Split bumper Camaro Z28 with 4.8L L20 V8 lays down 742RWHP.
This week’s Dyno Blast video features a second generation Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with the split bumper front end of the Rally Sport package stretching its legs on the rollers. The video begins with this monstrous Camaro rolling down the street in the rain followed by a quick walk around of the clean, classic Chevy muscle car. With the big cowl induction hood, the skinny front tires and the fat rear tires, this Camaro looks pretty serious.
When the video jumps ahead to the dyno shop, we can see just how serious this 2nd gen Camaro really is, as this machine packs a turbocharged L20 V8. This 4.8L engine would have come out of a GM cargo van or a mid-level Chevrolet/GMC full size pickup, and depending on the application, this Vortec V8 would have offered somewhere in the area of 260-302 horsepower in stock form.
Of course, this is no stock motor L20 V8.
The L20 V8 in this classic Chevy Camaro has been fitted with an aftermarket camshaft, a Holley electronic fuel injection system, and an 80mm turbocharger which is paired with an air-to-water intercooler. We would guess that the engine has been rebuilt with stronger internals to handle the boost, but based on the details accompanying the video – the only internal engine modification is the cam.
In other words, this is a turbocharged van engine in a classic Camaro Z28, and it makes monster power.
The video first shows the split bumper Camaro make a dyno run on pump gas, followed by a run on VP Racing Fuels C16. We can clearly hear the difference during the runs and when the video comes to an end, the numbers reveal how much of a difference the race gas makes.
On pump gas, this L20-powered Camaro Z28 made 611 rear wheel horsepower at 18 pounds of boost while on C16, they were able to run 22 pounds of boost for an awesome 742 rear wheel horsepower.
"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.
