If the power potential and durability of factory LS engines comes as a surprise to you, you really haven’t been paying attention. Since the first LS1’s hit the street back in 1997, people have been testing the limits of the Gen III and IV Chevy small block with nitrous, boost, and anything else you can bolt on, with good results.
Today, we’re bringing you yet another example of LS power – an orange 5th Gen with a stock LS3 long block (save for a cam swap), backed by a 4L80E automatic and running E85, force fed air at 16 pounds per square inch by an F1X supercharger from ProCharger. While you might be mildly impressed with the 10.45 elapsed time for the run shown in the video, take a look at that trap speed: 136.57 MPH!
The Camaro’s ability to use all that power is clearly hampered by the stock 20 inch wheels shod with street-biased drag radials. Put on some stickier rubber with a taller sidewall so that it can hook up on the short end of the track, and it would easily be running 9.90’s based on how much speed it’s carrying through the finish line.
And the best part of this combination? Should that factory LS3 finally let loose and experience a spontaneous dry sump conversion, there are plenty of economical replacement long blocks waiting in auto recycling yards. While that’s not the same peace-of-mind a fully built race engine gives you, it’s still enough encouragement to push the limits without being too worried about hurting something.