HorsePower Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

ARP
Cylinder Head Studs, Pro Series, 12-Point Head, Chevy, 4.8, 5.3, 5.7, 6.0L, Kit
ATI Performance Products
Harmonic Balancer, Super Damper, Internal Balance, Aluminum, Black, Chevy, Small Block, Each
Callies
Connecting Rods, Forged, H-Beam, ARP Cap Screws, Bushed Pin, 6.100 in. Length, Chevy, Set of 8
Callies
Crankshaft, 1-piece Seal, Internal Balance, Forged 4340 Steel, 4.000 in. Stroke, 2.100 in. Pin, Chevy, Each
Edelbrock
Cylinder Head, Lingenfelter LS1 CNC, Assembled, 65cc Chamber, 203cc Intake Runner, Chevy, 4.8, 5.3, 5.7, 6.0L Application Specific
Federal-Mogul Corporation
Head Gasket, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC/Hummer, Chevy, Small Block, LS6, Each
Holley
950CFM, hard core, gray, aluminum, HP.
Holley
Oil Pan, Engine Swap, Aluminum, Natural, 5 1/2 Quarts, Chevy, 4.8, 5.3, 6.0L, Each
Hooker Headers
Headers, Super Competition, Full-Length, Steel, Black Ceramic Coated, Chevy, Pontiac, Camaro, Firebird, LS1
Hooker Headers
Motor Mounts, Engine Swap, Steel, Zinc, Chevy, Pontiac, Camaro/Firebird, LS1, 1.25 in. Forward Mount, Kit
[none]
Diamond Racing Piston Ring Set, Chromoly, 4.030 Bore
[none]
PISTON,6.0 Liter LS1 Block: 4.030 Bore, 6.098 rod
American Powertrain Systems
Magnum 6-Speed with American Powertrain installation kit and clutch system
ATK Performance Engines
LS 408 High Performance Short Block
Crane Cams
Rocker Arms, Gold Race, 3/8 in.Stud Mount, Full Roller, 1.8 Ratio, Chevy, Small Block, Set of 16
Hudlow Axle
Custom Fabricated Driveshaft Per Application
Pace Performance
Intake Manifold, Single Plane, Aluminum, Natural, Square Bore, Chevy, LS1/LS6, Each
Pace Performance
Timing Cover, Conversion, 1-Piece, Aluminum, Natural, Chevy, LS1

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY HORSEPOWER'S GONNA REVIVE A COOL OLD CAMARO WITH SOME NEW TECH LS BASED HORSEPOWER. ALSO WE'LL SEE WHICH LATE MODEL MUSCLE CAR'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN BIG CASH IN AN ALL OUT SHOOT OUT AMONG THE NEW FACTORY HOT RODS.

(MIKE)>> WELCOME TO THE SHOP AND A SERIOUS DOSE OF HORSEPOWER HOW TO. TODAY WE BROUGHT IN A '69 CAMARO THAT HAS HAD ITS NOSE STUCK IN THE CORNER FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS. IN ITS ADOLESCENCES IT WAS A STREET/STRIP MACHINE THAT HURT SOME FEELINGS AT THE TRACK AND STILL MANAGED TO KEEP ALL OF ITS PANELS SUPER STRAIGHT. THEY FARED BETTER THAN THE 396 THAT LEFT ITS GUTS ON THE QUARTER MILE STRIP. WE WANT TO SEE THAT OLD FIRST GEN FBODY BURN UP THE TRACK AND STREET AGAIN. SO WE TEAMED UP WITH ATK HIGH PERFORMANCE TO GIVE IT A MIX OF NEW GENERATION PARTS AND OLD BIG BLOCK POWER POTENTIAL, LIKE A POTENT 408 INCH IRON BLOCK LQ FOUR SIX LITER BACKED BY AN AMERICAN POWERTRAIN MAGNUM SIX SPEED. TO MAKE THE ENGINE DROP IN WITHOUT ANY FABRICATION, HOLLEY SENT US ALL THE SWAP PARTS LIKE HEADERS, ENGINE MOUNT PLATES, AND AN OIL PAN. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO ASSEMBLE AND DYNO THE ENGINE WITH MARK JOHNSON FROM ATK'S HIGH PERFORMANCE DIVISION. HE DID THE MACHINE WORK AND IS ON HAND TODAY TO ASSIST WITH THE ASSEMBLY.

(MARK)>> YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MAYBE HAVING A NUMBERS MATCHING CAR, THIS IS THE WAY TO GO. THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY, NEEDS TO STEP IT UP.

(JOE)>> SINCE 2005, ATK HAS BEEN DESIGNING AND BUILDING CRATE AND CUSTOM ENGINES IN EVERY IMAGINABLE CONFIGURATION. WHILE THEY CAN HANDLE ANY STOCK REBUILD, THEY'VE GAINED A REPUTATION FOR BUILDING RACING ENGINES AS WELL AS STREET/STRIP POWER PLANTS FOR ALL KINDS OF AMERICAN HOT RODS. SOME OF THE PARTS MARK BROUGHT US ARE EDELBROCK LINGENFELTER HEADS, DIAMOND PISTONS AND RINGS ON CALLIES RODS, A CRANE VALVE TRAIN SET UP, GM PERFORMANCE PARTS CARBURETED INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT WE'LL TOP WITH A 950 CFM ULTRA HP CARB. THE BLOCK WAS ORIGINALLY IN A VEIGHT TRUCK. IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH A FOUR INCH BORE AND 3.622 STROKE. AFTER MARK HAD HIS WAY WITH IT IT'S NOW GOT A 4.030 BORE WITH A FOUR INCH STROKE MAKING IT A 408. MARK'S ALREADY INSTALLED THE CALLIES COMPSTAR LS ONE CRANK MADE FROM DEEP NITRITED 4340 STEEL AND COUNTER WEIGHTED FOR AWESOME BEARING LOAD DISTRIBUTION, HELD IN PLACE WITH SIX BOLT MAINS.

(MIKE)>> LETS GET GOING WITH THE CRANE CAM. NOW THIS IS A HEAT TREATED BILLET PIECE THAT HAS A CUSTOM GRIND AND A REALLY AGGRESSIVE PROFILE. NOW INTAKE VALVE LIFT IS 624 WITH A ONE POINT SEVEN RATIO ROCKER ARM AND IT'S GOT AN ADVERTISED DURATION OF 297 ON THE INTAKE, 303 ON THE EXHAUST. IT'S GOT AN OPERATING RANGE FROM 3,000 TO 6,500 RPM, AND YOU SHOULD AVOID VALVE FLOAT UP UNTIL ABOUT 7,100. ONE OF THE FIRST MODIFICATIONS WE HAD TO MAKE WAS TO THE STOCK CAM RETAINING PLATE. IF YOU LOOK CLOSE, THERE'S TWO 30 THOUSANDTHS HOLES DRILLED INTO IT, AND THEY'RE TO OIL THESE. THE FIRST ONE IS A FUEL PUMP ECCENTRIC TO RUN A MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP AND THE OTHER IS TO DRIVE THE DISTRIBUTOR. FOR A TIMING CHAIN WE'RE UPGRADING TO A DOUBLE ROLLER FROM CRANE FOR THE ADDED STRENGTH. NOW IT COMES WITH HARDENED STEEL SPROCKETS AND AN ADJUSTABLE DEGREEING FEATURE. NEXT WE CAN INSTALL THE ECCENTRIC.

(JOHN)>> NOW OUR RODS ARE ALSO A CALLIES COMPSTAR. THEY MEASURE 6.125 IN LENGTH AND THEY'RE AN HBEAM DESIGN. THEY ALSO HAVE SOME PRETTY COOL FEATURES, CHAMFERED PARTING LINES, DEBURRED BEARING TANGS, AND THEY ALSO HAVE GUSSETS INSIDE THE RODS WHERE THERE'S LESS MEAT.

(MIKE)>> ATTACHED TO OUR DIAMOND'S NEW FORGED PISTONS DESIGNED FOR LS ENGINES. THEY USED A STANDARD LS RING PACKAGE AND HAVE A SMALLER SKIRT AREA THAT HAS BEEN COATING TO REDUCE WEIGHT AND MINIMIZE FRICTION. UP NEXT, THE MELLING HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP. NOTICE HOW IT NOW REQUIRES SPACERS TO CLEAR A DOUBLE ROW TIMING SET, WHICH MEANT MARK HAD TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ROOM IN THE TIMING COVER AS WELL. THIS THING CAME FROM GM PERFORMANCE AND ALSO HOUSES THE FORD SMALL BLOCK DISTRIBUTOR. OUR WINDAGE TRAY GOES ON NEXT, FOLLOWED BY THE OIL PUMP PICK UP, MAKING SURE TO OIL THE ORING TO AVOID A TEAR, WHICH COULD CAUSE OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS AT FIRE UP.

(JOE)>> WELL SPEAKING OF CLEARANCE, MARK DID A COUPLE OF MODS ON THE OIL PAN AS WELL, NAMELY BLENDING THESE INTERSECTING OIL HOLES AND TAKING SOME MATERIAL OUT OF THE BAFFLE HERE SO IT WOULD CLEAR THE PICK UP TUBE AGAIN BECAUSE OF THAT DOUBLE ROLLER. WELL BEFORE WE COMPLETELY BUTTON UP THE BOTTOM END, JOHN AND I ARE GONNA INSURE THAT THIS PAN LINES UP WITH THE BLOCK. THAT'S BECAUSE FOR THE MANUAL TRANS THE BOTTOM OF THE BELL HOUSING IS SECURED TO THE PAN ITSELF. SO TAKE A STRAIGHT EDGE, PUT IT AGAINST THE BACK OF THE BLOCK AND THE BACK OF THE PAN, AND GET IT PERFECTLY LINED UP. REPEAT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND CINCH EVERYTHING DOWN.

(JOE)>> WE'RE ON A MISSION TO BUILD A POTENT NEW POWER PLANT FOR THIS CLASSIC '69 CAMARO. STARTING WITH A BORED AND STROKED LS FOUNDATION, WE FILLED UP THE BOTTOM END WITH ALL KINDS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS. NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE TOP END.

(MIKE)>> THE ENGINEERS THAT DESIGNED THE LS ENGINE HAD TO HAVE BEEN RACERS, OR AT LEAST HOT RODDERS. HERE'S A COOL LITTLE FEATURE THEY DREAMED UP THAT MAKES CHANGING THE CAM SHAFT A LOT EASIER, WHETHER THE ENGINE IS IN A CAR, ON A RUN STAND, OR ON A DYNO. OUR NEW ROLLER LIFTERS FROM CRANE ARE BEING PLACED IN THIS LITTLE COMPOSITE TRAY. NOW THIS IS A FACTORY PIECE THAT HAS TWO JOBS. THE FIRST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, AND IT'S TO KEEP THE LIFTER IN LINE WITH THE CAM LOBE. NOW THE SECOND JOB COMES INTO PLAY WHEN YOU'RE READY TO DO A CAM SWAP. WHAT YOU'LL HAVE TO DO IS REMOVE YOUR ROCKER ARM, YOUR PUSH ROD, AND ROTATE THE ENGINE. THAT'LL CAPTURE THE LIFTERS IN THIS TRAY AND ALLOW YOU TO PULL THE CAM SHAFT OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR WITHOUT CATCHING ANY LIFTERS ON THE CAM LOBE, AND YOU WON'T EVEN HAVE TO REMOVE THE CYLINDER HEADS.

(JOHN)>> NOW EDELBROCK AND LINGENFELTER ACTUALLY TEAMED UP TO DESIGN THE ULTIMATE LS ONE, LS TWO CYLINDER HEAD. NOW OURS COMES COMPLETELY CNC MACHINED WITH 203 INTAKE RUNNERS, 78cc EXHAUST. OUR VALVE PACKAGE IS AN INCH FIVE-70 ON THE EXHAUST SIDE WITH A 202 ON THE INTAKE AND A 65cc COMBUSTION CHAMBER. NOW THAT'S GONNA PUT US RIGHT AT 11 TO ONE COMPRESSION RATIO FOR OUR MOTOR. NOW OUR SPRINGS, THEY'RE GOOD FOR UP TO 650 LIFT, AND ORIGINALLY THIS CAME WITH A PEDESTAL MOUNT ROCKER ARM SYSTEM. SO MARK AT ATK ACTUALLY MILLED IT DOWN SO WE COULD RUN A SCREW AND STUD GUIDE PLATE SYSTEM SO WE HAVE THE BENEFITS OF ADJUSTABLE ROCKER ARMS. BEFORE THEY GO ON THOUGH, WE WANT TO VERIFY TOP DEAD CENTER SO THAT OUR BALANCER IS INSTALLED PROPERLY. UNLIKE STOCK LS', THIS CRANK SNOUT HAS A KEY WAY. AND SINCE THE ENGINE IS USING A DISTRIBUTOR, WE SPECED OUT AN ATI BALANCER WITH DEGREE MARKINGS SO WE CAN MAKE EASY TIMING ADJUSTMENTS.

(JOE)>> TO SEAL UP THE CYLINDERS WE'RE USING FEL PRO'S MULTILAYER STEEL HEAD GASKETS AND ARP HEAD STUDS, FINGER TIGHTEN ONLY FOR PROPER TORQUE. SO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS TORQUE IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN FROM THE CENTER OUT.

NEXT WE DROP IN THE STOCK LIFTER VALLEY COVER AND BOLT UP THE STEAM VENT HOSE. WHEN YOU ASSEMBLE AN ENGINE WITH MIXED PARTS, YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE HEADS ARE INSTALLED TO MEASURE TO DETERMINE THE PUSH ROD LENGTH. TO SAVE TIME, ATK MEASURED AND DETERMINED OURS IN ADVANCE, SO WE'RE DROPPING THEM IN.

(MIKE)>> THE ROCKER ARMS ARE CRANE CAM'S GOLD SERIES IN A ONEEIGHT RATIO. THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR LS ENGINES AND HAVE NEEDLE BEARINGS IN THE TRUNION SO THEY WON'T EFFECT ENGINES WITH KNOCK SENSORS. THEY CAN HANDLE UP TO 700 POUNDS OF OPEN SPRING PRESSURE AND HAVE HEAT TREATED STEEL ROLLER TIPS. THE ONE POINT EIGHT RATIO IS GONNA OPEN THE VALVE FASTER, FARTHER, AND FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. HAYS PERFORMANCE SENT US THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR OUR 408. IT'S A GM PERFORMANCE SINGLE PLANE THAT HOUSES ANY 4150 STYLE CARB. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO SHOW ALL THE MACHINING ATK DID, BUT WE WILL SHARE MARK'S ADVICE FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUILD.

(MARK)>> A LOT OF TIMES YOU CHANGE ONE PART AND IT CHANGES THREE PARTS. SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY DO YOUR HOMEWORK. WELL A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GET THE BOOK TO DO THE HOMEWORK. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO FIND A GOOD, RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION SO THAT YOU CAN BASE YOUR PART SELECTION ON YOUR APPLICATION, WHICH YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE.

(MIKE)>> AND LIKE THAT STONE COLD TEACHER WE ALL HAD ONCE, THE DYNO IS UNFORGIVING.

(JOHN)>> WHILE OUR '69 SS PATIENTLY AWAITS A RACE READY LQ FOUR SIX LITER, WE'RE CLOSE TO FINDING OUT WHAT OUR PARTS COMBO'S GONNA KICK OUT, INCLUDING HOLLEY'S NEW ULTRA HP 950 CFM DESIGNED FOR THE STRIP WITH A HARD COAT ANODIZED FINISH THAT THEY CALL HARDCORE GRAY. THERE ARE A FEW LS SPECIFIC NEEDS WE MUST ATTEND. THE STEAM PRODUCED IN THE HEADS REQUIRES A VENT TUBE TO AVOID OVERHEATING. AND BECAUSE THE OIL PUMP IS CRANK DRIVEN, THE ONLY WAY TO SAFELY PRIME THE ENGINE IS TO FILL THE OIL UNDER PRESSURE. GOODSON'S PRESSURIZED PRELUBE OILER DOES JUST THAT. LOADED WITH ROYAL PURPLE 5-30 WEIGHT SYNTHETIC OIL AND 70 POUNDS OF AIR, THE OIL IS FORCED INTO EVERY CRITICAL COMPONENT. STARTING A DRY LS ENGINE TO PRIME CAN COST YOU 80 PERCENT OF YOUR BEARING LIFE WITHIN SECONDS OR WORSE.

(MIKE)>> WITH ETHREES ALL AROUND AND RACE FUEL IN THE TANK, LETS SEE HOW WE DID, NO FIRE!

(MARK)>> WERE WE SURE THAT BOX WAS COMPATIBLE WITH THIS DISTRIBUTOR.

(MIKE)>> WITH NO SPARK AND NO TIME TO WAIT, WE'RE SWAPPING TO OUR DYNO SPECIFIC DISTRIBUTOR BECAUSE MARK'S GETTING PRETTY ANXIOUS. ALRIGHT MARK, HERE WE GO!

(MARK)>> I CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT ON THE DYNO. YOU'RE THE FIRST TO RUN THIS THING. I RUN SOME PRETTY POWERFUL MOTORS AND THE MORE POWERFUL MOTOR YOU'VE GOT, THE MORE YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THIS THING. YOU KNOW, THE FLOOR VIBRATES, THE NOISE, THE EXCITEMENT, THE WHOLE SPEED SMOKE EXCITEMENT THING KINDA GOING ON WITHOUT THE SMOKE. YEAH, I LOVE RUNNING THE DYNO. I RATE IT RIGHT UP THERE WITH A 12 PACK OF BEER AND A CHAINSAW. [ engine revving ]

(MIKE)>> 541 HORSE, 502 FOOT POUNDS AT 5,100. IT MAKES OVER 411 FOOT POUNDS FROM 2,500 ON.

(MARK)>> MAN THAT'S TORQUE!

(MIKE)>> THAT'S GOOD TORQUE.

(MARK)>> THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA GIVE THESE VALVES A LITTLE SPOT CHECK AFTER THAT FIRST PULL. JUST MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S GOING GOOD. JUST DON'T NEED ANY SURPRISES TODAY. I'D SAY WE'RE GOOD!

(MIKE)>> COOL! [ engine revving ]

(MIKE)>> OUR BACK UP RUN MIMICKED THE FIRST. WITH THE INITIAL TIMING AT 33, WE'RE GONNA KICK IT UP A BIT. [ engine revving ]

(MARK)>> OH YEAH, WE'RE MAKING SOME POWER NOW.

(MIKE)>> 565, 519, WHAT'S TIMING AT.

(MARK)>> THAT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 34 DEGREES.

(MIKE)>> OH NICE!

(MARK)>> WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO PLAY WITH THAT.

(MIKE)>> WE'RE GOING ALL THE WAY TO 36 AND A HALF. [ engine revving ]

(MIKE)>> 546, 501, DIDN'T LIKE THE TIMING CHANGE.

(MARK)>> DIDN'T LIKE THE TIMING WHAT SO EVER.

(MIKE)>> WE'RE ADDING A ONE INCH BORE HOLE SPACER TO INCREASE THE VOLUME OF AIR AND GIVE THE FUEL AND AIR CHARGE A BETTER PATH TO THE RUNNERS. AND THEN KNOCK THE TIMING DOWN A BIT.

(MARK)>> I THINK WE'LL HIT THAT 575 FOR SURE. [ engine revving ]

(MIKE)>> COMING BACK, 569, 521, THIS THING'S GONNA BE A FUN CAR ON THE STREET.

(MARK)>> LOOKING GOOD!

(MIKE)>> BUT MARK'S DETERMINED TO FIND MORE. WITH A LITTLE MORE TIMING AND A COUPLE GALLONS OF FUEL HE GOT IT ALMOST, 574 HORSEPOWER, 531 ON THE TORQUE.

(MARK)>> LOOKS GREAT, RUNS GREAT, FITS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE ROAD RACE MOTOR.

(MIKE)>> YEP, THERE YOU GO, YOU HAPPY?

(MARK)>> I'M HAPPY!

(MIKE)>> THAT'S WHAT MATTERS. OUR CAMARO CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH AN L-35 MAKING 325 HORSEPOWER. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE TRACK WITH 250 MORE.

(JOE)>> HEY, HOW DOES THIS SOUND. YOU TRAVEL A TOTAL OF ONE MILE AND YOU WIN $10,000! NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK HUH? ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS BE THE TOP DOG IN PRESTOLITE'S MODERN MUSCLE CHALLENGE. PRESTOLITE INVITED A COUPLE DOZEN AMATEUR RACERS AND THEIR LATE MODEL MUSTANGS, CAMAROS, AND CHALLENGERS TO MILAND DRAGWAY HERE IN MICHIGAN. THE MMX CHALLENGE IS A RACE WITHIN THE RACE SPONSORED BY THE NMCA. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LIGHTWEIGHT HOODS, BUMPERS, AND VALANCES, THE BODIES MUST BE FACTORY ORIGINAL. THE ENGINES HAVE TO BE STOCK, ALTHOUGH POWER ADDERS ARE ALLOWED ALONG WITH ANY TRANSMISSION AND REAR END. BUT THEY'VE GOT TO RUN ON DOT TIRES, WELL LIKE DRAG RADIALS. KEVIN YOLK BROUGHT HIS GT 500 FROM RHODE ISLAND, WITH A PRETTY MEAN LOOKING POWER PACK.

(KEVIN)>> THEY COME FACTORY WITH A SUPERCHARGER. SO THE EASIEST THING TO DO WAS TO BOLT ON AN AFTERMARKET SUPERCHARGER. AND WITH THAT SUPERCHARGER YOU CAN GET 1,000 HORSEPOWER TO THE WHEELS WITHOUT TOO MUCH EFFORT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE OTHER STUFF TO SUPPORT. THIS TRUE STREET TYPE EVENT IS ALL ABOUT CONSISTENCY. THAT 30 MILE DRIVE AND THEN THREE PASSES RIGHT IN A ROW, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHANCE FOR ERROR.

(JOE)>> MARK CARLYLE BROUGHT A 2010 CAMARO FROM HIS HOME TOWN, COLUMBUS, OHIO. (MARK C.)>> IT'S BASICALLY A STOCK MOTOR WITH TWIN TURBOS AND AN INTERCOOLER, AND NOT REALLY A WHOLE LOT ELSE DONE TO IT.

(JOE)>> RULES STIPULATE YOU HAVE TO USE AT LEAST ONE PRESTOLITE PRODUCT. (MARK C.)>> AND I ALSO HAVE SOME OF THEIR ACCEL SPARK PLUGS. IT'S A NICE SILVER TIP PLUG, SO WE STARTED USING THEM HERE THIS YEAR.

(JOE)>> PRESTOLITE'S JUMPED ONTO THIS MODERN MUSCLE CAR SCENE WITH A PASSION.

(SCOTT)>> THE KEY THING HERE FOR US WAS TO DEVELOP PRODUCT, AND WE'VE DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHES OVER 100 NEW PARTS FOR THESE THREE MODERN MUSCLE CARS. ( )>> MMX CARS OUT HERE IN FRONT FIRST. THE FIRST MMX CAR CAN GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE FRONT.

(JOE)>> THE DAY STARTS WITH A DRIVER'S MEETING WHERE NMCA OFFICIALS EXPLAIN THE RULES, WHICH ARE MUCH LIKE THEIR TRUE STREET CLASS. ( )>> IF YOU'RE NOT THERE WHEN WE'RE READY TO GO WE LEAVE YOU. SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE READY TO GO IN 20 MINUTES OUTSIDE.

(JOE)>> THE MANDATORY 30 MILE DRIVE WAS THROUGH BUMPY BACK ROADS. THEN ONTO A FOUR LANE CONCRETE SLAB BEFORE HEADING BACK TO THE ULTIMATE STRIP TEST. FROM THE COUNTRY LANES STRAIGHT TO THE STAGING LANES, AND HERE WE FIND ONE OF THE FEW CHALLENGER OWNERS WITH A SIMPLE STRATEGY FOR HIS TOTALLY STOCK HEMI.

(SHAWN)>> A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK AND A LITTLE BIT OF TIMING.

(JOE)>> WELL HOW ARE YOU GOOD ON THIS TREE YOU THINK, IT'S A PRO TREE?

(SHAWN)>> I'M USED TO A PRO TREE, SO THAT'S NOT TOO BAD, I LIKE THAT.

(JOE)>> EACH DRIVER GETS THREE QUALIFYING RUNS, THE ET'S ARE AVERAGED, AND THE TOP MUSTANG, CAMARO, AND CHALLENGER, PLUS A WILD CARD MAKE UP THE FINAL FOUR. DURING THE DAY ROBERT FORTIN AND HIS SHELBY GT 500 DROPPED SOME JAWS AND A FEW HOPES WITH RUNS IN THE HIGH EIGHTS. THE FRENCH CANADIAN'S ENGINE HAS TWO MASSIVE TURBOS AND IT'S ALL BACKED BY A T-400 AND A NINE INCH REAR END WITH 369 GEARS. HOWEVER HE MADE A CAM CHANGE BEFORE THE TRIP AND ONLY GOT TWO TEST RUNS THE NIGHT BEFORE.

(ROBERT)>> I THINK I'D DONE ONE RUN, AND I WAS QUITE HAPPY WITH IT BUT IT WAS A VERY LOW, LOW BOOST JUST TO SEE HOW IT FEELS WITH THOSE TIRES. AND THEN I WENT TO THE SECOND ROUND TO MAKE A SECOND TEST AND THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD.

(SCOTT)>> IT'S AMAZING, WE'VE GOT A FIELD FULL OF CARS ANYWHERE FROM 12 SECOND STREET CARS TO NINE SECOND CARS, AND EVEN SOME EIGHT SECOND CARS THAT CAN BE STREET DRIVEN, CAN BE IN THE STAGING LANES, AND REALLY PERFORM WITH OUR PRODUCTS.

(JOE)>> CARLYLE IN HIS CAMARO AND HIBBS MADE THE FINAL FOUR AND WERE PAIRED AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST SEMI FINAL RUN. IT WAS CARLYLE'S RACE ALL THE WAY FROM THE START TO THE FINISH LINE. WILL CARROLL IN THE RED PONY WAS THE WILD CAR, AND WHILE HE BEATS FORTIN OFF THE LINE, THE CANADIAN EASILY CHASED HIM DOWN ON THE WAY TO AN 882 ET WIN.

(ROBERT)>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS NOT GONNA OVER SPIN THE TIRES, AND TO DO THE RUN COMPLETE TO THE END. SO I START SLOWLY AND I'M PICKING UP MORE. SO EIGHT-90'S IS PRETTY GOOD AT THIS STAGE.

(JOE)>> SO HOW DOES CARLYLE FEEL ABOUT FACING FORTIN IN THE FINALS? (MARK C.)>> I THINK I HEARD SOMEBODY ELSE SAY IT'S LIKE BRINGING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT.

(ROBERT)>> IT'S GONNA BE FUN. VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WIN THIS.

(JOE)>> CARLYLE CUTS A BETTER LIGHT, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR THE TURBO MUSTANG THAT SPOOLED UP TO RUN AN EIGHT-90 AT 156 MILES AN HOUR. $1,000 DOLLARS GOES TO EACH RUNNER UP WHILE ONE PROUD CANADIAN HEADS HOME $10,000 DOLLARS RICHER ALL THANKS TO AN EIGHT SECOND MUSTANG WITH A FACTORY ENGINE AND A COMPANY WITH A COMMITMENT TO MODERN MUSCLE.
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