1979 Camaro Z28 / 2010 Camaro SS

If you would try to plan, it would not work. This week is perhaps Camaro week, we have a 2010 Camaro SS that we are reviewing, SEMA is featuring numerous Camaro's, and 31 years ago this 1979 Z28 was being built in Norwood.

Must be a Camaro thing! The 2010 is from GM its our tester for the review, the 1979 is owned by "The Colonel" since it was new, its a one owner car with 30,000 original kilometers, with the "patina" of an original car.

We thought that a side by side comparison would be unique, interesting, and informative. 

     Yes...the 2010 is a bit "bigger" than the 1979

Look how wheels and tires have evolved the 2010 has 20 inch painted alloys, the 1979 has 15 inch American Racing wheel. Both have staggered wheels 20x8 and 20x9 / 15x7 and 15x8.

 

Rear 3/4 view of the 1979

From the Front the "bigness" of the 2010 is obvious.

From the rear.....

From the side...

 

The interior of the 1979, at the time cloth seats were preferable to vinyl, leather was not available. This is the Custom Cloth Interior. The shifter for the 4 Speed was quite obvious. Its a Momo steering wheel.

  

Interior of the 2010, notice the power seat, leather, the shifter is less obvious, and plastic technology has constantly progressed in the past 31 years. 

    

The venerable 350 cu.in. "small block" this one is an LM1. In 1979 this engine was rated at 175 HP at 4,000 RPM and 270 lb.ft. of Torque at 2,400 RPM with an 8.2:1 compression ratio. Those numbers are not exciting today, and were not exciting in 1979.

The engine looks factory stock with the except for the finned magnesium valve covers, the holes on the air cleaner cover, after many years the foam sealing the air cleaner to the hood deteriorated, its a functional hood scoop/cold air package.

The engine has an L82 camshaft, roller timing chain, stainlees steel head gaskets, high pressure oil pump, its looks factory original and performs better than factory stock. The engine performs up to 5,500 RPM compared to the low 4,000 RPM when it came from the factory. Makes an appreciable difference in the performance of the car. In addition to what would be called a "cat back" exhaust system today. This car is louder, and raspier than the 2010.

Have you noticed....there is no Air Conditioning!

  

This is the LS3, still a small block rated at 426 HP at 5,900 RPM with 420 lb.ft. of Torque at 4,200 RPM with a 10.7:1 compression ratio. This engine is all aluminum, roller camshaft, roller rockers, heads that flow a ton of air. Perhaps its the ultimate "small block".  

  

Same as many years ago, you can put a "hot cam" from GM in this engine to raise the power. The specifications make a small block Chevy "aficionado" drool. Do we have to tell you that this car is much faster than the 1979. 

Some tidbits to consider.

• The 1979 has a 4 Speed with a 1st gear ratio of 2.64:1 and a rear axle ratio of 3.73 for a total reduction of 9.85....yes its got a positraction. 240 lb.ft. of Torque
• The 2010 has a 6 speed with a 1st gear ratio of 3.01:1 and a rear axle ratio of 3.45 for a total reduction of 10.4...its got a positraction. 420 lb.ft. of torque.
• As they say you do the math.
• The 4 speed in the 1979 is comparable to 4th in the 2010, the 2010 is a superb highway cruiser compared to the older car.
• The 1979 has discs in front, drums in the rear, the 2010 has Brembos...need we say more as to which car stops better.
• The 1979 has a solid rear axle with leaf springs, the 2010 has an independent rear axle with coil springs....there is no comparison.
• The 1979 is a wonderful nostalgia car with technology similar to a 1969, in reality what technology, there are hardly any electronics, still a carburator, the 1979 was on the waning days of "old school" before the application of technology/electronics.
• The 2010 is a 1969 or a 1979 with the application of technology, electronics, and the normal evolution of 40 years or 30 years.
• The 1979 was good value and resonable performance for the day. It was and still is a fun car that is very enjoyable.
• The 2010 is good value with an exceptional performance envelope, that is fun and satisfying.
• The 1979 has no safety features except for seat belts, side beams in the doors, collapsing steering column.
• The 2010 is bristling with the latest safety features, air bags, ABS brakes, brakes assist, traction control, stability program.
• On a good run the 2010 works the rear tires/suspension harder and longer (up to 4th) than the 1979 (up to 3rd).
• The feel of the clutch is similar although the 1979 is mechanical (linkage) the 2010 is hydraulic, the feel of the clutch is close too.
• Tremec / Borg Warner almost the same with the exception that one is a 4 speed the other a 6 speed, you hear the synchronizer the shifter/shift linkage feel is again similar.
• The engine in the 1979 revs up quickly, and pulls strong to 5,500 RPM it tapers off after 5,500.
• The engine in the 2010 revs up instantly, and pulls very strong to 6,000 RPM.

Have the reasons or rationale for acquiring a Camaro with a level of performance changed?  Not at all, human nature is still the same.