Track and Dyno Tested: 750hp SLP ZL1 Camaro Convertible

[DoggyB22]

Featured on Camaro5 HOMEPAGE.


Not bad at all..... Going that this is a convertible. I'm sure we would expect better times with a hard top. Cant wait for Chevy to release the ZL1 times.

That sound is just


Track Tested: 2011 SLP ZL1 Camaro Convertible








Dyno Tested: 2011 SLP ZL1 Camaro Convertible




When we posted our Track Tested results of the 2011 SLP ZL1 Camaro Convertible, a few of you cried foul. The trap speed, commenters opined, was too low to support the claim of 750 horsepower. Put it on the dyno, came the cries.
Ask and you shall receive. The result is across the jump.





Let's recap with what we're dealing. For their ZL1 package, the power brokers at SLP work up an LS7 block with a forged chromoly crank, a hotter cam, beefier rods and pistons, LS3 heads massaged with new valvetrain hardware, and then top the whole works with a TVS 2300 blower. They touch almost every other engine component, too, replacing the bearings, timing chain, oil pump, pushrods and head studs with racier stuff.



SLP then pop in a stouter clutch, a lighter flywheel, proper tubular headers and a big-bore exhaust. The result of all this work is 750 horsepower at the flywheel and a rip-snorting exhaust note.

In the confines of MD Automotive's Dynojet chassis dyno bay, the sound of seven liters of uncorked supercharged pushord V8 ricochets off the walls, positively pummeling your senses -- this is a convertible, after all, and so we just had to put the top down while on the dyno. The TVS blower is silent, too. You mostly hear exhaust, and lots of it.

What we measured can be seen below:




Its fat dome of a torque curve peaks at 610 lb-ft at 4200 rpm, and peak power of 617 horsepower arrives right at the fuel cut. That little blip in power right at the fuel cut was not repeatable, so the peak is realistically closer to 610 hp at the wheels.

If you're a fixed-percentage-driveline-loss kind of guy, it will help to get your bearings around what a stock Camaro SS puts to the ground. In our testing on this dyno, a stock Camaro SS loses to the driveline 13% of its total flywheel power. Most production RWD, normally aspirated cars exhibit roughly 10% reduction from flywheel to wheels on this particular dyno, so 13% is on the conservative end of the range. Apply this value to the SLP ZL1 and it appears to be shy of its 750 hp claim by a bit.

A big factor is playing into this, namely geography. SLP are based in Michigan. Michigan and much of the rest of this great nation enjoy the fruits of 93 (and in many cases 94) octane fuel. For a forced induction engine, octane does to power what catnip does to your tabby -- it really perks things up.




Now consider that we do all of our testing in California, and that California is not in Michigan, which means a) we don't point to our palms when describing our hometowns, and b) the highest octane premium fuel that's widely available is shitty 91 octane. Yes, 91 octane is completely lame.

You know where I'm going with this. SLP developed their 750-hp calibration on midwest fuel and not 91 octane. On the plus side, I didn't hear a single ping while on the dyno, which means their knock detection works very well. The downside is that the car simply won't make the same power on 91 as it does on 93 octane. SLP doesn't sell the ZL1 to California residents anyway, thanks to the draconian (and expensive) hoops that CARB requires companies to go through in order to do so. However, the CARB-free states of Arizona and Nevada also max out at 91 octane.

Thing is, SLP are their own competition. A while back we tested on this very dyno a Camaro equipped with the company's ZL575 package, which claims 575 hp at the flywheel. The ZL575 put down 558 horsepower and 513 lb-ft to the wheels on 91 octane, and it ran a 116.8 mph trap speed to the ZL1 'vert's 117.2. True, the ZL575 is lighter than the ZL1 (by about 240 lb) and has better aero, but the comparison of it to the ZL1 shows that making even more power on 91 octane quickly becomes a losing proposition.





But hey, the ZL1 still manages to out-sauce a freakin' 911 GT2 RS, which is no mean feat in its own right. Still, our advice for those perusing the SLP offerings is to stick with the ZL575 package.











MORE SLP ZL1 CONVERTIBLE PICS:

[lewylew]

That car should run mid to low 11 second 1/4 mile.

[35th02ss]

SLP's car is a ZL1... Might not be from GM but still a ZL1 non the less.....

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by 35th02ss

SLP's car is a ZL1... Might not be from GM but still a ZL1 non the less.....

This is why I was hoping GM would go with another name, lol

[CamaroPhotos]

Snapped this on I-96 near the Milford, MI Proving Grounds this morning (sorry about the poor pic quality from my cell phone; not to mention a dirty windshield). I'm guessing these are SLP ZL's since there was no noticeable badging on them yet other than the "ZL" center caps on the rims. The 2 at the front of the trailer are convertibles. All had the distinct exhaust 'cans' and hood to accompany the center caps.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by 35th02ss

SLP's car is a ZL1... Might not be from GM but still a ZL1 non the less.....

Technically, SLP's car is an SS that gets modified (at the cost of $80,000 on top of the price an an SS) and then is re-badged and marketed as a ZL1.

[detltu]

Cool video. Thanks for posting.

[Z4me]

Companies such as SLP have paved the way that Thier
is indeed a market place for such a car as the GM
version of the ZL1. For that alone I give a BIG
THANK YOU!

[PeeBee]

Originally Posted by CamaroPhotos

Snapped this on I-96 near the Milford, MI Proving Grounds this morning (sorry about the poor pic quality from my cell phone; not to mention a dirty windshield). I'm guessing these are SLP ZL's since there was no noticeable badging on them yet other than the "ZL" center caps on the rims. The 2 at the front of the trailer are convertibles. All had the distinct exhaust 'cans' and hood to accompany the center caps.

Three ZL585's...

That's the one from SLP to compare with the "real" ZL1.

[Shurenuff]

Originally Posted by lewylew

That car should run mid to low 11 second 1/4 mile.

I don't understand the performance numbers either.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

Three ZL585's...

That's the one from SLP to compare with the "real" ZL1.

Tuner cars certainly have their place, but I don't think it makes sense to make apple to oranges comparisons between tuner cars and factory vehicles. I think comparing tuner cars to other tuner cars (e.g., Hennessey to SLP to Lingenfelter) is a more useful exercise, as is comparing factory cars to other factory cars (e.g., ZL1 to GT500).

[GEEo]

The Car is ridiculously priced!!

[MohawksIOSS]

Hmm wonder what this will cost, i know what it cost me to make those numbers in my SS :-)

[Black5thgen]

It takes a forged LS7 and a TVS2300 to get to Whipple LS3 numbers?? I am very impressed with the package, I think it looks awesome. However I am really let down by the HP and ET numbers.

[Jcobra]

Anymore pics of the yellow coupe under the tent?

[midnighter]

Awesome but tester would look better with RS package.

[edz10ss]

The ZL1 is hot looking in person. I've seen a couple and the carbonfiber hood is so hot! Everyone is right, the numbers should be alot better? Im guessing it should be very low 11's maybe high tens with the right driver?

[PQ]

Saw this car at the fest.

FANTASTIC job.

I see in the video that traction is a bitch. hahaha

I'd like to see it run on a track with some DRs.

[Johnnyma45]

Cost aside, I'm a fan of the bodywork, minus the heritage grill - stock would be just fine.

[Edrock]

Originally Posted by PQ

Saw this car at the fest.

FANTASTIC job.

I see in the video that traction is a bitch. hahaha

I'd like to see it run on a track with some DRs.

Maybe the DRs would help the numbers a bit. I must admit I was expecting better numbers too with that setup.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by Edrock

Maybe the DRs would help the numbers a bit. I must admit I was expecting better numbers too with that setup.

Believe me, DRs on a track would make a WORLD of difference. The times on the video were not about the power/torque, or shifting gears, but ALL about the launch.

I give them props for keeping it real. Meaning they 'Run what they Brung' so to speak. They tested it as you'd buy it.

My car should run mid 11s with good DRs on a track. And before the cam went in I ran 12.3 at the fest with DRs. On the street with these donk wheels I'd be doing well to get into the 12s.

[SLP Performance]

There's more coming! After Barrett-Jackson Edmunds/Insideline took delivery of both my ZL1's, the white convertible and the silver Coupe. The White Convertible had only 150 miles on it and is not even broken in yet. The Silver car is well broken-in with over 1600 miles and you'll see the results of that test in the next week or two.


-Dave

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by PQ

Believe me, DRs on a track would make a WORLD of difference. The times on the video were not about the power/torque, or shifting gears, but ALL about the launch.

I give them props for keeping it real. Meaning they 'Run what they Brung' so to speak. They tested it as you'd buy it.

My car should run mid 11s with good DRs on a track. And before the cam went in I ran 12.3 at the fest with DRs. On the street with these donk wheels I'd be doing well to get into the 12s.

Wait ... PQ saying 'run what you brung'? I could see GTAHVIT saying that, but not you ...

[Dewey]

I wished SLP would sell the rear diffuser and exhaust tips that are being shown on this ZL1

[Mustang Killa]

Want it..SLP gonna offer this separately ever????