1998 z28 camaro m6 vs. 1997 firebird formula a4

[keerus]

ok, so i have a 1998 z28 camaro m6 with slp loudmouth exhaust as my only mod. my friend's brother has a 1997 firebird formula a4, so there's quite a bit of difference in our engines horsepower-wise. my LS1 is underrated at 305hp, but if you take the stock rwhp and calculate the rough bhp it comes out to around 320ish. after my exhaust i'm probably around at about 300rwhp. the only mods he had on his firebird were a "huge" cam (his own words, but i didn't ask for numbers), rebuilt tranny, and shift kit. LT1's are rated at 275bhp, so that puts him quite a bit lower than me, but i figured depending on the size of his cam it's anybody's game.

anyways, so one night i was at applebee's with some friends and he just happened to be there. i had heard about his firebird from my friend and i wanted to race it, so it was convenient that he was there. on to the race...

the first race was from a ~25mph roll. after three honks we both hit it. i was pulling car lengths on him instantly without any sweat at all. i figured he did something wrong; i thought the race was going to be quite a bit closer.

the second race was from a ~45mph roll, and i am embarassed to say that i forgot to shift to 3rd (yes, i am a friggin moron, but i was very recently driving an automatic 98 mustang gt. that's not really an excuse, as i am still an idiot, but it helps to save face a little.) needless to say he killed me on that one as i bounced off the rev limiter a couple of times.

the third race we pulled off the freeway and up to a somewhat secluded intersection. the light went green, and i got a superb launch. his launch was decent also, but 3/4 through first gear i already had a car on him and through 2nd i was just pulling car length after car length.

it turns out that with the stock exhaust and headers, his cam wasn't doing crap. i've since talked to him and he said that he just got true duals and longtubes, so that, plus the cam, he is putting down around 70-80 more rwhp than he was before. i guess i'll have to race him again

so there you have it. my first post to this message board. if anybody thinks this is bs i'll be glad to post pics.

[duckied]

awesome cool story nice race but headers and exhuast is never gonna add 70-80 hp, that sounds like ricer numbers to me, and the 96-97 fbody lt1's had 285hp, they had 275 from 93-95

[Robs71Nova]

70-80 bhp is kinda of a high guesstimation, but a cam, headers, and new exhaust is going to make a decent difference. Let us know how the other races come out. Good story.

Rob

[crunchymilk55]

Nice story, but hell, post pics just for fun. I'm not saying I don't believe you, but Id like to see your ride.

[Boosted1]

Good race. Isn't Applebee's good? Mmmm.

[clawhammer]

You should get those mods for your camaro as well...if they fit...

[s-15racer]

Lets see your ride, I belive you but I wanna see your car. My step brother had a iroc and smoked his friends firebird.

[chevytrucks92]

Originally Posted by Robs71Nova

70-80 bhp is kinda of a high guesstimation, but a cam, headers, and new exhaust is going to make a decent difference. Let us know how the other races come out. Good story.

Rob

I dont know how much it woudl give, but it would be pretty close I would think. Headers and exhaust gave 20 whp to a 98 SS on Horse Power TV. And I know a guy that has a 98 T/A with a cam swap, exhaust, and he said a few more bolt ons (didnt say which) and it ran 12.40s in the 1/4, lol. Now that is the LS1 of course, nto the LT1, so there woudl be a difference I guess.

[chevydrummer76]

Originally Posted by duckied

awesome cool story nice race but headers and exhuast is never gonna add 70-80 hp, that sounds like ricer numbers to me, and the 96-97 fbody lt1's had 285hp, they had 275 from 93-95

thats including the cam....now that he has the headers and exhaust he is benefiting from the cam. Before the exhaust was too restrictive.

[keerus]

Originally Posted by duckied

awesome cool story nice race but headers and exhuast is never gonna add 70-80 hp, that sounds like ricer numbers to me, and the 96-97 fbody lt1's had 285hp, they had 275 from 93-95

headers, exhaust, and a cam is going to add 70-80rwhp on an f-body, depending on the individual components, but it's very easily done.

also, for those who asked, pics of my camaro can be found at http://members.cardomain.com/keerus

[importeater38]

As an lt1 guy the story sounds a little shady. ls1s are underated but so are lt1s. A 97 lt1 is only lacking 20 points to a ls1, even if u go buy GM claims. That being said, who puts a "HUGE" cam in before they do anything else? Makes more sense to start with a few bolt ons first, ever read the gm hi-tech article "bottom bucks, top speed" or thats what i think the article was called. Anyways, it was an lt1 bolt on only invite--with dudes dipping into the low 12's with ease. So, he has a cam and thats really about it, i would say you would beat him, but not walk him like you claim. Unless he is a shitty driver. Sounds like this dude had nothing and was just trying to be tough. If the car didn't idle a little rough i would say he didn't haveshit. I doubt stock exhaust on an lt1 would be so restrictive that the cams wouldn't do shit. Correct me if im wrong, cuz im just talking out my ass now.

Peace nukka!

[keerus]

Originally Posted by importeater38

As an lt1 guy the story sounds a little shady. ls1s are underated but so are lt1s. A 97 lt1 is only lacking 20 points to a ls1, even if u go buy GM claims. That being said, who puts a "HUGE" cam in before they do anything else? Makes more sense to start with a few bolt ons first, ever read the gm hi-tech article "bottom bucks, top speed" or thats what i think the article was called. Anyways, it was an lt1 bolt on only invite--with dudes dipping into the low 12's with ease. So, he has a cam and thats really about it, i would say you would beat him, but not walk him like you claim. Unless he is a shitty driver. Sounds like this dude had nothing and was just trying to be tough. If the car didn't idle a little rough i would say he didn't haveshit. I doubt stock exhaust on an lt1 would be so restrictive that the cams wouldn't do shit. Correct me if im wrong, cuz im just talking out my ass now.

Peace nukka!

i wouldn't consider myself an awesome driver, and i have an M6, and he has an A4, so him being a crappy driver doesn't really have any bearing. anyone can put their pedal to the floor anyways, that is exactly what he did, he put a "huge" cam in before doing exhaust or headers or anything. i'm not sure about the specifics of it, but he says that the stock exhaust was so restrictive that the cam only gave him around 10rwhp, but after he got true duals (dumped before the rear axle) it made up to a 70-80rwhp gain. also, i have heard of some freak LS1s that put down over 300-310rwhp straight from the factory. i'm not saying i have one, as i've never dyno'd my car, but if the story sounds fishy, that is another possibility. i definitely want to race him again now that he has exhaust and see how the match-up is, and hopefully i can get it on video.

[importeater38]

i still think he is full of shit and just trying to save face. Tell him to get a WS6 badge to go with that "huge" cam.

[phillyx2000]

Originally Posted by duckied

awesome cool story nice race but headers and exhuast is never gonna add 70-80 hp, that sounds like ricer numbers to me, and the 96-97 fbody lt1's had 285hp, they had 275 from 93-95

actually it is possible..a friend of mine.. she owns a 2002 Camaro Z28 before all her mods she had free mods and a lid that pretty much put her at 310 rwhp or so.. now she has true duals.. headers.. cam.. injectors.. wide band tuning.. now her current numbers are.

385.50RWHP 376.24RWTQ

that was on the dyno

[-Josh-]

No matter what the mods or the horsepower ratings, still a good job on the race man...well...except for missing third...