200,000 Mile SBE LS1, Stock 10-Bolt Runs 9s In The Quarter!

Just when we thought LS engines couldn’t get any more impressive, along comes a fourth-gen Pontiac Trans Am with a host of accomplishments. Particularly, running a 9-second quarter-mile on a high-mile, stock-bottom-end original 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine and 10-bolt rearend (say that five times fast). Considering that the original LS1 engine powering this Trans Am has more than 200,000 miles clocked on it, this fourth-gen seems to be running extremely strong on what is arguably a simple combination for running high 9s in the quarter-mile.

For starters, the build consists of OEM 6.0-liter 317 cylinder heads and a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission swap, and a stock 10-bolt rearend.

The owner has upgraded to a Brian Tooley Racing Stage 2 turbo camshaft in conjunction with a complete On3 turbo kit which features a 78/75 turbocharger. Moreover, the car is currently tuned for the use of E85 on the factory ECU, which necessitated the upgraded fuel components such as a single Walbro 450lph fuel pump and larger Bosch 210 lb./hr. fuel injectors.

Though the car is pushing just 13 pounds of boost, the owner admits that his 9.82-second pass at more than 139 mph was made leaving off of the footbrake on zero boost. Judging by his 60-foot (1.51) we’d venture to say there’s plenty more left in this combination.

Of course, the question we find ourselves asking is: What is bound to go first? The stock-bottom-end LS1, or the stock 10-bolt rearend? Will we find out before the car goes low 9s on the same combination? We hope so!

About the author

Harrison Noble

Living in San Diego for most of his life, Harrison was exposed to a variety of cars at an early age. His passion for anything that is fast, or has a V8, brought him to Power Automedia.
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