These are good times to be involved in the LSX arena, as evidenced by increased car counts in 2010, the development of a gamut of new race-intended LS components in the marketplace, and the recent announcement from the NMCA that not one, not two, but three LSX Shootouts would take place during the 2011 season. Headlining the fight card at these and other LS events are the seven-second, 200-plus mile per hour Drag Radial machines, and next season, the field will be gaining at least one new combatant.

Michigan runner Ted Achatz has acquired a rolling Trans Am WS6 that’s in the midst of being transformed into a full-on Outlaw Drag Radial-style racing machine. Achatz’s new ride has already been dropped off at Stenod Performance, where Joe Borschke and his talented crew are sure to churn out yet another immaculate work of art. If you’re a regular follower of DRAGZINE, you may have seen our recent feature on another LSX build out of the Stenod shop for Tom Kempf that’s state-of-the-art in virtually every facet, and we don’t foresee anything less on Achatzs’ ride.

The Trans Am is receiving a complete stock suspension 25.3 spec chassis sports a Racecraft front suspension setup, and a passenger seat and custom removable twin parachute mount have been fabricated to make this car every bit as at home on the street as on the quarter mile. Among the other features being outfitted to the car include a fiberglass dash with a digital Racepak IQ3 display, Racecraft front suspension setup with a K-member, and a Precision Performance shifter.

Power for this Radial-clad beast will come from a Kurt Urban-prepared 454 cubic inch LSX-based powerplant built around an RHS tall deck aluminum block that features a ..388 raised camshaft location. Weighing in at 140 pounds, Ted chose the aftermarket route over the GMPP LSX block for the build. All Pro cylinder heads and a solid roller cam will round out the valvetrain side of things, while a single, large 118mm turbocharger will provide that lifeblood of boosted horsepower. Power will then transfer through a PTC bolt-together torque converter coupled to a three-speed Rossler 210XHD transmission.

Achatz is no stranger to ultra-quick heads up street cars, recently parting ways with his low 8-second turbocharged ’84 Buick Regal T-Type to make room in the garage for the new Trans Am. The current plan for 2011 involves the Friday night heads-up shootouts at Milan Dragway, but we sure hope to see this killer piece venture out into the wild a little as well.