Trick Flow Builds an LS Camaro

Go quick and do it cheap is a time-honored rodder's mantra... and Trick Flow Specialties 1998 Camaro Z28 proves the concept is still valid. You can drive it to the track, run 11 second ETs all day ...

"This is a very realistic build for the average guy," said Al Noe, Product Manager of Trick Flow, told us. "LS1 Camaros are affordable, and the majority of the parts are either on our shelf or straight out of the Summit Racing catalog. The Camaro is quick, but it’s not some stripped down, barely streetable car that lives only at the track."

The Car
Trick Flow shelled out $6,000 for a rust-free, 140,000-mile Z from Texas with an LS1, a 4L60E automatic, and a 3.73-geared 10-bolt--a pretty good deal, especially because the car is a hardtop and not a creaky T-top model.

Stage One: The Top End
The buildup centers on Trick Flow's GenX™ Top-End Engine Kit. It has all the stuff to convert a stock LS1 short block into a dyno-proven 515 hp beastie, less the recommended LS6-style intake manifold. The kit features fully CNC-ported GenX 215 heads with 215cc intake runners, 80cc exhaust runners, 64cc combustion chambers with 2.040/1.575 in. valves, and 1.300 in. dual valve springs rated to .600 in. of valve lift.

The GenX 215s also have a shallower 13.5 degree valve angle (factory is 15 degrees) and spark plugs located closer to the center of the chambers. These changes unshroud the valves to significantly increase mid-lift airflow. At 0.400 in. of valve lift, the GenX 215s flow 269 cfm on the intake side, about 25% more than the factory LS1 intake runners at 215 cfm.

The following parts round out the GenX Top-End Engine Kit:

• Track Max roller camshaft (228/230 degrees duration @ 0.050, 0.585 in. lift with 1.7 ratio rockers, 112 degree lobe separation)
• Harland Sharp 1.7 ratio roller rocker arms
• Trick Flow chromemoly pushrods
• GM Performance Parts head bolts, intake and exhaust gaskets, and balancer bolt

Other Stuff
The Camaro got a host of other performance goodies as well:

• FAST LS1/LS6 intake manifold
• Trick Flow TFX 30 lb./hr. fuel injectors
• Trick Flow TFX 85mm throttle body
• Dynatech SuperMAXX long tube header and midpipe system with catalytic converters
• Stainless Works 3" cat-back exhaust system (part number CA93023.5, available direct from Stainless Works)
• TCI 3,600 rpm stall Super StreetFighter torque converter
• B&M Hi-Tek Supercooler transmission cooler The idle, fuel, and spark parameters in factory ECU were modified via laptop with EFILive tuning software. The transmission shift points were also raised to 6,300 rpm to take advantage of the extra top-end horsepower.

Shod with all-season radials, the Camaro ran a best of 11.84 @ 114 mph at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park (Norwalk, Ohio). Considering a stock ‘98 LS automatic F-body is capable of mid-13 second ETs, that's a solid performance gain./p>

Stage Two: Suspension and Drivetrain
The track testing also revealed the effect 140,000 miles can have on suspension bits. It was back to the shop for several boxes' worth of parts from BMR Fabrication--a K-member, torque arm, lower control arms, an adjustable panhard bar, and subframe connectors. QA1 coil springs and shocks rounded out the upgrades.

Despite the best efforts of the B&M trans cooler, the 4L60E was showing signs of imminent heat-induced demise. Trick Flow replaced it with a TCI Super StreetFighter transmission. The addition of a Moser Engineering 12-bolt (with 4.11s and a Detroit Tru-Trac) and a set of Mickey Thompson ET Radials all helped improve the Camaro's quarter-mile performance to a best of 11.60 @ 116 mph.

Stage Three: Upgrading the Short Block
Unfortunately, the better grip and harder shifts took their toll on the short block as the top of #7 cylinder's cast hypereutectic piston decided to implode. This is a common problem on LS1s due to issues with coolant flow (#7 cylinder is last on the list, so it gets the hottest water) and a tendency to run lean (leading to detonation). Trick Flow's Ron Grezanik upgraded the short block with a set of Wiseco forged pistons and Wiseco/K1 Technologies 4340 billet steel connecting rods.

The refreshed short block proved its worth by lowering the Camaro's ET by two-tenths of a second (11.40 at 118 mph). Al Noe thinks there’s more to be wrung out of the car. "At a good track in perfect air, the Camaro could go 11.20s or even a little quicker," he noted.

The Camaro will continue to serve as a Trick Flow test mule for new LS parts. With a 10.3:1 compression forged short block, some power adder fun is definitely not out of the question. In the meantime, use this story as template for your own 11-second, budget-friendly Camaro.

Stage One parts List

TFS-K306-515-460
Trick Flow GenX Top-End Engine Kit, 515 hp

TFS-24085
Trick Flow TFX 85mm Throttle Body

TFS-89030
Trick Flow TFX 30 lb.-hr. Fuel Injectors, set of 8

CCA-54039
FAST Polymer Intake Manifold for LS1/LS6

DTC-115-732325S
Dynatech SuperMAXX Long Tube Headers and Midpipe System

TCI-242939
TCI Super StreetFighter Torque Converter

BMM-70298
B&M Hi-Tech Transmission Cooler with Fan

 

Stage Two parts List

MSR-12BIBFCBBCCB
Moser 12-Bolt Housing and Axle Package

BMR-KM013H
BMR Fabrication Turbo LS K-Member

BMR-TA001H
BMR Fabrication Xtreme Torque Arm

BMR-TCC007H
BMR Fabrication Torque Arm Relocation Kit

BMR-PHR002H
BMR Fabrication Adjustable Panhard Bar

BMR-PHR004H
BMR Fabrication Panhard Bar Relocation Kit

BMR-SFC004H
BMR Fabrication Subframe Connectors

HAL-OED7855P
QA1 GEN-F Front Shocks

HAL-15FB300
QA1 Front Coil Springs

HAL-TC2502P
QA1 GEN-F Rear Shocks

MTT-3754R
Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial, 275/60R-15

MTT-3752R
Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial, 235/60R-15

WLD-96-510282
Weld Racing Prostar Wheel, 15 x 10

WLD-96-54272
Weld Racing Prostar Wheel, 15 x 4

 

Stage Three parts List

WIS-K394F3903
Wiseco LS Series Forged Piston and Ring Set

WIS-CH6098ALLBLS
Wiseco/K1 Technologies Billet H-Beam Connecting Rods