My 1st Camaro - A 1LT Story (Updates 6/18/13)
 

Hey guys, just going to start this up for my car. Nothing extreme yet, but maybe it will be of interest to someone at some point :)

2012 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT/Automatic - Victory Red/Jet Black Interior
No factory options

Updated June 18th, 2013

Mods:

Mechanical/Performance:
-Dynomax VT Axle Back Exhaust (Jegs)
-CAI Brand Intake w/ air scoop and bottle relocator (Apex Speed)
-VMax CNC Throttle Body (Florida Speed & Performance)
-RX Catch Can & Breather (JDP)

Exterior:
-20% window tint on all 5 + windshield brow (Friend)
-GM Splash Guards (Ebay - Dealer from New Orleans)
-Debadged 'Camaro' on each side (Me)
-Painted bowties front and rear (Me)
-Trunk blackout panel (BigWorm Graphics)
-American Racing Torq Thrust M 18x9 (Extreme Customs/Wheel Pros)
-Polished Camaro 'Script' badges (Emblem Pros)

Interior:
-Deep rubber floor mats (WalMart)
-Constant hot mod on the power outlet (Me!)
-Chevrolet door sills (GM)

Underhood (non performance):
-Mobil 1 Factory Fill plate

Planned:

-SLP ghost gills
-Camaro flags?-Hood spears?

Currently:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psf84f32cb.jpg
___________________________________________

Around early April 2012 I got a wild hair. I was tired of driving a crew cab truck for just me, myself, and I. I have an old beater pickup sitting around at home anyway. I wanted my first car! Always drove Chevrolet and I never really thought about 5th Gens, other than I knew they looked cool.

I was leaving the dealer after buying an airbag sensor for my '05 Silverado and saw the line of Camaros. I HAD to drive one.

Two weeks later:

My 2005 Silverado after two years of trusted service sitting beside my brand new 2012 1LT Camaro. It was bittersweet. No kidding, I got a little misty eyed while sitting in the car doing the OnStar into. I have never had a brand new car, let alone something really cool like a 5th Gen. It was a very special moment, having a shiny red Camaro with 14 miles on it. Prior to this, my '05 Silverado was the newest thing I ever had. Bought it with 77K on the clock. INTERESTING NOTE! I bought the truck from Brian Harris Chevrolet, traded it back into Brian Harris two years later on the Camaro, and they sold the same truck, on the same used car lot, with 25,000 more miles on it, hehe. That was neat. Funny thing, it was nicer when they got it back than when they had it to start with.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMAG0014.jpg

So that's the back story. As of today, about 9 months and 9,805 miles later, I still love it. No problems or major concerns, and I still peek out the window at night to look at it under the glow of the carport light.

Pics!

Day 2. Look at all that nasty dealer BS on the rear.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_2946.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_2957.jpg

Day 3. Wash and its first coat of wax. All dealer ads removed.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_2962.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_2977.jpg

One month in. Window tint is imperative in South Louisiana.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3037.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3038.jpg

At around 1,500 miles the RX Catch Can finally made it.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3042.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3043.jpg

Months later. Picked up a couple minor rock chips from surprise road construction. Took it as a sign of things to come. Ordered some GM splash guards. No new chips or paint damage since.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3228.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3226.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3227.jpg

More in my next post :)

I hated that the stock power outlet only worked with the key on. So, I fixed it. I added a new wire and tied it into the fuse block with an add a fuse.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3717.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...O/IMG_3729.jpg

Finally, I decided she needed some fun stuff. It's a daily driver and I didn't want to get carried away. I picked up the Dynomax VT system, which I price matched down to $388 shipped at Jegs, and added a CAI kit with scoop and bottle relocator, and a VMax throttle body. Around the tail end of December 2012 I started ordering everything.

Throttle bodies. Stock right, Vmax left.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psf011f5bb.jpg

New exhaust!

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...pse0987073.jpg

Cut off the old trash cans.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psd71b9f00.jpg

Yay for having real exhaust tips and mufflers. Sounds great too.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psab4b6bd1.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psde520206.jpg


Here is a video of the exhaust. Full throttle start, half throttle pass, and a cruising pass.




Under the hood as of January 19th, 2012.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps52c25771.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psed408d03.jpg

And outside (again, as of 1/19/2012).

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps1cb3f74c.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psa1ab136f.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps1dd74904.jpg

Oh, and here she is with her distant third cousin. My '93 step side (LS Swapped!). For when I need a truck.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps8ad53d71.jpg

That's it for now guys. Just a tame little daily driver. More to come in time.

Nice mods, keep it up :thumbup:

very clean awesome red one you got ;)

Excellent job!

Question re your RX hoses. With the way they are zip tied, does the engine cover still fit snug? I like that set up.

Car looks fantastic and a great color choice if i say so myself!!:thumbsup:

Real nice start to your build. Please enjoy each item you decide upon. Sounds like you do your own work...:popcorn:

Wonderful color to do mods with...

Kurt ABL99...

Car looks great :thumbsup:

Thanks everyone!

Yep, doesn't interfere with everything. I build emergency vehicles for a living so I tend to be a stickler for neatly routed hoses and wires. I couldn't just let them run wild like some people do, but I had to curve them out a little to make sure the fittings on the can stayed tight.

Thanks. The previous truck kinda started my liking for red. I bought the car to match the interior/exterior of my old truck since I was happy with it (Victory Red w/ dark interior). I wanted a flashy color. The dark blues and whites and greys are nice but don't have any excitement...


I'm no ASE Certified mechanic but I grew up having to work on my own vehicles out of necessity. I will find a way to do it. Luckily, the car has an awful lot of warranty coverage. But I do my own mods and I can pull engines, transmissions, etc if the need arises.

Oh, took a friend and her little girl to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans today. Rolled 10,000 miles pulling into the neighborhood coming home. She's growing up so fast.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps62db519d.jpg

car looks great

Minor update.

I was off work yesterday due to shifting back from a temporary night shift back onto days, so while trying to stay awake to fix my sleep schedule I went outside and de-badged the Camaro. Then washed and waxed it.

I'm thinking about putting a painted bowtie back on the rear with the skinny black out panel, red bowtie up front. Still debating on other graphics...

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps36f28656.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...pscaf7b448.jpg

I'm still awaiting some information, but this is looking like a possibility...

TSW Nurburgring RF Bronze 20x9 w/ Hankook Ventus ST 275/40R20. Square setup so it can rotate and handle.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psd718a16d.jpg

those wheels would look great!! lower it about a 1inch and ZOMG!!!

Awesome, love the car and the mods look great! Glad you finally got to get an amazing car like a camaro! I'm looking forward to seeing what you have planned in the future :thumbup::pop2: