SEMA 2016: Chevrolet Performance Has The Goods To Go 10s

When it comes to adding serious horsepower to your sixth-gen Camaro, Chevrolet is under no pretenses that you won’t be pushing the envelope of the car’s power production in the very near future. That’s why they’ve developed drag racing parts to support the owner that wants to take his sixth-gen from mild to wild.

Starting with two separate test cars, Chevrolet began the process of building them as they thought a typically enthusiast would. Things kicked off with a base model SS after which they worked their way up, step by step, until the Camaro was making north of 600 rear wheel horsepower.

1477920316560

This included a set of ported heads, a high-lift camshaft, and a loose 4,200 rpm stall torque converter. To support the additional power, Chevrolet Performance grafted the fifth-gen Camaro ZL1’s rear end—codenamed Gravedigger—into the Alpha chassis to help handle the increase in twist.

“I don’t think we’ve had a person blow up a Gravedigger yet,” said Mark Dickens, the director of performance variants and parts for Chevrolet Performance. “It wasn’t a direct swap but it only needed minimal modification to make it fit.”

IMG_4816 2

Along with the differential are the heavy duty half shafts, borrowed from its ZL1 big brother—that’s right, the sixth-gen ZL1. To fit a little larger meat out back, a 16-inch wheel kit was developed in order to give the car a little more sidewall and a better chance to plant all 600 ponies.

All this amounts to times as fast as 10.685 seconds at 125.73 mph, and 60-foots as quick as 1.425 seconds. Chevrolet told us the car is using an “unspecified” power adder to get the job done—we suspect nitrous after watching it doing a burnout and not hearing a peep out of the exhaust other than snarl. Either way, Chevrolet’s go your back if you want to go 10s. It’s a great day to be alive.

IMG_4830 2

About the author

Chase Christensen

Chase Christensen hails from Salt Lake City, and grew up around high-performance GM vehicles. He took possession of his very first F-body— an ’86 Trans Am— at the age of 13 and has been wrenching ever since.
Read My Articles

Hardcore Chevys in your Inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Chevy Hardcore, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Chevy Hardcore NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

chevyhardcore

We'll send you the most interesting Chevy Hardcore articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

Chevy Hardcore NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

chevyhardcore

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


streetmusclemag
Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
dragzine
Drag Racing
enginelabs
Engine Tech

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • streetmusclemag Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • enginelabs Engine Tech

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

chevyhardcore

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading