Z/28 Cooling Mod - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

MTCobra · 05-10-2014, 05:02 PM

Well, from the first day I had the ZL1 I thought the bowtie looked too big and too gold.

Since I'm really interested is HPDE's I figured,"why not make the flowtie".

As you all know the GT500s have no grill so I reasoned I didn't need to cover the opening. I think it looks OK but I'm sure it's not for everyone.

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LBV · 05-10-2014, 05:08 PM

You hollowed out the bow tie right? What they call the flowtie on the Z/28 ... looks fine to me and I'd probably do the same. Most people won't even notice I bet.

MTCobra · 05-10-2014, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBV

You hollowed out the bow tie right? What they call the flowtie on the Z/28 ... looks fine to me and I'd probably do the same. Most people won't even notice I bet.

Yep. Took the bowtie out of the grill and cut the solid black grill piece out so it's just open now.

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cdjnight · 05-10-2014, 05:29 PM

I love it, one mod gm can't keep from us non z28 owners :-)

All-American ZL1 · 05-10-2014, 05:52 PM

i think it looks pretty damn good! I wonder what if you could do the chrome outline somehow like the Z/28

MTCobra · 05-10-2014, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-American ZL1

i think it looks pretty damn good! I wonder what if you could do the chrome outline somehow like the Z/28

Thanks. I actually considered what you suggest. If I would have left about a 3/8" lip inside and then cut the gold out I could have double sided the chrome piece back in. I think that would have looked good too...and allowed air to move straight threw as intended.

Alain · 05-10-2014, 06:22 PM

I think it looks great!,,

SS Jett · 05-10-2014, 06:24 PM

That does look good!! Was it pretty easy to do? You might have started a trend. I'll probably do it too lol

MTCobra · 05-10-2014, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS Jett

That does look good!! Was it pretty easy to do? You might have started a trend. I'll probably do it too lol

Not too bad.

I removed the cover over the hood latch, pushed the chrome/gold bowtie out, then got a razor knife and heated the blade with a lighter.

Then I just carefully cut the opening out. (If I had it to do over again I would have duct taped the grill around the opening so that the razor knife wouldn't rub on the grill during the cutting process.)

I took a 300 grit sandpaper sponge and smoothed any portions I thought needed smoothing...mostly rub marks from the razor knife. Then I used a black plastic "restorer" sponge...Meguiars Ultimate Black ($3), to make it all look new.

Adjusting the bumper cover to the hood was something I didn't realize I would need to do but the 2 torx screws do this. I found a thread on this site about it. Got it back all lining up after I loosened the torx a little...

Inserting the chrome piece back in would look better I believe...whether it's chrome or black. What I did looks fine but you can see behind the opening to see the grill on the sides. I wanted air flow which I'll get.

CAM....ZL1 · 05-10-2014, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-American ZL1

i think it looks pretty damn good! I wonder what if you could do the chrome outline somehow like the Z/28

Probably any color of choice. I had actually thought about doing this myself and was afraid once it was done, and if I didn't like it I couldn't go back with out replacing the grill. Nice that I get to see how it looks first.

CAM....ZL1 · 05-10-2014, 08:34 PM

It might also look good with a rigid black screen on the back of it.

alssiri · 05-11-2014, 07:01 AM

Looks good , I like & may try it too

Ahmad

GenF-GTS · 05-11-2014, 10:42 AM

I know GM did it to the Z/28 but did it actually net any gain at all ? other than "in theory it should help"

Because in my opinion the air that the badge diverts probably still ends up in the radiator anyway since the surrounding air will direct it in that direction.

KLR ZL1 · 05-11-2014, 11:04 AM

I believe on the Z/28 it actually dropped engine temps by 8 degrees or something like that and the bowtie is much smaller on the new 14' frontends than the previous models. I didn't realize the difference until I actually saw them side by side at the fest. So I think by doing it to the ZL1 should improve the cooling also since it is much larger. I was thinking about doing it also but leaving the chrome piece like posted before. I would get another bowtie and try get the gold out and then cut the center out of it. Then just stick it into place first to see if that is the way I like it without destroying the grill first. If I like it then just mark the inside of chrome piece and cit out then use 3m double side adhesive tape.

05-10-2014, 05:02 PM	#1
MTCobra Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: So Cal Posts: 396 View My Garage	Z/28 Cooling Mod Well, from the first day I had the ZL1 I thought the bowtie looked too big and too gold. Since I'm really interested is HPDE's I figured,"why not make the flowtie". As you all know the GT500s have no grill so I reasoned I didn't need to cover the opening. I think it looks OK but I'm sure it's not for everyone. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-10-2014, 05:08 PM	#2
LBV Drives: G8 GXP manual Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 157	You hollowed out the bow tie right? What they call the flowtie on the Z/28 ... looks fine to me and I'd probably do the same. Most people won't even notice I bet. __________________ 2009 GXP, Manual with Sunroof Zeta platform, LS3,TR6060 tranny ... ya, it's a 4-dr Camaro! Borla cat-back, H&R springs, & Sprintbooster & I love it!

05-10-2014, 05:29 PM	#4
cdjnight Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Posts: 266	I love it, one mod gm can't keep from us non z28 owners :-) __________________

05-10-2014, 05:52 PM	#5
All-American ZL1 Chevy Power Drives: 13 ZL1 M6 #123, '98 Jeep Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 134 View My Garage	i think it looks pretty damn good! I wonder what if you could do the chrome outline somehow like the Z/28 __________________ 2013 #123, M6 2.38 upper, ID850, dynatech 1 7/8 headers, cats, X pipe, ADM CAI, 160 Tstat, Hurst line lock, tune by FSP Sebring 2:39.20 MPSS

05-11-2014, 07:01 AM	#12
alssiri Drives: 2017 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,250	Looks good , I like & may try it too Ahmad __________________ 2017 ZL1 A10 SW (SOLD) Whipple 2.9 with 3.2 Pulley, Weapon-X Stage 3 Cam, FIICHILLER ,LG Motorsports LT, Borla S type, ROTFAB Big Gulp, Big 3 Reservoir Glassskinz rear window valance . 2012 ZL1 A6 (SOLD) Forged 376 CI, LSA HeartBeat, Mast Medium Bore Heads & JDP ZLR Cam, ARH LT , MagnaFlow Resonated X + Borla Atak Catback, ADM 102mm Snout, CAI, NW102MM TB, ID850, Fore Triple Fuel Pump, MSD Wire's, Moroso CC. Alky Control, FIICHILLER.

05-10-2014, 06:22 PM	#7
Alain Drives: 2016 Challenger Hellcat, 2018 ZL1LE Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 3,003	I think it looks great!,,

05-10-2014, 06:24 PM	#8
SS Jett Drives: 2013 ZL1 #17 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 71	That does look good!! Was it pretty easy to do? You might have started a trend. I'll probably do it too lol

05-10-2014, 08:34 PM	#11
CAM....ZL1 Drives: 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: BENTON, IL. Posts: 1,068 View My Garage	It might also look good with a rigid black screen on the back of it.

05-11-2014, 10:42 AM	#13
GenF-GTS Account Suspended Drives: none Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 571	I know GM did it to the Z/28 but did it actually net any gain at all ? other than "in theory it should help" Because in my opinion the air that the badge diverts probably still ends up in the radiator anyway since the surrounding air will direct it in that direction.

05-11-2014, 11:04 AM	#14
KLR ZL1 H-Town Camaro Club Member Drives: 17 Hyper Blue Metallic KLR-ZL1 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pearland Tx. Posts: 2,035 View My Garage	I believe on the Z/28 it actually dropped engine temps by 8 degrees or something like that and the bowtie is much smaller on the new 14' frontends than the previous models. I didn't realize the difference until I actually saw them side by side at the fest. So I think by doing it to the ZL1 should improve the cooling also since it is much larger. I was thinking about doing it also but leaving the chrome piece like posted before. I would get another bowtie and try get the gold out and then cut the center out of it. Then just stick it into place first to see if that is the way I like it without destroying the grill first. If I like it then just mark the inside of chrome piece and cit out then use 3m double side adhesive tape. __________________