Stage 4 BTR cam for "daily driven" M6? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

jimmyducati · 05-19-2020, 08:06 AM

Im about to pull the trigger on a '13 ZL1 with a BTR Stage 4 cam and supporting mods (appropriate valve train, CAI, Kooks headers, 1000cc injectors, heat exchanger upgrade etc). Car will be a daily driver with a 50/50 mix of highway and city.

My concerns are the drivability and dare I say economy... I know we don't buy these cars to save money at the pump, but I don't think I could live with 10-12 mpg either.

Also, I see Gen 5 ZL1's go for anywhere from high 20's to high 40's. I know that being a kinda special version of the Camaro, KBB is likely way off on its valuation. What should someone pay for a low mileage example of a ZL1? I don't really consider mods to be value adders, so Im not taking that into consideration.

larry_g · 05-19-2020, 12:51 PM

That screen name is familiar...

lgarrison34 · 05-19-2020, 01:19 PM

I have a TSP Stage 4 F35 cam in an M6 SS FBO. You will be in the 10-12 mpg range and that's if you're keeping your foot off the pedal.

DrkPhx · 05-19-2020, 06:58 PM

Even stock these cars don't get good gas mileage, so with mods (especially a cam) it can get worse depending on the tune. If you're even slightly worried about driveability and mpg and you've never driven a cammed car; you may not like it. You really need to test drive it. I have a baby cam in mine and it still puts down great power and drives great.

jimmyducati · 05-19-2020, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larry_g

That screen name is familiar...

Louisville sport bike perhaps? I’m not there a lot, but that could be it.

jimmyducati · 05-19-2020, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

Even stock these cars don't get good gas mileage, so with mods (especially a cam) it can get worse depending on the tune. If you're even slightly worried about driveability and mpg and you've never driven a cammed car; you may not like it. You really need to test drive it. I have a baby cam in mine and it still puts down great power and drives great.

Im driving to see it in the morning, wouldn’t buy something like this without a test drive! I knew even mentioning mpg’s would draw fire, I get that these cars get terrible mileage, but there shouldn’t be anything wrong with trying to make power efficiently. since I have no experience with an LSA, I would be an idiot to not inquire about what I should expect, especially a modified car!

DrkPhx · 05-19-2020, 09:58 PM

^^^ True. I get better mpg now compared to stock when hwy cruising.

Vicster · 05-20-2020, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

^^^ True. I get better mpg now compared to stock when hwy cruising.

I run something close to a stage 3 and over drive supercharger 41%. Lots of mods... drives nice as daily driver, 22mpg on highway, but give it some throttle and the monster comes to life!

More on my journal...

RobZL1 · 05-20-2020, 08:54 AM

I agree. I get 16.5 mpg on mine driving back and forth to work daily on country backroads- mostly 35-55 mph, with a bunch of stoplights and stop signs.

jimmyducati · 05-20-2020, 10:50 AM

16.5 is more than I expected so that makes me happy! I’m not familiar with the guys who tuned it, so I’m going to have a new tune done at raceproven in Kentucky. I’ll try the stage 4 out for a while and if it’s not comfortable on the street I may go with a smaller cam.

Thanks for the replies guys!!

Little Walter · 05-20-2020, 12:56 PM

I get 22 mpg cruising on the interstate at 78 mph with a .646 lift cam, heads ported, cold air with 2.55 upper pulley and 9.55 lower, ARH 2 inch headers cat delete. Auto Trans. Much better than when it was stock.

jimmyducati · 05-20-2020, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Walter

I get 22 mpg cruising on the interstate at 78 mph with a .646 lift cam, heads ported, cold air with 2.55 upper pulley and 9.55 lower, ARH 2 inch headers cat delete. Auto Trans. Much better than when it was stock.

Thanks!

If driven with a light foot, any car with a really good tune should become more efficient, even with a ton of mods. They usually don't because they are so much more fun to drive fast!

GONMAD510 · 05-20-2020, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyducati

Thanks!

If driven with a light foot, any car with a really good tune should become more efficient, even with a ton of mods. They usually don't because they are so much more fun to drive fast!

I barely get double digits mostly because my commute is mostly city streets. Plus I like to have fun in this car.

05-19-2020, 08:06 AM	#1
jimmyducati Drives: 01 SS Camaro Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Louisville, Ky Posts: 17	Stage 4 BTR cam for "daily driven" M6? Im about to pull the trigger on a '13 ZL1 with a BTR Stage 4 cam and supporting mods (appropriate valve train, CAI, Kooks headers, 1000cc injectors, heat exchanger upgrade etc). Car will be a daily driver with a 50/50 mix of highway and city. My concerns are the drivability and dare I say economy... I know we don't buy these cars to save money at the pump, but I don't think I could live with 10-12 mpg either. Also, I see Gen 5 ZL1's go for anywhere from high 20's to high 40's. I know that being a kinda special version of the Camaro, KBB is likely way off on its valuation. What should someone pay for a low mileage example of a ZL1? I don't really consider mods to be value adders, so Im not taking that into consideration.

05-19-2020, 12:51 PM	#2
larry_g Drives: 2014 1SS/1LE Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 826	That screen name is familiar... __________________ 830 WHP 700 WTQ, Whipple 2.9 @ 13lbs Boost, Flex Fuel Tune by Blevins Tuning, LSA SBE, 3.5 GripTec, ATI LS3 Damper, AFR 260cc Mongoose, ARP Studs, Yella Terra Ultralites, Johnson 2110R, BTR PDS Stage 3, Melling 10355, Improved Racing Baffle, ID1050X, DSX Triple Fuel Pump, RotoFab CAI, NW 103mm TB, Stainless Works 1-7/8" LTH to 3" Speed Eng w/ X-pipe to NPP, Powermaster 9509 XS, Detroit Speed Motor Mounts, MGW, Monster LT1-S, ZL1 Calipers, DBA Rotors & Pads, Bilstein B6 Struts & Shocks, BMR 1.25" Drop Springs & Adj Rear Bar, Pegasus Solid Bushings, Z/28 Wheels, other misc parts.

05-19-2020, 01:19 PM	#3
lgarrison34 Drives: 2017 SS 1LE HBM, 2010 SS FBO/Cam Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Ohio Posts: 174 View My Garage	I have a TSP Stage 4 F35 cam in an M6 SS FBO. You will be in the 10-12 mpg range and that's if you're keeping your foot off the pedal. __________________

05-20-2020, 08:54 AM	#9
RobZL1 fo'shizZL1 Drives: 2017 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ATL Posts: 1,281	I agree. I get 16.5 mpg on mine driving back and forth to work daily on country backroads- mostly 35-55 mph, with a bunch of stoplights and stop signs. __________________ 2017 ZL1 M6 Black \| Maggie 2650 // 103TB // Big Gulp Past Rides- 2014 ZL1 M6 Red Hot \| Tons of mods 2004 CTS-V M6 Silver \| Many mods 1995 Corvette M6 Torch Red \| A few more mods 1992 Camaro M5 White \| A few mods

05-19-2020, 06:58 PM	#4
DrkPhx Drives: 2013 Triple Black ZL1 / 2006 TB SS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MN Posts: 2,250	Even stock these cars don't get good gas mileage, so with mods (especially a cam) it can get worse depending on the tune. If you're even slightly worried about driveability and mpg and you've never driven a cammed car; you may not like it. You really need to test drive it. I have a baby cam in mine and it still puts down great power and drives great.

05-19-2020, 09:58 PM	#7
DrkPhx Drives: 2013 Triple Black ZL1 / 2006 TB SS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MN Posts: 2,250	^^^ True. I get better mpg now compared to stock when hwy cruising.

05-20-2020, 10:50 AM	#10
jimmyducati Drives: 01 SS Camaro Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Louisville, Ky Posts: 17	16.5 is more than I expected so that makes me happy! I’m not familiar with the guys who tuned it, so I’m going to have a new tune done at raceproven in Kentucky. I’ll try the stage 4 out for a while and if it’s not comfortable on the street I may go with a smaller cam. Thanks for the replies guys!!

05-20-2020, 12:56 PM	#11
Little Walter Drives: ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New Orleans Posts: 260	I get 22 mpg cruising on the interstate at 78 mph with a .646 lift cam, heads ported, cold air with 2.55 upper pulley and 9.55 lower, ARH 2 inch headers cat delete. Auto Trans. Much better than when it was stock.