Eckler's Camaro World

The pace is fast here at Eckler’s in preparation for what’s going to be one of the largest Winter Nationals ever held at Old Town in Kissimmee, Florida.
Since this is our first major show of the new season, we’re all excited and every step is being made to ensure that everyone in attendance has a good time. The host club, Classic Camaros of Central Florida is setting the pace ensuring that every detail is covered from evening security to classification assistance. Without host clubs like Classic Camaros of Central Florida our shows would not be successful. Speaking of Camaro clubs if you’re a Camaro enthusiast and would like to join a fun and successful club you need to look no further than this club. These guys and ladies in this club are a great bunch of people! Now back to what we’re doing here at Eckler’s. We’re making parts list for sales items, getting the personnel in place for various assignments, getting the necessary supplies, such as judging and tech sheets, working on awards, handling the large number of pre-registrations, ensuring the welcome bar-b-que event is ready and many, many more show details. Most show attendees will never understand how much behind the scenes work is involved in putting on a show this large. Hopefully this information will provide a little insight. See you at the show!

Yes, I went to another car show this past weekend, and although I attend numerous car shows during the year as a part of my job description, I still enjoy the local ones. The local car show I attended was held at a golf course club house area, and you could tell that a lot of planning went into this event. The food vendor served a great breakfast and lunch and the overall facilities were excellent. You could set up your lawn chairs and coolers and simply relax until the 3 o'clock awards presentations.
To ensure that all participants were satisfied, everyone who entered the show received a nice glass trophy. The judging was very informal, and the awards were numerous, but people had a good time and that's the most important part of the car shows. I believe these small car show are more family friendly, since you have the opportunity to spend time conversing with many new car enthusiast. Just a fun relaxing Florida weekend.

The Classic Chevy/WCC International Convention scheduled for July 4-6, 2007 in Hagarstown Maryland is on track to be the largest CCI/WCC event ever. The four (4) hotels near the show are completly booked, and a fith hotel in the immediate area only has 50 rooms remaining. This year being the anniversary of both the 57 Chevy as well as the 40th nniversary of the Camaro, makes the owners of these vehicle want to participate in all the festivities. I honestly think that we will exceed our previous record of 800 cars at a Internation show this year. This is going to be a great show season!

I've been asked by numerous people to recommend or give my opinion about certain performance parts I've used. Providing my insight about performance parts can be tricky because most of the time it's strickly my personal opinion. Take my 94 Camaro with a 502 big block as an example, I will start from front to rear and tell you what I've experienced over the past 4 years with my combination.

Engine: Comp solid roller cam & valve train - worked flawless with no breakage, and many, many quarter mile runs and street driven miles.

Engine Oil: Mobile One 15/40 & Lucus Supplement - Once again no oil related problems and the Lucus is by far the best supplement one can put in their motor.

Carburetor - A.E.D. - Another Great Piece, with no problems.

Radiator - Griffin, 1 1/4 tube size, great for cooling a big block,

Fans: Spal twin fans; these fans will actually pull paper from the road surface, these fans work!

JW Converter - 2years and still going strong, great piece.

Moser Rear - No problems with housing or axles

Spohn Torque Arm - Fairly new piece, and still working on adjustments.

QA1 - Double Adjustable Shocks - Great Parts, you can loosen up the front suspension or tighten it up for the street.


Of course there are many many more parts on the car, but the list above just gives you an idea of the parts that I've used without quality issues.

Many of us as car people have certain expectations when it comes to automotive products. The major concern is price, the second concern is availability, and the last is shipping cost. As Camaro enthusiast we are very fortunate to have numerous vendors who sell Camaro parts. Some of the parts sold are U.S. made and some are made off shore. For people that are building that 1,000 point show car, they demand only original GM license parts, and correct labeling such as the little orange stickers on various clutch components etc. These labels will not appear on off-shore products; so be forwarned when someone sells you a part and tells you it's NOS(NEW OLD STOCK). New Old Stock Parts are extremely hard to come by, and the buyer must be extremely careful when he shells out high dollars for these parts. Since many of use are simply installing replacement parts, we know that many of the parts are made off shore and that's a fact of life we have to live with. I can't count the number of times I've heard customers say that I won't install off-shore parts on my car. You will but you just did not know it, and one trip to SEMA/APPEX and you'll be convinced that many of the parts sold today are packaged and made to look like AC Delco, Fram and others. Some USA company have their main parts made off-shore and once the part arrives at their USA plant, they install a bushing, and call it a USA made product. Products, such as Radiator, Ball Joints and other steering components are made off-shore with more and more products being made for sell in the U.S.
The only thing you can do if you only desire USA made products, is to do your homework prior to making your purchase and demand other the products by name that you determine are made in the USA. I hope this information helps.

Everyone in the auto industry is selling crate engines these days, here are a few tips that may make your selection easier:

- When selecting your crate engine pay close attention to TORQUE not HORSEPOWER!
Torque at lower RPM's is what moves the vehicle. Stroker motors make more torque
at lower RPM's.
- Make sure that your crate engine is built around a new block, since blocks that
have not been bored run cooler.
- Make sure the engine you select is durable and pump gas friendly (10:1 or lower)
- Make sure that camshaft selection will produce good vacuum for power accessories.
- Only purchase crate engines from companies that have great reputations, or better
yet purchase your crate engine from GM, they have warranties.
- Last, if the price seems too good to believe, avoid it at all cost, this will save
you headaches in the long run. Happy Motoring!

Now the LS1, LS2, & LS6 guys have something to really shout about with the announcement of GM's new LSX small block Chevy Block. The LS1 and related Gen III and IV family engine blocks enjoy an excellent track record since their 1997 model year debut (1998 in Camaros) but cubic inches and longevity have come into question for those requiring extreme horsepower. Until now the only option was GM's C5R block however, it has not been financially feasible for the average guy on the street. With the practice of resleeving the LS1 block becoming more common, it's clear that consumers want more cubes and stronger blocks. With GM's revolutionary LSX Bowtie Block, a verstile, extreme-duty foundation that will also be affordable for almost any budget. The MSRP of this new block will be approximately $2,500 with actual street prices around $1,800. Now for the good stuff, this block can be safely bored and stroked to well over 500 cubic inches and has provisions for cam sensors in both the front and rear of the block. If you're looking to ramp up your horsepower this may be the block you need. For more information on this block you can go to www.gmperformanceparts.com

February 8th is fast approaching, and if you are not from this immediate area plase be forewarned that the hotels in and around Old Town are filling up fast. Eash year we have a welcome Bar-B-Que, and this year we have 250 people already signed up for the dinner. Since this years show will feature anniversaries of both the 57 Chevy and the 67 Camaro, we expect an extremely large turnout. As with all of our shows parking is on a first come, first served basis, so if you arrive early and want to park with your buddies, regardless of the type vehicle, (Tri-Five/Camaro) simply locate a suitable spot and park your car. If you've pre-registered you can avoid the registration lines by simply parking your car and picking up your badge and the Registration Table. This new "Pass The Line Program" is bound to be a big hit for show attendees who've previously attended the Winternationals and had to wait in long lines. As in previous shows, members of the Classic Camaros of Central Florida Car Club will be on hand to assist Eckler's staff and without them this show would not be sucessful. So,now is the time to put the final touches on your pride and joy and arrive with the intentions of having fun and possibly meeting new friends!

Autoblog: Let's change gears and talk performance. Obviously, there's Corvette, but let's stay away from that for the moment and focus on the Camaro. You've already mentioned the convertible concept which obviously telegraphs your intent to do a production version.

Ed Peper: Yes.

Autoblog: The styling's been a hit for both the coupe and the convertible. How closely are you looking to match the concept's styling -- especially the interior -- on the production version of the Camaro.

Ed Peper: It's going to be very, very close. I have seen the production coupe, and if you saw the two of them side by side -- the production coupe and the concept coupe we introduced last year -- you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It is very minute. I mean, obviously you have to make some exceptions when translating a concept to production, but it's going to be very, very close. This is not like a wild concept that we come back and can't realistically build the same sort of vehicle for production. No, it is going to be very close.

Autoblog: Have you guys arrived at a final decision for the top powertrain?

Ed Peper: No, not yet. We will have a V8, a couple of V6s -- you know, we'll have a fuel efficient V6 and we'll have a high performing V6 and we will have a high performing V8 but we haven't settled on the engine in that yet.

Autoblog: 500 horsepower appears to be the magic number with the musclecars that the other manufacturers are coming out with, so is that your target?

Ed Peper: Certainly we haven't made a decision yet, but it's in our scheme – it's in our scheme of thoughts, yes.

Autoblog: Is there concern about stepping on the Corvette, power-wise?

Ed Peper: No. Because again, the capabilities of a Corvette are world class. I mean, we are talking about a vehicle that competes in the American Le Mans Series with Aston Martins and all –no, there is no concern because what the Camaro is going to be is what it has always been, which is a really great looking vehicle that will have a muscle car or muscle car set of derivatives with it, but that will also have a fuel efficient version. It's a vehicle that you really, really can drive every single day -- a four seater and so forth, while Corvette is in a class all by itself. It's one of our ultimate brands at the company that just continues to do well. We try to keep the production, you know, in line and not build too many so it keeps a very strong demand. The Z06s are some of the fastest turning vehicles that we have. Ghe dealers just can't get enough of them and, you know, we intentionally in some ways want to keep it that way because we want to make them very, very tight and hard to get and that is what builds a really strong brand.
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The star of this years North American International Auto Show in Detroit was the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept. There are minor changes to accommodate the convertible top and a different wheel package, 21-inch fronts and 22-inch rear wheels. The trim plates, vents, seat handles and safety belt buckles feature a smoke satin aluminum finish. The Shifter and pedals are made of billet aluminum, and a separate ignition button is used to start the engine.

Camaro Convertible Specs

* Wheelbase: 110.5 inches
* Length: 186.2 inches
* Width: 79.6 inches
* Height: 53 inches
* Track: 63.8 front; 63.3 rear
* Powertrain: V8 engine with manual transmission
* Suspension: four-wheel independent; MacPherson strut front; multilink rear,
progressive rate coil springs, gas-pressured dampers
* Brakes: four-wheel disc, 14-in rotors with four-piston calipers
* Wheels: cast aluminum, 21-inch front and 22-inch rears
* Tires: 275/30R21 front, 305/30R22 rear

You can view the Concept Camaro on GM's web site.

This message was forwarded from Scott Settlemire:


A Year ago, Chevrolet unveiled the Camaro Coupe Concept to rave reviews at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It was the hit of the show, and it led to the announcement that Chevrolet will again produce the Camaro Coupe, starting in 2009. The goal this year was to top last year's announcement-and we have, by blowing the top off!!
On Saturday, January 6, 2007, at the GM Style Event in Detroit, the Camaro Convertible Concept will be unveiled for the first time. In the same manner that the original Camaro concept raised the pulse of enthusiasts everywhere, I believe the new Camaro Convertible Concept will continue to represent for Chevrolet the direction of its vehicle line up-expressive style, spirited performance and great value.
From its updated Hugger Orange pearl tri-coat paint with twin gunmetal gray sport stripes to its four auxiliary guages located near the shifter, the Camaro Convertible Concept celebrates many of Camaro's heritage features in a contemporary way. Although this is a show car and not the actual production vehicle, it was designed to represent the production model that will follow within a year of the Camaro Coupe production.
For further information regarding the Camaro Convertible Concept, the press release has been attached to the end of this message. Shortly, you will receive a copy of the hero card poster that is being distributed to the public at the North America n Auto Show. In the meantime, you and your customers can gain further details and pictures by visiting www.chevy.com/performance. This website will be available for viewing starting on Sunday, January 7, 2007.
The Camaro has touched many lives with nearly 4.8 million being produced over 30 years. The love and lore of Camaro remains strong. The Camaro concepts redefine the Camaro for both existing and new generations of fans in a contemporary way with responsive performance and modern technology. We look forward to its rebirth in 2009!
Sincerly,

Ed Peper
General Manager-Chevrolet

# posted by camaro502Z @ 5:03 AM 0 comments

Camaro enthusiasts around the country are patiently waiting for the arrival of the 5th generation Camaro and now we’re teased with a convertible version of this beautiful car. I for one would rather hear about the corrections/changes for this car, or options that may be available such as; the LS7 engine, or an SS version. The main concern is the rear end in this car; it just does not work for straight line performance. Ford tried independent rear ends one year in the Mustang, the end result, numerous warranty issues and the end of the independent rear suspension and the return back to the live axle. I don’t understand why GM would include a more expensive rear end that’s prone to failure after having numerous problems with the S10 rear end in the 4th Generation Camaro. All they need to do is contact their warranty department and it would be clear that this is a mistake that should not be repeated. The engineers in the past had a true understanding of components that needed to be strong to handle the power of both big blocks and powerful small block Chevy’s. Maybe I might be premature in my thinking, and GM is planning to offer a strong live axle rear end as an option for their high horsepower LS7engines, we can only hope. The announcement of the 5th Generation Camaro was the best news yet, but GM should now provide information to their Camaro enthusiast about the nuts and bolts options. I know this will not happen anytime soon, but I would love to see a GM press release informing everyone about the options, special engines, wheels, striping, etc., this is what gets our motor running. What’s your feeling?

The 15th Annual Classic Chevy/Worldwide Camaro Club Winter will once again be held at Old Town in Kissimmee, Florida on February 8th thru the 11th. This year's pre-registrations for the show is at an all time high due to celebrations of the 57 Chevy and the 1967 Camaro anniversaries. If you havn't made your hotel reservations I strongly urge you to do so now. Most of the area hotels are booked for this show. For a schedule of events please refer to our web site, worldwidecamaro.com.
This show as well as all of our sponsored shows are designed around the "Fun" factor and most Camaro owners don't worry about the lost of a point because of drop of oil on the intake, they simply enjoy the judged event and strive to score higher at the next show and most of all have fun in the sun! See You At The Show!!!

It happens again and again, high speeds and the non use of seat belts. Yesterday in Edgewater Florida two young ment were killed in a 1990 IROC Z in Edgewater Florida while traveling at a very high rate of speed. The driver tried to avoid a Semi which was traveling in the opposite direction when the Camaro crashed into a wooded area and both occupants were ejected upon impact. Now wearing seat belts may not have save these young men, but there's always a slim chance they might, and no matter how much it is preached that speed kills our young people will not listen. It was suggested that they might have been racing but that has not been determined. Just another tragedy!!!

I always feel blessed whenever I'm able to see another new year. I've been involved with cars all of my adult life and not one single day passes that I don't think about ways to improve performance on my Camaro or one of my friends cars. 2007 starts another great show season, and I can honestly say that I look forward to seeing Camaros from other areas, and of course meeting new enthusiast. I understand that cars are part of my life and to be honest I wouldn't want it any other way. Some people are focused on golf, others on bowling, but I still think that if a person is involved in the automotive industry he'll meet twice the number of people that are willing to help him in many ways such as providing advice or actually rolling up his sleeves and providing manual labor. I started the new year off today by solving a engine miss in a friends car, which by the way was traced to bad spark plugs. So my circle of friends continues to be car people, and I'm ok with this. I'll end this by saying, "Get your cars ready for this years show season, because 2007 will be a year of wonderful memories" HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!