445HP GM TARGETMASTER
September 12, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Installing a Custom Accessories Three-Point Harness System
This is the problem in a nutshell: When we are traveling in an automobile, it may seem that we personally are not moving, only the car is. But that is not the case. If the vehicle that we are traveling in happens to stop suddenly, we won’t, unless … there is something there to stop us. That something could be a seatbelt—or it could be something less desirable.
The cold hard fact is that injuries can be suffered during an auto accident. Injuries such as those sustained by the face and head as a result of being thrown into the windshield or dash. Or it could mean those nasty abdominal injuries due to contact with the steering wheel. Either way, it doesn’t sound like much fun. They can also be prevented.
Cornering Camaro
Chris German knows his way around a Camaro. He currently owns two—the car you see here and a ’69 Pace Car. He’s owned six more of them in the past, and he’s built 10 of them at American Muscle, his shop in Cleveland, Tennessee. When he came across this car, it was in great shape. It had been the focus of a restoration about 20 years ago, and German says he probably could have started and driven the car with almost no effort at all. But the Camaro wasn’t the way he wanted it. He wasn’t after a restoration or a drag-style car. His Camaro would have to be able to handle the corners well, and he wanted to be able to autocross it at Goodguys shows, and autocross it well.
Hold It Right There!
Unlike a regular car door, the back door of a sedan delivery is often left open for loading, unloading and so on. With nothing to hold it open, the slightest breeze will slam it because when a delivery is dumped in the front as ours is, gravity lends a heavy hand to the slam. We’ve never been knocked unconscious, but we’ve suffered some nasty lumps on the noggin. Worse yet, with no mechanism but the hinges, you never hear or see it coming.
Spotlighter
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products Aluminum LS Engine Block
Lightweight Muscle for Serious Builds
If you’re building an LS engine meant to dominate the strip, carve canyon roads, or simply crush the scales on any dyno, the BMP‑086515 Aluminum LS Engine Block is your ticket. Built from high-strength 357T6 aluminum alloy, it weighs a mere 135 lbs with caps and sleeves, giving you a rock-solid foundation without the ballast of a cast iron block. In short: strength where you need it, weight where you don’t.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos Courtesy of Bill Mitchell Products
Precision Dimensions for Big Performance
The block sports a 9.240″ deck height with 4.115″ cylinder bores and 4.400″ bore centers, perfectly engineered for aggressive builds while maintaining true LS compatibility. Five billet steel main caps, all four-bolt and cross-bolted, keep the crank planted no matter how hard you push. Torque the studs to 75 ft-lbs, the cross bolts to 30 ft-lbs, and you’ve got a bottom end that laughs at high RPMs and boost alike.
Rebuildable and Engineered for Longevity
Each cylinder comes with a replaceable dry ductile steel sleeve, pressed to exact tolerances for maximum durability. Builders can safely bore up to 4.165″, opening the door to serious displacement upgrades. And with priority main oiling and dry-sump provisions, this block ensures your engine gets the lubrication it demands under even the harshest conditions. Screw-in freeze plugs, cam plug, all dowel pins, and pipe plugs come included—this block is ready to go straight from the box to your build.
Built for Builders
Every detail of the BMP‑086515 is designed with the engine builder in mind. Standard GM LS bearings, camshaft placement, and lifter bores make assembly predictable, while the block’s LSX head bolt pattern and drilled-and-tapped motor mounts give you flexibility for retrofits or high-performance swaps. From oil passages to bearing alignment, Bill Mitchell has dialed in the details so your build goes smooth and fast.
Quick Specs
Application: High-performance GM LS replacement
Material / Weight: 357T6 Aluminum, 135 lbs w/ caps & sleeves
Deck Height: 9.240″ (standard) | Bores: 3.990″ or 4.115″, replaceable dry sleeves
Main Caps: 5 × 4-bolt billet steel, cross-bolted
Cam / Lifters: Standard GM placement & tie-bar lifters
Oil System: Priority main, dry-sump provisions
Stroke Clearance: Up to 4.250″ steel rods
Head Bolt Pattern: LSX standard | Motor Mounts: OEM & SBC retrofit-ready
Freeze Plugs / Starter / Water Pump: Stock
Why the BMP Aluminum LS Engine Block Stands Out
This isn’t just another LS block—it’s a high-performance weapon. Lightweight, rigid, and engineered for serious horsepower, it’s perfect for boosted monsters, high-revving naturally aspirated screamers, or retro LS swaps into classic rides. If your goal is power, precision, and bulletproof reliability, this block won’t just meet expectations—it will crush them.
Classic engineering. Modern muscle. Builder-approved.
👉 Ready to turn your LS vision into reality? Grab the BMP Aluminum LS Engine Block today at BillMitchellProducts.com
ARTICLE SOURCES
