Need Help Buying Supercharged Car

[Mr Notorious]

I have been looking out for an early 6th gen ZL1 to buy when the right one comes along at the right price. I have a truck as a DD, so this would be a 85% weekend/pleasure car, and maybe hit 2-5 track evens a year. Instead, a 1-owner, 2015 SS/1LE with 15k miles has come up for sale, and it has a Kraftwerks supercharger. I was originally wanting a stock ZL1 just because I figured it was built by GM conservatively and I was thinking it would be more dependable in the long run. But I was hoping you folks could weigh-in on my worries since it would be out of any type of warranty :(


The seller is advertising 630 WHP. I see on the website the supercharger kit can provide be 600-750hp (I'm assuming at the crank) depending on mods. This car was built for time attack / open laps. So besides the suspension, tires, and brakes mods, the drive-line mods are as-follows.



- Kraftwerks Supercharger
- BBK Throttle Body
- Long tube heat treated headers
- Plug wires
- Tick Performance Cam
- synthetic HPL oil
- Hurst shifter and bushings
- Flex fuel system / tune, can run E-85 or 93



Reading the supercharger website, I see an upgraded clutch is recommended. Which I'm assuming the seller did not do. Supposedly, he has all the receipts for everything.



Realistically, should I be worried about reliability compared to a stock ZL1?


Are there features in a 6th gen camaro that I should really hold out for? (I've had a 2011, so I'm assuming the '15 has some welcomed upgrades)


What are some of the questions I should be asking the seller?


Does 630 whp sound like too much for otherwise stock engine internals?


What kind of maintenance would this car require over a regular SS?

[CamaroCracka]

GM puts their production parts through 100,000 mile durability testing. Nothing is more reliable than factory built, unmolested cars. With that said, you can break anything and there are tons of cars at that power level on a stock bottom end.

[CFrance]

I don't know a ton about the 6th gen ZL1's but there is more to the ZL1 than just the supercharger, mainly the upgraded brakes, suspension, and a heavy duty driveline.

From when the 5th gen ZL1 was launched.

"....each test cycle is a hard-launch, standing-start drag race up to 100 mph. The ZL1 was subjected to 1,000 test cycles before its driveline was stamped “approved”."


It also has the PTM modes (track modes) which the SS does not have (at least in the 5th gens).


I also bought mine to be a weekend toy and track car a handful of times a year.
Before buying my ZL1 I considered just getting an SS and upgrading it, but you can make more power with a ZL1 before things start to break compared to an SS.

I basically came to the conclusion that the ZL1 was just a better starting platform.
That's not to say you couldn't modify an SS to beat a stock ZL1 of course but again, the Z is the better starting platform.

[ADVMax]

I love my SS but I’m making an estimate of maintenance needs on my high mileage car and using some data to show my wife how trading for a lower mileage ZL1 would actually be the most efficient cash application.

I’m keeping notes and if this works will post a seminar thread and try to pass on some tips.

[ariZona28]

So basically you could be buying a well used albeit well built track car. You might be purchasing a fun vehicle or you could be buying a hand grenade with the pin removed. If you're financially prepared for a few "surprises" it may be worth a gamble IF the price is right otherwise stick to your original dream of an unmolested high HP Gen 6 for reliability.

[HDRDTD]

FYI

A stock 5th gen ZL1 is rated at 580HP, and results in around 490 RWHP.

If the seller is rating his at 630RWHP, I'm willing to bet that that figure is with it running on E85 and not 93 pump gas.

[CamaroCracka]

You can hit 630whp on 93 fairly easily. The ZL1 does not run a lot of boost stock and the 1.9L supercharger is kind of small. There are plenty of guys who changed pulleys and tune on ZL1s to get over 600whp. I met a guy over 700whp on pump gas with a cam swap and pully change. It was a wicked fast track car.

[sscamaro]

I have a 2010 SS that I ordered in August of 2009 and received it in September. In September of 2010 I installed an Edelbrock 2.3 LT S/C. I have 56K miles on it since it was S/C. My modes are listed below. I don't race it, it's a street car. I've haven't had any problems at all since it was S/C.