What Car & Driver speculates about Z28 & ZL1

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Z_Rocks

What concerns me for the long run, is the turmoil that is going on within Middle-East, which is basically the main producer of Gasoline and controller of the price. The price of gas is really going up and as the ME stays like this, oil price will stay up close to $4.xx a gallon. This will seriously puts a huge dent into the sales these big cube engines like 7.0 or 6.4 or 6.2 liters.
See how many companies are now jumping on 2.0 liter turbo on gas and diesel and offering some great power.
I'm sure the bean counters @ GM are taking this issue to heart very seriously.

That's why we should quit messing around with them over there. Get things in place here and get the oil flowing from our own resources. It won't happen overnight, but lets get started. We have YEARS of resources here and by the time we do run out, alternate forms of fuel(hydrogen, electric, etc.) should be WELL within in the market place by that time.

[Black5thgen]

I doubt they will put a hand built 427 Vette engine in a 40K Camaro. I'm still sticking to my original thought that the Z28 will have a very similar engine to the SSX. A dry sump LS3 with revised heads, cam, exhaust and intake. The LS3 makes around 410 rwhp with bolt-on's. Better breathing will easily achieve 420ish with cam and head changes. Maybe a different fuel mapping "for off road use only" too. Expect it to be a very limited edition car.

[calbert1999]

Originally Posted by SSLarry

The latest edition of Car and Driver arrived at my house yesterday with the 2013 Covette and ZL1 on the cover. They speculate, as I did in my post last week, that the Z28 is coming and may contain the LS7 to directly confront BOSS 302, and be priced in the mid $40's.

It's all starting to make more sense now:

SS w/LS3 targets GT
Z28 w/LS7 targets BOSS
ZL1 w/LSA targets GT500

This may be more C&D b/s, but if it plays out this way, Ford will have it's hands full. This would also mean only manual transmissions on the upper 2 trims.

And, all the guys with the mod'd 2010 SS will smoke all these varitions of Camaros' and Mustangs'.

[jshaf]

the day they announced the ZL1 I thought the same thing, alpha Z28

[lets_go_bills]

Originally Posted by SSLarry

The latest edition of Car and Driver arrived at my house yesterday with the 2013 Covette and ZL1 on the cover. They speculate, as I did in my post last week, that the Z28 is coming and may contain the LS7 to directly confront BOSS 302, and be priced in the mid $40's.

It's all starting to make more sense now:

SS w/LS3 targets GT
Z28 w/LS7 targets BOSS
ZL1 w/LSA targets GT500

This may be more C&D b/s, but if it plays out this way, Ford will have it's hands full. This would also mean only manual transmissions on the upper 2 trims.

While obviously all speculation, this is music to my ears. I would love the LS7 engine in a Camaro.

You could also draw comparison lines from the Camaro to the Corvette, lol, with both cars having four "trims".

LT - Corvette
SS - Grand Sport
Z28 - ZO6
ZL1 - ZR1

[Z_Rocks]

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

That's why we should quit messing around with them over there. Get things in place here and get the oil flowing from our own resources. It won't happen overnight, but lets get started. We have YEARS of resources here and by the time we do run out, alternate forms of fuel(hydrogen, electric, etc.) should be WELL within in the market place by that time.

Exactly, couldn't say it any better!!!

[lets_go_bills]

SSLARRY,

Please comment on the 2013 Corvette.

[syr74]

Can GM afford to put the LS7 into a 40k Camaro? My understanding is that the LS7 is menaingfully more expensive to produce than even the LS9. If so, dropping that into a limited run, 40k Camaro and making money on it might be tough.

Very neat concept, but I'll be surprised if it actually happens.

[lets_go_bills]

Originally Posted by syr74

Can GM afford to put the LS7 into a 40k Camaro? My understanding is that the LS7 is menaingfully more expensive to produce than even the LS9. If so, dropping that into a limited run, 40k Camaro and making money on it might be tough.

Very neat concept, but I'll be surprised if it actually happens.

With the Boss 302 being a beefed up version of their V8, perhaps GM may opt to re-tune the LS3? Make some changes to the exhaust in an effort to eek out a few more ponies? The Boss 302 makes 444hp. The LS7, 505. I can't imagine it being all that difficult or costly to get 24 more hp out of the LS3 and bump it 450.

That might be the more reasonable route to go and will certainly keep costs down.

A 7.0L engine in a Camaro does sound badass though.

[LS1owner]

How does it make sense to have a V6 at 300 HP, 400-426HP SS, 550HP ZL1....and you guys really think a Z28 will be in there somewhere? Doesn't make any sense..only way Z28 comes out is if the SS or the ZL1 is changed over in a few years. OR if Chevy got crazy and made a 100k Camaro with the Corvette ZR1 type specs, 600+ HP different body etc.

[SSLarry]

Originally Posted by syr74

Can GM afford to put the LS7 into a 40k Camaro? My understanding is that the LS7 is menaingfully more expensive to produce than even the LS9. If so, dropping that into a limited run, 40k Camaro and making money on it might be tough.

Very neat concept, but I'll be surprised if it actually happens.

Crate engine retail costs from GM Performance
LS3 is about $ 7,000
LS7 is about $15,000
LS9 is about $25,000

How about in a $49,000 Z28, then?

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...s3_motors.html

.

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by Black5thgen

I doubt they will put a hand built 427 Vette engine in a 40K Camaro. I'm still sticking to my original thought that the Z28 will have a very similar engine to the SSX. A dry sump LS3 with revised heads, cam, exhaust and intake. The LS3 makes around 410 rwhp with bolt-on's. Better breathing will easily achieve 420ish with cam and head changes. Maybe a different fuel mapping "for off road use only" too. Expect it to be a very limited edition car.

they can always make a revised mass produced version. smaller cam and longer runner intake to keep the revs down around 6500rpm and not necessitate the need for lightened valvetrain and titanium rods. They can make the power back up with greater headflow or something like that. Its not like the GT500 engine and Ford GT are/were built to the same standards.

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by lets_go_bills

With the Boss 302 being a beefed up version of their V8, perhaps GM may opt to re-tune the LS3? Make some changes to the exhaust in an effort to eek out a few more ponies? The Boss 302 makes 444hp. The LS7, 505. I can't imagine it being all that difficult or costly to get 24 more hp out of the LS3 and bump it 450.

That might be the more reasonable route to go and will certainly keep costs down.

A 7.0L engine in a Camaro does sound badass though.

maybe they can use LS7 style heads on the LS3?? are they interchangeable or different besides the valvetrain?? with smog laws i dont know how much bigger they can go with cam duration but i think they can get a few more RPMS out of it with larger port heads and shorter runner intake manifold or something like that. GM used the LS6 style heads on future engines, maybe theyll do the same with the LS7 castings.

[SSLarry]

Originally Posted by lets_go_bills

SSLARRY,

Please comment on the 2013 Corvette.

According to C&D, its supposed to have the new aluminium block 5.5L V8, higher compression, direct injection. Something they call 'cam-in-cam' to achieve variable valve timing (like Dodge Viper), but still means pushrods (!). Power will equal the current LS3's (436hp, less torque) with better fuel mileage. The same engine will go into the gen 6 Camaro. No news there.

My take on the pushrods is that even with a smaller displacement, a dohc V8 engine simply wouldn't fit under a low Corvette hood, but GM can figure it out I'm sure.