Popular WindRestrictor Coming for Camaro Convertibles
Extremely Popular Corvette WindRestrictor Product Coming Soon for Camaro Convertibles
The etched acetate and LED lit Convertible WindRestrictor Product that has taken the Corvette world by storm will be available for Camaro Convertible owners as well. (1/21/2012)
The Corvette community has fallen in love with the WindRestrictor convertible wind screen by King Penn Industries, and with good reason. While browsing through their YouTube channel I stumbled across a video yesterday that shows, without question, that they're about to release a new version of their popular Camaro WindRestrictor for the Camaro Convertible as well.
The product sets itself apart from other wind screens--a common product for the Corvette line and one I'm sure to see begin picking up popularity in the Camaro line as well--by combining the incredible functionality and wind buffering of others, but with a gorgeous and stylistic visual design. The piece is made from high quality materials that are certain to retain their look and finish for quiet some time, and which are finished with your choice of GM official licensed engravings/etchings, and LED light options. The lights provide a fantastic look, and are able to be turned on and off. If you want even more show from them, also, there's also an option for a special LED package that includes remote control and availability of switching between all color options, with dimmer and fader functions.
Here's the video for you to check it out for yourself:
And their press release concerning the new product:
"Introducing the brand new, patent pending Windrestrictor for the Camaro Convertible from King Penn Industries Inc. No we do not own rights to this song but it is All American just like the Chevy Camaro so we hope you enjoy! This product is now available through our online shop at www.KingPennIndustries.com or simply give us a call at 972-487-5987. The all new Camaro Windrestrictor is an official licensed product of GM. Our product will fit the SS Super Sport, and all other models of the Camaro Convertible. Our patent pending design is the only product in the world that you can fully customize. You can choose from multiple color options. We offer Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Purple and Pink LED illumination systems. Or, if you prefer, we offer an "Extreme Lighting Kit" with remote control. This option allows you to choose whichever color you want at any given time. It also has a fading option that is HOT for car shows. Our product will be featured at the world of wheels show in the Grabiac Chevrolet Booth as make sure and stop by and check it out! Our windscreen for the Chevy Camaro is also customizable with different graphics options. You can choose from multiple GM licensed graphics or you can use your own and make it custom! Don't do another burn out without having one of these hot, head turning products on your Camaro. It's the best personalized accessory for the Camaro that is available today. Also, it's brand new so be the first in your city to have one! There is no comparrison between our version and others on the market. We also have this awesome product available for the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XLR, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Crossfire, Mercedes SLK, Honda S2000 and the Porsche Boxster. If you were to do a side by side review ours would wind hands down every time! The Windrestrictor for the Camaro is already highly reviewed by owners! This is the only personalized Camaro Windscreen in the world! Windrestrictor is a registered trademark of King Penn Industries Inc. All GM Trademarks are used under licencse to King Penn Industries Inc. If anyone knows about GM coming out with a convertible model of the Camaro ZL1 please let us know! Don't wait another day to add this product to your wish list of Camaro Accessories!"
Product Spotlight: Camaro Painted License Plate Frames
Here's a great product I came across that's available at a great price: Painted Aluminum Camaro License Plate Frames. Trying to keep up with a semi-regular product spotlight series, these seemed--based on their quality, great looks, and affordable price--like a logical next product.
The manufacturing for these is really cool, and, SouthernCarParts--who is one of the major retailers for them and a company that I personally enjoy dealing with (I feel like, as far as Camaro products go, they're like my everyday Cheers-esque bar)--provides a lot of information for how they're produced. Beginning with a solid brass, heavy cast mold, the base aluminum plate is formed. Each plate is then CNC machine cut for precision, and given a precise, fast machine engraving. The Engravings on these are of the Camaro lettering, with your choice of either RS or SS badging emblem to accompany it. Once engraved, the plates are given a multi-coat paint job using actual GM paints. I questioned this, but, was assured that the paint being used is derived from the GM WPA code, and, I'll be damned if the one I received didn't match perfectly. The paint is applied in a multi-coat process, with a final clear coating, for shine and durability and looks just like the stock Camaro paint job.
The last part of the production process is the one that impresses me the most. The Camaro engravings on these plates are actually hand-filled with an acrylic epoxy. Typically, hand-filling means that a product is prohibitively more costly than machine ones, but these are definitely affordable. The quality of the acrylic epoxy is perfect, there are no imperfections, and the plate looks awesome to be finished off with these emblems. These things are absolutely gorgeous.
As with any license plate frame, this is easy to install. The painted screw caps are a nice touch to help keep the whole thing looking uniform, and once installed, the plate really looks like it belongs on the vehicle. All-in-all, I'm really happy with the product, considering that it cost under $115 and adds more Camaro badge-ing with an OEM (or better) quality finish. That can never be a bad thing, can it?
Camaro Caliper Covers
Just came across a very cool product that I wanted to share: Caliper covers for both the Camaro SS (which I bought for myself) and the Camaro RS also.
Made from aircraft grade aluminum (not sure what classifies something as being aircraft grade, but, it sounds fancy) these caliper covers look great and apparently are very functional. When I first saw the product listing, I didn't believe in the claims of functionality. They're caliper covers, and I just always assumed that caliper covers were purely a cosmetic upgrade.
However, the heat reductive properties of Aluminum, as well as the heat channels formed by the placement of the caliper cover, actually result in lower brake surface temperatures (of 20-50 degrees! a huge jump). Lower temperatures means lessened brake fade and increased performance and explains, ultimately, why even the most expensive big brake kits utilize similar covers.
Of course, the actual benefits don't stop there, either. Caliper covers are great for shielding brake dust and keeping that annoying stuff off of my alloy wheels. That helps to keep the wheels looking great-- a plus considering that caliper covers highlight the wheels even further.
Of course, some people go for the same look by painting their calipers. This is definitely an option, but, one that will cost an equivalent amount to caliper covers, and be less removable if you wanted to return the brakes to stock down the road. Also, painted calipers wont offer the same brake heat dispersion or dust blocking benefits of covers. I used to paint the calipers on my older vehicles, but, with these aluminum covers now being available, I can't ever see myself going that direction again.
Ultimately, these are affordable, effective, and great looking modification pieces. I was really happy to get them and, even though the install took a little longer than advertised, was happy to install them. Coupling them with my DBA rotors, and Hawk HPP+ pads, I'm pretty certain my brakes are performing at a level comparable to a $6000 big brake kit for just a fraction of the price.
Camaro Two-Push Trunk Release Relay
It's a stupid mistake, but an annoying one, and one that I make all the time. When locking/unlocking my Camaro with my key fob, I tend to press the trunk release button. A lot. The placement of the trunk release button on the fob is front and center and, as such, way too easy to hit by mistake. I get tired of getting in to my Camaro, turning it on, and see my "Trunk Open" light on; thus, I was really happy to see this little unit.
Simple, cheap, and effective: this trunk release relay is perfect for people with fat-fingers like myself. A simple fuse relay piece, this release relay ultimately makes it so that to release the trunk you'll have to press the button twice. That's it. It's simple, and, it's handy. I ordered one (for under $40) and installed it in, maybe, 15 minutes time, and have been very happy with it since the install.
I get that this isn't a problem for everybody, and I know that some people will laugh at me for searching out a solution other than "don't press the button", but I'm obviously not the only person who has had this issue if a manufacturer makes and sells a solution. I like it for its simplicity and ease of installation/use, and for the fact that, simply, it keeps clumsy me from having to get back out of the car half of the time I get in to close my trunk. A handy, cheap, simple product that works exactly as advertised: cool!
Curb Alert for the Camaro
We've all been there- you're pulling into the parking space, feeling good about the day, and that terrible sound and feeling of plastic on concrete hits. It's a terrible sound and a ruined day- especially if you had a $900 carbon fiber front splitter. That front splitter might now have a nice crack in it, or the lip that used to be on the chin of your bumper is now dangling- attached by one side like some kind of prop out of Mad Max. The reality is, the front valances on cars are notorious for finding their way onto the tops of parking space dividers. If the initial impact wasn't enough, therein lies another problem- getting off the curb. There's a 50/50 chance that your bumper/valance/splitter has found its way onto the top and "hooked" itself onto the concrete. When you throw it into reverse, the chances of the concrete holding your front end hostage are high- and when this happens, you'll be looking at your front end laying on the pavement in front of your car… not attached. Not where you want to be.
Never fear, we have a solution. The Curb Alert uses an infrared signal to detect exactly how far away the curb is from the front of your vehicle. You can program the three small beeps to go off from anywhere between 8" and 28" from the curb. This means, when you're pulling into that spot, you can rest assured that you're going to pull in just far enough every time. No guess work, no inching and creeping until that dreaded sound of impacting plastic on concrete. The Curb Alert is an easy to install- no drilling- compact infrared sensor that attaches discreetly onto the underside of your front bumper. The three audible tones inside the cabin that are emitted can be set to three different sound settings- high, low or completely muted. The install takes about 30-45 minutes with basic hand tools and is completely removable when and if removal is ever needed. The next cool thing about the install is that it runs on the same power that your ignition is based on, so if you're car is off, then the curb alert is off—meaning there is no battery drain.
Our Camaros are notorious for having issues with the front end and meeting nose to nose with the unforgiving concrete of the parking barrier. The long nose our Camaro possess make for a difficult gauge when parking and this little guy takes the guesswork out of the entire process. And with this puppy coming in right at around $160-$170, it's well worth it the first time it prevents a nasty concrete rash on the underside of your nose for your new Camaro.
Oh, did I mention this awesome little device will work on any car that is vulnerable to curb rash? Not specific to the Camaro at all....I will work on any vehicle that might need some level of vaccination from the common curb 
Escort Passport iQ
If you enjoy driving as much as we do, you'll be glad to know that someone came up with the bright idea of combining a GPS device with a radar/laser detector. This stroke of absolute genius is a major leap forward in the radar/laser detection world. This rules out the cluster of suction cups and 12-volt power hungry devices on the windshield- or at the very least thins the crowd. The engineers over at Escort developed the Passport iQ as a solution to this quandary. Not only is it a fully functioning GPS with everything you would expect from a Garmin, TomTom or any other GPS unit, but they 
went the extra step and included the added benefit of integrating a radar/laser detector into the unit as a seamless package detecting in the X, K, Ka, and Ku bands.
I'm sure Escort will never say it, but another added benefit, and the one everyone is thinking- is the fact that this unit, to the non-discerning eye would not be able to tell the Passport iQ apart from a regular GPS or navigation unit. In states like Virginia (for private and commercial vehicles) and Illinois, New York and New Jersey (for commercial vehicles) this is a tactful advantage, but be weary… the men in blue also read blogs and have the internet. It's only a matter of time before they catch on as well. The Passport iQ also comes with SmartShield VG2 Immunity, which prevents VG2 radar detector detectors from sensing the detector. The VG2 radar detector detector is used by police agencies throughout the United States and Canada, along with other countries in the EU to detect the use of a radar detector. The SmartShield VG2 Immunity is not completely fool proof however, and it should not solely be relied on to protect you from the prying eyes of the law. The only way to never get caught speeding is to never speed. It's as simple as that. But I won't say that this doesn't provide some peace of mind, and an increased amount of protection.
The navigation unit is supplied with Navteq maps and free 90-day trial subscription to Escort's Defender Database system which includes icons and warnings for known speed traps, red light cameras, and speed cameras. After the free trial expires there is a subscription fee to access the database. However, you may make notes and references on the maps as you travel to include personal observations of speed traps, cameras etc. The Navteq software has the options of viewing maps in a birds-eye view, or plan-view 2D mode. The Passport iQ captures the unique function of being able to record all of this data as you travel and save it for future reference. The iQ also displays the posted speed limit (where available) and sounds a warning when you exceed 10 mph above the posted limit (this is generally the bottom line for prosecutable ticket range in most areas). The display also posts your real time speed as determined by GPS, which has proven to be more accurate, especially on older cars equipped with a cable driven speedometer.
Specifications:
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Operating Bands Radar Receiver/Detector Type GPS Receiver Laser Detection |
Display Type Power Requirement Auto-Calibration Circuitry SmartShield VG2 Immunity Dimensions |
The only drawback that seems to be discussed about the device is the disconcerting bounce that results from the weight of the device when mounted to the windshield via suction cup. Since it is the amalgamation of 2 different devices into one, the weight is fairly substantial. The other option (and for states like Minnesota and California where affixing devices to the windshield is prohibited) is the dash mount method. The drawback to this method is the obstruction of the rear facing laser detector that needs to be mounted high enough to "see" out the back window above the rear seats. But despite the mounting issues, the unit seems to be quite impressive and the rumors from Escort are confirming what the critics are hoping for in future models. The future models could possibly be equipped with real time traffic information as well as Bluetooth support. If it is released, it will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 premium, most likely from Navteq.
The unit retails at $650 USD, which some might say is a bit high, but if you factor in a speeding ticket (most people who buy detectors usually do so after being burned at least once.. depending on the severity), and then a good navigation unit, plus the radar/laser detector, the price is well worth it. We might even suggest waiting for the next generation to come out with live traffic and Bluetooth, as that would prove to be an invaluable option.
GHL Cat-Back Exhaust Review
A lot of people have recently started running pretty fantastic sales and specials on the GHL Camaro Cat-Back exhaust, and the price (I was able to pick mine up for $599.99! Under $600 for a Cat-Back? Yes please!) was so unbeatable that I had to get one.
GHL has been making exhausts for a number of years now, and the work they do has been very well reviewed, so I was confident going in. The exhaust arrived in a single, tall, box, and everything was packaged well and efficiently within it. I opened it up, took everything out of the bubble-wrap, and inspected the various pieces--everything looked awesome! The tips are over 4" in diameter, and made from high-quality, well-finished stainless steel. The enlarged dual round exhaust tips also have a fantastic visual appearance when installed on the vehicle. The mufflers are actually kind of small, compared to what I've seen from other companies, so I was a little worried that the volume and tone may be too aggressive at first sight, but (and I'll address the sound later) I was very thankfully proven wrong on that point. The rest of the piping, back through the x-pipe, is all made from the same high-quality stainless steel, and is very obviously an improvement in quality and construction over the stock Camaro exhaust. So, just looking at it, I immediately knew this thing was going to be a hit in many ways.
The install, as with the install for all Camaro Cat-Back exhausts, was quick and easy. It took me less than an hour to get the old exhaust off, and get this new one on, doing the work underneath a lift. Everything bolted up and lined up well, and looked perfectly placed underneath the Camaro carriage. If you have any experience with vehicle installs, and have access to a lift, a cat-back exhaust is the sort of install for a Camaro that can definitely be done from home, which means that at $600, this exhaust is definitely a steal! That being said, the GHL hardware, while sufficient, isn't as solid as some of the other companies. If you can find access to an upgraded set of clamps and bolts for install, I'd recommend going with them, as Stainless Steel clamps and bolts in general tend to have some issues holding their lubrication, and have a history of being difficult to work with. Even if you do end up buying improved hardware, the price is still WELL below what you'll pay from any other company right now, and the piping, mufflers, and tips are of comparable quality to what any other company offers. From behind, the pronounced and aggressive appearance of the 4 1/4" rolled edge exhaust tips gave the vehicle a fantastic modified appearance. I love that powerful, muscle look that the round exhaust tips offers for the Camaro.
Once installed, I was excited to get this Camaro started up and check out the tone! At start-up, the increase in volume was immediately noticeable. The system is definitely louder than stock, but it's by no means deafening. This isn't the sort of exhaust that's going to wake up the neighborhood or draw you a ticket, but it's also the sort of exhaust that offers such a muscle-y and powerful tone that on the road, it's certain to draw envious looks from more than a few other drivers. And muscle-y and aggressive are the perfect descriptors for the tone. When revving it up through the RPM range the GHL Camaro exhaust emits a deep, throaty, rumble--just the sort of tone that provides the perfect combination of classic and modern, which the Camaro specializes in so well. Combining that tone with minimal drone under load (note, there is some drone, especially around the 3600-4200rpm range, for whatever reason, but it's nowhere near the drone levels that systems like the Magnaflow and Flowmaster) gives an exhaust that offers the better of two worlds. A throaty, strong growl outside, and a gentle hum inside.
During decel, however, the smaller mufflers lack the ability to even out the decel pop noise, that is common with larger (read, V8) exhaust systems. That popping tone, which, at around 2500-2000RPM when decelerating is already noticeable on the stock Camaro, is definitely more noticeable with the GHL exhaust. It's not obnoxious, by any means, and some people even love that noise because it hearkens back to the classic muscle-car days, but it is there. I'm not a huge fan of it, personally, but even given my natural disposition to that tone, it hasn't been a personal bother at all while driving. The Decel pop can even be avoided by a couple of different means. The first is, quiet simple, dropping in to Neutral whenever decelerating at a rate to cause the popping tone. By doing that, you're allowing the engine to drop RPMs in a more natural manner so that the tone doesn't exist. You can also tune the vehicle to change the deceleration rate, and, at the cost of 1-2mpg create a much more even tone. This is something that I'm considering doing, and it's not all bad, either. The 1-2mpg are lost, but a proper tune will also allow for the exhaust system to put out even more power. And, at maybe $300, the full cost of the GHL (with tune) still comes in below the cost of many competitor's cat-back exhaust systems.
So, I mentioned the tune, and I mentioned horsepower, and that leads me to my last point on this review: performance. We know the exhaust is well-built, well-designed, gorgeous, and has a fantastic tone--but how does it perform? I can't say for certain, as I did the install myself and didn't have ready dyno access, but a few things are known for certain. Aftermarket exhaust systems allow for greater air-flow, and greater air-flow means that the engine runs more efficiently. Efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to HP, too, so you can be certain that this GHL provides extra HP. How much, exactly, is difficult to say. A lot of competing companies will offer different exhaust performance numbers, and you have to remember to take them all with a grain of salt. If I were trying to sell you an exhaust, I'd publish the best numbers that I could too, and what this usually means is that those exhausts that claim 16, 18, even 20+ HP are getting those numbers post-tune, and on a generous dyno. There are many many ways to eek out extra numbers on the back-end of a dyno if you know how to manipulate it to your cause, and that's what a lot of companies do. Realistically, any and every exhaust will give you a similar performance gain. There's some variance, as the more aggressive systems ultimately do allow for greater air flow, and, ultimately greater HP, but the 9-14 range is pretty much how it is for all cases. Trust me--I've dyno'ed multiple systems with multiple people on multiple vehicles, and those numbers are the standard across the board. So, let's assume the GHL gives 11-12 HP extra (right in the mid-range of them), then. That's the sort of HP that's noticeable, but not super-obvious while driving. I can honestly say I felt like the Camaro had more pick-up with the GHL exhaust on it, but I also wonder how much of that feeling comes from also hearing how much more aggressive the vehicle sounds. No matter what, the performance is along the same lines of what any other exhaust will offer, and at a steal of a price. Again, too, if you tune your GHL, you'll still come in below the cost of a Corsa/Borla/Magnaflow/Etc. exhaust system, and be getting every bit of power there is out of your exhaust--putting it ahead of those more costly competitors in performance.
So, here's a short list of the pros and cons for the GHL Camaro Cat-Back Exhaust, and my final thoughts on it.
Pros: Beautiful exhaust system--the polished stainless steel and large round exhaust tips look great; fantastic sound; minimal drone; equivalent performance numbers to competitors; solid construction on the piping; GREAT price.
Cons: Hardware's sufficient, but not impressive; decel pop became a good bit more noticeable; that's it.
Final thoughts: The pros far outweigh the cons on this exhaust system. Far far outweigh them. Ultimately, the incredible price means that this exhaust just can't really be beat, and that's ultimately the name of the game, isn't it? The bang for the buck? It's all here. Even if you splurge on new hardware, a tune to even out the pop and give better performance, and somebody to install it, you're coming in just below what you'd pay for the Corsa Camaro Exhaust system, alone. At that price, how can you say no? I have to give the exhaust an A, all-around, for providing the ultimate economy solution for your Camaro exhaust needs, and for doing so in a gorgeous, great-sounding, well-built, aggressive package. GHL has hit a serious homerun here, and, when it has distributors like Southern Car Parts (my good friend Jim over there was the guy who alerted me to the deal that this exhaust was, and I have to give him a shout-out for that!) selling the thing at $599.99, they've certainly got a huge hit on their hands.
(Note: the photos and videos I've used here are from the www.SouthernCarParts.com website, and I'll get my photos from taking the thing out of its packaging loaded up here this evening, also.)
PFADT Suspension Goodies for the Camaro
It's a known fact that body roll is a curse for all things handling related. Never have I ever met a driver who was known to want more body roll, especially on the racetrack. Luckily the engineering gurus in Salt Lake City, Utah have noticed that the Camaro could use a little helping hand in the body roll department. They came up with a couple of the main staples for the Camaro's big body roll diet, while running a few pretty spectacular tests highlighting some of the stock shortcomings of the new Camaro chassis. The first issue I'd like to address is the issue of understeer. Nobody in 
their right minds enjoys the feeling of understeer. For any of you unfamiliar with the terminology, understeer occurs during at-the-limit driving while cornering, and is best described as the point at which the suspension is at its' limit and the car continues forward instead of turning in as the driver intends the vehicle to. Think of turning a car on ice. When the car is traveling forward and the driver suddenly wants to turn left and turns the steering wheel so the wheels are pointed left but the car continues sliding straight, this same thing happens during understeer when the suspension is too soft in the rear of the car. This is not an optimal scenario.
The gurus at Pfadt have engineered a couple of goodies that help put the Camaro's beastly power to the ground and simultaneously curb the big guy's appetite for body roll and under steer. They took the Camaro and completely redesigned sway bars that trump the factory bar package. Everything that comes from Pfadt is engineered completely from the ground up. What this means, is that when they see the need for improvement on a vehicle, they begin with the specific needs of that vehicle and then engineer their component based on that specific vehicle. 
This results in unmatched design functionality from these guys, and overall unsurpassed quality. The Camaro has a nasty habit of under steering which can be attributed to weak sway bars from the factory and a large, somewhat flexible chassis. In a nutshell, to reduce under steer, the roll stiffness in the rear of the vehicle needs to be increased. What Pfadt has done, is beefed up our slim factory components and put our tails where they should be. In the video they provide on their site, they demonstrate very clearly the difference between under steer and a weak sway bar, and over steer and a beefy sway bar. The difference is night and day.
Along with beefing up sway bars, they have an awesome (and simultaneously kind of alarming) video that they shot under the hood of the 2010 Camaro showcasing just how much structural flex there is in the chassis while cornering hard. The way this video was shot was genius, and really just what everybody wants to see when it comes to hard facts about suspension flex. The strut towers on any car are prone to a little bit of movement during hard cornering in any car simply due to the chassis being stressed under enormous loads, but most of the time you can't actually SEE the chassis flex. What Pfadt did, was record the under hood movements with a scaled diagram placed on top of the tower itself. The rings on the diagram are spaced at 2mm. Watch closely as the end of the bar moves during corners, signaling the chassis flex. The solution to this problem is their monster strut tower brace, which is not only light, but incredibly strong and effective at tying the chassis together. The whole install is simple and easy, and with the added rigidity, it increases steering response and cornering abilities. A win on both accounts, not to mention, it looks oh-so-sweet under the hood. They offer the brace in either a black powder coat that matches the engine covers, or it can be shipped bare to be painted/powder coated to custom suit your needs.
Overall, the impression I get from Pfadt is an incredibly meticulous company obsessed with suspension… which is exactly what one wants when choosing the components that are responsible for the handling on their vehicle. So, check out the videos, and decide for yourself how much body roll and under steer you're OK with.
Understeer/Oversteer Sway Bars:
Strut Tower Brace:
A Product Highlight of the PFADT Camaro Adjustable Coilovers
The Camaro's handling, while nice, is one area of the vehicle that could use some improvement. There are a number of ways to manage this, but few of them are as tested and undeniable as the installation of aftermarket suspension components. When upgrading your suspension, you have a number of options too. Many people choose to go, simply, with lowering springs. Affordable and simple, lowering springs will drop the Camaro's ride height, and, in doing such, give the vehicle a lower center of gravity and reduce body roll. Lowering springs don't, however, do anything to improve the other aspects of the suspension which affect the handling aspects of your vehicle: suspension dampening, spring rates, suspension geometry, and others. What other options exist for suspension then? Coilovers have become the most popular suspension modification on the market these days--even more popular than their more affordable counterparts--for a number of reasons.
Coilovers come in two different major forms: True Coilovers (which are a standard coil-over-shock set-up) and Sleeve Coilovers (which are simply spring coils meant to go over stock shocks). Sleeve Coilovers are also more affordable than True Coilovers, but they don't offer anywhere near the ride quality. Stock struts aren't designed to work with different coils, and by switching out to a sleeve set-up, a driver often time ends up with a worse ride than they began with (although it will lower their vehicle and stiffen the suspension of it some). True Coilovers, however, like the coilovers that PFADT currently offers for the Fifth Generation (2010+) Chevy Camaro, offer the driver a large number of vehicle bonuses and improvements. These kits function as replacements for both the Springs and Struts, and because of this are valved and designed to work with one another in greater harmony. True coilovers are typically adjustable, allowing for a skilled mechanic to fine tune the vehicle's suspension to an optimized ride ability and stiffness, and should offer a stiffer suspension, a lower center of gravity, and other vehicle bonuses without sacrificing ride quality.
So, then, if cost is not the primary concern (and, when deciding to upgrade your vehicle's suspension, it should not be) you know what sort of suspension set-up you want to go with. From here, there are a lot of options to explore from a lot different companies, but I'm going to focus on the one set-up I know from personal experience: the PFADT Coilovers for the 2010 Camaro. I recently purchased these, and, upon arrival, was amazed just by taking them out of their packaging. These suspension set-ups are near seamless--PFADT shows an incredible efficiency in their product manufacturing, and this is obvious just by looking at them--and their weight was impressively light. Installing them saves a Camaro almost 30 lbs from stock (just shy of 15 in both the front and rear), and shows much unnecessary material is used on the stock set-up. The install's not especially difficult with the right tools, but, not something I'd recommend any amateur or only modestly skilled mechanic try. The cost ( a few hundred dollars with a trusted local shop) is well worth the effort saved and the reward of the install.
Once installed and adjusted, the rewards that these coilovers offer the Camaro are immediately noticable. Visibly, the vehicle's lowered and has been gifted the benefits of a lower center of gravity. This lowering also improves the vehicle's downforce capabilities, and reduces its drag. Both of these aspects, which are achieved by diminishing the space between the bottom of the vehicle and the road where swirling wind can create vehicle slowing and performance diminishing drag, should provide immediate benefits. Upon pulling out of the parking lot, I felt a tighter steering from the vehicle, and an improved sense of grip while accelerating through a corner (admittedly, I was excited, and driving a little to quickly. I have to thank Escort for the 9500iX radar detector saving my ass twice on the ride home, heh. Always drive carefully and obey the law, kids!). The vehicle also went smoothly over the speed bumps in my neighborhood--something I had an incredible fear of with the lowered ride stance. The up and down motion was smooth and solid, and the ride quality itself (while obviously stiffer) felt as gentle during Sunday-driver neighborhood cruising as the stock did.
Well, the drive home wasn't enough. I called up a friend, and, excitedly, we set off for a favorite patch of windy back-roads not too far from where we live. The highway trip was pleasant. The new coilovers handled poorly paved roads (courtesy of the DOT) at high speeds without issue, and when I decided to change lanes with a dangerously ferocious quickness, the car gripped and pulled me side to side without any hint of instability. Body roll seemed to be diminished, and responsiveness was clearly up. When we finally made it to our own little private 3-mile curvey mountain run, the fun really began. I took the first turn, a fairly wide and easy left curve with a soft outer shoulder, at speeds well above where I normally feel comfortable, and the improved suspension definitely helped with the vehicle's handling. The car gripped the inner-line of the curve, and as I accelerated out of it through a straight up-hill, there was no lag in the vehicle's directional correction. Later on the drive there's a tight, track-like downhill chicane turn that has always scared me before. With the new sense of confidence that my suspension instilled in me, I was able to maneuver through this difficult bit of cornering with relative ease. Needless to say, these new suspensions were a lot of fun. A LOT!
Well, I'll save you the story of the rest of our ride and go instead in to a discussion of the more technical specifics that go in to the performance of the coilovers. PFADT claims, on their website, to have close to a year to the research and development of their kit, and upon experiencing its performance, I'm inclined to believe them. The kit itself utilizes an inverted strut, which came out of necessity from high bending loads under intense driving conditions experienced with the standard strut set-up. The inverted set-up provides a more even split between the parts of the strut which deal with the wheel movement and the vehicle weight, and ultimately, because of the increased space for motion, provide a more even vehicle suspension feel. This even distribution is enhanced through PFADT's use a mono-tube design, which acts to "separate the shock fluid from the pressurized nitrogen" with a floating strut piston. In doing this, the weight handling-loads of the strut are more evenly distributed, and the system is able to more accurately respond to changing road conditions and vehicle movement.
The coilovers also offer incredible ride-height flexibility. Depending upon your personal preference, the complete True Coilover set-up for the Camaro allows for 1.5 inches of adjustability. This is incredibly important as the desires and requirements of various vehicles changes drastically from driver to drive. The flexibility offered allows for each individual to tune their suspension to best meet their needs--whether they be street performance, or high-end track performance. This is further improved through the utilization of click-dampening systems on the PFADT Camaro Coilovers. There are 20 degrees of ride dampening available that can be switched, relatively easily, through a single click-wheel located on each Coilover.
When it comes to spring use, PFADT's write-up concerning the spring rates on their coilovers is better than I could probably write, so I'll share it with you:
Another example of the Pfadt Coilover flexibility is the ability to use common motorsport springs in both the front and rear. While many other coilovers on the market demand the use of custom wound springs, which limits you to a limited number of spring rates, our system has hundreds of spring rates available in 25 lb/in increments. We have developed a spring rate combination that will work for most people, but the flexibility is there for those that need it. Standard rates are 275 lbs/in Front and 500 lbs/in Rear.
Part of the reason we can use standard sized race springs is our innovation in mounting the rear coilover. The factory uses a rubber mount for the shock shaft and a separate spring seat which takes a specific spring. Many other companies use this same arrangement and it is the reason spring rates are limited. Our system inverts the rear shock and integrates the shock and spring mount. This allows the use of standard springs and provides a smooth and low friction mounting system.
In all, these new PFADT True Coilovers for the Camaro are an absolute thing of engineering beauty. These coilovers provide incredible ride customization for the driver, and offer both incredible ride comfort and uncompromising performance. I'm incredible happy with my new suspension set up, and, at just over $2000 in cost (very affordable for such a detailed set-up, especially when considering that set-ups with less customization and adjustability options typically retail for more than double what the PFADT set-up costs) I'm convinced that no Camaro driver could go wrong with these. If I had to give my new suspension a letter grade (and I'm trying to be as objective as possible), I'd feel very comfortable and justified giving this PFADT set-up an A+!
The Havoc Camaro – An Exercise in Cool
I really enjoy sharing articles with you concerning certain products I've had the pleasure of seeing in person, and this newest one is one of the coolest. Created by the folks over at Innovative Vehicle Solutions, the Camaro Havoc body kit for the Camaro is, without question, one of the coolest, and most well put together body kits I've seen for a Camaro. We've had icy weather where I live all week, but yesterday it was nice enough finally that I decided to take the Camaro out for a spin (she hadn't had a chance to stretch her legs for a couple of weeks, thanks to the weather, and I was worried about her a little bit). While navigating less than savory road conditions, however, I came across another Camaro owner who was, admittedly, doing the exact same thing I was. Only, their Camaro looked different: a lot different. I managed to corrall them in to a gas station parking lot to get a chance to talk to them, and I quickly found out why - the Havoc body kit.
Note: I didn't have a Camera with me, so all pictures I'm using are taken from various other Camaro owners with Havoc kits that I've found online (mostly through the Camaro forum communities).
The thing looked fantastic. It was sleek and aggressive, and really highlighted the best aspects of the Camaro's curves in an undeniable way, and I knew I had to do some more research. The thing, you see, I'm always pretty skeptical with body kits. I've seen some (Extreme Dimension's line of Duraflex body kits) where the quality is atrocious, and the pieces don't hardly ever fit in the proper way. I've seen others, like some of the complete dry carbon kits that are out there, where the price really is not justifiable ($12-14k for a complete body kit, in some cases!). Yeah, sure, dry carbon is strong and lightweight, but is it worth the money. Of course, upon seeing the Havoc kit, I was certain that it would probably reach the upper echelon of pricing for non Dry Carbon body kits, but was pleasantly surprised when I found its pricing online.
The kit itself is cool and sleek, and the black chrome wheels, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler were the obvious highlights of it for me. The side rockers and front chin were also great looking, don't get me wrong, but their greatest aspects were their subtlety and poise, as opposed to the truly powerful look the other body pieces gave the vehicle. The kit seemed to be designed flawlessly, also, as each body piece fit perfectly flush against the vehicle, and nowhere was there any sign of an installation struggle (on some Duraflex kits I've seen installed bits of nothing can be seen between the vehicle body and the aftermarket pieces, which lend itself to a very obvious sense of poor production). The Camaro I had the pleasure of spending some time checking out had had its kit installed and painted at a body shop local, and they had done a fantastic job with the vehicle. The striping continuation, apparently purchased as part of the Havoc kit, blended the Rear Spoiler in perfectly with the Cyber Gray Metallic and Black Striped Camaro. All in all, the body kit itself was impressive, and while I may not purchase the entire thing immediately, I'm definitely going to invest in a Camaro Havoc Rear Spoiler and the Havoc Rear Diffuser for myself (I'd like to do the entire kit, but may wait off a bit. The Camaro Havoc Wheels would be the obvious next purchase, and at just around $1000 they're more affordable than most wheel kits I see out there). If you're in the market for a body kit for your Camaro, I would definitely check out the Havoc kit, as this thing is a work of art that compliments the best aspects of the Camaro in a very impressive manner.
On a side note, the Camaro I saw didn't have the Camaro Havoc interior installed, but it appears that IVS also has a complete interior leather upholstery set. The kit would need to be upholstered by a local shop, but the look of the kit is fantastic in the pictures I've seen of it. The two-tone, complete leather kit looks like the sort of interior modification bit that could really spice up the Camaro's appearance and turn some eyes. Ultimately, I think it depends upon the quality of the leather itself to see if it's worth the money, but if the quality of the rest of their products is any indication, the interior upholstery kit has to be pretty nice.
Another interesting thing to note is the Rear View Back-up Camera System that IVS offers. Again, I didn't see it installed, but it looks like a really nice addition for the Camaro (especially if you have a rear diffuser installed). I imagine that's another modification piece I'll be certain to get for my baby, too.
