The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, especially the 2018 Zl1, is a formidable machine straight from the factory. However, for those seeking to extract even more power and performance from this iconic muscle car, the aftermarket offers a plethora of options. Recently, a customer from New Jersey, Bill, entrusted Vengeance Racing with his brand new 2018 ZL1 to elevate its performance while adhering to a sensible budget and focusing on basic bolt-on modifications.
Bill’s 2018 ZL1, an A10 automatic transmission model, was special ordered with the intent of enhancing its power output from day one. His objective was clear: significant performance gains without delving into extensive engine modifications. After consulting with the experts at Vengeance Racing, a strategic combination of bolt-on parts was selected to achieve his goals of a potent yet dependable street car. The chosen upgrades included:
- Vengeance Racing cold air intake for 6th gen ZL1
- ATI harmonic balancer
- Lingenfelter 9.17” supercharger pulley
- Gates HD supercharger belt
- 180* thermostat
- Kooks 2” longtube headers with GREEN catted connection pipes
- Vengeance Racing flex fuel sensor kit
To kick off the transformation, Bill’s 2018 ZL1 was transported from New Jersey to the Vengeance Racing facility by TPM Transport. Upon arrival, the car was immediately placed on the dyno to establish a baseline performance level.
The initial dyno run revealed a solid 549 rear-wheel horsepower (rwhp) and 558 rear-wheel torque (rwtq). With the baseline established, the 2018 ZL1 was moved into the workshop where a Vengeance Racing technician began the installation of the performance upgrades.
The entire build, focused on optimizing the 2018 ZL1’s performance with bolt-on parts, was efficiently completed in under two days. Following the mechanical upgrades, street drivability tuning was performed to ensure optimal performance before final Wide Open Throttle (WOT) dyno tuning.
Running on 93 octane pump gas, the 2018 ZL1 demonstrated impressive gains, achieving 648 rwhp and 681 rwtq. This represents an increase of nearly 100 rwhp and over 120 rwtq compared to the baseline figures – all from simple bolt-on modifications! To explore the full potential of the upgrades, the fuel tank was drained and refilled with an E85 blend, targeting E45 due to the limitations of the factory fuel system.
With the E45 fuel blend, the 2018 ZL1’s final dyno numbers peaked at an outstanding 686 rwhp and 720 rwtq. This substantial power increase, achieved through straightforward bolt-on modifications, underscores the effectiveness of these upgrades while preserving near-stock drivability and street manners. Vengeance Racing is excited to return Bill’s transformed 2018 ZL1, now a significantly enhanced daily driver ready to be enjoyed.
Explore more Feature Builds, Performance Packages, and high-quality performance products for your LS or LT build at Vengeance Racing’s website. Contact them with any inquiries at [email protected] or by phone at 678-513-7105. Stay connected with Vengeance Racing on social media: Facebook @ Vengeance Racing, Instagram @ Vengeance Racing, and YouTube @ Ronatvengeance.
