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Hi Everyone. This is going to be long and hopefully entertaining.
I joined this group after seeing my neighbor's new to him, Berger GMMG Camaro SS kicking out 500 hp and I had to find out more information.
I own a 1994 Camaro Z28 that is bone stock. The path to me obtaining this car is a story in and of itself, so I will start from the beginning.
I graduated high school in 1993 and the 4th Gen was out. At the time I was a die hard Chevrolet fan and built my first truck out of three trucks. I loved that truck. Also, my uncle had a 1966 Corvette Stingray convertible he purchased after his first tour in Vietnam.
My family had no money for cars and I was expected to purchase my own vehicles. So read Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and anything else about the Camaro I could get my hands on in 1993. I wanted the Z28 badly. I loved the Burgundy hardtop, as I had heard t-tops leak and rattle. Convertibles never interested me. With no hope of getting a decent job, I enlisted in the Marine Corps thinking I could buy anything I wanted on e-1 pay. Did I mention my family was poor? Reality set in. I purchased my first brand new vehicle in 1999 in December of 1998, which was a 35th Anniversary Ford Mustang GT with a 5 speed. I drove it back to Missouri in August 1999, partied a little too hard at my uncle's house and decided to show off my car's capabilities. Needless to say, it was stupid but I red-lined every gear on a country road, did a slow drunken blink and opened my eyes with all 4 tires off the road. I regained control and thankfully did not crash, but I drove back to North Carolina and traded the car off before I reported to recruiting duty.
Fast forward 17 years. I met a guy who became my best friend, Steve, in Southern California. Steve was a retired Dentist from South Dakota. He owned a 2004 Mustang GT convertible and he was my drinking buddy (especially after really long church meetings). One day we started talking about our Mustangs and he told me about his 1994 Z28. In 2021, he and I travelled to South Dakota and I saw his car for the first time. I let him know that was my dream car since high school, but I could never afford the car as a younger man and I couldn't store it at my current house due to garage space. We drove the car around for a few days and we went home.
A few years later, I was approaching the big 50. Newly divorced with a good job, nice house with a 4-car garage, I started looking for a 1974 Corvette with a 4-speed. I found one in Branson in October. Since my birthday was coming the next month, I was having a celebration at my house complete with a live band. So, I decided to buy the car. In the car, I called Steve in SoCal to tell him about my adventure. I was not able to reach him, but he called me back. Unfortunately I was a half hour away from the Corvette. Steve tried hard to talk me out of buying the car. But I persisted, saying I really wanted the car and that it would be a project for me. I decided to walk away from the Corvette and drove home a little disappointed, but when your best friend advises you against something, listen. The following month, Steve was in attendance at my 50th birthday party and he surprised me when he handed me the title and keys to his 1994 Camaro Z28. (See the pictures of the unveiling and subsequent party)
The car has been driven every year, but not a lot. For those of us who live in rural America, we know it does not take long to put miles on a car. I love this car! However, after seeing my friend's Berger GMMG, I want to do some mods. Can I do a GMMG upgrade on a 32 year old car? I guess I will have to upload photos afterward.
I joined this group after seeing my neighbor's new to him, Berger GMMG Camaro SS kicking out 500 hp and I had to find out more information.
I own a 1994 Camaro Z28 that is bone stock. The path to me obtaining this car is a story in and of itself, so I will start from the beginning.
I graduated high school in 1993 and the 4th Gen was out. At the time I was a die hard Chevrolet fan and built my first truck out of three trucks. I loved that truck. Also, my uncle had a 1966 Corvette Stingray convertible he purchased after his first tour in Vietnam.
My family had no money for cars and I was expected to purchase my own vehicles. So read Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and anything else about the Camaro I could get my hands on in 1993. I wanted the Z28 badly. I loved the Burgundy hardtop, as I had heard t-tops leak and rattle. Convertibles never interested me. With no hope of getting a decent job, I enlisted in the Marine Corps thinking I could buy anything I wanted on e-1 pay. Did I mention my family was poor? Reality set in. I purchased my first brand new vehicle in 1999 in December of 1998, which was a 35th Anniversary Ford Mustang GT with a 5 speed. I drove it back to Missouri in August 1999, partied a little too hard at my uncle's house and decided to show off my car's capabilities. Needless to say, it was stupid but I red-lined every gear on a country road, did a slow drunken blink and opened my eyes with all 4 tires off the road. I regained control and thankfully did not crash, but I drove back to North Carolina and traded the car off before I reported to recruiting duty.
Fast forward 17 years. I met a guy who became my best friend, Steve, in Southern California. Steve was a retired Dentist from South Dakota. He owned a 2004 Mustang GT convertible and he was my drinking buddy (especially after really long church meetings). One day we started talking about our Mustangs and he told me about his 1994 Z28. In 2021, he and I travelled to South Dakota and I saw his car for the first time. I let him know that was my dream car since high school, but I could never afford the car as a younger man and I couldn't store it at my current house due to garage space. We drove the car around for a few days and we went home.
A few years later, I was approaching the big 50. Newly divorced with a good job, nice house with a 4-car garage, I started looking for a 1974 Corvette with a 4-speed. I found one in Branson in October. Since my birthday was coming the next month, I was having a celebration at my house complete with a live band. So, I decided to buy the car. In the car, I called Steve in SoCal to tell him about my adventure. I was not able to reach him, but he called me back. Unfortunately I was a half hour away from the Corvette. Steve tried hard to talk me out of buying the car. But I persisted, saying I really wanted the car and that it would be a project for me. I decided to walk away from the Corvette and drove home a little disappointed, but when your best friend advises you against something, listen. The following month, Steve was in attendance at my 50th birthday party and he surprised me when he handed me the title and keys to his 1994 Camaro Z28. (See the pictures of the unveiling and subsequent party)
The car has been driven every year, but not a lot. For those of us who live in rural America, we know it does not take long to put miles on a car. I love this car! However, after seeing my friend's Berger GMMG, I want to do some mods. Can I do a GMMG upgrade on a 32 year old car? I guess I will have to upload photos afterward.
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