I thought this was a pretty interesting story so here goes.

Tonight at a red light with a nice strecth of open road I engaged in a race with a 2000ish Chevy Camaro SS, it was a auto and convertable model.

At the light we both new it was on because we kept inching forward. When the light turned green I had a excelent launch out of the hole and I managed to take a nose length lead. Threw first I pulled a little bit and I had him on my side door. Then I went into second the camaro was inching up on me to the point he was only about 2 feet back. When I went to grab 3rd at 60 MPH my check engine light came on and my car went into limp mode, DAMN!! It was such a good race to and I really wanted to see what would happen in 3rd gear!

So when limp mode kicked in I made a smooth exit, shut the car off, removed theey and then i put teh key back in and startted the car up. Limp mode went away and I quickly caught up to the camaro. At another light I tolled him what happened and he chuckeled and gave me props on how quick my car was. We messed around a little bit more and I gave him the thumbs up. This car was basicaly my cars equal in straight line exeleration, pretty cool .


Any how, the damn limp mode struck again and this time it really struck a nerve I have my suspesions for it's reason of comming on. I think it definatly has something to do with the gas pedal recall I just had done. I must have hit the redline and it decided to cut me off. Later on I tested hitting my rev limeter and nothing happened so ohh well, I hope this does not happen again.

 

NiCe. So you had the recall done & it decides to go into limp mode?... weird. I didn't have them perform the recall yet... I may wait a bit to see what happens. Hopefully I won't get limp mode, or CEL, or even blown MAF anytime soon. Good Kill.

G

 

How much hp does an auto Camaro SS have? I know the 6spd ones have about 320hp right? So an auto maybe around 280hp? I think even an auto SS should be in the low 13s?

 

You have gone "limp" way too many times.

I should be getting the thing either today or tomorrow.

 

Cumalot,

the rated hp for an 2000+ SS is from 320 to 345 depending on the options you choose from SLP. It doesn't matter if it's a 6-spd or automatic, they all have the same rated hp.

Most SS's do run low to mid 13's in the 1/4. There are a few who are in the high 12's.

 

I have a frined with a '98 Z28 automatic, and he had 290rwhp stock. Modded LT1 manuals couldn't even hang with him.

 

He told me that one was his fathers and that he had a 6spd one at home. He said he ran a 13.9 with his 6spd one. Maybe it was not a SS then It was definatly a new looking V8 model one though.

 

That guy can't launch. You might of hung with him thru second but once he goes into 3rd look out!!! The SS has a sick 3rd gear and would have pulled about 3-4 cars on you...maybe more.

 

Probably an auto Z28.

13.9 with the 6spd SS? That's sad. Should be in the low 13s.

 

Probably that then, I should have looked at the trunk for the little SS. I don't know anything about Camaros.

 

2001 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (conv) 5.2 0-60, 13.8 1/4 @ 104, Automatic. Thats from car & driver.

1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 SS (conv) 5.3, 13.9 Manual , thuis is also from Car & driver.

So in 3rd gear he probably would have pulled away on me slowly, definatly not 3-4 cars lenghts though.

 

People say Car and Driver is usually inaccurate (bad drivers), especially for the Manual. On average most people run 13.5 - 13.6 in a stock LS1. My SS stock with a little over 500 miles on the OD ran a 13.2. So it all depends on the driver.

 

My bad I misread the the post it was an auto not a manual.

 

Emax,

Definatally a good race. An auto SS should do 0-60 in the mid-high 5's and the 6-speed in about 5 flat. I am really impressed you took him off the line as we all know he is RWD with massive torque.(not to mention AUTO so easier to launch).

Ethan, i'd say your car does 0-60 in high 5's - very low 6's, mid 5's on a cold day.

I think it's awesome you took that beast off the line, gives me more faith in the power of the Maxima. I don't think he'd pull on you in 3rd gear, he might inch you out, but you have the tranny advantage. Now if he was 6-speed you would be at his @ss.

All in all, Great race!

 

Sure it wasnt a LT1 Auto??? An LS1 SS auto would take you out of the light hard, but in 2nd and third it would be a pretty even match

 

yes....they did make an LT1 SS in 97...no one has even thought of that....you guys all assume that it was an LS1....


Ethan...you're car is quick....but an LS1...even poorly launched would have KILLED YOU BAD...

 

My neighbor across the street had a SLP SS LTI....Thing sounded awesome. I used to always ask him to do burnouts for me

 

I owned a WS6 Ram Air LT1 6 speed, with mods... First of all , the easiest way to identify an SS is the Arched wing . It looks very different from a stock Camaros wing. The SS badges, and the SLP exhaust pipes. I was running around a 12.9 with minor mods on the 6 speed. I know the Auto, convertibles are a bit slower, because they only come with 16" wheels, therefore traction stinks, and they weigh quite a bit more . There is a very minor difference between an auto or a 6 speed on these cars. Its so hard to launch it , since there's so much MUSCLE going to those 275 tires in the rear . Im sure the car you ran was a NON SS . I think if you wouldve finished the race, he wouldve taken you. Those cars breathe FIRE ... and sound awesome too !

BTW, what with you and LIMP MODE !...

 

It always upsets me when guys honestly believe the auto LT1/LS1 F-Bodies are significantly slower than the 6 speeds. I can tell you this, the autos are just as quick, if not a little quicket in the 1.4 mile, on average, than the 6 speeds. Not until the race goes past 100+ does the 6 speeds gearing advantage take place. I had a lightly modded auto LT1 that went 13.4@103mph.

As for Ethan hanging with the SS, it's entirely possible in a stop light race. I can tell you this though, I've raced many LT1/LS1s at the track and I've hung with them very well, UNTIL the 1/8th mile. At 70mph, these cars begin to walk away quite easily. It's simply a stronger car. With like drivers, an LT1/LS1 should beat ANY NA Maxima. I'll also add that the SS, regardless of year, were slightly slower than the standard V8s. The larger and heavy wheels, stiff suspension, and low-profile tires make for a slightly slower car even though it has an "extra" 10-15hp Ethan also raced a convertible which is a bit slower also (~100 lbs). If the race goes above 70mph and the SS has the top down, the massively increased drag will slow down the SS a lot. I clearly remember when Car & Driver did a test of a 96 TA with the top up and top down to 120mph. With the top down, the car was a whopping 3 seconds slower. The drag of the TA increased from .31 to .54!!!!


Dave

 

Youre right Dave, that why I said that there really isnt a difference in the Auto VS 6 speed. If you own a speed, you better know your car, and how to Launch it, or its easy to get smoked by an auto. The best part of the speed is the great gas mileage you get while in 6th gear, I made it from San Diego to Las Vegas on one tank.

 

Hey Dave the top was down and his front windows where up. He had a girl in his car too, I on the other hand was alone.

Kloogy, how come you never replied to my PM . Also his wing looked like the SS wing now that you explained it. I am about 99% sure it was a SS.

Craig it was definatly a good race until the dang limp miode kicked in, if the limp mode did not come on it would have been a great race!

 

This is what I was tyring to say in my first post. You can hang with them up to a point...but in 3rd they will pull hard on you. I once raced a manual Z28, we ran close until 65 with the Z28 leading by a car. When he got into 3rd the car just took off.

 

cliff notes ?