When he's not studying law at Quinnipiac University, John Giacobbe is laying down the law in his supercharged '98 Trans Am. His 534 rear-wheel horsepower WS6 goes nearly as well as it shows, thanks to East Side Performance. The crew outfitted John's LS1 with an aftercooled Vortech V-9 SQ blower, capable of pushing his stock internals to the breaking point with only 7 pounds of boost. The highly-reflective exterior of the polished charger, air-to-water intercooler, and plumbing are also complemented by a host of billet and polished pieces that turn many heads among the car show crowd.
On the street, it's the 224/228 duration, .581/.581-inch lift cam transmitted through a high flow exhaust system that grabs the most attention. The streetable COMP Cams hydraulic roller grind carries a 112-lobe separation angle with 4 degrees of advance. COMP Cams' hardened pushrods enact the cam's commands upon the COMP valvesprings and retainers, along with stock LS1 heads. The Borla Cat-Back exhaust trumpets his LS1's prowess with the help of QTP 1.75x3-inch long-tube headers and 3-inch off-road Y-pipe. ARP rod bolts help the stock powdered-metal rods hang on for dear life, but the 480 ft-lb of torque are no sweat for the Spec 3+ clutch. When John blew the rear shortly following his engine overhaul, Moser was sourced for a 12-bolt packed with 33-spline axles, a 3.73 gear, and a posi. For good measure, the six-speed slush box was sent to Six Speeds Inc. to be Magnafluxed and Cryo-treated, and to get Mikronite finished gears capable of up to 700 rear-wheel horsepower.
The blinding chrome on John's rims is quite a spectacle in and of itself, as top-dollar HRE 547 series polished three-piece wheels really do catch the eye. The double five-spokes are a classy musclecar rendition, with exposed high-strength fasteners to give them an edge. These lightweight hoops measure 18x9.5 up front and 18x10 out back, allowing ample 275/35R18 and 315/30R18 BFG rubber. A set of polished, drilled, and slotted rotors, rear stock calipers, and Baer 6S six-piston Monoblock front brakes set off the wheels while vastly improving braking performance. Even the suspension and subframe connectors are handsome on John's WS6. An East Side Performance panhard bar, lower control arms, UMI torque arm, and subframe connectors were all powdercoated in silver.
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John's 534 rear-wheel horsepower LS1 is polished off with a Lingenfelter/Weiand intake manifold, Vortech aftercooled blower, COMP Cams 224/228-duration cam, and QTP long-tube headers. | 
Third-year law student and New Rochelle, New York, native John A. Giacobbe has turned a new corner in his life with a TA that can really turn corners. East Side Performance and UMI components tighten up the chassis and keep the power to the rear wheels. Meanwhile, the driveline is kept well in check by a Spec clutch, Six Speeds Inc. tranny, Moser 12-bolt, and an ACPT carbon fiber driveshaft. |