Boost, Inc.

When Ryan Christensen first purchased his '99 Hugger Orange Camaro SS, he had no idea that he would one day be flirting with 900 hp. Like any good project gone awry, he found himself at Speed Inc. for a second time after his custom blower and forged 348ci motor setup left him dissatisfied. Ryan wanted the ability to set the boost to kill at a moment's notice without having to spend time swapping pulleys, which meant one thing--time for a turbo.

Since Speed Inc's turbo kits feature an Innovative Turbo electronic boost controller mounted inside the cockpit, all Ryan would have to do is punch the keypad a few times and it was go time. Also, central to the design of the kit is a street-friendly Innovative GTS turbo that, in his case, measures 76mm. With these two high-tech gadgets playing in concert, Ryan could plunder his native Alabama countryside at-will, rowing through all six gears of the T-56 and turning his LS1 Camaro into an instrument of war.

Other key components to the kit include stainless steel turbo headers, a 3.5-inch downpipe, an Innovative Indy-Gate wastegate and a front mount air-to-air intercooler made exclusively for Speed Inc. by Griffin. A custom 3.5-inch single exhaust was fabricated for the turbo setup and capped off with a Dynomax Race Magnum muffler. Since the previously installed blower cam wouldn't make efficient use of the exhaust gases, it was swapped for a turbo cam designed by Speed Inc. measuring 225 degrees/225 degrees duration at .050, .581/.581-inch lift and 113 LSA.

Speed Inc's Sportsman 348ci motor was still a relative virgin, so it was otherwise left untouched. The near-stock displacement, stock crank motor is a true testament to the strength and potential of the factory equipment. Using Eagle forged H-beam rods and Diamond forged pistons with a 9:1 compression, this combo has proven reliable at big boost levels. TEA Stage 2 ported LS1 heads were also recycled to provide enhanced flow via a 2.02 intake and 1.57 exhaust valves. COMP Cams-hardened pushrods and stock rocker arms ensure valvetrain reliability. Topping off the long-block is a F.A.S.T. 78mm intake and an MTI 75mm throttle body.

Even in a stock cube motor, a 76mm turbo can demand an enormous amount of fuel at high boost. Speed Inc outfitted Ryan's F-body with a modified version of its fuel system kit that employs two Bosch 420-lph fuel pumps, along with the boost-ready billet fuel pressure regulator and fuel rails. Speed Inc. says the use of the two Bosch pumps allows excellent reliability and a great deal less heat as opposed to a large single pump. The fuel pumps and the Motron 60 lb/hr high-impedance injectors are a large reason why this combo is so streetable. The custom tune by Jim Morgan of Speed Inc. has also been a large contributing factor. By converting to a 3 BAR speed density system he could avoid any of the potential stumbling blocks of running high boost with a MAF. With Jim tuning, the HP Tuners, the turbo LS1 made 638 hp and 631 lb-ft of torque on Speed Inc's chassis dyno with pump gas and 10 pounds of boost. C16 race gas and 17 pounds of boost achieved an unbelievable 851 hp and 742 lb-ft at the wheels. Soon Ryan may be switching to a Big Stuff 3.0L and a 6.0L iron block. For now though, he fully intends to enjoy all 850 horses on the street and the track. Unfortunately, health problems have kept the 22-year-old college student from taking this beast to the track as of yet, but he expects to be back in the saddle in October to take the LS1 through its paces.

When Ryan does make it to the track he will be happy he chose to upgrade to a McLeod Twin Disc clutch and Speed Inc HD Chromemoly driveshaft. In combination with a Speed Inc/Dr. Evil-built T-56 and a Moser 12-bolt stuffed with 33-spline axles, 3.42 gears and a posi he can be reassured that countless passes on the dragstrip won't cost him an inkling of reliability while still maintaining complete feasibility as a streetcar. A full BMR suspension and QA1 shocks were also installed to keep him running straight while shedding a few pounds in the process.

With the SS now completely overhauled it appears Ryan finally got what he wanted in the ultimate street demon, thanks to Speed Inc and a 76mm turbo. "I thought there would be more lag than the supercharger, but it was just the opposite. It comes on quicker and lays me back in the seat so much harder. But I still have my streetcar that I can cruise at night, take to car shows, and race." With the ability to pillage both street and track, there is just no telling how much destruction could be caused by the menacing turbo LS1.

Speed Inc upgraded the fuel...        read full caption Speed Inc upgraded the fuel system with its billet fuel rails and regulator along with Motron 60-pound injectors. A F.A.S.T. 78mm intake and MTI 75mm polished throttle body are also used to compensate for the increased airflow; meanwhile the Thunder Racing coil relocation kit and Katech valve covers are merely for show. Speed Inc Sportsman 348 short-block, TEA ported heads, COMP Cams/Speed Inc turbo cam and an Innovative 76mm turbo are responsible for producing 850 hp at only 17 psi.

A six-point Wolfe chrome-moly...        read full caption A six-point Wolfe chrome-moly rollcage and RJS harnesses were a necessity for the 900-plus crank horsepower SS. Speed Inc. lightweight carpet was also used to help offset the added weight.

Ryan's Camaro was fitted with...        read full caption Ryan's Camaro was fitted with Nittos to keep some traction on the street, but after burning them down to the bare hides for our photo shoot he soon switched to Mickey Thompsons. Before he takes it to the track he also said he would be investing in a much-needed set of M/T drag slicks as well.

The Innovative Turbo multi-stage...        read full caption The Innovative Turbo multi-stage boost controller is part of the reason this combo is so feasible on the street. It allows the user to dial in the max boost on-command. Another great feature is that it allows you to dial back the boost on launch so as not to overpower the tires or suspension.

Ryan likes to keep it pimpin'...        read full caption Ryan likes to keep it pimpin' with the painted stock calipers and Sure Stop cross-drilled and slotted rotors. In combination with the black 17x9.5 ZR1 rims, it's hard to deny its charm.

The reason you don't see too...        read full caption The reason you don't see too many cars making as much power as Ryan has through T-56s is that they just wouldn't hold up. However, Speed Inc. and Dr. Evil Performance Transmission teamed up to build a killer T-56 that has yet to make even a whine of displeasure.

The Auto Meter fuel pressure...        read full caption The Auto Meter fuel pressure gauge helps monitor proper operation of the second Bosch fuel pump, which is set to operate under boost. This is key to ensuring a long, healthy life for the Sportsman 348.

Ryan has dedicated his Camaro...        read full caption Ryan has dedicated his Camaro buildup to the memory of his late father, Richard, who was just as enthusiastic about the buildup as Ryan is.