It's easy to forget that Chevrolet once offered a four-cylinder Camaro. Which is why it was particularly surprising to see this video from ZZPerformance. The Michigan-based shop has a stellar reputation for tuning small-displacement General Motors platforms, operating under the motto 'Go Fast, Not Broke.' Fittingly, ZZP played a crucial role in this record-setting achievement, helping an Iowa customer propel their turbocharged Camaro down the drag strip in a blazing 9.768 seconds at 137 mph.
Owner Jake Starr previously held the world record for the quickest quarter-mile in a four-cylinder Camaro, with a prior run of 9.92 seconds. This recent pass at US 131 Motorsports Park was significantly faster, partly due to an impressive 1.36-second 60-foot time. Sometimes, everything aligns perfectly: a meticulously prepped surface, aggressive Mickey Thompson tires on the rear, and an exceptional launch off the Christmas tree.
ZZPerformance had Starr's Camaro on the dyno back in October, where it recorded peak figures of 593 horsepower near 6,500 rpm and 511 lb-ft of torque around 5,500 rpm. In addition to an upgraded Xona Rotor 7164 turbo with a 3D-printed exhaust manifold and a Tial 38-millimeter wastegate, the Bowtie-badged car also utilizes XDI injectors, ZZP's sixth-port injection, an SMG auxiliary pump, and a ZL1 low-pressure fuel pump.
Fisher Built reinforced the 8L45 transmission for drag racing—reportedly a world-first for that platform—and a limited-slip differential transfers power to Camaro SS axles.
The engine features a slightly over-bored block (0.25mm) to accommodate ZZP's forged 86.25mm pistons, and the valvetrain has been enhanced with new valve springs and Stage 2 camshafts. Starr also installed sturdier head studs, stronger balance shafts, and an ATI harmonic dampener.
View Price on AmazonFrom the factory, GM's LTG four-cylinder produced respectable numbers: 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. While it offered an 11 lb-ft torque advantage over the Camaro's V6 before its discontinuation, it was down 60 hp compared to the larger engine. GM's 2.0-liter also lagged behind the Ford Mustang EcoBoost's 315 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.
GM has since introduced a larger 2.7-liter turbo-four in other platforms, such as the Colorado ZR2 and full-size Silverado, where it produces up to 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Very little is shared between the LTG and the 'TurboMax,' as GM now brands its current four-cylinder engine.
It would be intriguing to see what one of these engines could achieve in a Camaro, and if Chevrolet decides to revive the model for a seventh generation, there's a good chance we'll get to find out.
Source: thedrive.com
