BigCarrot's Changes

[BigCarrot]

Hi,

I'm Travis and I own a 2011 1SS M6 IOM Camaro. This is the first car I've ever bought and by far it's the most powerful I've ever driven! My past cars starting from the oldest were:

1995 Chevrolet Lumina
2003 Toyota Celica GT-S

So I got out of college and started working full-time in 2009 and was deciding on whether I was going to keep my Celica or get a new car. At first I thought it would be best to keep the celica for as long as possible so I put a little work into it. Re-tinted the windows and did my best to keep it well maintained. I kept thinking about my next car though and in 2010 I was asking my best friend what my next car should be and he just mentioned how he never road in the new camaro yet, so I should get that.

That was the kiss of death I started looking at this car and was just instantly in love with it . The aggressive lines it had and the IOM color reminded me of those old muscle cars back in the day. My cousin used to have a Yellow 69' Camaro and this car reminded me of it so much! I always wanted one of those old Camaro's but to have one with all the modern technologies of today for a great price and a warranty was just icing on the cake!

This is another reason for buying my car when I did. I honestly don't think cars like this will be around much longer. Also plan on picking up that game too



I ordered my car back in November of 2010 and got my car on January 12th 2011. I was hoping for it to come in at Christmas but missed it by a few weeks =)

Now, when I ordered it I didn't add a lot of extras which in hindsight I should have. So I started to compile a list of everything I wanted to add. I wanted to try to make this car look like a more modern version of the 1st Gen Camaro's. I think I did that without going overboard.

I Started this Car Journal to just showcase what I've done thinking I was done with all my Modifications. Boy was I wrong! Well this is the first car I've ever modified this heavily, even though it's just cosmetic things I have enjoyed it the whole way. I'm pretty proud with how it came out and how I installed everything I could myself

Modifications:
Heritage Grill
Modern SS Emblems for Trunk/Heritage Grill
V-Flag Reproduction Emblem from 1st Gen Camaro on Front Fenders
Chrome Accent for Rear Fender
GMPP Axle Back Exhaust
Orange Interior Trim
Steering Wheel Audio Controls
Aux Gauge Pod
Camaro Floor Mats with White Trim
Ported Throttle Body
IOM Powder Coated Brake Calipers
2-Tone Orange/Black Leather Wrapped Sun Visors
Painted Engine Cover

Important Thread/Car History Links:
1 Year of Ownership - http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...6&postcount=41
Link to Car Accident Photos - http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4562837&postcount=43
10K on the Odometer - http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...8&postcount=55

Future Modifications:
Separate Clutch Reservoir - Waiting to make the bracket
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34085

Hurst Shifter ~$300
https://www.apex-speed.com/hurst-bil...2-shifter.html

3.73 Gears ~$645 & ~$60 for Half Install Kit
https://www.apex-speed.com/richmond-...inion-set.html
https://www.apex-speed.com/richmond-gear-installation-half-kit.html

CAI Inc Air Intake ~$450
http://www.apex-speed.com/cold-air-i...ck-finish.html

ARH Long Tube Headers w/ High Flow Cats & Exhaust ~$1895
http://www.juicedmotorsports.com/201..._ca201078.html

OEM IOM Leather for Seats - Waiting to be installed

Dye Stitching from White Stitching to Orange
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104454

Stock:







Modified:

Thanks for checking my car out. Any tips/advice/praise/criticism/whatever would be appreciated

[thespymaster]

Looking good...................

Love the name "BigCarrot"

[BigCarrot]

Thanks, one of my co-workers coined the term and I liked it so went with it

[The Stig]

Looking pretty good. Though I can't lie, when I saw this part I laughed, for a decently long amount of time

Originally Posted by BigCarrot

Whew I think that's it! Hopefully I'm done spending all my money on this crap

[BigCarrot]

Originally Posted by stieger

Looking pretty good. Though I can't lie, when I saw this part I laughed, for a decently long amount of time

Yeah is it every really over?

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by BigCarrot

Yeah is it every really over?

no, no its not. I try to say that I'm done sometimes, but then my girlfriend just shakes her head. And what do you know, 3 weeks later I've got a bunch of new interior parts. 5GMD

[BigCarrot]

Originally Posted by stieger

no, no its not. I try to say that I'm done sometimes, but then my girlfriend just shakes her head. And what do you know, 3 weeks later I've got a bunch of new interior parts. 5GMD

Guess you were right stieger

I have updated my OP with a list of Future Mods in mind. Let me know your opinions guys!

[BigCarrot]

We'll been thinking over my future plans with this car and came up with a few more performance changes

Air Intake
Not sure of what brand as of yet. I would like to use one that doesn't involve moving my windshield washer fluid reservoir.

Long Tube Headers w/ High Flow Cats
Not sure either on what brand. Been reading and heard good things from Kooks, ARH, & BFH. My major concern would be after adding LT Headers I would need a tune and would that cause my exhaust to let out a lot more soot and dirty up the back end really bad? I guess it depends on the tuner and how rich the system is running? Any insight on this would be great!

Some more cosmetic things in mind:

New Valve Covers, Coil Relocation, and new Spark Plug Wires
I'm thinking on getting some new ones that have chevrolet on them in black or orange. Also moving the Coils to show the new valve cover with new wires (In black) to accomodate the new placement.

If anyone has suggestions I'm all ears! Not necessarily looking for the most horsepower I can get just more muscle sound behind that 6.2L

[Sawyer]

Subscribed

[BigCarrot]

Thanks, it's a bit dormant right now. Will have updates of new parts I'll be getting soon that are on my list

[BigCarrot]

Order my ported throttle body and my powder coated brake calipers so patiently waiting for their arrival. I'll post up the pics when they arrive

In other news my car was keyed this past sunday . They caught the culprit and my car was dropped off at the paint shop and will most likely be there for 1-2 weeks. So when I finally get my car back I'll install those items and also change my trans and diff oil out to some synthetic and hopefully this car will be a lot smoother driving day to day and look great again too

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by BigCarrot

Order my ported throttle body and my powder coated brake calipers so patiently waiting for their arrival. I'll post up the pics when they arrive

In other news my car was keyed this past sunday . They caught the culprit and my car was dropped off at the paint shop and will most likely be there for 1-2 weeks. So when I finally get my car back I'll install those items and also change my trans and diff oil out to some synthetic and hopefully this car will be a lot smoother driving day to day and look great again too

Nice! Cant wait to see the powder coated brake calipers

[BigCarrot]

Calipers should be at my doorstep today!

I installed my Ported Throttle Body yesterday and there is a noticeable increase in response. Only time will tell how much it helped when I'm in bumper to bumper traffic coasting at 6-7 mph.

Ported:



Stock:

[BigCarrot]

Look what I found at my doorstep =) Hopefully have them installed tomorrow or thursday and have my Transmission and Differential fluid changed as well while they're at it!

[BigCarrot]

Well went to get my calipers installed and one of the calipers threads is ovaled and you can't thread in the brake line. So I am currently running 3 IOM Calipers and 1 Gray Caliper

Mike the powdercoater is getting me all fixed up with a corrected one just gotta be patient with the shipping.

Changed out my Differential Fluid (Mobil 1 75W90 LS and Friction Modifier), Transmission Fluid (Mobil 1 ATF), and Brake Fluid (Prestone DOT4) so the car feels a bit smoother 1-2 Gear now. Now I just gotta wash her and she'll be looking real nice

[Sawyer]

Calipers look great!

[Mike2ss]

man, those calipers look awesome

[BigCarrot]

Originally Posted by Mike2ss

man, those calipers look awesome

Thanks

[BigCarrot]

This is another reason for buying my car when I did. I honestly don't think cars like this will be around much longer. Also plan on picking up that game too

[shadow09]

I saw you driving on 518 like an hour ago! I was in the black SS that you waved at.

Your car was looking good!

[BigCarrot]

haha cool

I do like a Black Camaro just don't think I could handle maintaining the finish. I'd be washing that thing all the time!

[shadow09]

Originally Posted by BigCarrot

haha cool

I do like a Black Camaro just don't think I could handle maintaining the finish. I'd be washing that thing all the time!

Ha yeah I wash mine probably about once every 10 days having and maintaing a clean black car is definitely a pita but its worth it.

[BigCarrot]

Well I'll have some updated pics of my brake calipers once I can wash this car. Damn mosquitos are taking over the place! We got an infestation of these stupid things! If I walk outside for 10 minutes I got at least 20 bites on me

[BigCarrot]

Finally got my car cleaned to an acceptable level. Here's some install pictures!

[coreyk]

Dude, you need to cut the shit.... I have an orange 1LT and now I wanna drop stupid amounts of money into it! lol


I was fooling around with the idea of the calipers. How much did the calipers cost to powder coat?

Also did you do the orange door panels with the dash? I would like to see better pics of that.

My plans were painted calipers, tints, orange dash/door panels, orange on black leather seats with the double stitch etc, black powder coated rims, custom exhaust (cutouts with high flow cats and possibly custom piping, still figuring it out, have it partly done), I wanna add the halo headlights, and probably black out the chevy logos, and I have the side vents accented. Only got it a couple months ago so it's a work in progress.