Designed for 3.5L V6-powered Ford F150 pickups the Spectre air intake system adds power and response

Although named Duratech in advertising distributed to the public, it was a clean sheet of paper design internally designated as the Cyclone; it had nothing in common with earlier generations of Duratech engines. The Duratech 35 developed 282 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. Not surprising it was selected by the automotive industry magazine Wards Auto for its 10 Best Engines list.

Introduced in the 13th generation of F150, the Duratech 35 was positioned as the base engine. Above it in the line were the 325 horsepower 2.7L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 and the 385 horsepower 5.0L V8. For 2018 the 3.5L V6 was replaced by a 3.3L V6 that actually produces more power than the 3.5 – an increase of eight horsepower.

The Spectre HPR air filter utilizes a non-woven synthetic filter media

The Spectre 9048 adds performance and response by feeding your Duratech 35 cooler, fresh air than the stock system can provide. Fresh outside air is now fed to an oversized seven-inch tall HPR9892 tapered conical air filter protected within a two-piece heat shield that installs into the space of the factory air box. The HPR9892 is a low-restriction air filter, constructed of a non-woven synthetic filter media.

Once filtered, intake air is directed through a velocity stack into an aerodynamically-verified polished aluminum intake tube that accommodates the factory mass air meter, IAT sensor, and other required hoses. Installation is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few hours or less and requires only a few common hand tools and no drilling.

And once you’ve installed your Spectre 9048 air intake system you’ve eliminated the need to buy another air filter for the life of your covered 2015 – 2017 Ford F150 powered by the Duratec 35 3.5 L V6 engine. The only maintenance required is a simple service you can do all by yourself. That’s because the Spectre HPR9892 air filter element is washable and reusable.

The Spectre 9048 is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2017 FORD F150 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - Exc. Turbo
2016 FORD F150 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - Exc. Turbo
2015 FORD F150 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - Exc. Turbo

Jimi Day, President and CEO of FM3 Performance Marketing and OUSCI Director of Racing

The “Invitational” has become the ultimate street car event by which a participant can earn his or her way in on points garnered at qualifying events. OR by receiving a golden ticket invitation, at the SEMA show, should your badass built streetcar capture the attention of the likes of Cam himself or partner Jimi Day.

Greg Thurmond's 1965 Candy Tangerine Chevrolet Corvette - SCAR in Optima Alley at SEMA

Predicting a full week that began with a midnight load into Optima Alley at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the OUSCI participants spent time with their sponsors and other competitors. They attended SEMA build unveilings, stood in line to meet some iconic and legendary movers and shakers in the automotive industry. They attended educational seminars and mixers hosted by SEMA’s 10 diverse councils learning and exploring all the workings that SEMA has to offer. They took part in OPTIMA’s most recent virtual reality experience at the OPTIMA Booth and even made appearances of their own at OPTIMA’s Annual SEMA Press Conference. Finally, these competitors would endure the gut-wrenching critique of the judges for the Lingenfelter Design and Engineering segment the first of five segments of this monumental event. Seriously this was a big deal! You can bet they were all itching to get out to Las Vegas Motor Speedway to see if the improvements they made to their rides would actually make a difference in their final position when it was all said and done.

SCAR sitting front and center at the 2015 SEMA Show in the Spectre Performance Booth

Greg Thurmond with SCAR in 2015 post SEMA Thrash

The midwest sweetheart, Lynda Jacobs in "Wimpy" on the autocross track at OUSCI 2017

Spectre Performance had great representation at OUSCI this year in the GTV Class with returning competitor Greg Thurmond in his 1965 Candy Tangerine Corvette Stingray Resto-Mod known throughout the pro-touring world as SCAR. Along with midwest sweetheart, Linda Jacobs and her incredible Spectre Performance-equipped 1966 Butter Yellow Convertible Chevelle affectionately named “Wimpy”. Both Greg and Linda came to the 10th Anniversary ready to race with their “A” Game.

This is the third consecutive year that Spectre Performance team driver Greg Thurmond made the big show. You might remember in 2015, Thurmond’s Vette sat front and center in the Spectre Performance booth at SEMA where it did indeed catch the eye of possibly tens of thousands of SEMA show goers. More importantly, he nabbed a golden ticket invite. For 2016 and 2017 Thurmond raced his way into OUSCI and has been a force in the GTV Class each time, bringing home an 8th place GTV overall finish at this years OUSCI. When we caught up with him he shared that the Detroit Speed and Engineering Autocross, “was a bit tougher for us this year and finished up 11th in the GTV Class,” Thurmond said. However, he was rather pleased with his success at the Powerstop Brakes Speed Stop securing a 6th Place position in his class.

Jacobs 1966 Butter Yellow Convertible Chevelle Wimpy

This year OUSCI saw the crowning of a new Grand Champion, Ken Thwaits in his 2006 Mitsubishi EVO. The racing was tight and the competition worthy. Ken also took the GTL Class Win.

Jacobs at grid for the Falken Tires Hot Lap Challenge

GTV: Larry Wood, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

GTS: Austin Barnes, 2010 Dodge Viper

GTL: Ken Thwaits, 2006 Mitsubishi EVO

GTC: Scott Budasalich, 2006 Honda S2000

GTE: Matthew Scott, 2017 Hyundai Ioniq

GT: Bryan Johnson, 2013 Chevrolet Camaro

Click the image to see an interview with owner and builder of the Rambler, Suzy Bauter

Starting with a solid, straight 1963 Rambler American 440 Station Wagon, complete with engine in the back of the wagon, Suzy started by having the flathead 6 rebuilt. With all of 130 horsepower and a three-on-the-tree gearbox, Suzy took the Rambler out to autocross with her husband and ace autocrosser Rodney Prouty. Rodney, by the way, is well-known for killing cones in his “Plain Jane” 1968 Camaro.

So Suzy’s Plan A wasn’t working, so it was time to move to Plan B.

Easily spotted are the Spectre intake components that easily fit within the confines under the hood

The Camaro front clip is supplemented by Global West upper control arms and Detroit Speeds lower control arms.

By 1963 parent company AMC, was holding on for dear life. They tried to squeeze as many models out of common components as possible, which is how Suzy ended up with a wagon with a 99-inch wheelbase but 100-inches between wheel well centers. As the plan was to flare the fenders to the extreme, that inch would cause problems. So the wheelbase was stretched to match the car.

The Flair Witch Project was completed inside the Bauter-Prouty family garage

While under the car, the couple installed 14-inch rotors and six-piston Baer Pro+ 6P brakes with 18x11 wheels from US Mags, fitted with P315/30ZR18 BFGs all around. Perhaps the most trick system on the car is the cutting-edge Viking Berserker ASM (Active Shock Management). It’s an intelligent system that collects data from yaw-rate to steering wheel position through a battalion of sensors and adjusts the damper valving up to 1000 times per second. All variables are adjustable through a laptop-based program, so the tuning can be adjusted for almost every handling state between runs, if needed.

The ginormous fender flares were formed and fitted in the Bauter-Prouty family garage as well, earning the nickname of the “Flare Witch Project” around the garage for the amount of toil required to get them fitted and blended properly. While all the cursing was going on in the garage, Suzy was inside sewing all new seat covers and carpets.

Suzy herself stitched the interior including seat covers and floor mats

Ask about their relationship Spectre, Suzy replied “We been loyal to Spectre for years. They supported us on our Camaro build and have become good industry friends.”

We’d love to report on how the gonzo ‘63 Ramb-aro faired in its first autocross, but that event is still to come. Suzy and Rodney had committed to having the beast on display in the Spectre Booth Number 22755 at the 2017 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Spectre 9005 air intake kit fits 2013-2014 Ram pickups

The air intake includes a cast aluminum tube, black powdercoated heat shield and a Spectre HPR0891 air filter and is designed with the physics of airflow in mind to outperform the factory air intake to improve engine horsepower, torque, and engine noise.

You may not be aware that factory intake systems are notorious for restricting airflow and thus inhibiting the performance of a vehicle’s engine. Replacing the factory system with the Spectre 9005 cold air intake ensures that colder air gets into the engine. Cooler air brings more oxygen and denser air into the combustion chamber of the engine and that results in more power. This is achieved because the air intake blocks the filter from the engine compartment so that hot air generated by the engine and other components does not mix with the cooler air being directed into the engine. Not only is horsepower and torque improved, airflow is also enhanced because the tube of the intake has been specially engineered to the proper size and diameter to produce the smoothest and straightest route for the air to flow in a 2013-14 Ram 2500 or 3500 HD.

The Spectre 9005 includes a cast aluminum tube, heat shield, and Spectre HPR0891 air filter

In addition, Spectre offers the HPR4820 AccuCharge precision air filter cleaning and oiling system that is specially formulated to cleanse the filter so that it can be used over and over again for the life of your vehicle. If you drive 150,000 miles and change your regular air filter every 15,000 miles, then you are purchasing and discarding 10 filters. With the Spectre HPR0891 washable and reusable air filter and Spectre’s HPR4820 cleaning and oiling system, there will be no need for you to purchase another air filter ever again.

The engine used to power the 2013-14 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks is the latest version of the Cummins B Series family of engines. Designated the B6.7, the 6.7-liter L6 diesel engine produces 350-horsepower and 650-lbs.-ft. of torque. This particular engine succeeded the previous B5.9, a 5.9-liter (360-cubic inch) Interact System B straight-six engine.

The newer engine offers a larger displacement than the previous engine, features an increase of the cylinder bore and piston stroke to 4.21-inches and 4.88-inch stroke that results in a displacement of 408-cubic inches.

The Spectre 9005 is easy to install with common hand tools

2014 RAM 3500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2014 RAM 2500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2014 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2014 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 RAM 3500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 RAM 2500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models

The Suzy Bauter 1963 Rambler will be on display at the Spectre Performance booth at SEMA 2017

Suzy regularly competes in autocross events with her 1968 Chevy Camaro

“At a recent Goodguys event, Spectre had tents for us to pit at and a big barbecue for everybody"

Suzy's SEMA show car started life as a plain-Jane 1963 AMC Rambler American 440 Wagon

This 2017 SEMA Show car will be powered by a 5.3L Chevy V8 with a Spectre air filter and fuel rail

Suzy decided to replace the AMC straight-6 with a Chevy 5.3L V8, which she tuned to produce an estimated 360-hp. Some of the modifications include a Spectre fuel rail, fuel regulator, crank case breather, and a high-flow intake system. That’s backed up by a modified 700R4 transmission with a TCI Autocross valve body, and the whole drivetrain has been moved back into the firewall 7-inches to achieve better weight balance. Underneath, she and Rodney welded in a first-gen Camaro front subframe, complete with a custom suspension from Suspension Geek. A fifth-gen Camaro independent rear suspension and differential were used out back. And all four corners will be getting big Baer Pro+ 6P brakes, Viking adjustable coilovers, and 18x10.5 US Mags wheels wearing sticky BFG Rival S tires.

Suzy Bauter welding suspension components on her Pro-Touring 1963 AMC Rambler

Thanks to its sub-3,000lb curb weight, low center of gravity, and autocross tuned suspension, the Suzy Bauter 1963 Rambler American 440 Wagon SEMA show car should be a serious contender when she begins campaigning it in SCCA Solo, Goodguys AutoCross, and Optima Autocross events across the Southeast and Midwest. We at Spectre can't wait to watch Ms. Bauter become the next 'Dinosaur Hunter' on the autocross circuit later this year. In the meantime, go check out her '63 Rambler Wagon in the Spectre Performance Booth at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Autocross driver Suzy Bauter plans to be the next Dinosaur Hunter with her little AMC Rambler

The 350/290 when shipped from GM is pretty bland in appearance (Photo: Chevrolet)

Spectre Performance can help. The company offers a full line of the type of chromed steel and polished aluminum covers and components the 350/290 is screaming for. And if you bolt them all on before you drop the motor in your pre-1976 vehicle, the installation will be that much easier.

But back to the motor for a second. It’s named the 350/290. The first number is pretty obvious – the engine’s displacement. The second number is the horsepower as rated by GM. There are sellers out there who claim that if you carefully select your intake, exhaust, and ignition components 300 horsepower or maybe even a little more is available.

The 5432 kit includes air filter, ExtraFlow lid, valve covers, breather, and assorted hardware

So you’ve placed your order for the motor and the delivery arrived shortly thereafter. The black beast is now bolted to your engine stand where you can install the intake manifold, carburetor, and ignition system. It may have plenty of go at this point but it lacks seriously in flash.

Spectre makes things convenient for the engine builder by combining several complementary parts together in a package. This way you’re certain all the pieces will fit and you’ll save a little dough in the process.

The cast ribbed aluminum oil pan is both attractive and helps in cooling engine oil

If you’re planning on installing the later style long water pump, here are a few items to add to your shopping list.

The Spectre 47293 Alternator Bracket Set was designed for Chevrolet Small Block engines with a long water pump. This triple chrome-plated kit includes two brackets and the hardware needed to mount your alternator in a clean and professional way.

We like the look of the Spectre 4930 as not only is it made from polished aluminum, but it also swivels 360 degrees. This means that not matter where you have to route the upper coolant hose, it’ll always end up in the right spot. We also prefer the style of the 4930 over the typical ball and socket look.

The polished timing cover is an great looking replacement for the stamped black cover on the 350/290

That brand new motor deserves better than a discolored old plastic overflow tank. Spectre has several different sizes in both height and diameter. We like the 4192 as it’s easy to fit just about anywhere.

If this 350/290 is headed for an older Camaro, Chevelle, or Chevy pickup, check out the line of radiator support panels available from Spectre. Not only do they brighten your engine bay, the help the radiator run cooler as well by directing more air through the radiator as opposed to around it.

Spectre carries several items that’ll upgrade the appearance and performance of your engine’s oiling system as well. Replace that black-painted stamped-steel oil pan with a gorgeous finned polished aluminum pan from Spectre. We like 4988, which accommodates the 350/290 two-piece rear seal, but also provides a little extra engine cooling thanks to its aluminum construction and “heat sink” fin design. While you’re at it, throw in a plated dipstick like the Spectre 5730 and get rid of that yellow plastic ring.

Our last stop is the front of the motor. We like the looks of the 4935 timing chain cover and its ultra-sleek partner, the 4936 pointer. But let’s face it. Anything would look better than the black-painted, stamped steel cover shipped with the motor.

If you want to go even further, Spectre has a full line of accessories for complete customization

So imagine a fresh new 300 horsepower 350 CID small block Chevy engine powering your ride, with thanks to Spectre for making it look as good as it goes.

Since 1983, Spectre has designed and offered unique and innovative parts and components to fuel your vehicular obsession. Our products are designed and tested to perform and last. We have a state of the art chassis dynamometer with diagnostic and emissions testing and performance optimizing capabilities, as well as a top of the line Super-Flow flow bench with airflow, pressure, and velocity measuring capabilities in both intake and exhaust modes, as well as a full experimental laboratory, all of which are used to develop quality products that perform.

Spectre can turn your 2nd-Gen Dodge Challenger, Charger, 300C or Lancia Thema into a real beast

Every car has an air filter, and it's designed to remove dust and dirt before it gets sucked into the cylinders, where it can damage the piston rings, valve train, and fuel injectors. Air filters are absolutely necessary, but they can also reduce performance. You see, an OE Dodge air filter or OE Chrysler air filter is made from thick folded paper, and uses what is known as a “surface loading” design. This means that all of the dirt it filters out of the airstream collects on the surface between the folds. As this dirt builds up, less air can reach the motor, which obviously reduces the amount of power it can make. Your Pentastar 3.6L V-6, or Dodge Hemi V8, needs a lot of oxygen to turn fuel into horsepower. And the high-flow Spectre replacement air filter was specifically designed to increase the airflow, while also improving filtration.

The secret to a Spectre HPR11257 OE replacement air filter, is in its design. Unlike a stock paper air filter, these are made from multiple layers of oil synthetic material, sandwiched between two layers of sturdy wire mesh. This proprietary material allows the airborne contaminants to be stored inside of the material, which is known as “depth loading”. The oil treatment turns the synthetic fibers into a sticky web that’s able to trap much finer dirt particles and lock them in place. The benefit here is, more air can flow through to the motor, more consistently.

The Spectre HPR11257 is designed to fit the following vehicles:

Increase engine protection & performance with the Spectre HPR11257 OE replacement air filter

Spectre Performance offers a full-line of engine accessries, from Oil Pans to Throttle Body Spacers

There’s a common idiom that states that “the devil is in the details.” The Oxford dictionary defines the phrase as “the details of the matter are the most problematic aspect.” And when you translate that to building or modifying cars or trucks, it can mean that while finding a small block crate motor is a straightforward task, it’s all the little bits – the bolts and brackets and pulleys and dipsticks – can be hardest to locate and might actually hold up the completion of your project.

That’s where Spectre Performance comes in. Spectre offers a complete line of the some of the hardest to find engine accessories, machined from aluminum or finished in triple chrome plating. And while some will improve performance, others just up the “wow” factor when a passer-by first looks under the hood of your project.

You’ve spent countless hours selecting and installing the components of your ride. Let Spectre Performance make the final steps easy with their line of engine accessories for classic Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac models.

Spectre offers various chrome plated brackets, latches, and support bars for the most common classic V8 applications. We carry hood latches and radiator core supports for early Camaros, as well as chrome alternator brackets for small block Ford, and small and big block Chevrolet and Chrysler engines. There’s also a 10-piece alternator bracket set for a professional-looking mounting of the alternator on 1969-1986 small block Chevy engines with a long water pump.

Spectre's Deluxe Engine Kit for SB Chevy comes with Extraflow filter, valves covers, and hardware

Spectre offers triple-plated chrome engine kits that include chrome valve covers with chrome valve cover wing bolts as well as other components that vary by application. In addition, some kits include a chrome air cleaner cover with lid or even Extraflow filter assemblies with lids. Kits are available for classic Big Block and Small Block Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford 335 Series, 385 Series, FE Series, and Windsor engines. There are also kits for Oldsmobile V8 and Pontiac V8 engines. For Small Block Chevys, there are deluxe engine kits that include air filters, breathers, Y-wing valve cover bolts, and additional hardware.

Spectre engine dress up covers fit selected factory engine bay caps, boxes and component covers

While aggressive-looking on the outside, many modern muscle cars are just a sea of plastic when you open the hood. If you own a 2011-2016 Mustang, Dodge Charger, Challenger, or 300, or a 2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaro, Spectre has the solution. These contemporary design covers for various underhood components, which differ by model, all cover the OEM parts so there’s never an issue with fit. And all have been extensively tested to make certain they can withstand the high temperatures under the hoods of modern muscle cars.

Spectre offers chrome master cylinder covers for literally decades’ worth of General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler Corporation models. The applications range from the traditional domed-lid bail-latched versions to the more modern snap-on type.

A humble OEM dipstick can actually be an eyesore under the hood of an otherwise well-detailed engine bay. That’s why Spectre offers several designs, ranging from the OEM type loop, but with lustrous chrome plating, or dipsticks with billet aluminum handles. Chrome dipsticks are available for Small Block and Big Block Chevrolet, Small and Big Block Mopars, 335 and Windsor Fords, and Oldsmobile and Pontiac V8s. Billet handle dipsticks are available for small block Chevrolet, small block and big block Mopar, and Olds and Pontiac V8s.

Spectre's extra capacity oil pan provides 6 quarts of capacity for 1965-1990 Chevrolet Big Blocks

Spectre Peromance offers a wide array of oil pans in a variety of finishes and materials for classic American V8 engines. These oil pans range from unplated steel pans for Small Block and Big Block Chevys and Small Block Fords, to polished aluminum pans for Small Block Chevys and Fords, to triple chrome plated pans for a variety of GM, Ford, and Chrysler V8s. Spectre Performance also offers special extra capacity oil pans for competition applications, with available extended pickups for Small Block and Big Block Chevrolet V8 engines. So whether it’s a utilitarian plain steel look you’re going for, a more polished appearance, or the versatility and protection that a higher capacity oil pan affords, Spectre Performance has the oil pan that you need.

The Saginaw power steering pump was not only installed on generations of General Motors vehicles, but was also installed in certain AMC, Ford, and Chrysler models from the 1960s through the 1970s. The Saginaw power steering pump is also a popular choice when adding power steering to older vehicles that weren’t equipped with the feature from the factory. As the pump is typically mounted front and center, a little flash helps. Spectre offers three type of dipsticks for the Saginaw pump: a triple-chrome replacement type, another with a dual-ring outer edge design, and a chrome-plated ABS cap that snaps over the OEM cap.

Spectre offers alternator, water pump, and power steering pulleys for Chevy Small Block and Big Block engines, Ford engines, and 1979-2004 Mustang engines. Materials include triple chrome plated steel and machined aluminum in single, double, and triple belt configurations. Also available are individual component parts like alternator fans, pulley covers, and pulley shim kits.

Spectre machine-finished aluminum throttle body spacers are designed to increase low-end torque

Inserted downstream of the throttle butterfly, a throttle body spacer increases the volume of the intake manifold so the engine can operate more efficiently, improving power, torque and fuel economy. Manufactured from high quality machine finished aluminum, Spectre's Chevy and GM throttle body spacers are designed to help improve the intake air flow of select Chevy and GM LSX, 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L, 6.2L and 7.4L engines.

Spectre offers triple chrome plated steel or polished aluminum timing chain covers for your Chevy Big Block, Small Block, and Chrysler Big Block Engines. Along with adjustable timing tabs, for improved accuracy, these covers are fabricated from steel and triple chrome plated. Applications include Small Block Chevrolet and Big Block Chevrolet and Chrysler.

Spectre offers a variety of valve covers and accessories, including for Cadillac, Jeep & Lincoln

Spectre offers valve covers for a wide variety of engines, ranging from the Dodge Slant 6 to Ford’s high-performance BOSS 429 V8. Not only does the company offer a full range of six- and eight-cylinder valve covers manufactured from triple chrome plated steel, polished aluminum, gold iridite as well as a few extra styles, but the company offers a number of accessories as well. Several styles of valve cover bolts, cover spreader bars, O-Ring, and bolt styles are available, as well as oil filler caps and breathers.

Spectre Performance engine accessories are engineered for optimum fit and function and the perfect complement to your time and effort. So whether you’ve started your project or are just planning on one, look to Spectre Performance to add some beauty to that beast of your engine.

It only took 25 years but Chris Wissing got the exact 1970 Chevelle he'd always wanted

Chris’s dream had been to rebuild an A-body to his exact specifications, and this Chevelle was his starting point. After a few stalled efforts, a full-time job and a new baby, his wife Rebecca stepped in. No, she didn’t tell him to get that pile of ferrous oxide off her property, but rather told Chris he should send the build out to the shop of his choice and have the car built to his specs – and within his lifetime.

Having grown-up in Eugene, Oregon, Chris decided to use the resources with which he was most familiar. The shop Chris selected was Eron Anderson’s Precision Classic and Collision in Eugene, Oregon. They began where all restorations start: taking the entire car apart and determining which parts were still serviceable and which needed to be recycled. The frame didn’t pass the test, but that was just as well, as Precision installed a modern, bulletproof fully-boxed 10 gauge steel frame with IFS from the Roadster Shop. Step 1 of 5894.

The Chevrolet Performance LS376 motor produces 525 horsepower straight out of the crate

Between those front frame rails reside the desirable Chevrolet Performance LS376 V8. Based on the LS3 that served in both the Corvette and the Camaro SS, the Chevy Performance folks thought it would be an awesome idea to install their ASA full-race camshaft into the LS3. Some tasty tidbits include an aluminum block and heads, L92 rectangular port type heads, 10.7:1 compression ratio, a hydraulic cam that may set some sort of pole vault record with 0.525 lift on the 2.165-inch intake valves and 0.525-inch lift on the 1.590-inch exhaust valves. Fuel is fed from a Rock Valley gas tank with internal pump. Rated straight out of the box (crate) the LS376 delivers 525 horsepower.

Almost as important as the inflow of air and fuel is the movement of spent gases out of the combustion chamber and away from the car. For that task Chris selected a set of headers developed specifically for LS engine installations in GM A-Bodies by Ultimate Headers. From there, spent gases move rearward through a custom three-inch stainless steel exhaust system to a pair of Flowmaster mufflers.

Jon Lind massaged 2004 GTO seats to fit inside the Chevelle, while the dash is from The Shop

Under the hood the real detailing begins. A custom intake feeds the throttle body from a chrome-topped Spectre conical filter that features an inverted cone for improved service life and enhanced flow potential. The entire engine bay has been smoothed out, with custom radiator baffle and injector covers. The Health Department would grade the engine bay an A -- it’s that clean.

Boze Tach alloy wheels wrap Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Hiding are Wilwood six-piston calipers

At the rear, the body received the mini-tub treatment to fit Michelin Pilot Sport 345/30R20 on 20x13-inch Boze Tach alloys. Fronts, by the way, are 19x9-inch Boze Tachs with 275/30R19 Michelins. Stopping the beast are 13-inch rotors with Wilwood six-piston calipers all the way around.

The car was sprayed by Precision in a custom blend of PPG paint.

On the inside Chris spec’d and Precision created a very livable environment. Using front buckets and rear seats from a 2004 Pontiac GTO was both a clever solution and also creates a connection with another former A Body model. The dash, console, and door panels were all custom-built by Custom Built by Clint Jack at The Shop LLC of Pompano Beach, Florida. The recovering of the seats in grey leather, along with matching headliner in grey suede with aluminum inserts and carpet are all the work of Jon Lind Upholstery in Eugene, Oregon.

The level of detail is apparent even in the trunk. Check out the fabricated subwoofer cover

So now after two years and a sizeable investment, Chris is enjoying his Chevelle in several ways. He’s won awards at car shows, he’s competed against other Pro Touring cars in autocross events, and takes his family out for a ride on sunny Sundays. And isn’t that what owning a Pro Touring car is all about?