By Steve Magnante

When the 5.7L LS1 V–8 debuted in the Y–platform (Corvette) and F–platform (Camaro/Firebird), we knew immediately that it was a worthy successor to the small–block it replaced. But along with the enthusiasm (generated by regularly observed 300hp chassis dyno numbers, a 162–mph top speed, and mid–13–second capability on street tires) was a sense of fear. Many agreed that the LS1 was a standout performer in stock trim, but would the computer controls required for stringent OBDII compliance leave us out in the cold?

Judson Massingill, longtime drag racer and proprietor of the School of Automotive Machinists (S.A.M.) in Houston, Texas, had to investigate this firsthand, so he bought a Hugger Orange ’99 Camaro SS (RPO WU8) with a six–speed manual transmission to explore the potential. After performing a careful step–by–step test and validation program with assistance from his students, he is so impressed by the LS1 that he proclaims it to be one of the (if not the) most significant Detroit performance engines of all time. Heady claims indeed, but easy to defend in light of the S.A.M. Camaro’s 11.40/120–mph dragstrip capability with only basic modifications. On top of this, the car is capable of 24 mpg and was driven from Texas to California, then from California to Nashville, then back home on the ’99 Power Tour. Here’s a look at how the S.A.M. students, with guidance from Massingill, transformed this Super Sport into a super star.

Stock
Massingill took the car to Houston Raceway Park to get baseline performance figures. With just 290 break’in miles, the car ripped a best of 13.59 at 103 mph on Goodyear Eagle 274/40-ZR17 street tires (the standard Z–28 uses 16–inch rolling stock). For a showroom stocker that wastes plenty of time spinning the tires, that’s hauling ass. If you could transport an LS1 Camaro back to the supercar ’60s, you’d easily humiliate any stock musclecar in the other lane. Further proof of potency was registered on the T.N.T. Motorsports (Houston, Texas, 713/880–0279) Dynojet 248C chassis dyno: 296hp and 311 lb–ft of torque. Those numbers aren’t too far away from the SS’s 320 conservative horsepower rating (at the flywheel).

Remove Air Filter
To ascertain if the stock air filter element imposed restriction to incoming airflow, it was removed. Dragstrip performance improved by 0.04 second and 0.10 mph (13.55 at 103.90), and chassis dyno figures improved by 1 hp and 1 lb–ft of torque. The S.A.M. test crew is not convinced that filter removal is solely responsible for this, and the potential harm done by unfiltered air outweighs the negligible power again.