Project Dagger
Project Dagger is our 2002 Camaro SS street car built to show what a well-planned fourth-gen F-body can become without turning it into an all-out race car.
The goal for this build was simple: improve the car where it matters most. Better stance, better suspension control, better braking, better chassis feel, and the reliability to drive the car hard without taking away from what makes a Camaro SS fun on the street. Dagger was built for real miles, road trips, autocross, occasional HPDE use, and the kind of driving most street cars actually see.
This page showcases the finished build, including the suspension, shocks, wheels, tires, brakes, chassis upgrades, intake, fluids, and exterior wrap that brought Project Dagger together.
Wheels and Tires
The car sits on Weld Laguna 18x11 +43 wheels, giving the Camaro a wider, more aggressive footprint while still fitting the overall purpose of the build. The wheel choice gives Dagger the stance and tire support needed for improved grip without pushing the car into a dedicated track-only setup.
For tires, we chose the Vitour Tempesta Enzo V-01R in 295/30/18. This tire was selected because Dagger is primarily a street car that will also see autocross and HPDE use. We wanted something more durable and practical than a super-aggressive 200 treadwear tire, while still keeping a performance-oriented tread pattern and enough grip for spirited driving.
Suspension and Chassis
The suspension side of Project Dagger focuses on making the fourth-gen F-body platform more predictable and controlled. The build uses a combination of BMR Suspension components, including a torque arm relocation crossmember, adjustable torque arm, rear lowering springs, control arm relocation brackets, adjustable front upper A-arm mounts, panhard relocation components, a shock tower brace, and subframe connectors.
These parts work together to improve suspension geometry, rear axle control, chassis rigidity, and overall response. The goal was not to simply bolt parts on for the sake of saying the car is modified. Each piece was chosen to help the car feel more stable, more planted, and more confidence-inspiring whether it is on the street, at an autocross, or being pushed harder on track.
Shocks
Dagger uses Viking Berserker shocks, including the front kit and rear smooth-body shocks. The shocks are a major part of the car’s ability to stay composed while still being usable on the street.
A good shock package can change the entire feel of a car. For this build, the Viking setup helps give Dagger better body control, improved response, and the ability to fine-tune the car as its use changes. That adjustability matters on a street-focused car that may see long highway drives one weekend and an autocross course the next.
Brakes
Braking was another major part of the build. Project Dagger uses a 1993–2002 GM F-Body big brake kit along with supporting components, including the front C5 brake conversion caliper brackets.
The goal was to improve braking confidence and consistency without overcomplicating the system. A fourth-gen Camaro with more tire, better suspension, and more grip needs brakes that can support the rest of the package. This setup gives the car a stronger foundation for spirited street driving, autocross, and occasional track use.
Air Intake
The car uses a 1998–2002 Camaro/Firebird V8 FlowPac cold air intake package. On a build like this, the intake is not about making the car extreme. It is about giving the LS1 a simple, proven supporting upgrade that fits the overall street-performance direction of the car.
Dagger keeps the engine combination mild and practical, allowing the rest of the build to focus on handling, braking, reliability, and drivability.
Fluids
Red Line fluids were used throughout the build, including engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and gear oil. These are the details that often get overlooked, but they matter when a car is going to be driven hard and driven often.
For Project Dagger, the fluid choices support the same goal as the rest of the build: keep the car dependable, consistent, and ready for real use.
Wrap and Exterior
The exterior of Project Dagger gives the car its identity. The wrap was completed by Graphics Effects LLC in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, bringing a bold, aggressive look to the Camaro while still fitting the purpose of the build.
The wrap is not just there to make the car stand out. It helps separate Dagger as one of our shop builds and gives the project a finished, recognizable look. The visual package ties the car together and makes it clear that this is more than just another fourth-gen Camaro. It is a complete build with a purpose, a name, and a direction.
Built With a Plan
Project Dagger is not about chasing the biggest horsepower number or building the most extreme version of a Camaro SS. It is about showing how the right combination of parts can completely change the way a car feels and performs.
Better stance. Better control. Better brakes. Better confidence. Still streetable. Still usable. Still a Camaro.
Scroll through the gallery above to see the finished build and the details that make Project Dagger what it is.
