Introduced first in the 1967 model year, the Camaro was Chevrolet’s answer to the new pony car segment created by the Ford Mustang. The Camaro has continued to evolve from its origins, becoming a truly impressive street and track car. In 2017, Chevrolet released the ZL1, a high-performance version of the Camaro. Shortly after, they introduced the ZL1 1LE, a track-focused update on the ZL1.
If you take the Camaro ZL1 1LE straight from the dealer’s lot to the track, you are going to have a good time and put up some impressive numbers. Nonetheless, like all cars, there is always room for improvement. A few aftermarket mods such as aftermarket exhaust headers can take this already incredible vehicle a step further. Below are three of the best aftermarket parts for the Camaro ZL1 1LE.
Upgraded Supercharger Pulley
The 6.2 Liter LT4 Supercharged V8 in the ZL1 1LE already makes a lot of power. However, it can be pushed even further with a few upgrades to the supercharger. A shorter pulley will help to convert more of the rotational energy from the engine into air compression in the supercharger. In turn, this means more power.
New Exhaust System
Airflow is at the center of making power with any engine. Getting exhaust gases out of the engine is just as important as pushing oxygen in. While the OEM exhaust on the ZL1 1LE does a decent job, the best exhaust systems are definitely aftermarket.
Some new exhaust headers combined with some performance piping can minimize back pressure on the engine and crank out as much as a 10 percent horsepower boost. Better yet, you can fine-tune your exhaust note to get an even better sound from the vehicle. A MagnaFlow Race-Series Axel-Back Performance Exhaust System will give you a very aggressive sound to match the power of the ZL1 1LE.
Exhaust systems are relatively easy modifications. So, they are often the right starting point for any upgrade process.
High Capacity Heat Exchanger
There is no doubt that the ZL1 1LE makes a lot of power. However, this also means a lot of heat. If you are running your ZL1 1LE around the track for hours, you may experience some drop off in power as everything heats up beyond the capacity of the OEM heat exchanger.
An upgraded, high capacity heat exchanger will help to solve this. Fend off that power loss caused by higher-than-optimal temperatures in the intake and supercharger. This is one of the best modifications possible for a ZL1 1LE.
Get Started
There is nothing quite like hitting the track with a car you know inside and out. Working on your own vehicles is fun and rewarding. Whether you bolt on one of the best exhaust kits for cars or just change your spark plugs, getting under the hood can make car ownership even better.
Surprisingly, even with everything Chevrolet has done to optimize the Camaro ZL1 1LE, there are still improvements to be made. A little bit of aftermarket modification and you can make your track monster unstoppable.
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