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About My Sunset Orange Metallic (SOM) Z28

On August 8, 2001, I made arrangements with a local Chevrolet dealership to order me a 2002 Sunset Orange Metallic Camaro Z28. The options I chose for the car were minimal, because more options would add more weight. More weight would make the car slower. I chose the no cost 1SC option package that didn't include the power options, body side moldings, and fog lamps found in the $1,700 1SD option package. I avoided the leather interior, because leather is heavy and adds some maintenance headaches. I know that the camaro looks better with the t-tops taken off, but I'm not a sun worshipper and I would rather have a stiffer, more rigid car. Therefore, I stayed away from the $995 t-top option. Probably the most significant option that I chose was the 4-speed automatic transmission (technically called the 4L60E or even less formal, the A4). I figured that the A4 will get me easier launches, more consistent times, and better durability over the manual transmission in the long run. Finally, I chose SOM, because it was a pretty rare color for the 2001 model year and simply looks gorgeous. The digital pics of this car doesn't do the color justice as it must be seen in person under the sunlight to be really appreciated. The following is relevant information taken from my Vehicle Order Detail sheet that accurately summarizes my car and it's options.

Order Content
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Model: 1FP87-1FP87-Camaro Coupe
Package: 1SC-Option Package
Transmission: MXO-Transmission, 4-Speed Automatic
Engine: LS1-5.7 Liter SFI V-8 Engine
Trim: 19B-Ebony Cloth
Color1: 71U-Sunset Orange Metallic
Order options:

C49-Defogger, Electric Rear Window
FE9-Federal Emissions
GU5-Rear Performance Axle 3.23 Ratio
N96-16" Aluminum Wheel
QLC-P245/50ZR16 B/W High Performance Tire
UZ7-Monsoon Premium Speaker/Sound System
VK3-License Plate Bracket, Front

If you're curious to see what the price of the car is, then click on the following thumbnail of the window sticker.

On September 10, 2001, my 2002 SOM Z28 rolled off the back of the Ultra Magnus truck. Unfortunately, I was stuck in class and couldn't take any pictures of the car being dropped off. (Although, I was able to take digital camera pics of the car with the factory tape still on it.) I drove the car home the following day and immediately got the SLP grill insert installed. I've also recently installed RK Sport's black CAMARO urethane letters for the rear fascia, purchased a Wolf Evolution 3 car cover with the storage bag and lock, and had 5% window tints installed on the rear hatch glass. As soon as the car is paid off and disposable income becomes available, the car will be redynoed, weighed, modified with track-preparation mods (rear-end girdle, line lock, and transmission cooler), weighed again, and run in the quarter mile with track and weather conditions being taken into account. These steps are crucial and will be performed in that order to determine the effectiveness of the mechanical mods that will follow.

I plan on modding the car in the following order: weight savings, suspension and chassis, full exhaust system, external engine bolt ons, torque converter, and wheels and tires. After each group of mods are installed, I intend to get some quarter mile runs to see how they improved (or hurted) the car's quarter mile performance. Additional dyno runs will be performed after each group of horsepower mods are installed to determine their exact rear wheel horsepower gains. My ultimate goal for this car is to run 11s internally stock without the use of power adder(s), drag radials, and slicks. For now, I'm just driving the car as much as possible and maintaining it to the best of my ability.

You'll find pictures of the car and additional information on it by clicking on the buttons above or the hypertext links below. Right now, I have a Pictures directory that contains pics of the car's exterior, interior, and engine bay. A Dyno page describes my car's first bone-stock dyno run. A Chronology page records and describes significant events directly related to my car. A page for SLP's Customer Appreciation Day of 2002 describes the event and exhibits a few of the cars that were in attendance. And a Guestbook page is available for you to leave me some feedback. Naturally, these pages will be updated as soon as new information is digested. In the future, a quarter-mile page and a modifications page will be created once I've made a good pass with the car and modified it. My trade-in for this car was a 2000 Bright Red Camaro Z28. A separate page will be up for that car as well.