A custom girdle, billet main caps, Callies forged crank, and Howards forged rods-this is the familiar recipe Billy uses to ensure a reliable bottom end. A few ponies are salvaged with a Dailey dry-sump oil system, which keeps all the moving parts lubricated despite the violent acceleration. Wiseco forged pistons and Total Seal rings are along for the ride in the 8.32:1 compression motor, which also uses All Pro LS2 Dragport (six-bolt) heads with a staggered rocker-arm setup for longer springs and better leverage. Titanium 2.125 intake and Inconel 1.625 exhaust valves take advantage of the large, high-flowing cathedral intake and oval exhaust ports. Kurt Urban at W2W selected a custom grind solid roller cam that commands Smith Brothers heavy-duty pushrods, Morel lifters, and Jesel shaft-mount rockers. A GM Performance Parts carb-style intake manifold with a Wilson Manifolds elbow and 105mm throttle body make up a top end well-suited to accepting mucho boosto.
As with all of the Ohio Boys' love children, the turbo system is fabricated by Mike Brown himself using the 6.0L truck manifolds and a 2.5-inch crossover pipe to spool the massive Precision Turbo 106mm vortex of awesome power. A 5-inch downpipe with a Burns stainless race muffler vent massive quantities of spent VP Q16 provided by the 160-lb/hr injectors and a MagnaFuel pump. Steve said that VP's new formula delivers as promised. After Brown richened up the tune through the Big Stuff 3 computer to compensate for the highly oxygenated fuel, the power improvement was immediately apparent. In this type of build, high-octane fuel and a good air-to-water intercooler are crucial. To remedy the latter, Brown used a PTE core to fabricate the intercooler setup and built the reservoir into the aluminum passenger seat. This trick setup not only chills 28 psi of boost, but the tranny cooler as well.
A Rossler TH210 trans, essentially a Turbo 400 with a 2.10 gearset, and a Midwest converter were the trusted standbys, as both seem to suit the turbo cars very well. The converter is a non-lockup style that Steve estimates is in the 3,500-4,000 stall range, as they've taken the converter back several times to be tightened or loosened as needed. Another carryover from the Formula was the Moser 9-inch rear with 35-spline axles, 3.50 gear, and a lightweight spool. The rear suspension from BMR Fabrication was also transferred over, including the Extreme Duty sway bar, Panhard bar, torque arm, and lower control arms. Amazingly, these bulky versions of the stock pieces are adequate for 1.28 short times-four-links are for suckers. Most of the front suspension, however, had to be replaced with fresh pieces after the accident, such as the tubular K-member and A-arms-which not only save weight, but also make room for that massive downpipe. HAL/QA1 adjustable coilovers up front and adjustable rear shocks with cut stock springs give the Camaro the ride height and weight transfer it needs.
With the factory glass, interior, and body panels still weighing down the Camaro, it tips the scales at around 3,300 pounds prior to adding ballast to meet class-racing regulations. However, powerful Strange drag brakes, Kirkey race seats, a manual steering rack, a gutted interior, and a VFN fiberglass hood keep that weight in all the right places. This is the one advantage the crew hopes will give them the edge over their iron-blocked brethren. Only time will tell, but we do expect big things from the Ohio Boys. Every year they seem to come back stronger and stronger-with every car going faster and faster.
 Up front, Strange drag brakes...  Up front, Strange drag brakes lighten the rotating weight-as do Weld wheels and Mickey Thompson skinnies. The rear tires are massive 315/60R15 MT drag radials. |  GCI Digital Imaging from Cincinnati...  GCI Digital Imaging from Cincinnati is responsible for the wild vinyl wrap graphics. Meanwhile, the graphics of their sponsors-such as BMR Fabrication, VP Racing Fuels, Wheel to Wheel Powertrain, Precision Turbo, and Midwest Converters-are tastefully displayed on the rear window. | |