars.

[Smokedawg]

My buddy has a 01 WS6

He goes to Muncie track w/ Nitto 555's, they are 285/40/17's, k&n, lid, 160* thermostat..He runs 13.2's all day long.
He has since put on a new MAF and I think he only picked up 1 tenth of a second..

[1BAD89]

***Now, before I get to his run, I have heard and read about STOCK LS1 Camaro's going 12.7's @ 110 on street tires and the paper filter with 50 miles on them. So, with mods (especially the drag radials), I'm thinking this guy is going to go at least 12.4 - 12.5 @ 112 or so.

That is what MM&FF said they got their SS to run. The 02's are faster, the 6-speeds can go high 12's with a good driver. My 00 SS A4 is running 13.4's bone stock. 12's are very possible for an 02 all stock, especially a M6. Once again it all comes down to the driver.

***He goes to Muncie track w/ Nitto 555's, they are 285/40/17's, k&n, lid, 160* thermostat..He runs 13.2's all day long.
He has since put on a new MAF and I think he only picked up 1 tenth of a second..

He ONLY picked up a tenth with a new mass air, a tenth is quite a bit man.

[5ohCOUPE]

My friends pretty much stock 2001 ss camaro runs 12.92 @ 109. It just has exhaust done. Also he ran on slicks. Maybe the one you saw was an auto trans car. The auto ones are a little bit slower than the manuals. But then again i have seen a 2001 T/A auto run a 13.05 @ 108. The same setup, just exhaust. I would say the driver has something to do with it.

[Bad Dad]

The LS1 cars have the HP to run those times stock, it all comes down to driver and tires.

[StoplightWarrior]

Nice Times, Bad Dad!

I wish I had a Bad Dad. Mine thinks cars are a waste of time and money.

[Stang Runner]

I have seen a STOCK motor one with a K&N and EX AND slicks got a 11.8-9 BUT it was striped TO the MAX one drag seat and review mirror was out and the stock streering wheel was gone as well. But motor was stock I might have a pic..... well I guess I dont have one.. BUT the car was not a street car

[Mercury]

Okay, Time for me to throw my two cents in.

I've heard and read about these Demi-God Like performing LS-1's. A GM lover that I know swore up and down that his buddies LS-1's ran Low Low low 13,s, and High 12,s stock. Here in Fayetteville.

Well, Tim C and a few other Mustangers started going to the track and saw these supposed Low 13 sec cars running. They all ran Mid 13's, with not one of them dipping below 13.5. Thats on a 50-55 degree night with 30% humidity (Humidity here is usually alot higher).

The one that ran 13.5 was a 99 Camaro 6 spd. He claims to be stock, but I've heard otherwise. Since I dont really know, I'll assume hes stock. The rest ran an average of 13.7.

On another note, you get 96-98 Cobras with just gears running 13.7's and 13.6's out there also. On the same day!

The average 99 + GT driver pulls 13.9's or 14.0. Tim C and the gang told me there was a Roush Stage 2 Coupe with gears out there runnning 13.7's, and a 2001 GT Convert 5 spd Powershifting his way to 13.8's.

Now I must admit, theres a black 2000 Camaro SS with some mods (The guy wont say what) running High 12's. His best was a 12.7.....something. But he doesnt drive the car at the strip. He NEVER DOES. He has a friend drive it. With him driving, I could beat him. He's a sorry sorry driver.

[LS1JAY]

My '98 Trans Am, Automatic with 2:73 gears ran 13.17@106.49 1st time at the track on street tires! my only mods were: Lid, Ported stock MAF,and a Flowmaster. it was 55 degrees there were many others there running low 12's with bolt ons(headers & converters) so it is possible but I too have seen slow LS1's, some just seem slower but I have yet to see one here in Florida run less than 13.99 also I have yet to see one with less than a 100 mph trap speed even in HOT weather, not saying that they are not out there but if they are it's either the altitude or somethings wrong with the car!

[Coupe5oh]

Hmm, well i live close to the track, matter of fact, i can here the bracket racers if i open my window, damn im lucky anyway, i just dont see it, i never see any stock f-bods running quicker then 13.3's around 106? and there is lots of them that go to the track, sometimes the stangs are outnumbered, lol rarely, im sure the freaks are out there, and i know about the mm&ff article, but i just dont see it.

i agree, that most ls1's always at least trap 100 mph, i seen a 00 t/a go 14.5 @101, he was the most terrible driver i have seen, and the only ls1 i have ever beat

now i really enjoy seeing the blown ones run, those things hook up and go!

[Unit 5302]

I've beaten 3 LS1's. There is no way in hell my car would have run a mid 13. Actually, never lost to one.

12.9 on slicks huh? Unimpressive. My beat up fox would run in the low low 13's with just slicks added on at this point.

[tireburner163]

I saw a stock 2000 Camaro SS with a auto run a 8.50 at 84mph at my local 1/8 mile track

[Coupe5oh]

8.50? thats not bad, i have run best 8.80 with all cat cverters, and radials.

unit you think low 13's with your car with slicks? thats cool, im going to the track tommorow, im gonna borrow some welds with e.t. streets on them, so im probaly gonna change my sig im thinking 13.6, maybe 13.5 with a hard launch, hope my axles are up to it.

[exgmguy]

C'mon, I thought you guys were smarter than that. Never underestimate your opponent!

Here is what I see: Most running mid to low 13's @ 105-109 mph. The guys who run these times can't drive. The good drivers are getting 12.8 and 12.9's out of them with the free stuff and drag radials.

The Auto cars are the ones to watch when they are set up right. A guy in our car club has an auto SS with a converter, headers, and other bolt ons only and runs mid 11's @ 114 on ET Streets. THIS IS A BOLT ON CAR!!!

A bunch more guys in the group are running mid to low 12's around 110 mph as well.


Trust me, they run!!

[SaleenGTS]

They are indeed fast, but not "ungodly" fast. Just a great stock performer. My friend has a 92 LX with 3.73's, full exhaust a cam and a 8 psi Vortech and a 01 WS-6 hung with him all the way. Now I know he has a 12 second car. He dynoed 296 rwhp. So these cars are definately fast. I personally like them. They are good looking, powerful and clean, but hate how all the GM guys (give or take a few) think they are unbeatable.

[302 LX Eric]

exgm - interesting stuff. I have just not seen it at our local track. Week in and week out there seem to be a plethora of mid-high 13 LS1's and maybe one N/A in the 12's. In fact last year one class-less individual with a LS1 Firebird with a Calvin peeing on Ford sticker (hence, class-less) power-shifted his way to a 14.2 and 14.1.

I have heard that adjusting the stall on the auto's can yield some impressive results.

Keep the results from your areas rolling in...it is good to know your oppenent - and no, I don't underestimate mine.

E