Is there such a thing as too much power? For those of you who just let out a resounding “No,” you’re my kind of people, and evidently, School of Automotive Machinists’ (SAM) kind of people as well. What we have footage of here is the massive LSX motor built by SAM for their ‘99 Camaro SS race car on the engine at work on the dyno. You’ve seen the car before but 2012 has brought a whole new beast to the table with the build of a 1,000+hp engine. Check it out in all its glory in the video above.

Based in Houston, Texas, SAM is one of the premiere schools in the country for performance engine building, race shop, and race team careers. Through unique curriculum, students are given a jump start in the industry with hands-on classes and teachers with decades of experience in the racing industry. It’s those great assets that allow SAM to run a full racing team with five different cars, all worked on as class projects.

Among the front runners is the SAM Racing ‘99 Camaro.

For the last three years, SAM Racing has pushed this car to the top, taking the NMCA LSX Shootout All Motor win in 2009 and 2010, the Holley LS Fest All Motor win in 2010 and 2011, and the GMPP LSX Shootout All Motor win, as well as two NMCA LSX Challenge Series All Motor wins last year. With wins like these, the LSX engines that have powered the Camaro are obviously no laughing matter, and this year is no exception.

The engine you see in the video above is SAM’s latest build for their ‘99 Camaro. Based on an LSX block, the 435cui engine features a custom intake manifold made by Beck Mechanical, a complete Aeromotive fueling system with 58lb/hr fuel injectors, and a Big Stuff 3 engine management system with MSD power grid. The engine is running a larger camshaft this year with a COMP Cams 60mm Solid Lifter unit and a larger dry sump pan.

The LSX also features GM C5R heads that were ported by SAM students as a class project and two Holley Dominator throttle bodies. This potent combination is capable of producing an astonishing 1,064hp at 9,000rpm. Hearing this engine is music to the ears, the large lope of the camshaft just adds to the brutish growl of the engine at idle. Once the throttle is hit, watch your chin. It may just hit your desk in amazement.

Paired with a Liberty 5-speed transmission, Moser 9-inch rearend, 5.33 gears and a fully built suspension, this engine has already launched SAM Racing to their first win of the season in the NMCA LSX Challenge Series All Motor class, and we expect to see many more this year.