In case you didn’t know, Power Automedia added a new project vehicle to our ever-growing fleet: a ’69 Camaro coupe. It’s still in the beginning stages as we speak, but the plan calls for a complete pro-touring makeover. Big Forgeline wheels, massive brakes, beefed-up suspension, and of course, incredible power are all a part of the equation.

Our ATI damper and 6-inch dry sump pulley arrangement.

We could have gone with just about any engine, but we already had one particular powerplant in mind. Late Model Engines (LME) built us a 500ci. LS7-based powerhouse good for around 750 ponies under the loud pedal. It’s the right amount of power to get us around the bends, take us on the occasional run down the dragstrip, use on a daily basis, and put a huge smile on our faces.

Our LS mill is assembled with the best of everything and since it’s running a dry sump oiling system, we relied upon an ATI Performance Products Super Damper. The damper itself is quite a unique piece, as it’s assembled using a combination of a steel hub (PN 916037-A) and an aluminum balancer (PN 917239).

The damper utilizes a 6-rib design, exceeds SFI 18.1 specs, and eliminates torsional crankshaft vibrations – exactly what we will need in a high RPM, high horsepower engine designed to take corners at high speeds. Our ATI damper is also tunable and rebuildable, so in case we need to make any final adjustments, we have the ability to do so with the help of their 360-degree laser engraved timing marks. 

Our damper selection was based on the development of LME, and we will have a full in-depth article on this ATI damper, along with the rest of the engine in an upcoming article. Stay tuned for the introduction, build progress, and final results of our upcoming Project ’69 Camaro dubbed Project: Blank Slate.