Cars > Challenges > “The Rocket” Vs “Mean Green Machine”

Phantompooper

M–28
San Diego, California
United States

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Shaggy

M–29
Louisville, Kentucky
United States

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2000 Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport

“The Rocket”

2005 Lotus Elise 111R

“Mean Green Machine”

No longer owned

Head to Head

About “The Rocket”

Super Sport #7669 of 8912 produced on May 15th, 2000. I bought my car on November 2004 from the original owner. She was pretty much stock when she came to me and has been undergoing an extensive series of modifications transforming her from a mild-mannered SS to the Street-terrorizing demon my car has become. Major mods include; valvetrain and cam, intake and exhaust, suspension and drivetrain upgrades.

About “Mean Green Machine”

UPDATE:
The Elise is no more. It was totalled in May of this year on some Indiana backroads. The short of it is that I came around an odd corner that goes hard left just as you crest over a hill. The car unweighted and went into a spin. No injuries but the car was considered a total loss. I now have an 01 BMW M3 but will probably pick up another Elise or Exige in the next few years.
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Bought this Elise in February of 2006 and have loved it ever since. In the past 10 months I've logged over 12,000 miles with the car and have had few problems with it.

You can see more photos (better quality) at my Lotus Elise Blog

I just updated the Gallery with some interior photos. The only difference in the interior now is the stereo is different. I replaced the stock Blaupunkt Acapulco with an Alpine CDA-9856. The exposed metal areas are (for the most part) the actual chassis/tub that the car is built around.

Specs for “The Rocket”

LS1
346 cu in. 5.7L 325hp V8 OHV Engine
10.1:1 Compression Ratio
Multi-port Sequential Fuel Injection
Aluminum Block and Heads

Drivetrain
Tremec T56 Transmission
Aluminum Driveshaft
Auburn Posi Differential

We're still waiting on the updated RWHP numbers from the head work and subsequent mods, but last time she dynoed 396rwhp/390rwtq. Never tracked her as I have no 1/4 mile track near me.

Specs for “Mean Green Machine”

Mostly stock 2005 Lotus Elise.
1.8L Toyota 4 Cylinder & 6 speed transmission
189 hp & 138 lb/ft
Mid Engined, RWD
~1980lbs
Unequal length wishbones
Bilstein dampers & Eibach springs
Lotus/AP-Racing twin-piston fixed aluminium alloy front brake calipers
Brembo single-piston sliding rear calipers
11.3" Cross drilled rotors

Stock Numbers:
0-60 --- 4.7 seconds
1/4 Mile --- 13.3 @ 102.9mph
70' Slalom --- 71.1mph
Skidpad --- 1.02g

Lotus Elise Blog

Factory Options for “The Rocket”

2000 Camaro Super Sport
Onyx Black
SLP Base alterations package
Preferred options group B
No ASR or rear defroster
1999 Camaro Leather Seats, added by me.
12-disc CD changer, also added later.

Factory Options for “Mean Green Machine”

-Touring Pack (power windows, extra insulation, different stereo)
-Hardtop
-Lifestyle paint (Krypton Green)

Lotus Elise Blog

Mods for “The Rocket”

Engine:

SLP Lid
K&N Filter
SLP Cold Air scoop
Washer Air box mod
SLP Bellows
SLP ported Throttlebody
Throttlebody bypass
LS6 intake Manifold w/Leginfelter EGR adapter
NGK TR-55ix Irridium Spark Plugs
Taylor 10mm Wires
LS6 Oil Pump
Comp 222/222 112LSA Cam
Comp Cams Double-Roller Timing Chain
Comp Cams Hardened Moly Pushrods
Comp Cams Titanium Retainers
Comp Cams Hydraulic Lifters
Harland Sharp 1.7 Roller Rockers
PCMforless Tune

Exhaust:

JBA Ceramic-coated Short-tube Headers
Custom-welded 3" Y-pipe
Magnaflow Cat-back w/CME tips
QTP E-Cutout

Drivetrain:

Pro 5.0 Shifter w/Hurst Pistol Grip Knob
Centerforce Dual-Friction Clutch
RAM Master Cylinder
Drill Mod
RAM Slave Cylinder
US Gears 4.10s
Auburn Differential
AAM Differential Cover
!CAGS
CD Racing Cross-Drilled/Slotted Rotors
SLP Line Lock

Suspension:

Hotchkis STB
Spohn Adjustable Panhard Rod
Spohn Lower Control Arms
Spohn Lower Control Arm Weld-in relocation brackets
LG G2 Springs
Bilstein Shocks revalved by Sam Strano
BMR adjustable Torque Arm
UMI Crossmember Brace w/driveshaft loop, Shaved 1" for ground clearance
Kenny Brown Double Diamond Subframe Connectors
Spohn 33mm solid front swaybar
Spohn 21mm solid rear swaybar
Prothane polyurethane endlinks/swaybar mounts

Interior:

Autometer triple-gauge A-pillar pod
Autometer Phantom Vaccum Gauge
Autometer Phantom Trans Temp Gauge
Autometer Phantom Oil Pressure Gauge
SLP SS Dash Plaque
White Gauge faces w/Firebird bezel and SS decal
Quest Pedal Covers
SLP SS Floormats
Dash mat
Raptor Shift light
SLP SS Rear deck mat

Exterior:

RK Sport Clear Corner Lenses
Sylvania Silverstar Headlights High/low Beams
SLP SS Grille w/white-rimmed SS badges
RK Sport Chrome SS badges on sides and back
RK Sport Stainless Steel LS1 emblems on sides
SLP badge on back of ram-air hood
15% side, 5% back window Tint
17" x 8.5" Front ZO6 Rims - 245/45ZR17 Falkens
18" x 10.5" Back ZO6 Rims -315/35ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sports
Shorty Antenna
CME Valence
RKSport Chrome CAMARO Rear inserts
Chrome "SS" License plate frame
Stainless "SS" nose emblem overlay
Smooth lock covers
!Side Molding
Flat Black Berger Panel
35th Anniversary Silver LE stripes

Engine bay:

MBA Billet Engine Plaque
Air Conditioning Dryer LS1 #7669 Decal
Stainless battery, PCM, and Fuse box covers
Red Wire loom
Red hood struts
!Wire mod
!AIR mod
Stainless LS1 emblem
Chrome SS Emblem
GM Performance Division plaque
Mobil 1 oil cap
Scott Settlemire Limited Edition Signature
"Ram Air" decal
Red Valve Covers

Listing your pending/upcoming mods is for pussies.

Mods for “Mean Green Machine”

-ForcedFed Carbon Fiber front Splitter
-Green Filter and modified airbox
-Sector111 Lidbone
-Alpine CDA-9856 with 3rd generation iPod attached
-Sector111 larger front tow hook
-Sector111 rear triangular tow hook
-Zoom Carbon Fiber wide angle rear view mirror

Upcoming modifications:
-Aftermarket header & exhaust
-Tri-Point Supercharger
-Aftermarket wheels
-HID's

If Elise/Exige parts weren't so damn expensive I'd have half the list installed already. Everything on the list will be on the car before too long though.

You can see photos and walkthroughs for the car's mods @ My Lotus Elise Blog