Hess Motorsports ZR1 Camaro

With the warm reception that the fifth generation Camaro has received since its return to the Chevrolet lineup, there have been a number of dazzling custom varieties conceived by aftermarket builders. Few have delighted, tempted or received as much buzz as the Hess Motorsports 2012 ZR1 Camaro; this particular model has been spotted at numerous events, and powerTV was fortunate enough to catch the guys at Hess Motorsports at the 2011 Super Chevy Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event followed closely on the heels of the Camaro5Fest where the black ZR1 Camaro made an appearance.

By repainting car with Glasurit paint and stage 6 clearcoat the depth of paint is unbelievable; rarely does a black job accentuate the body lines and pop out in pictures, but this Camaro is truly an exception to the rule.

Hess Motorsports takes pride in creating some of the most eye-catching project cars; although Hess is a relatively new face in the world of custom cars they are on-point when it comes to bringing a truly epic Camaro to the market. Essentially the ZR1 Camaro blends the performance and styling cues of the ZR1 Corvette with the fifth generation Camaro. Trust us, this is truly a work of art when it comes to the fusion of Corvette inspired performance and the latest and greatest in technology.

By using a true 3-inch exhaust system the Camaro benefits from plenty of power without having an abrasive sound.

Beauty More Than Skin Deep

First and foremost, the resemblance to the C6 ZR1 is uncanny. Hess put in hours and hours crafting the custom pieces that provide this Camaro with its distinctive style. Hess designed the custom ventilation components shown on the ZR1, like the aluminum cowl induction/heat extraction hood and rear quarter fender vents.

In order to make the most of the braking system on the ZR1, Hess designed upper and lower front grills and ductwork to aid in more efficient brake cooling. Along with creating a visually stunning front end, the custom front fascia is functional as well. Once the design and fabrication process was complete, Hess chose to repaint the car with BASF Glasurit Paint (which is BMW OEM quality), custom painted stripes, and topped with a Stage 6 clear coat. Even under the harsh Las Vegas sunlight the gloss and depth of this paint job was truly something to behold.

Rear vents are designed to assist with cooling the monstrous AP Racing 14.5-inch rear rotors.

Calling it beautiful inside and out does not even do this Camaro justice; like everything on this car and every other car Hess Motorsports is involved with, perfection is sought and achieved. Cutting corners on a project that’s an homage to the ultimate Corvette was not an option, and Hess spent plenty of time making final refinements that only served to enhance the overall “wow factor.”

The interior was treated to a host of upgrades that live up to the ZR moniker. Custom designed Recaro front seats with heat, ventilation and full power add to the overall comfort along with keeping the driver firmly in place on or off the track.  Touches like Alcantera suede interior panels and the custom Hess-designed carbon fiber trim appointment package serve to accent the overall luxury performance experience of the ZR1. Even the carpet is posh – Hess selected and designed a luxury 32 ounce carpet kit for the passenger compartment and even the trunk area.

Hess Motorsports fabricated their own composite cold air induction kit with an oil impregnated filter specifically for the supercharged 434 cubic engine powering the ZR1 Camaro. With the current setup the engine produces over 1,200 horsepower and 1,060 pound-feet of torque with 22 PSI of boost.

The Main Event: Blown LS Power

Derek Ranney at L&R Engines initially tipped powerTV about this high-end Camaro build when Hess Motorsports utilized L&R for machine work. The luxury-performance trend continues under the vented hood of the ZR1 Camaro with a 434 cubic inch (7.2L) ERL dry-sleeve long block with a forged rotating assembly.

Hess ZR1 Camaro Engine Specs:

  • 434 CI (7.2l) ERL Dry Sleeve Long Block
  • Forged Rotating Assembly
  • Hess Stage 5 Cylinder Heads
  • LS9 Supercharger – 22 PSI
  • Modified LS9 Dry Sump Oil System
  • 1 7/8-inch Long Tube Headers
  • Dual 3-inch Exhaust
Topping off this potent combination are a set of Hess Motorsports port-matched Stage 5 Cylinder Heads; these cylinder heads feature a full CNC porting and polishing treatment and create some serious power thanks to improved flow.  Ferrea titanium valve locks and retainers with double valve springs, plus hardened pushrods machined specifically for the custom ground Hess-specific camshaft complete the top end.

One unique piece that Hess created in-house is the modified LS9 dry sump oiling system; during the R&D process special accommodations were created to ensure proper fit, finish and function to make it appear like it came from the factory this way. Further beneath, a true 3-inch exhaust system was built to properly channel the exhaust gasses from the engine. Stainless steel construction safeguards the system from the effects of deterioration while providing strength and a quality finish. A set of 1 7/8-inch long tube headers feed the gasses to the 3-inch mid-pipe complete with catalytic converters, finally exiting through the custom cat-back exhaust. Overall, the combination results in over 1,200 horsepower and 1,060 pound feet of torque, making this one serious fifth generation Camaro.

A custom designed 11-rib accessory drive system turns the water and power steering pumps, AC compressor, alternator, and of course the blower...

A 434 CI combination with these specs would be potent naturally aspirated, but the ZR moniker demanded the use of a ZR1 LS9 supercharger system spun up to 22 pounds of boost. With the additional power created by the supercharger, the fuel system needed to be ready to feed this ravenous fiend; Hess incorporated dual 340 LPH fuel pumps into the billet fuel pump hat in order provide plenty of flow throughout the power band.

Fuel reaches the engine by way of a stainless hardline, then to billet high-volume fuel rails and super high-flow injectors. With the addition of the forced induction Hess deemed that a boost sensitive fuel return system conversion was a necessity for this build. When putting together something this extreme, fabrication skills and ingenuity are imperative; during the build both the air conditioning system and power steering system needed a creative touch in order to function and fit.

The AP Racing 6-piston front calipers are coated with the eye-catching ZR1 blue hue.

In order to keep the ZR1 cool on the track and streets of Orange County, California, Hess spent a great deal of time to craft a cooling system capable of withstanding endurance testing and stopped traffic. At the heart of the cooling system is a high capacity aluminum radiator with a billet aluminum fan shroud. A 55-gallon per minute water pump feeds the air to water intercooler, while a water-methanol injection kit provides additional charge air cooling and a bit of an octane boost .  Unlike many builds, the ZR1 doesn’t utilize an electric water pump; in fact a traditional belt driven system is in place.

A set of custom leather clad Recaro seats with full power, heat and ventilation keep the driver and passenger comfortable during what could be a wild ride.

Transferring all of that LS-based power is the responsibility of TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission and a seriously built limited slip rear differential.  An Exedy hyper carbon twin disc clutch allows the driver to change gears without catastrophic clutch failure due to the power created by the 434 cubic inch engine. With the amount of power created by this combination a few SFI safety items were in order; Hess Motorsports installed a Exedy billet steel SFI approved flywheel and chrome moly driveshaft loop just in case a set of slicks make it on to the rear studs. A set of hardened 300M half-shafts were installed to ensure no axle launching chaos could happen on the street or the starting line.

Custom embroidered ZR1 emblems accent the plush dark leather covering the Recaro seats.

0-200-0

Mounted on the heavy-duty rear wheel studs is a pair of 21-inch multi-piece billet wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero rubber. The front was treated to same the wheel and tire combination, but the aggressive offset makes this car really stand out from the crowd. With the top speed potential of this car, Hess Motorsports thought it wise to employ dynamic wheel balancing complete with race sealing that can withstand speeds in excess of 200 MPH. Considering the amount of power created by the supercharged 434 cubic inch engine this Camaro needed some serious stopping power, too. These 21-inch wheels offer clearance for the front AP Racing 16-inch rotors with 6-pistons calipers and the rear 14.5-inch rotors with 4-piston calipers.

Hess Motorsports designed the aerodynamic elements that make this Camaro truly custom. With the functional custom vents, duct work and hood, this car features striking body enhancements.

With the potential to see 200 MPH, Hess Motorsports got focused on creating a heavy-duty suspension system capable withstanding the gratuitous amounts of horsepower and torque. After doing research and scouring the market for the best components available, Hess elected to utilize Pfadt Race Engineering’s vast array of suspension components.

Heavy-duty seems to sum up almost every part on the ZR1, from the drivetrain to the suspension. Everything from the engine mounts, control arms, urethane bushings and sway bars work together to make this car capable of mastering the demands of the driver.  Inverted Mono-Tube Coil Overs with 2.5-inch coil springs are used to set the stance for this Camaro, and the ZR1’s Billet caster camber plates assist with dialing-in the alignment for improved bite on the racetrack.

Just looking at the stance of the Hess Motorsports ZR1 there is no doubt that this is one seriously wicked fifth generation Camaro.

Hess Motorsports’ ZR1 Camaro lives up to the standard created by the infamous ZR moniker; by bringing the upper echelon of Corvette sophistication to the stereotypically less refined raw power of a Camaro, the ZR1 is realization of what many can only dream of. For those interested in having their own ZR1, Hess Motorsports plans to offer the package to the public. However, the price tag for this specific build has yet to be released – we have been sworn to secrecy on some of the numbers we heard, but rest assured if you see this car or even have the chance to sit in the passenger seat you will realize that it is worth every penny.

About the author

Lauren Camille

Lauren is a graduate of California State University Fullerton, and has experience working for several enthusiast publications. She enjoys drag racing, classic Fords, and vintage Lincolns. She currently races a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback, and has a soft spot for 1960’s Lincolns. Currently, her collection includes: ’04 Cobra Convertible, ’65 Mustang Fastback, ’04 F350 6.0 diesel, ’96 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a ’87 Jeep Wrangler. She provides insightful content as a freelance writer for Power Automedia.
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