I am thinking about ordering a 2002 SS coupe and have a few questions about specific options...
1) 1SC vs. 1SD equipment groups: what are the "color keyed body side moldings?" Will the car look silly-stupid without them? Any other "gotchas" of not getting the 1SD group? I'm not sure which way to go on this choice yet.
2) 345HP/Air Lid/Loudmouth. Are these all one in the same? Does the SLP center-exit exhaust option come with it? What exactly is it?
3) Is there anywhere online to get a *complete* list of option codes? I am wondering if there is an elusive code to get the roof to be body-color instead of black (I'd like an ALL White SS, but not if the roof is black).
4) pro's/con's of the hurst shifter vs. just putting in a B&M ripper myself? Have heard the ripper has much better gate feel.
5) Auburn vs. TORSEN. I may take the car to a drag strip once or twice. I won't be using nitrous or forced induction or slicks, but speed shifting IS in the equation. TORSEN good enough?
6) How much better is the SLP Bilstein option over the regular SS equip?
If it matters to answer any of the above questions, i'm specificaly looking at an SS coupe, 6spd, non-T-top, SLP SS grille, monsoon CD, cloth interior, no traction control, SLP center-exit exhaust (or loudmouth?), and an aftermarket anti-CAGS kit. Probably all black, unless I can get a body-color roof, in which case i might go white or even maroon metallic if I could get GM to do it.
Is there a certain date that I should order before/by? Is later this year too late?
Thanks for any help or thoughts!!! -nick
Posted by SStylez (Member # 839) on :
1.) The body side moldings are just an apperance mod but if you get the ISD which comes with power everything etc, you have to get them. They're just some straight moldings on the side of the car, no big deal.
2.) The new for 2002 airbox lid you can only get with one of the upgraded exhausts, but it's I believe around a $300 option.
3.) Every V8 has a black roof, you can't get them body-colored unless you order a black car. It was an option in the LT1 days, but no more.
4.) Get the B&M, from my freinds with M6's they love it.
5.) I'd get the Torsen for the strip. I've heard a lot of problems with the Auburn. Plus the Auburn is mainly for Auto-X.
6.) I owned a 2000 WS6 T/A & my 2001 SS has the Bilstien. A world of difference. The Bilstein suspension is worth it, you'd be crazy not to get it if you have the money.
As far as order time, you can order it anytime until I believe March/April of next year.
Posted by NATESS (Member # 982) on :
hello, i'm here to help you out. i will try to answer most of your questions, however, one or two may elude me . since i just bought a 2002 hard top SS, this stuff is still freash in my mind. 1. 1SC v. 1SD: if you order the 1SC code, your car will be very "plain jane". i have also heard that it may not be possible to order a 2002 SS without the 1SD option, which includes: pwr widows, pwr locks, pwr 6-way driver's seat, keyless entry, theft-deterrent alarm system, fog lamps, cruise control, pwr mirrors, remote hatch release, leather wrapped steering wheel, gear shift knob, and handbrake, and body moldings. body moldings are a nice touch to the car. basically it is a strip on plastic that is the same color as the car placed in the horizontal indentions found in the doors. it does not look bad by any means. in fact it can help protect against parking lot dings and the like. if you go to a dealer and look at a camaro at the rear quarter panel, the indented line between the upper half and the lower half is what you would see on the doors w/o the moldings. if i was you i would order the 1SD option, it is also cheaper than ordering the options seperately. 2. 345hp/air lid/loudmouth. these are not all the same thing. right now a stock SS has 325hp. with the optional center mounted or dual-dual exhaust the hp is increased to 335. the 345hp you are referring to will be availiable later on this year as an option from SLP if you order your SS with one of the optional exhausts and the new airlid, this will bring the hp to 345. the airlid basically replaces the stock airlid (air box)in the engine with a less restricted one. i don't think the center mounted comes with the airlid automatically. loudmouth exhaust is an aftermarket exhaust system that you can order from SLP. it is not the same as the optional exhaust from SLP when you order the car. i am planning to get this system, it sounds great and gives you the same if not more hp. 3. there are online complete options lists. you can go to www.chevrolet.com and "build your own camaro". you can see all the GM options availiable for your car in the options section. it is very important that when you order your SS that you make sure the dealer puts down option code Y2Y if you want any SLP options. you cannot order this code after your order sheet has been faxed to GM for processing. a lot of dealers do not know about Y2Y, and if you don't mention it, they will not add it. don't assume a dealer knows something that you do. the SLP Y2Y options can be found on SLP's website at www.slpeng.com. as for the black top, i don't know if you can get a white hard top without the special blk top. when the car goes throught the painting process GM puts a "special black treatment" paint on the top. i think it is supposed to help with UV and other harmful rays, but i am not sure. if you don't like the black top, you might want to go with the blk SS. 4. i think that it is really a toss up for which shifter you like. i have the factory hurst shifter with the aftermarket lou salzano short stick. adding this short stick physically shortens your stick by about 1.5" to 2". therefore shortening your throw by about 17-20%. and it makes the shifting feel very notchy . my friend has a B&M ripper shifter and likes his a lot. so like i said, each to his own. i this that it might be cheaper to get the hurst and get a short stick than to buy an aftermarket shifter. anyway, go to lou's web site at www.angelfire.com/fl/lscamaross/ if that does not work, than go to yahoo and type camaro ss in the search part and you will see lou's camaro ss and z28 page. 5. auburn v. torsen: personally i prefer the torsen. plus you would be saving yourself 900.00. a friend of mine ordered the auburn diff just because he wanted to order every option. i'm not 100% sure of the pros and cons of the two, but if you are going to drag race quite often get the torsen. 6. bilstein v. Standard: i used to own a '99 Z28 and it handled great. and now i can totally feel the difference in my 2002 SS. it handles much better. i have new experienced the bilstein shocks, but i hear that it is worth it. but i also hear that it is a much more stiffer ride. so you need to decide whether it is worth the extra $1,000.00. go to a dealer and try to find one that has the optional SS window sticker with the bilstein shocks and test drive it, then test drive an SS without the shocks. by the way,i noticed that you want to get cloth. i would much prefer cloth over the leather because i slide around too much on the leather and it gets really hot in the summer, plus i would have saved myself $500.00. however, have you seen the 2000< cloth int? either you love them or you hate them also unfortunately, monterey maroon met. is not avail. on the SS model, otherwise i would have ordered it. you can order your SS now if you would like. not sure when GM is coming back from their vacation though. however, if you want the 345hp, then wait until later on this year, don't have a specific date. post on the message board on the SLP web site, and ask when the 345hp is going to be avail. they are very helpful. well, sorry this was so long, but hopfully i was helpful, and good luck. email me if you have any other questions. just click on the profile section
Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
SLP is saying that SS's built after August 1st, with the exhaust option, will get the airlid. It ups the price by $300.
Posted by KevinCansiani (Member # 504) on :
Hi Nick, I own a 1993 Z28 and a have owned 2 1998 Camaro SS's, and just ordered a 2002 35th anniversary last Friday, so I'll try my best to answer your questions: 1) The car looks good with or without the side moldings. My first 1998 1LE SS did not have side moldings but my second SS had them. I did not notice the difference until I had both of them side by side. 2) You can get the airlid with two types of exhaust: the dual-dual exhaust and the center-mounted exhaust. The airlid option is $300 but you must tell the dealer to add the option, especially if you order it before 8/15 (this is the date that the dealerships will officially be able to see the option on their checklist). Keep in mind also that the center mounted exhaust is ~$1200 and the dual-dual is ~$800 3) See above 4) Don't know, haven't tried either, but I had to order the Hurst on my 2002 because it was part of the 35th anniversary option. 5) I ordered the Auburn. Let me tell you why. I was pretty easy on my 98 1LE SS (never took it to the track) and I blew the rear end out at 25000. In addition, whenever I talk to the guys in the small block group at GMPT, they always point to the rear end as the weak link in the powertrain. 6) You can definitely tell the difference between the Bilstein and the standard suspension. I had the 1LE suspension as well, but that was way to stiff for me. I ordered the Bilstein on the 2002.
Finally, I probably don't have to tell you this, but if you are a stickler for detail, the black will drive you crazy. I'm almost obsessive compulsive about scratches and nicks and it about drove me nuts! I heard from SLP that Quick Silver will be available for 2002. If you like that, ask the dealer if they know anything about it.
Good luck
Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
I deleted the body side mouldings after the fact ... they peel off quiet easily ... I found them to be a dirt collector .. picture follows.
On the other options, you need to somehow decide if you will do any modding after. If I was to order again I would not get the Y2Y exhaust or the Auburn and instead put that money towards an aftermarket exhaust and a 12 bolt rear end.
The Auburn vs. Torsen is probably the most debated choice, with strong arguments from both sides. Mine failed once so far ... all fixed under warranty. A point of consideration here is that the Torsen is covered by GM warranty, the Auburn by SLP. If you get the Auburn you will need to hold your dealers hand through any work, including oil changes to get it done right.
The Hurst with Lou's short stick is good ... many say aftermarket is better ... trying both first would be the ideal.
Lots of great input in the previous posts ... ultimately, you have to decide, and money can reverse most any choice
. since i just bought a 2002 hard top SS, this stuff is still freash in my mind.
. my friend has a B&M ripper shifter and likes his a lot. so like i said, each to his own. i this that it might be cheaper to get the hurst and get a short stick than to buy an aftermarket shifter. anyway, go to lou's web site at www.angelfire.com/fl/lscamaross/ if that does not work, than go to yahoo and type camaro ss in the search part and you will see lou's camaro ss and z28 page.