Third-gen Camaro Needs Your Turbo LS1 Drivetrain

Camaro Z28 was built to fly with a boosted LS, but it is being sold as a roller.

The fourth generation Chevrolet Camaro is one of the most commonly discussed cars here on LS1 Tech because it was the best-selling car with the LS1 engine. The fourth gen cars were markedly better than the third generation cars in just about every way, but with an LS-swap, the often unloved third gen can pack as much fun-to-drive factor as the cars that came with LS engines.

If you have an LS engine, particularly one that has been set up to run with a big single turbo setup, and you have dreamed of installing it in a third gen Camaro, we might have the perfect car for you. This 1991 Z28 was posted to the LS1Tech Marketplace by forum member 4SFEDSS and it was built to offer big performance with a boosted LS engine. However, the drivetrain has been removed, so this car is being sold as a roller, making it the perfect option for a winter LS swap.

Third-gen Camaro Intro

When the OP first posted this gorgeous 1991 Camaro for sale, he provided some brief details and an array of pictures. He included a picture of the engine bay with a turbocharged LS, but we have to stress the fact that the engine and transmission are not included with this sale. We imagine that the seller included the engine picture to show that, at one point, this 1991 Z28 was packing boosted LS power.

I’m looking to sell this as a roller for $8500, no less. No motor, trans, turbo, exhaust.
Engine harness will stay with car.
Moser 9″ Wavetrac diff
Squash dual 450 walbro’s w/4th gen tank
Complete functional 4th gen interior and seats
Racestar wheels, rears have been single beadlocked by Champion
8pt steel cage with removable swing outs
Complete tubular Spohn chassis front and rear
Qa1 coilovers in front
Viking coilovers in the rear

In other words, this 1991 Camaro Z28 comes with many of the key components needed to go very fast with a third can Chevy muscle car. It has the differential, the suspension, the fuel system, the wheels, the tires and even the safety cage. You just need to provide the engine and transmission, and if you have a turbocharged LS1 and a 4L80 transmission, your drivetrain parts will fit right into place.

Awesome Street and Strip Car

In addition to having that heavy duty different and race-ready suspension setup, this 1991 Camaro has a full interior from a fourth gen car. This gives the cabin a little more modern feel and the seats are likely a bit more comfortable than the third gen seats. Also, the fitment of the newer interior parts, particularly the dashboard, into the older car is impressive. Really, the interior looks like it could all be stock when in reality, it came from a car that is a decade newer.

Finally, the Spohn, QA1 and Viking chassis upgrades will allow this Chevy to make good use of boosted LS power on the drag strip, but they will also allow for this car to be a smooth, comfortable cruiser. The body hasn’t been modified, so what looks like a clean third gen Camaro offers more interior comfort and more power, once you install your boosted LS1.

Click here for a look at the original sale post in the LS1Tech Marketplace and if you buy this car, drop us a line and share the finished results.

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Patrick Rall

"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.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com