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River Rod Royalty
Inside the 2026 Grand National Roadster Show, the thunder didn’t stop at the hot rods. Tucked among the country’s finest customs and street machines was a killer lineup of vintage ski hydros, circle boats, and heirloom river runners that brought serious waterborne attitude to the show floor. Blown big-blocks, hand-laid gelcoat, and family-built history were on full display, proving that the hot rod mindset runs just as deep on the river as it does on the street.

LS Swapping a Classic Jeep CJ
In 1981 this Jeep, that now belongs to Clinton Campbell of Dallas Texas left the factory floor with a straight 6, but he drove it away from Street & Performance with a 5.3 truck LS-1 type engine and a 4L60E transmission. Clinton wanted more performance, drivability and, with the recent enforcement of emission laws in Texas, he needed to be able to pass emissions.

THE ENGINE ROOM
Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or looking underneath the hood, it’s the first place enthusiasts come to find out what a car is all about. After all, without the right engine package, everything we long for in our cars would be nothing more than static displays of creative artistry.
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G6 Roush Package
Getting Down to Basics To Create a Total Street Machine
Author
Warren “Fortune” Shim-Quee
Words & Photos
Roush Performance Transforms a 2005 Pontiac G6
In the past, we have been impressed with some of the vehicles we’ve seen produced over time as a great many of these creations are but a glimpse of the potential tuning options that each car may present. Such is the case with this ’05 Pontiac G6. Yes, it’s an uncommon platform to be sure and possibly not one that you would immediately choose for tuning, but isn’t that the point of it all?
The Groundbreaking Pontiac G6
With its release in 2005, the G6 was a groundbreaking vehicle for Pontiac. With choices including a convertible, coupe and sedan, it seemed as though buyers had their work cut out for them when it came down to making a decision on the G6 of their choice. While GM had already done most of the work when it came to designing the base of the car (they made everything economical and comfortable for daily driving), the design team at legendary Roush Performance stepped in and turned a bland four-door G6 sedan into a Roush-tuned street monster.
Roush’s Bold Move into Pontiac Performance
With Roush’s claim to fame of bridging the gap between the road and the track, they put their creative minds together to build one of the baddest Pontiac G6s we have seen to date. Traditionally, Roush is known for their Ford performance products, as seen on Mustangs and F-150s, but Roush decided to take a different route in the sport compact market, this time in the form of a Pontiac G6, which, from the looks of it, was obviously a good idea.
Custom Exterior Upgrades
When the minds at Roush began working, they knew that they would have to design a strong exterior package in order to create an eye-catching G6 from afar. With the G6 being a platform that isn’t offered much aftermarket support, Roush had to hit the drawing board to come up with its own custom exterior design package, one that would still follow along the lines of Roush tradition. The G6 received the full body package, including customized Roush aero gear in the form of a custom vented hood that takes care of dissipating unwanted heat that may get trapped under the hood, and Roush-designed front and rear fascias to enhance the lines on the body. Along the sides, Roush also added a set of custom-fitted side skirts that give the G6 style from any angle. The Roush designers finished off the exterior with a custom wing that adds extra downforce and sits atop the trunk lid. The final step in the exterior modification process was spraying the custom Merles Opus Orange Yellow paint across the entire car, which really called attention to the Roush G6.
Suspension and Handling Enhancements
One of the most important aspects of building a street-tuned vehicle is outfitting it with the proper suspension components, a fact that Roush is well aware of. Roush went to work to get the finest suspension products on the car, and without cutting corners, they supplied the G6 with a set of Eibach lowering springs that bring the vehicle to an aggressive ride height. This, too, helps in the performance handling of the car. And speaking of handling, Roush was thoughtful enough to also supply the G6 with a set of custom Roush Performance racing wheels, which measure a staggering 19×8.5 inches. These are understandably responsible for getting all that rubber to the asphalt. Hiding just behind these custom wheels is an obvious choice in braking components, which carry the name of Brembo. The G6 was certainly spoiled with a set of four-piston calipers that clamp down on a pair of cross-drilled brake rotors that perfectly fill the space behind the massive wheels. Finally, the chassis received extra reinforcement from a DC Sports strut tower brace that helps to keep it from flexing. All in all, the Roush crew really put their heads together to create this very capable G6 suspension setup.
Performance Modifications Under the Hood
The Roush Performance package installed on the 3.5-liter V-6 gives the already-potent engine a little extra kick with some of the most basic bolt-ons. Looking around the engine bay, you’ll find an AEM cold air intake, ensuring that pure air elements reach the combustion chambers free of any dust particles or dirt. Also set up on the 3.5-liter engine is a GM Performance exhaust system with a pair of Roush exhaust tips. As Roush’s performance heritage dates back years, with a full line of engine dynos for experimental engine work for many of the car companies, they have acquired a great deal of experience in all things high-performance, and this unique G6 is a prime example of these efforts. There’s a lot more power where this came from, but Roush simply wanted to create a perfect setup for the street.
Custom Interior with Racing Accents
Upon entering the interior, you are greeted by a pair of leather-wrapped Sparco Racing Seats that sport the matching exterior color. The rest of the interior was made to match the Sparco bucket seats while a set of Auto Meter gauges helps to keep the driver aware of all engine vitals.
A Bold Statement in the Compact Car Scene
This award-winning Pontiac G6 is quite a ride. It shows everyone that the brains at Roush Performance really got to work to create such an amazing-looking domestic compact. As you can see, there are lots of new tricks out there if we stick to the basics and have a plan.







