DAVIES#7

My old man raced in the Series in 1991, Chris Davies. This is wild reading about it. I'll see if he has any contacts from back in the day that might have any idea where some cars might be.

Alaska Hwy 1Le

Thanks, I will. I'll post them on F-Body Canada. Cool site by the way, I've been on there for a week now and dig it.You'll see my posts and pics there under a different name. See if you can figure it out.

AC

iTrader: (3)

I have whats left of a 1LE. 43,xxx miles and whats original is interior and unibody. Hood & wheels along with all mechanics have been replaced. Mine came with leather and stereo but the rest is "1LE-esq".

Alaska Hwy 1Le

You never know, maybe I'll find out I have his old car when I get the GM info!
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WoW, thats a sweet ride man. (Drool) I wish I had the time and money for all that go fast stuff. Have you ever had it at the strip or track?

AC

iTrader: (3)

Thanks. It was a shame to take a 30,000 mile 1LE and do what I did to it but I bought the car as a solid foundation, not investment or collector.

I haven't been to the track since it was stock, but I've got a buddy who used to race out in Utah. Had a couple track championships with his vega and 78 Z. I took him for a spin with only 4lbs of boost instead of the whole 12-14lbs and shifted no farther than 5000 rpms. He said if I can get her to hook and ride out the RPMS to 5500-6000 I could dip into 11's bay touch low 11's. I refuse to put a cage in though so that right there is "illegal". BUT, one time down the track winding 3rd out or just into 4th would be a blast.

Mark_ZZ3

Yup, a great piece of info to have. Helps establish your car's authenticity. It's great that these are available as it tells you when your car was built, which dealer it was shipped to, how many were shipped to Canada, and of course a complete listing of all the options and paint codes. Since your car is a 1LE, you will also see R7U and a host of other "could not get with 1LE" options such as power windows, locks, mirrors, etc.

Interesting to note, the R7U 1LE's had different front and rear shocks compared to just a 1LE. While the 1LE parts were allowed in the racing series, the "as delivered" shocks were a different part. The best I can tell, is the valving was geared more for the race track and not for the street.

So for you R7U owers ... KEEP YOUR STOCK PARTS - cause you can't order the R7U parts. 1LE parts are the next best, but not 100% correct.

Mark.

Alaska Hwy 1Le

Yes my RPO codes have 4 different codes for each of the shocks. No wonder it rides like a radio flyer wagon. However it handles great on curvy new pavement. I've ridden in a few irocs and 90-92 Z28s and they felt more plush compared to mine.

Alaska Hwy 1Le

Thanks to Mark ZZ3, I just found out my car was raced by 1 of these 4 guys.
#28 Seann Grosman
#28 Brett Goodman
#17 Ken Wilden
#11 Doug Beatty

gstingray

I have a 1991 camaro with the option code R7U.
I brought in 1992 from Lakewood Chev Olds in Edmonton, Alta.
Told Mark some info about the car, hoping he can track some info down for me.

87 player bird

Hi guys, I am new to this site, as I have just purchased an 87 au4 from Mark in alberta! A heck of a ride back to Ontario!! Any other players cars in Niagara? Would like som help in sourcing parts and stuff here. If anyone needs answers, Mark is the guy to ask.

Alaska Hwy 1Le

Mark sold one of his cars! Ya that be a cool trip. Ran good, no problems or speeding tickets? On long trips in mine it takes about 2 days of drivin before my back gets used to it.
I got gears and axle shafts from Weller auto parts in grand rapids Michagan and had them sent up here. Price was good too and they were the only place I found after a long search for those parts. I just got new PBR Calipers outta Vancouver. there is a place in Toronto called Paradise Alley that has New/Used/Repro parts for 3rd gens. 416-242-4401 give them a try.
Hope you enjoy your new ride.

Alaska Hwy 1Le

Mine was #17 Kenny Wildens Tide car.

87 player bird

ran o.k. but clutch is toast!! Couldent open it up as it would start to slip badly. No tickets yet as I could only get to 120km on ahill with a tailwind(lol) but it made it and so begins the resto!!

87 player bird

[quote=87 player bird;3833464]ran o.k. but clutch is toast!! Couldent open it up as it would start to slip badly. No tickets yet as I could only get to 120km on ahill with a tailwind(lol) but it made it and so begins the resto!! Car was #93 driven by Derek Johnson firebird trans/am]

Mark_ZZ3

If was a tough thing to part with, but once I heard it was going back East (where it came from) and it was going racing ... I knew it found a good home. Nothing better than vintage racing series to highlight what the cars were made for.

Now to get busy creating a few decals for that year of car!

Mark.

87 player bird

Hey Mark, yeah it needs to hit the track again for sure! I am going to start removing the interior to get ready for the floorpan transplant! The cage holes should be the same on both sides or should I wait for the new rollbar to be built.(already inquired1258$) Any special parts needed or will come with all the proper hardware that they had in 87?

Mark_ZZ3

The cages are different from year to year due to some design changes they made. The early cages cut through the dash and the later did not. So I am not sure if the floor holes will line up. You may have to remove the arm rests to as I Recall they pushed the side bars out as far as possible to give the drivers more room.

Mark.

87 player bird

Just a quick note, I found the origional owner/racer that campaigned my car in 1987. I am getting together with him in september.

NomadTA

iTrader: (1)

What does the GM info package tell you about the car that makes it worth buying? I know my car was owned by GM Canada for the first yr of it's life. It looks like it's had some things installed in it judging by dash screw holes and so forth but I don't know if it was raced or not.

I did send Mark a copy of my build sheet when I got the car.

At this point I'm looking to sell the car as I have more vehicles than space and I don't want to modify this one, I'd rather see it restored back to original (motor has been swapped, original is on an engine stand). If anybody know of someone looking for an R7U car let me know.

87 player bird

Hey Nomad Ta, if your car has rollcage holes, look for any signs of paint work(color change) if so log on to www.casc.on.ca and ask for the origional log book driver, then go on player challenge series.ca and match up the driver photo. our car should still have the casc tag under the hood. What year, car, state of repair is the car in, how much? I may be interested if price is right (1 of each would be cool)

87 player bird

Hi Nomad Ta, check with www.casc.on.ca have your casc tag# and ask for info on origional logbook driver, then go to player challenge series.ca and match up the driver photo, then you will see the car and paint scheme. Please send me the details on the car as I may be interestad. (price, shape, etc...)

t_towner

How many 89 Players cars have T-Tops?

It's a legit 1LE and R7U car from around the Toronto area.

Does anyone know about this car or know about T-Tops on a players car? Mark stated there might be some pace cars that had T-Tops? Anyone have pictures?

It does not have the RPO code for T-Tops but I understand it was converted very early in life.

chevypower91

Hi there,

Those are aftermarket t-tops. You can see from the pic that the spacing between the front of the t-top and the windshield is incorrect. If you compare this pic with another Camaro that originally came with t-tops, you will see the difference in spacing. Also, Players cars do not have t-tops due to structural integrity.

jaygt

iTrader: (4)

its my understanding i have ron fellows back up race car for 1988. had full cage in it. i took all the good parts off it and put them on my other car. im selling whats left. not much to look at. 600 takes it. i really dont want to crush the car. rather someone do a full resto on it. pm me.
62000 original k sitting for 10 years.
1G1FP21F9KL155046
pictures http://community.webshots.com/album/567228026EhDFDV

89RsPower!

any more pics of it?

okfoz

It might be the picture, but the RH B-Pillar looks like it has been repaired Of course it may be the angle with the flash that makes it look strange...

John

87 player bird

Player's cars did not come with t-tops as it was also a safty issue.(roll over) The only way to fix it would be a roof transplant. Any idea who raced it?

t_towner

It's the flash....there's no damage to the B-Pillar. The t-top installation looks very professional and clean. I am hoping someone on the board knows about the car. Possibly a pace car for the series? Installing a hardtop back on the car won't be too hard if I can't find out the history of the t-tops. Someone hopefully has seen this car and knows the story???

GMan 3MT

iTrader: (4)

I have a question kinda along the same lines, but just wanted to know if it is confirmed that the ecm is any different than other LB9s? Also, internally the engines themselves were as any other LB9, right?

Mark_ZZ3

The engines were the same specs as a production, however they were assembled to spec (blueprinted basically). Fuel injectors flow tested. Cam lobs checked. Heads cast from same mold. Rotating assem. balanced (early engines).

One unique part was the power steering pump - it was a low volume pump.

The BIN's were different. A different (optimized) fuel and timing curve. Plus driver aids like moving the shift light to 5200 (varied from year to year). Remember it wasn't a race against other manufacturers, so top power was traded for reliability.

Mark.

86 L69

Hi Mark -

Just to let you know I am still here !

I do have some more pictures of the original car. Still working on floors, and hoping to get a lot done this winter - I see you parted with one of your adopted toys
Let me know how you are doing.....

Jeff

Mark_ZZ3

Hi Jeff, Glad to hear your still working on the car. Yes the 1987 sold and went back East ... to GO RACING!!! Woohoo! So watch out on the track for another Player's TA.

Nothing cooler than a vintage racer being raced. And it's cool that the 3rd gen cars are even considered "vintage".

Mark.

86 L69

I may have some more information available soon, specifically on the 1986 cars. Will definitely keep you posted.
What else is new out on the west coast? I trust and hope all is well. We will have to hook up via phone again soon. I have found a used original Players exhaust - ( dual ). I am going to pick it up soon I hope. Found it by accident while shopping for a replacement floor part.....for the passenger side.

#66 Iroc Z

Hi everyone!

I was the last (LEGAL) owner of #66 (Peter Cohen) 89 Camaro but unfortunately someone steal my car in 98

The vin code was 1G1FP21FXKL156447

The car was owned by Snyder automobile from 89 to 94

The cas was sold to someone in 94

And i buy the car in 96 from this person!

and someone steal my car in 98...


When i buy the car , the original 305 engine was seize, and i put a modified 355cuin (tuned ports) 413hp engine

dvmeter

iTrader: (4)

I have a question...if you check the numbers and prove that you have a real Player's Challenge car, then what exactly does that mean? Does it mean that your car was one of the ones produced by GM, but was never raced and later got sold to the general public as a street car? Or does it mean that your car was at one time raced in one of the professional racing leagues, and the car survived the races, was later painted one single color, roll cage removed, and whatever else, and then sold as a street car? Is that the case? Because to me that's fascinating, to be driving around in a car that was once raced professionally.

But if that's the case, then was that the stipulation? The car had to be made "street-worthy" before it was sold? Were any cars sold straight off the race track with the roll cage, paint scheme, etc.?

okfoz

I believe there are cars out there BOTH ways, some cars were ordered as a Players car but never raced. And other cars were raced and then sold and many have been driven on the street. These cars were the same as the factory stock models except some minor changes to the Gas tank and the brakes, aluminum drive shaft etc... nothing that would make the car unsafe. If anything a race car with a stock engine should be safer with the roll cage. Some of the cars still have roll cages IIRC...

HONESTLY, I think most of these cars have been destroyed, or are in collector hands. sometimes they turn up, but usually they were the less popular cars... A car driven by a famous driver, like Richard Dean Anderson (MacGuyver) {sp?} would be worth more than someone else that did not have a name...

John

dvmeter

iTrader: (4)

lol. its so funny that you mentioned MacGyver (correct spelling) because it was that episode (Collision Course) that got me interested in purchasing or attempting to build one of these cars myself. I'm a third-gen fanatic and Road-Race goo-roo so these cars seem like a perfect match for me.

I did assume that what ever GM did to the cars made them safer, I was just having a hard time finding one that still had the rollcage in it or the racing paint scheme or whatever else. The only ones I've seen for sale look like regular street cars, painted either all white or black or something; roll cage removed, etc. Thats why I was curious to know if GM made the race teams re-paint them and pull out roll cages and whatever else? Or if the new owner who intended to only drive the car on the street did that?

If its too hard to find one with all the good bits still in it, then I'm going to have to build my own and label it as a replica/look-a-like.
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Wait...so can you actually track down the car that RDA drove? I saw that you can research and find out who was the real racer that drove your car, but has someone actually been able to determine which car(s) MacGyver drove? Or were you just using that example to make your point?

okfoz

Using it as an example to make my point. Without a VIN there would be no way to tell where the car is now. If Mark had a list of VIN's we could technically hunt down to see if the cars have any recent activity in the US or Canada, or Europe.

John

Mark_ZZ3

If your RPO code list has A4Q, A4U or R7U, then it is a player's car. The VIN is something that can be used to check this. I have the list of ranges for each year that the cars were made, so I can pretty much tell you if there is a chance or not.

The cars were street cars with "better" parts. The documentation in the early years said they had to be driven on the street. So apart from the safety equipment, they were street cars.

Out of the 497 cars made over the 6 years, perhaps 420-450 were raced. Hard to say for certain, but we can make a good guess. The early years are tough to find since they were sold at the end of the seaons, and new cars were purchased for the next. In later years, cars could be reused with new engines.

For most, they are just cool cars to own. RAcing history is always a neat peice and explains some of the dents on your car. An unraced car is neat too, and more so if is is a 89-92 since it is also a 1LE.

MArk.
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I do have the ranges of the VINs used. In the early years, they were not all sequential and later years they were. Even though they are called "batch" built, there is a wide spread gap in the numbers ... or at least more than the 70-80 that were built in a given year.

Mark.

White Iroc-Z

I've ben interested in awhile of aquiring a race trim car for part time racing as I loved the series when younger. I live in Kingston, Ontario about 2.5hrs from Toronto and am hoping to come across one for sale.


Can you tell me what exactley the rules for the cars were and if theres a tech/rule book website for them, pls let me know.
Thx.

Mark_ZZ3

Check out CASC in Toronto. There is usually one in there for sale. I can't recall the forum, but if you can't find it, PM me and I will dig through my favorites.

Rules. There are rule books for each year. Basically a A4Q,A4U or R7U optioned car with safety equipment which also conforms to the current CASC race regulations.

Mark.

881SA

I'm in the same boat, everywhere I turn I get a little different information. I just had GM print me the original invoice for the car. I do not have a RPO 1le listed but I couldn't get full confirmation from GM that they even used that RPO that year. Mine is a 350 with base interior. Have you heard anything on this post that might help?

Mark_ZZ3

If it's an 88, then it would be very VERY rare to have a 1LE car. Only 2 350's were made. I think one of the VIN's is known. A 1LE will have the twin piston calipers front disc brakes (easiest way to tell). But the RPO's must have 1LE to be genuine. The only exception in 1988 were the player's cars which came with 1LE brakes, but did not have the 1LE code. They were the first shipped from the assembly line with the 1LE brakes.

Mark.

t_towner

I've got most of the vin's and points of origin for the 88 1LE's. Four Camaro's and three T/A's. (stroke of luck how I snagged them!!)

There were at least three 350 cars (I actually understand there are at least four 350 cars but don't have proof...)

FWIW, some of the 88's have fog lights as well.

Also, I've talked with a owner of one of the 88 cars and 1LE is listed on the RPO.

881SA

Thanks for the help. I've attached the build sheet for the camaro I have and a shipment log from chevy for 1988 showing the rpo 1le as listed performance package compenants. I heard that the compenants for 1988 were'nt what they used from 89 to 92 on third generations. Anyway you have my vin which it now looks as it's not one of four, just seems odd that how this car was ordered is so close to what was required for the 1le package. Thanks again!
Rob

t_towner

Does your car have the dual piston PBR brakes? Does it have A/C?

Yes, I understand the 88 1LE components were slightly different from the 89's and 90's. I also understand the spindles for the 91/92 cars are different from the earlier years.

Mark can probably chime in and give far more info than I can......

881SA

No their the single piston caliper although its stock no a/c with the factory dummy pully in the location typically for the compressor. The shipment log I attached earlier match's it being a 1SA of which is a base group 1 that they only built 4204. How many of the 1SA were actually Z28's I don't know, although the white book says only 1895 were ordered with the DX3 code for decal delete. I'd be curious whether or not the 88 1le you know of actually has dual cats, aluminum drive, and what I think were 10.5" rear disc's as these weren't put on until late 89.
It's amazing there is such vague information on how they were playing with these.

okfoz

A few questions...maybe someone knows as it may shed some light on it.

I see that you have California Emissions... Could you get the 1LE in CA? It may have been that GM decided that with the emissions label of 1LE being a "Race CAr" You may not have been able to buy a 1LE in CA. So your car may be equipped with the equipment BUT it may not have the 1LE, as the 1LE may have had a different computer chip. OR they may have not had a NN5/1LE chip...

My second question is for Mark...
When they started the Players series in 1986 did ALL of the Players cars get the larger "1LE" Brakes?

John

t_towner

At least one of the 88's was delivered new to California.....

PBR 1LE Brakes did not come on cars before 1988. Mark should clarify but I understand the teams traded out the stock brakes for Brembo units. After the season they took the Brembo's off because they weren't DOT approved for "street legal" use and the stock units were reinstalled before being resold. Brembo's weren't technically street legal on F-Bodies until the Firehawk. (something about going from an open to a closed loop system???)

Mark_ZZ3

I have no evidence stating whether your could or could not order a 1LE in CA. I can't see why you couldn't. 1LE is just brakes and drivetrain "stuff". None of it would affect emissions. In 1988, the 1LE's were late production units which I understand made the 1LE "production" options in order to qualify for racing rules.

In 1986, all cars were initially delivered with stock front brakes. In or around June, the teams were provided with a 12" caprice rotor (redrilled lugs), modified spindle, brembo calipers, and pads. Throughout 86 and 87, the pad composition was updated to last longer through the race. At the end of the season, the brake upgrade was to be given back to GM. GM gave a bunch of these brakes to a racing school, who in the end returned them to GM. There are a few sets around. Just not DOT approved.

Mark.