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1LE Autocross Package
The intro of the 4thgen F-bodies brought some change to the 1LE package. No longer was the option hidden beneath any other option codes. You could now simply order the 1LE package by itself. When doing so, you received the same aluminum driveshaft that was installed in the third-gen cars, much stiffer deCarbon shocks, and the same front and rear springs as the standard V8F-body. Some of the parts that were no longer included with the 1LE package were the larger front disc brakes and the special gas tank. The new F-bodies now had standard front brakes that measured 11 inches. Unfortunately, you still had to delete A/C in order to get a 1LE, so sales remained fairly low. At the end of 94, some minor changes were made on the 1LE. No longer was the larger 21mm rear sway bar necessary, because all 1LE cars now received increased-rate springs all around. In 95, only one change was made. They received the same radiator baffling used on A/C equipped cars to increase cooling. The changes made on the race ready option during the 96 model run were the most significant. For one thing, A/C now became standard on all cars, including the 1LE. Koni double adjustable shocks, now also a pat of the 1LE package, were a great upgrade. Also, in order to order a 1LE, you had to buy the WS6 option.
The only options required to order a 96-97 1LE car is the basic option group (1SA) and the WS6 performance package. You must also specify 6-speed only. Your remaining choices are limited to rear window defogger and/or a front license plate bracket. Source: High Performance
FE7 Showroom Stock Package, includes 1LE Autocross Package (WS6,1LE) – 1998
> Koni double adjustable shocks in place of the deCarbon pieces used on all other Formulas and T/As. > Lower front control arm front and rear bushings rated at 110K lb-in replace 100K lb-in front bushings and rear bushings rated at 60K lb-in found in other V8 Birds. > Front upper control arm front and rear bushings rated at 24K lb-in instead of 16K and 18K lb-in, respectively, on other V8 Birds. > Upper front control arms that carry a different part number from other performance Firebird models because of the harder bushings. > The same 32mm hollow front sway bar found on other Formulas and T/As with 275/40-17 tires. > Stabilizer bar and link bushings are the same for all of the T/As and Formulas including the 1LE. > Rear stabilizer bar is a 19mm solid piece that is shared with all other T/A and Formula models as are the bushings with a durometer reading of 80, the stabilizer link grommets and the top spring insulators have a 65 durometer reading. > The same front spring rate as other Firebirds with 275/40-17 tires, which is 63 N/mm straight rate (2 N/mm stiffer than smaller tired Birds.) > Rear springs are 23/30 N/mm variable rate which are shared with the Formula and T/A coupes with 275/40-17 tires, convertibles are different. > In the rear, the panhard rod (track bar) is rated at 8000 N/mm for the 1LE and T/A and Formula coupes with 275/40-17 tires, convertibles are different. > Lower control arms (tailing arms) are the same part number as the B4C police package which is different from all other Formulas and T/As as are the trailing arm bushings, rated at 50K lb-in. > Trans mount for the manual transmission is the same used on all other performance Birds except the standard T/A or Formula convertible. > Jounce bumper hardness is the same for all Formulas and T/As including 1LE. > Also noted is the fact that with the FE7 Showroom Stock package, like the WS6, the jounce bumper is 15mm shorter than all other bumpers and rear jounce is restricted by placing a 15mm spacer under the jounce bumper. > Wheels and tires are the same as WS6 package for the 17-inchers and the same as the standard Formula and T/A for the 16-inch wheel and GSC tire package. > Everything with 275/40-17 tires gets a steering cooler. 1LE Parts 1LE Front 32 mm Stabilizer Bar (GM p/n 26032907) (2) 1LE Stabilizer Bar Endlinks (GM p/n 10221779) http://www.b-body.net/Technical/Suspension/Swaybars/F-BodyEndlinks.html (2) 1LE Front 32 mm Stabilizer Bar Insulator (GM p/n 10288551) 1LE Front Left Lower Control Arm (GM p/n 52367658) 1LE Front Right Lower Control Arm (GM p/n 52367659) 1LE Front Left Upper Control Arm (GM p/n 22156461) 1LE Front Right Upper Control Arm (GM p/n 22156462) 1LE Front DeCarbon Shock (GM p/n 22171227) 1LE Front Koni Shock (GM p/n 22140240) 1LE Front Spring (GM p/n 22132887, 360lb/in, 63 N/mm) 1LE Rear 21 mm Stabilizer Bar (GM p/n 10021221) (2) 1LE Stabilizer Bar Endlinks (GM p/n 10221779) (2) 1LE Rear 21 mm Stabilizer Bar Insulator (GM p/n 10235886) 1LE Rear Lower Control Arms (GM p/n 10164151) 1LE Panhard Rod (GM p/n 10262147) (2) 1LE Rear Shock Upper Insulator (GM p/n 22166909) (2) Rear Shock Lower Insulator (GM p/n 10009135) (4) 1LE Rear Shock Insulator Retainer (GM p/n 22166910) 1LE Rear DeCarbon Shock (GM p/n22182505) 1LE Rear Koni Shock (GM p/n22140228) 1LE Rear Spring (GM p/n 22132889, 130-170 lbs/in, 23 to 30 N/mm) 1LE Transmission Mount (GM p/n 22146231) 1LE Aluminum Driveshaft (GM p/n 10085375) 1LE History The fourth generation Camaro was introduced in 1993, and Chevrolet did offer a 1LE options on the GEN IV Camaro's in 1993, but few were actually ordered. Some new updates were then included to make the 1LE option more appealing to the buying public. Koni had become almost the exclusive manufacturer of the racing shocks which were usually installed in preparation for competition on all '96 and later 1LE Camaro's after they left the showroom floor. The Koni double-adjustable racing shock was well accepted and successful trackside, but thought to be too high-end for public use. For the fourth generation, Koni contracted with GM to become the new shock supplier for all 1LE Camaro's. The '93s already came with an upgraded antilock braking system that was light years ahead of the third-generation version and if you bought a 1LE-equipped Camaro after 1993 you'd get much more than that for your money. GM began supplying Koni shocks on all four corners and including a little-known, unmarked instruction sheet in the glove box of each car explaining how to tune and adjust the shocks for the best handling on any track surface. Along with the Koni shocks, Chevrolet really went all-out on the suspension upgrades for this model. Chevy also offered higher-rate durometer bushings on the front and rear control arms and panhard bar, stiffer coil springs on all four corners, a larger 32mm front sway bar, 21mm rear, and a beefier transmission mount for manual transmission-equipped cars as part of the 1LE package. This package was now being targeted at performance enthusiasts, not just hard-core racers, and in 1996 all Camaro's came standard with air conditioning. Another little known-fact is that all GEN IV Camaro's came standard with a black painted roof, but the 1LE-equippedcars could be ordered with a roof painted to match the body color. All 1LEs automatically deleted the fog lamps on Z28s, adding another outside telltale sign to its performance potential. Sometime around 1995, Chevrolet no longer wants to sell these cars only to racers and even promotes the 1LE option; now know as the Performance Suspension Package, in its public relations packets which is sent out to media and dealerships nationwide. What began as a hard-cord racing upgrade, meant only to win races at the track, turned into what is now a popular sales incentive for performance enthusiasts looking for just a bit more out of the Camaro. As Chevy points out in its own literature, the 1LE is "engineered specifically for professional racing and is intended for serious performance enthusiasts only." The 1LE option was discontinued in 1999. GM's reason was the cost of keeping an inventory of parts for such a low production vehicle was not profitable. However, the option returned in2001 on Camaro SS and Firebird Firehawk's prepared by SLP and ordered with Y2Y options. Return to Technical Database © 2001-2024 FirebirdV6.com/CamaroV6.com. All rights reserved. |