Carlos Saberbein Is Hunting For Sevens In His LT1 Trans Am

Constant technological advancements and the desire to push a platform to its absolute edge is what drives racers to try and set new records. Racers like Carlos Saberbein are always looking for a way to move their program forward and find ways to pick up ET at the track. For 2017, Saberbein has made some serious revisions to his 1995 Pontiac Trans Am in hopes of resetting multiple LT1 platform records.

Saberbein is a true heads-up racer that loves to run his car at any quarter mile event he can. Over the years he’s made a pretty big name for himself in the LT1 racing community as a pioneer in making big power with the platform. He has won or been runner-up multiple times at the LTX Shootout, so he knows his way around the track, as well.

The LT1 under the hood of Saberbein’s Trans Am might not be the newest generation, but that doesn’t mean it can’t rip off impressive times. Last year Saberbein was able to run a best of 8.46 with his nitrous-assisted engine — just one-hundredth of a second from the current 8.45-second LT1 record. Most people would have just made a few changes to get that last bit of ET, but Saberbein wanted more.

The older generation LT1 built by Legend Racing for Saberbein is packing some serious punch at 385 cubic inches. The motor uses a Callies crank and rods, and Diamond Pistons for the rotating assembly. A pair of AFR 227 heads, FAST throttle body, and custom Bullet Racing Cams camshaft are the big parts of the motor’s top end. Providing the nitrous is a special Induction Solutions two-stage dry nitrous system that’s delivered by a direct port setup.

To take advantage of this power, Saberbein sent the car to Burkart Chassis to get an update from a 12-point cage to a full 25.3 NHRA-legal jungle gym. The car also received a complete Burkhart front end, cowl delete, motor plates, carbon roof, and fiberglass dash to hold Saberbein’s Racepak dash.

All of these upgrades and updates are for a single goal: to smash LT1 records.

“We have only one goal in mind; to be the first seven-second LT1-powered car in the world. The car is lighter now and will be making the power needed to accomplished our goal. We will shatter the nitrous record no doubt this coming season. The current overall LT1 record is 8.00, and we’re planning on taking both the nitrous and turbo record in the quarter-mile by running in the seven-second zone,” Saberbein says.

Saberbein plans on making as many passes as he can this season on his updated Pontiac. On his schedule are events like the LTX Shootout at Beech Bend Raceway, several regional heads-up races, and even an appearance at No Mercy this October if everything works out. This car is just as fast as it looks, and that’s bad news for anybody who lines up against this screaming red Trans Am!