Blown Big Block Fifth-Gen Camaro Combines Old School Power With Newer Style
Amazing big block-powered fifth-gen Camaro went from a cheap, V6-powered base model to a 1,000 hp beast.
The fifth-gen Camaro is a car that’s been out of production for years now, but it remains a popular entity among enthusiasts for many good reasons. Many actually prefer the way the fifth-gen Camaro looks compared to the newer sixth-gen, for starters, as it’s arguably a cleaner, more retro styled machine. And of course, the upgrade possibilities are endless here, thanks to the car’s variety of LS-based powerplants that were offered throughout this particular generation. However, the owner of this fifth-gen Camaro – Scott Miles – decided to take a dramatically different route with his own build, which was recently featured in Street Muscle Magazine.
While many would argue that it’s a bit silly to ditch any LS in favor of an old fashioned big block, this particular car began its life packing the meager 3.6-liter V6 – not the more desirable V8 available in the SS model for 2010. Plus, for many old school Bow Tie fans, there’s just nothing better than the sound, feel, and torque a classic big block V8 provides, and GM has many of them to choose from. In this case, Miles wasn’t interested in making his build a sleeper either, as the giant blower sticks out of the hood as nature intended.
Miles purchased this Camaro as a roller for a mere $2,500 roughly a year and a half ago, and the big block was already sitting in his garage after it was previously used in a 1970 C10 pickup. As one might imagine, it took quite a bit of work to fit the 468 cubic-inch monster into this modern car, but it was worth the effort. The built motor utilizes forged internals, an 8:1 compression ratio, rectangular-port aluminum heads, a Lunati solid, flat-tappet camshaft, Hooker headers, and Dyers 8-71 blower atop two four-barrel 850 cfm carbs to make big power.
Just how much power, you ask? Well, Miles says that this particular combination is good for around 800 horsepower on 9 pounds of boost, but it’s also capable of churning out around 1,000 ponies at 15 psi. That power flows to the rear wheels via a beefed-up TH400 gearbox and the stock 3.27-geared rear end. As he works to sort it out, Miles plans to take his big block Camaro to all sorts of events including half-mile racing, Drag Week, and Sick Week, so this is only the beginning of what promises to be a pretty cool journey to follow.
Photos: Scott Miles
Join the LS1Tech forums now!
