Moser 12-Bolt & BMR Suspension - Quickie 4th-Gen Upgrades

Many projects begin as cars that have already exceeded the budget of the average backyard mechanic. And even then, regardless of funds, you can surely expect to spend two to three times more than you'd expected--assuming you've been fortunate enough to even finish the buildup. With that in mind, our goal was to begin with a common platform well within the average user's budget, namely a Fourth-Gen '99 SS Camaro.

So far, the SS has collected the basic bolt-on items including headers, a complete exhaust, an aftermarket induction lid, and an air filter. When planning the long-term goals, we decided that it was imperative to retain near-perfect drivability, all the while eclipsing the 500hp mark and being able to dip well into the 11's with a mostly stock LS1 engine.

The first order of business was to address the well-known weak link of any '82-02 F-body. Anticipating 500 hp meant replacing the factory 10-bolt. While it did a good job in its stock configuration, it would only be a matter of time before it blew up like a hand grenade. We felt it was in our best interest to install a Moser 12-bolt unit; to help apply the power, we called upon BMR Fabrication for its full line of suspension components. Follow along as we complete the first phase of the conversion.

We have a series of changes scheduled for this car, ones that will progress from the bolt-on realm to strengthening the drivetrain, to slipping stronger internals in the engine. In the next step we'll be bumping up specific output with a remote-mount STS turbo system. In any case, we're looking forward to these initial phases with great expectation.