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Blending New Camaro Performance With Vintage Camaro Style
Here’s a question that ought to neatly divide our reading audience in two: Which Camaro is better, the ’68 or the ’98?
Although it probably won’t be too difficult for you to choose your favorite, no doubt you’ll also admit that each model has its advantages and disadvantages. One thing that both cars share is a healthy amount of power. The small blocks that came in ’68 Camaros—the 302, 327 and 350—were all cool, but when you get down to hard numbers, they come up just a little short of the ’98 LS1. However, there’s a lot you can do to those earlier motors to make them more powerful, so at first glance, swapping one for the other may not seem like an obvious move.
It’s difficult to think of any area in which the early small blocks compare favorably to the LS1. Though they make similar power, the LS1 is undoubtedly more economical, more reliable and in some ways, easier to service (help is only a Chevrolet dealer computer away). Add to these advantages the pure cool factor that comes from swapping new motors into old cars, and the allure of the LS1, not to mention the LS6, becomes almost mesmerizing.
The easiest way to put an LS1 in your Camaro is to call GM and order one of its brand-new crate motors and wiring harnesses. “Easiest” however, should not be confused with cheapest. The crate motor route is expensive and beyond the reach of most enthusiasts’ budgets. But don’t think that just because you can’t afford a crate motor, you can’t afford an LS1. Just as you would have done 30 years ago, it’s still possible to go to a good wrecking yard, find a late-model engine and place it in the car of your choice. The main difference between 30 years ago and now is that today you’ll need a lot more help figuring it all out.
Before you even consider such a swap, you should call Street & Performance, which knows how to swap an LS1 into just about anything, as well as swapping just about anything into a Camaro. The shop knows both ends of the equation, including the problems you may encounter, and it has already developed the parts you’ll need to get around those problems. S&P may even find you a donor motor and/or transmission, so it could take only one call to get virtually everything you need to complete this swap (short of oil).
S&P provides more than just hardware. It offers a great blend of knowledge, experience and the ability to try things that haven’t been done before. When S&P gets it right—as it always does—you’re the one who benefits.
