Built up from parts by Turn Key Engine Supply, the LS6 is force-fed by a ProCharger centrifugal blower.
So you want a revolution for your classic GM musclecar? Consider dropping in one of the General's LS-series small-blocks, like this blown LS6 residing in Jeff Mortenson's '70 Camaro. Mortenson owns Classic Chevy 5-Speed, an outfit specializing in modern Tremec TKO and T56 transmission retrofit kits that include all the hardware needed to install a modern manual trans. The Camaro is his own personal ride, but it also showcases Classic's sanitary late-model five- and six-speed conversion kits. This car sports a T56 six-speed, which perfectly complements the late LS-series engine under the hood. Based on a Corvette LS6, it was custom assembled and calibrated by Turn Key Engine Supply to support an intercooled ATI ProCharger centrifugal supercharger. Turn Key used a conventional 90mm throttle body actuated by a traditional throttle cable, avoiding the hassles of the drive-by-wire setups used on many late-model LS engines.
The adapters needed to install the new LS-style engine into a second-generation Camaro or Firebird are available from Clas-sic Chevy or direct from ATS. They work with reversed original '70-'73 Camaro V-8 engine mounts and frame stands. Later '74-'81 F-bodies will need to use the earlier-style mounts, which may require drilling several new subframe holes.
On pump gas with 6- to 8-psi boost in Mortenson's '70 Camaro, it makes 424 hp at the rear wheels.
After elongating the floor-shifter hole, the T56 bolts right in place with the kit's supplied adjustable trans crossmember. Classic's kit even includes a new Inland Empire driveshaft with 1350-series U-joints and new trans yoke. The driveshaft is custom made to order and shipped separately after the installer verifies the correct length with an on-car mockup.
Shoehorning the blower and intercooler into the chassis so that everything still fits under the stock hood does present some obstacles. Mortenson used ATI's '04 GTO blower kit but had to make spacers and an extended lower pulley to get everything to clear. The Camaro LS front accessories also had some clearance issues. On a late-model Camaro, the stock air conditioning compressor mounts low on the passenger side and tends to hit the front crossmember on most classic musclecars. This was solved by using a Vintage Air A/C system with a Street & Performance (S&P) high-mount A/C bracket. Turn Key says it is now making its own mounting brackets with extra tensioners and mounting rods that eliminate any clearance problems. Combine the rejuvenated driveline with a full Hotchkis suspension, Detroit Speed A-arms, and Stainless Steel four-wheel disc brakes, and the result is one great ride!
One part that still gets the job done is the bulletproof GM 12-bolt, enhanced with Moser axles and a 3.55:1 Eaton Detroit TrueTrac helical-gear, limited-slip differential case.
