Some fifth-generation Camaro owners may have jumped the gun and pulled the trigger on a Camaro SS before the ZL1 was released and as such, are regretting not waiting it out until the most powerful version of the pony car hit the market. Luckily for them, whether they wish they had a ZL1 or just prefer the way the front clip looks, there is still hope. You can install a ZL1 front bumper on a standard Camaro V6 or SS, but it’s not as easy as you might think, as GM High Tech Performance explains.
The ZL1 bumper does not line up with the body lines on the hood of the standard Camaro, meaning you must purchase a ZL1 hood along with the bumper. This can prove to be rather costly, as the carbon insert for the hood alone costs $4,500. There is a solution though, in GM High Tech’s scenario, they purchased a ZL1 hood from a parts supplier for $800 and a fiberglass aftermarket replica hood insert for $550. Additional hardware for the job will run another $1,200, so this isn’t a cheap modification by any means.
Once you have all the parts and hardware for the job, the most challenging part is sanding and color-matching the bumper and changing out a couple of wiring harnesses for the headlights and fog lights. After that, the hood and bumper install relatively easily, granted you know what you’re doing. Read GM High Tech Performance’s full rundown of the job here.
Comments
When I had my CTS it was looked down upon by both CTS-V owners and CTS owners to do the CTS-V front fascia swap, ultimate poser status. Putting V badges on a CTS was too, but that was more the owner looking like an idiot.
totally agree with you Andrew, why ruin perfectly capable cars into something there not. A CTS or Camaro SS are amazing cars and engineers have spent years perfecting each model specially, why make it into something its not….. a poser.
Oh I have seen this for years.
If I had a Dollar for every 1969 Z/28 with an Automatic transmission that the owner claimed was real when none were built.
I even have a local here that did up his HHR into a SS with the rockers, nose and rear bumper but did not remove the chrome roof rack. I got on it next to him and blew him away.
But to be honest if someone does a clone well even with out the engine I have no issue with it. For some I is the only way they may be able to afford some coolness in their car. The key is doing it right to make it look right but just to do emblems and or just a few parts that make it looking like a obvious mess.
The best one I have seen was a local guy who took a El Camino from the 80’s and put a SS Monte nose on it. He raked it and put on a custom paint job. [He was on of the countries best custom car painters] ,This was his Daily ride, Even with real Dayton wire wheels it had a real nice look to it. It just was a old parts runner starting out.
Might also note GM has used parts of the ZL1 on the Hot Wheels car even with the V6. So Even GM is mixing and matching parts.
Note I approve of some of this as long as someone does not try to pass it off as real. Anyone who claims it is real should be cast into a pit of fire.
Why show ways to “cheapen” a GM product. I don’t expect this article from GM Authority. Anyhow, I had a 12 Camaro SS and now I have been blessed to drive a 14 ZL1. The difference between the two are monumental. Trust me it’s a lot more than a hood and front fascia.