IROC Camaro owner finds out how much power a 200-shot of nitrous adds to his carbed LS1.
When we add a nitrous setup to our vehicles, we use the added power ratings to describe the size of the system, but one 3rd generation Camaro owner wanted to see how much of a difference the nitrous made on his built LS1. Fortunately, the owner works at a performance shop with an engine dyno, allowing him to test the engine from his 3g F-body and to measure the real-world impact of the nitrous system.
The LS1-Powered 3g
This video from the Nick’s Garage YouTube channel begins by introducing us to Vasilis, a young mechanic who works at Indy Auto, which is the actual name of this shop. Vasilis owns a 3rd generation Camaro with the IROC package, but more importantly, it is fitted with a built LS1 V8.
After the oil pan cracked, the owner had to pull the LS1 out of his IROC, so while the engine was out of the car, Vasilis took that opportunity to stick it on the engine dyno to see how much power he is making with and without nitrous oxide.
The early portion of the video shows the owner removing the LS1 from his IROC Camaro, unbolting a customer’s engine from the dyno and bolting down the engine from the 3rd gen. This was a time consuming process, but once he had the carb, headers, fuel lines, oiling system and cooling lines all hooked up, it was nearly time to test the engine.
After Nick, the owner of the shop, looked things over, making some adjustments and bolting up headers that fit better with the dyno’s exhaust system, he gave Vasilis the green light to fire up his LS1.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
