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CAMARO SS #404
- LT1 350CI –
360+ horsepower
- Functional
hood scoop
giving
additional 15
ponies
- 3 1/2"
Stainless
Exhaust
- 0-60 in
under 5 seconds
- 1/4 mile in
13.2 @ 108 MPH
- The first
497 units
produced in 1996
are reported to
have matched
heads and are
rated @ 350+
horsepower
HISTORY OF THE 1996
CAMARO SS
The really big
Camaro news in 1996
was the return of
the Super Sport
after a 23 year
hiatus. Instead of
being an
engine-package
change performed by
Chevrolet on the
assembly line, the
new SSes were
contracted out to
SLP, of Troy
Michigan. These SSes
were based on the
Z28's and attainable
by checking off the
boxes for RPO R7T
(SS), QLC
(P245/50ZR-16
tires), and GU5
(Performance Axle
Ratio, required with
automatics only)
when filling out the
order form. The LT1
350 was left in
stock form, but the
Z28 hood was
replaced with a NACA-ducted
hood with functional
ram air plumbing.
The induction
modifications done
to the early
production units
(first 497 units)
included the porting
of the heads, intake
and exhaust
manifolds were rated
at a conservative
350+hp with the
optional exhaust
package. This was
the first factory
Camaro to break the
300 horsepower
barrier since 1971.
The manufacturing
processed was
changed by only
porting the stock
exhaust manifolds to
remove the burrs,
this bumped the
horsepower on the
remaining 1913 SSes
to 305hp or 310hp
with the optional
exhaust package. The
sport suspension of
the SS package
combined with its
Corvette-style
17x9-inch alloy rims
(taken from the
mighty ZR-1
Corvette) and
short-sidewall
P245/40-ZR17 tires
offered a stiff ride
that, though
uncomfortable on
rough roads, sticks
like glue in the
corners.
It may seem to be a
contradiction, but
customers didn't
actually get the
16-inch tires that
option QLC
indicated. That
option instead
triggered the
inclusion of the
150-mph speedometer
and the
unlimited-top-speed
engine computer.
Gearshift duties in
the SS were assigned
to a Hurst shifter
and linkage or a
4L60 (a renamed
700-R4) 4-speed
automatic. Other
than the ducted
hood, the only
exterior distinction
of the SS models
were the "duck" tail
spoiler and the
fender-mounted SS
badges.
It had taken too
long, but there was
finally a production
street car that
could tick off
low-13-second ETs in
the quarter-mile had
been returned to the
hands of hot rodders.
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