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It's that time of the year for the Second Annual LS Fest Texas. We moved the event up into cooler weather this year, but the track will be hot all weekend. The event kicks off at noon on Friday and Saturday, which runs through midnight. Stay tuned throughout the weekend for live coverage from all our racing events.
They're affordable, versatile, and have plenty of aftermarket support--we should know. But there's also an entire community based around the LS/LT engine. It may be redundant to list the benefits of Chevrolet's modern pushrod V8, considering we're at LS Fest Texas, but there's still a reason so many love'em.
Our friends at Texas Speed and Performance (TSP) challenged themselves at this year's LS Fest Texas to swap an LS in a 1977 Camaro in three hours. With the help of friends and passersbys, they pulled the Camaro's original small block in record time.
Going in its place is a Texas Speed and Performance 427 Brawler with 11.1 compression, a custom camshaft, and TSP Titan intake. It should make around 680 hp. They're using a variety of Holley swap components for the 1970-'81 F-body, making it an easy swap. This includes the engine mounts, cross member, oil pan, and Hooker Blackheart headers. The engine also features the Holley mid-mount accessory kit and the Flowmaster universal air intake.
It took the team 3 hours and 15 minutes to swap out a 50-year-old powerplant and then make a 7-second pass.
The team decided to leave the recently refreshed Turbo 350 in the car. "It should hold this power level, but as with any power upgrade, you always find your weak points pretty quickly," said Luke Haley, the Product Manager at TSP and the Camaro's owner. "So, we'll find out."
"If all goes as planned, we'll be grudge-racing two Texas Speed Camaros tomorrow," said Luke...
And they did. The Camaro, with a mild tune and little setup, made a clean 7.27 at 100 mph 1/8th-mile pass. The team is happy with the result, but the car has more left in it.
The Camaro's previous best time was 8.30 ET, and the goal is to break into the 6s. "We're within striking distance," said Luke. The car went a full second faster its first time out.
They plan to install a nitrous fogger system and dial in the setup for better ETs. If you're curious, check out Texas Speed and Performance's YouTube channel for more updates on the car.
(Left) Luke, TSP's product manager, has owned the Camaro for five years. It's always been a small-block car. "It's a team effort," said Luke. "Making something like this happen definitely takes teamwork, and I'm proud to work with these guys." (Right) Luke went 7.72 the first time out and then, after a suspension adjustment, made a 7.27 ET pass at the LS Fest Texas 1/8-mile drag.
LS Fest Texas kicked off Thursday night with the Wynrock Speed Shop's Kick-Off Party at LS Fest Texas, sponsored by LSX Magazine. The party provided an electrifying start to the event, leaving a lasting impression on participants and spectators alike. It set the stage for an action-packed weekend, promising even more exhilarating experiences to come. It serves as a calm of camaraderie before the storm of competition. The tailgate party outside the track featured an array of LS-swapped vehicles, drifters, and an impressive fleet of Corvettes. The Kick-Off Party served as a hub of enthusiasm, fostering a sense of community among attendees who shared a common passion for speed and automotive craftsmanship. From the moment the event commenced, it was evident that the LS Fest Texas participants brought their A-game.
As the track opened its gates, participants eagerly queued up to unleash their LS-powered machines on the legendary Texas Motor Speedway. The track, with a length of 1.5 miles (2.41 kilometers), and banking ranging from 24 to 28 degrees, added an extra element of challenge and excitement to the track laps--even though they weren't full-speed.
