In life there are two kinds of cars: basic transportation and those that beg to be pushed right to the breaking point. Chris Bosi rides that fine line in his Procharged 2002 SS at 545 rear-wheel horsepower, which has already claimed the life of one T56, a clutch, and countless sets of tires. The 34-year-old Joliet, Illinois native must constantly fight the urge if he also plans to keep the stock bottom end alive.
Part of that plan includes keeping the Procharger D-1SC blower on a leash with a mere 8 psi of boost pumping through the twin high-flow intercoolers. The stock rods and pistons are put to task, though, by Finish Line Performance-ported LS1 cylinder heads. Using REV stainless steel 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves activated by COMP Cams dual valvesprings and stock rocker arms, flow is dramatically increased while maintaining the stock compression ratio. FLP outfitted the stock LS1 short-block with a mild .561/.562-inch lift, 216/218 duration, 116 LSA blower cam, which also helps seal boost into the combustion chamber while keeping the stock bottom end intact.
A ported oil pump and custom 93-octane tune from FLP also do their part in maintaining ring seal and the integrity of the rods and pistons. A colder set of NGK TR6 plugs provide a failsafe against detonation, drawing spark from MSD wires and stock coils. Ford Motorsport 42-lb injectors and a Walbro 255-lph fuel pump provide the flammable end of the mixture, which escapes post-combustion through FLP 1.75-inch long tube headers, off road Y-pipe, and SLP center mount exhaust.
To keep this animal in line, FLP's lower control arms, subframe connectors, and Panhard bar are employed. A Spohn torque arm and QA1 shocks transfer weight onto a set of 275/40R17 Nitto drag radials on the street and 27x11 Hoosier Quick Time Pro slicks at the track. Rolling stock is kept light and extremely stylish with classic forged 17x9.5 Fikse FM/5s for the street, and Weld Magnums for the track. High rpm clutch drops on slicks are made possible by a Strange 12-bolt and McLeod twin disc clutch. The 12-bolt has proved a reliable performer prior to the blower, packed with 33-spline axles, 4.10 gear and posi. The twin disc clutch became a necessity after adding the blower, as the single disc was no longer cutting it. Around the same time a brisk three-four shift on the track sickened the stock T56, necessitating one of FLP's Extreme Duty rebuilds using Viper spec components (such as the output shaft and shift forks) and a few other beefed-up parts.
 | 
This docile looking creature puts out 545 rwhp using a stock throttle body and LS6 intake, but does have the benefit of a Procharger D-1SC providing 8 psi of boost, FLP ported heads and cam. | 
Chris traded his '99 Z28 daily driver for this SS back in March 2002 knowing that it was to be the last year of the Camaro. A set of FLP headers were added with only 2,500 miles on the clock, and at 5,000 miles came the heads and cam along with a McLeod clutch and 4.10 gear. In winter of '04 came the blower, 12-bolt, suspension, beefier clutch, and new blower-friendly cam. The next step, Chris says, will be a forged bottom end and perhaps more cubes. |