‘Toast’ Camaro with Blown 632 Big Block Roars to Life in Houston

Camaro doesn’t want to run at first due to some timing issues, but the team gets roaring glory in time for major event.

The popular YouTuber known as “Cleetus McFarland“ has built some crazy vehicles over the past few years, but the third generation Chevrolet Camaro named “Toast” might be one of the most extreme. This build features a 632-cubic inch, 10.3-liter big block Chevy topped by a 10-71 supercharger that is so big that it extends further from the ground than the roof.

In one of his the channel’s recent videos, Cleetus and his team are hurrying to get the blown Camaro running for a Cleetus and Cars event in Houston. As you might expect, it does not go smoothly, but the team gets the car running in time to haul it to the event and once there, it wowed the crowd while sitting still. Since it isn’t ready for a track pass or a burnout, this third gen Camaro was running well enough to be fired up and revved a few times for the huge crowd and of course, the attendees loved every second.

Firing Up the Camaro

The first video above begins with host Garrett Mitchell (that is Cleetus’ real name) talking about the massive engine in this Camaro as the team prepares to fire it up for the first time. He explains that this engine uses a similar coil-on-plug system to that used on the Leroy Corvette, which works with the Holley EFI ignition system.

Once they believe that the timing is correct, the crew team-lifts the massive supercharger up onto the 632-cubic inch V8, bolting it down and adding the throttle body intake system. They seem to be ready to fire it up for the first time, but when priming the fuel system, the team learns that the return line is too short and it is leaking badly. They fix that and prepare to fire the engine for the first time in the car, but after cranking for a while, it wont start.

Upon a closer inspection, the team discovers the Mitchell installed the distributor 180-degrees out, so they work to correct that issue. While doing so, Mitchell cuts himself badly, leading to a medical break during which time his fingers were expertly wrapped in paper towels and electrical tape. Fortunately, while he was cleaning up the blood, the team got the timing straightened out and the Camaro named Toast was ready to run.

Right around the 15-minute mark of the video, we finally hear Toast roar to life. The idle is way too high, causing the engine to rev higher than they want, so it is quickly shut down. After some adjustments, they fire it back up, only to have it stall because the idle speed is too low. From there, they fire it up a few more times with one team member keeping it running with the throttle while someone else adjusts the idle speed.

During this last segment, the massive engine begins to smoke due to the lack of a dipstick, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that Toast roared to life and was in good enough running order to head to Cleetus and Cars Houston the next day.

Cleetus and Cars Houston

In the next video (below), we get to enjoy footage from Cleetus and Cars Houston, starting with an introduction of everything that the event has to offer. We then head off to Mitchell’s house, where he explains the delay in getting Toast finished due to a heavy travel schedule before giving us the highlights from Houston.

Most notably, while doing some insane drifting on the skidpad with the Ford Crown Vic police car named Neighbor, Mitchell got too crazy and hit the wall. Fortunately, the tubular bumper prevented any serious damage, so he was able to head out later for another gigantic smoke show. Unfortunately, during this session, the flaming tires melted the fuel pump modules, causing the car to die early in the run, but not after putting on another great show.

The next bit of bad news pertained to the Corvette named Ruby, which ran into a major boost issue. While running on roughly half-boost, the Corvette still managed a 9.17 quarter mile, but it fell far short of Mitchell’s expectations.

Finally, this second video ends with footage of Toast the Camaro firing up, giving the scores of fans packed around it a chance to hear the supercharged 10.3-liter big block in action. Even though the car doesn’t move, the crowd loves everything about it, generating more enthusiasm for the future of this project.

Crank up your speakers and enjoy these two Camaro-heavy videos from Cleetus McFarland.

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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