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GM engineer drops Corvette ZR1 supercharged LS9 into '69 Chevrolet Camaro

 
3 5,218 views May 29, 2009

The LS9 engine is rated at 638hp (476kW) and 604lb-ft (819Nm) of torque and can be yours for $21,000

The LS9 engine is rated at 638hp (476kW) and 604lb-ft (819Nm) of torque and can be yours for $21,000

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For many auto enthusiasts, the golden age of automotive styling was during 1960s, when designers had virtual free reign on their designs and didn't have to worry about aerodynamics, pedestrian crumple zones and other such ‘nuisances’. At the same time, the ‘60s could hardly be called the high point of automotive technology, and the development of engines, brakes, suspension components and transmissions still had a long way to go.

Fast forward to 2009, and legendary GM engineer and pro-touring car builder Mark Stielow appears to have created the perfect marriage of automotive styling and technology - and by this we mean a 1969 Butternut Yellow Chevrolet Camaro with GM's insane LS9 V8 dropped into its engine bay.

For the uninitiated, the LS9 supercharged V8 is the most powerful production engine GM has ever made, with a mind-numbing 638hp (476kW) and 604lb-ft (819Nm) of torque on tap. It currently resides in the mighty Corvette ZR1 supercar and is available as a standalone crate engine for $21,000.

Named 'The Jackass', Stielow’s LS9-powered Camaro also takes the same wheels and super wide sport tires from the ZR1 to help transmit all that power to the road. The only issue that could crop up from this is trying to stop the car at 180mph with the stock Camaro brakes, but luckily these have also been replaced with the same carbon-ceramic units found in the ZR1.

A quick chassis dyno reveals that the car makes around 511hp (381kW) at its rear wheels, transmitted through a Tremec T56 6-speed transmission borrowed from the Dodge Viper. With all that power, we can expect lightning fast acceleration although no performance figures have been released.

As for the price of all those tantalizing mods, Stielow revealed to Edmunds that it’s actually cheaper to buy the Corvette ZR1 – but who could say no to an LS9-powered 1969 Camaro if money was no option?



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Comments (3)

  1. ma_Roy avatar Roy Posted: 5/29/2009 2:38pm PDT

    I would say no to one of these. The handling is probably dreadful, although the noise might make up for that.
     
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  2. By  lebertran Posted: 1/9/2010 5:31am PST

    true, i don't get why Americans are so stubborn with those ugly interiors. GM tries to get rid of the "pimp mobile", "redneck Ferrari" image the Corvette has in the rest of the world but they don't want to get rid of that cheap looking interior.
     
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  3. By MikeSS Posted: 1/13/2010 3:26am PST

    You worry too much about the beauty of interior, but you’ve forgot about the engine. Are you female? Lebertran. If you are then that make sense. If not… wow! Anyway, if you want something beauty and purr… then look up somewhere else like Porsche, Ferrari, or perhaps Benz, which it is non-redneck-vehicle. Of course, ZR1 will always be the top since the price is reasonable and too fast for street legal. If you want to show off with your purse, Help yourself!
     
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