F-Body Europe

Allow me in introduce myself, I'm a recent purchaser of a 96 Spec Z28 manual and I live in England. Like bog snorkelling, Camaro ownership is something of a minority hobby in the UK.

Are there are other UK based owner out there?

Currently I am having a few problems with the headlights. I'm told that the dipped light pattern should be 'flat', so it shouldn't matter that we drive on the other side of the road to everybody else. The lights on my car definitely exhibit a raised part to the right, thus into oncoming drivers eyes. I persuaded the garage to pass it for the MOT (annual test) this time because I promised to sort it out. Anybody know anything about headlight patterns?


Cheers, Jim

Usually the right side is higher than the other.. but this can be fixed simply by pulling up to a wall on a flat surface (dusk or night time would be best) and using the bubble gauges on the headlight assembilies adjust accordingly.

So far, I have only found an adjuster that move the whole headlight up and down - is that what you mean?

The garage didn't like the dipped pattern, which has a raised portion. Against a wall is looks something like:


_____________-----`````


UK lights have the raised bit on the other side.

I'd have to go out and look at my car to see exactly which screw head it is..... but if it changes the pitch of the headlight then yes.... just line it up on the wall there and twist it to dip either way you want to..... or am I not understanding your question?

Hi, I've got a '98 LS1 which emanated from Germany. My mate has a '95 Trans Am. Both sets of lights dip the wrong way. You can buy new headlamps from a UK supplier like US automotive but it will be expensive. Better to find a sympathetic tester. My MOT tester kindly sticks black tape on the headlamps to cut off the bit that allegedly dazzles (although no-one has ever flashed me as the lights are crud) which I remove straight after the test.

I'm based in Wales. I see you're based in Surrey. My car was tested by a garage used by Claremont Corvette in Snodland, Kent, last year and they didn't even query it as far as I know - RS Engineering in Snodland.

In a world where every other car has a rear light out or a brake light that causes the rear end to light up like a Christmas tree, I wouldn't worry about it.

Hi Jim, nie to hear another UK Body.

I run a 99 Z28 whic as boh as a U car (OK Euro spec).

I found the light pattern differnet to what we are used to, basically its crap. I've put better quality bulbs in which has made it better, but not the best.

I'm sure you can adjust the height, good luck

whic as boh as a U car?

Jagsy, leave that alcohol alone.

thanks for the info guys. I was begining to think I was alone in this country.
The only reason I'm worried about the lights is for the MOT. I think they are too dim to dazzle anybody regardless of where they point.
the MOT guy did me a favour this time, but only because I promised to sort them out before next. On the whole the local place has been good to me, with a fair amount of flexiblity, and if I don't keep my side they might not be so understanding next time!
Jagsy - what are your 'better' bulbs? Am I right in thinking you have the later style front end? I have the 4 little square jobs. No separate bulb, but a sealed light/lense/bulb item.
I'll give US automotive a call now.
Jim

Jimbo, if you look in Classic American at the Events page, you'll see that not only are you not alone, but there are hundreds of people out there with cars like yours. Here in South Wales we have a local club with no fewer than 4 Camaros, 2 Trans Ams and a couple of Corvettes.

I don't know if you know about Billing Aquadrome (Northampton) but it's an annual American car show that attracts about 3 -5000 cars. Camp there for the weekend for about £12 and meet people who love your car. There are other events too like Notts Americana. There's a list of clubs and there's bound to be one near you - Surrey Muscle for a start. You can take your car drag racing at Avon Park, Santa Pod or North Weald at their Run What Ya Brungs. Find listings in Street Machine/American car World and join up and check out http://www.ukstreetracers.co.uk

Have you done any mods to that car yet?

Had the car about 3 months, and no mods so far.
Top priority is to loose the radio cassette and painful radio. Sorry I know thats not a very performance mod.
The car is for daily use and I suspect demands of the fuel tank will eat into my limited budget. I've read that a cold air intake is a cost effective mod. Having just put a new element in the air filter, I was shocked how tiny the whole intake system is.
After that probably an exhaust system (cat-back?) to liberate a few more ponies and hopefully a bit more noise.
Any suggestions?

Jim.

Well, between you and me, the performance mods do precious little. I spent £500 on a custom stainless steel exhaust expecting big things and in drag racing terms, you will appreciate that everything helps but it reduced my time from 13.9 to 13.8 and gave me 103 rather than 102 mph. However, whereas before it sounded like a Jag, now it sounds like a GT40.

I fitted an FIPK which came to about £200 by the time it arrived and although I have yet to try it on the same track, the time I set before is still my best. But maybe that's not entirely fair as times are often limited by traction and traction is a precious commodity in a Camaro.

So if you can't afford it, don't worry too much about it, they're pretty fast stock and you should run a standing quarter in the mid 14's which is plenty fast enough to show up a lot of other cars that go to these things. Mind you, you have to watch the manuals as the clutch is the weak link with 275bhp running through it. However, my biggest gripe with my car is the auto so for driving enjoyment, I suspect the manual is the one to have.

I know a lot of people gripe about running costs but in the UK, the parts are cheaper than a Fiesta (eg oil filter for less than a tenner, spark plugs about £20 for 8 - but the fitting (urgh) - brake pads are a bit steep at £60 but look what they're hauling to a rest etc etc) and the cost of running it - about 18-20mpg round town) is offset by the fact that when you come to sell it, it shouldn't have depreciated much as they keep their value. My girlfriend's Astra loses about £2000 a second.

Please feel free to use this board to answer any questions you have as it can often save you money knowing which suppliers to use etc.

What colour is your car?

the beasty is red, with a black (T) top.
Where is the best place to buy bits?
I have just done a service using filters I got with the car. Just missing the fuel filter. I was going to use the American Carriage Company in Kingston (very local), I suspect they may not be the cheapest...

LuS1fer - How to you get the piccy of your car to appear

J

You upload a pic into the site using your Member Profile thingummy wotsit. This goes into the gallery. You then use that pic in your signature where you want it by typing [img] at each end of the picture's address.

So in my case, there's a line in my sig which reads [img] http//www.fbodyeurope.org/gallery/87_LuS1fer2.gif [img]

This brings up the picture. Tip is to make it the size you want before uploading otherwise it makes the forum three miles wide.

To get a pic as your avatar, you have to scale down a photo really small and then go to your profile and where it says Avatar, click Browse and this should bring up any pictures on your computer. You need to select the obne you've scaled down ( I think it's a max of 80 x 80 pixels. My photos don't tell you the size so it was trial and error.