Chevy's Website Now Has A Performance Section

"SonorousSpeedJoe" (SonorousSpeedJoe)
10/26/2013 at 16:15 • Filed to: Chevrolet

Chevy recently lumped the Camaro, Corvette and SS sedan into a new !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! section on their website that also includes crate engines, transmissions, other components (i.e. carburetors and superchargers) and Camaro-specific parts.

Here's some of the engines they have available; the full selection includes engines like the C6 ZR1's LS9 and the 770-HP LSX454R, and there are also !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! powertrains with everything you need. I thought that a crate LSA would cost more than an LS7 since it's more powerful and, as I understand it, is a downgraded version of the LS9, but I found out that a crate LS7 is more expensive when I was poking around in this section.

The Camaro section talks about the COPO Camaro and body-in-white kits. It also lists individual parts from the 1LE, ZL1 and Z/28 (as well as the COPO Camaro's hood) that you can mix-and-match with the standard V6 and SS Camaros, in addition to other mods.

Obviously, selling crate engines and such isn't a new thing and GM had website(s) for this already, but I thought it was cool how Chevy put it up front on their website alongside their bread-and-butter operations. The 2013 Chevrolet Performance Catalog can be found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Thanks for sharing this to the FP, Michael!

DISCUSSION (65)

Bakkster, touring car driver > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 17:12

Needs more this:

Kinja'd!!!

And this:

Kinja'd!!!

Victorious Secret > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 17:31

Do they overnight parts from Japan?

Kinja'd!!!

trevster344 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 17:36

They've always sold all sorts of stuff. Just had to go and ask. After the emissions cracked down in the 70's they made the most noticeable push to keep their high power stuff available for many.

Dslay04 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 17:39

Hopefully this performance tab will expand with more and more vehicles. A Silverado and Tahoe would be nice.

signintokinjalol > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 17:39

Been around for a while, i never hear much about the parts. Seems like you can get better stuff at a cheaper price as well.

JustWaitingForAMate > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 17:46

I feel like a kid in a candy store.

M54B30 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 17:51

The gear kits only 14 pieces - looks so easy I can do it in my driveway!

Grim99CV > Dslay04
10/26/2013 at 18:14

LS7 Silverado with a 6 speed?

ThatbastardKurtis > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 18:16

A Chevy LSA in an SS would be the ultimate sleeper car...other than a clapped out Ford LTD with a 5.0 Coyote.

wizkashifa > Victorious Secret
10/26/2013 at 18:18

Better yet, same day from Bowling Green.

Dslay04 > Grim99CV
10/26/2013 at 18:30

Too expensive with the LS7. Honestly they don't even have to change the engine. The L86 with paddles would do fine. Just put air ride or MRC with adjustable height, Recaro's, PTM system, 4WD, and I think you have a nice street performance package. Maybe some hood air extractors.

945T > ThatbastardKurtis
10/26/2013 at 18:37

I had an '83 LTD with a 5.0 (not coyote) and wire hub caps. You don't even know how confused Honda kids can get.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Dslay04
10/26/2013 at 18:39

Even if GM were to introduce a sporty Silverado, I think it would just be included in the Silverado's own page since the three cars we see now are all performance-focused from the get-go.

But hey, we can dream.

Hifrequency > M54B30
10/26/2013 at 18:40

Diffs look easy but everything needs to be space perfectly otherwise it's shredder time, did mine with my dad there's a lot of feeler gauges & crap you better feel comfortable working with.

Liberte for le Jetstar! > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 18:50

Yeah, but where are the DRCEs?

MAKATTAK427 > ThatbastardKurtis
10/26/2013 at 18:58

In Austrailia and New Zealnd, we do have a SS with a LSA Its called the HSV GTS (HSV is like Holdens AMG or M) http://www.hsv.com.au/Gen-F/see/GTS/

PatBateman > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 19:20

Cheese and rice!! When did the 572 crate engine start costing over $17k?!?! Last time I spec-ed it out, it was $13k!!

LSXforYourSuperCar > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 19:26

What I love most about the LS series V8s (and all pushrod motors) is that they are so easy to work on and modify. In fact the LS series was designed with special "lifter keepers" that allow you to swap camshafts without even removing the intake manifold.

I'm not a big gun nut but I understand the hallmark of a truly great weapon is it's ability to be quickly and easily be maintained/repaired by the operator. Among modern performance high-performance engines, only the LSX has this hugely beneficial trait. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the new LT1)

DCCARGEEK > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 19:37

I had so much hope for Mopar and their big push into the aftermarket in-house making/selling of parts, yet each model appears to launch with fewer and fewer parts at time of delivery.

I'm sure automakers would like a piece of the billions of dollars that is the aftermarket world, but I don't see them taking as big of a bite as they'd would have hoped. At least not until they can nail down part availability and part relevancy ahead of a vehicle launch.

jrcm485 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 19:46

SO. MANY. BLOCKS!!!

Can someone please make a wallpaper out of that catalogue?

Thunder > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 20:20

Aww, crap!

I knew this Thursday or Friday, as I went to build a Camaro.

If I had but known it was worth a post, much less one that would make the Jalopnik front page, I would have posted about it.

CRAP!!!!!

Kinja'd!!!

SonorousSpeedJoe > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 20:28

Haha, I didn't think this would make it to the FP either, so it was a nice surprise.

GMHTP > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 20:39

Chevy Performance (formerly GM Performance Parts) has been expanding for awhile, and is staffed by serious gearheads who practice what they preach.
Great to see a performance section on the Chevrolet page!

Thunder > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 20:40

As an aside, a Google Image Search for "crap" is not something to do soon after dinner.

Kinja'd!!!

Zachary Oberle > 945T
10/26/2013 at 20:47

Though a very different platform and engine, I had a similar sort of beast and know exactly how confused Honda kids and other ricers can get:

Kinja'd!!!

'86 Chrysler LeBaron hard-top in full grandpa-spec, complete with vinyl rear roof section. With its hood ornament, old-school grill, wire hubcaps, and boxy/upright proportions it looked just about as lame and slow as a car could be.

However, being a K-body car there were some rather hot mechanicals that could be swapped into it. For a hilariously small amount of money I put together an all-forged 2.2 turbo engine and reinforced+LSD'd A520 5-speed into it. Everything bolted right in with factory fit and finish just like your 5.0-into-an-LTD swap. No sawing, hacking or other nonsense required. It laid down 240 hp/265 ft-lbs at the wheels and tipped the scales at less than 2600 pounds. I had a reasonably quiet exhaust on the car, so nobody ever suspected a thing.

The combination of ugly old domestic car and hot engine is truly magical on the street. Local kids my age were very much into Civics, Celicas, Preludes, and the like. Hunting them down never, ever got old. To see a car like mine light up both tires in a third gear rolling start produced expressions of shock and disgust that I shall carry to my grave. Good times.

Schmitty > Bakkster, touring car driver
10/26/2013 at 20:53

not sure on the Daytona Prototype, but the C6R (and C5R before it) along with the CTS-V racecars are all built by Pratt and Miller, not directly by GM.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 21:24

Chevrolet Performance is the new GMPP, IIRC. I remember spending a good number of college days last year browsing, mixing and matching engine blocks, heads, camshafts, manifolds, carbs.... Too bad I could afford nothing.

Timothy Burke > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 21:26

This is probably a dumb question & it's so late I dunno if anyone will see it, but if these engines represent the highest power and capability Chevrolet can produce, why don't any of them have fuel injection? If you're paying $25,000 for an engine shouldn't you want one with EFI?

Bakkster, touring car driver > Schmitty
10/26/2013 at 21:28

DP is just an engine and bodywork.

Built by Pratt and Miller, but the GTE car is a development exercise for the street car.

Crazy Asian > Dslay04
10/26/2013 at 21:40

Reminds me of when a guy brought a 2012 Silverado with a supercharged 6.2 Corvette engine. The wheels chirped with the slightest touch of throttle. It was indeed awesome.

Maxaxle > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 22:07

Literally, I imagine.

ibanez1953 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 22:15

this is so awesome! Do they still offer c5r heads or even c6r heads

mharry860 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/26/2013 at 22:55

Do you think I can squeeze that 502 into this?

Kinja'd!!!

tobythesandwich > mharry860
10/26/2013 at 23:20

Those terrible rims make it so it won't fit, sorry.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Timothy Burke
10/26/2013 at 23:50

Given that there are motors on this list that should reliably make almost 800 HP, I think that people would value that reliability over a having a feature simply for the sake of it. Any significant change on engines like these would have to be engineered to withstand racing and/or other modifications, so it could either end up actually adding value for the target market or become the reason buyers stay away from any engines in which said change is implemented.

Basically, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." For what it's worth, though, the new C7 Corvette's LT1 engine has direct injection.

mcseanerson > Schmitty
10/27/2013 at 00:01

As long as we're talking about where the really good GM stuff comes from let's not forget about Katech .

Kinja'd!!!

All Powered by Katech motors.

(Didn't really feel the pics were necessary for the post but after looking over them I figured other's wouldn't mind me sharing.)

crankaholic > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 01:03

I don't think the LSA is a detuned/downgraded LS9... even though it was marketed as one (?) The LS9 and LS7 are hand-built with some trick materials (titanium valves, sodium-filled on exhaust) and dry sump lubrication systems, while the LSA is more of a supercharged LS3 that's manufactured on the standard production line.

Howie > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 02:00

26k msrp for the LS9, seems to me Ford offered the 5.8 GT500 motor for a few pennies less but the current catalog confirms the big Ford engine is DEAD except for a service replacement and doesn't have any information or pricing. I did find one online retailer offering the 5.8 for 31k though so I guess based on that the LS9 is a deal.

Syntax > JustWaitingForAMate
10/27/2013 at 02:44

I logged in just to say those exact words sir. Well said.

deeporange68 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 03:36

Not a huge Chevy fan, but this is very cool. Every big domestic automaker needs something like this as a way to connect with people.

Vincenzo71 > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 05:36

I don't think anyone has anything close to what GM has going here. So much awesome, so much variety. GM offers an engine for anyone's needs, wants, price range, etc... bow down to the greatness.

sadfasdf > Zachary Oberle
10/27/2013 at 06:02

I had no idea a LeBaron was that light. My automotive priorities have just been readjusted.

Twonius > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 06:04

I'm starting a new charity.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

To save and improve the lives of all those in need or receipt of engine and transmission transplants. The charity exists to improve education and awareness of engine swaps and to fund projects that increase the numbers of successful transplants in the Cadillac Catera.

Kinja'd!!!

Bluecold > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 07:27

Is it weird that I expected to see weights? No weights are shown anywhere. How much more does a 572 weigh than a 454 for instance?

Clutchman83 > mcseanerson
10/27/2013 at 07:33

For some reason I really love that gigantic rear wing. I usually make fun of this sort of thing. That Caddy looks like it would be moving down mailboxes...

2 Wheels awesome! > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 11:07

Why so many slush boxes GM!?

Old-Busted-Hotness > Timothy Burke
10/27/2013 at 11:26

Many drag racing and circle-track classes don't allow EFI. Old-school hot rodders are more comfortable with carb tuning than EFI. Some people just like carbs.

Old-Busted-Hotness > LSXforYourSuperCar
10/27/2013 at 11:32

LS is proof that American engineers can still kick ass. That engine went from "meh, we'll see" to "gotta have one" in no time at all. The amount of reliable power you can get out of one makes the old SBC look like a flathead.

Schmitty > Clutchman83
10/27/2013 at 12:47

Yup, Katech makes some great engines for sure. I had the change to see and hear the CTS-V and C6R at the Long Beach Grand Prix last year. They were the most impressive sounding cars on the track. Their engines drown out even the ferrari 458's and Porsche GT3RS's that were running around with them.

Brian, The Life of > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 13:12

"What took you guys so long?"

-Ford

ThePinnacle > Timothy Burke
10/27/2013 at 14:33

For racing purposes, port fuel injection still cannot meet the peak power numbers of a carburetor. I know this sounds counter-intuitive given all of the positive press that F.I. receives but most of the advantages to F.I. lie in the realm of driveability and emissions. There are also some advantages to areas under the curve and in transition but in a race car, proper gear selection mitigates these disadvantages in favor of the carb.
To understand why a carb can make more peak power you have to know how they work. They can be tuned to do a phenomenal job of very finely atomizing fuel right out of the boost venturi and thus a properly tuned racing carburetor will almost always provide more peak horsepower than fuel injection. Some of the most powerful naturally aspirated engines in the world (NHRA pro stock) use carburetors to achieve spectacular HP numbers.
In short, if you want the most peak power, a carburetor is the way to go. It is also conveniently cheaper in a lot of instances.

Timothy Burke > ThePinnacle
10/27/2013 at 14:42

This was a great answer & I learned a lot, thanks! I have to imagine that fuel injection will advance to the point where direct injection can result in more power, eventually, though.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > SonorousSpeedJoe
10/27/2013 at 17:06

Holy shit, the Chevy SS is finally on sale!

ThePinnacle > Timothy Burke
10/27/2013 at 17:15

With direct injection all bets are off. From what I have seen thus far, I'd place a big bet on it being better than both Carburetion for peak power and Port fuel injection for everywhere else - hands down. Being a somewhat new technology to the racing scene (I'm unaware of any racing class that allows it aside from diesel - admittedly I do not follow many racing classes) I have not seen any direct comparisons.
With the advent of D.I. on the LT1, I don't think it will be long before someone manages to do a direct back to back comparison on it, or one of its direct injected bretheren (what they are putting in trucks now). I say this because comparisons between carburetion and port FI have already been made many, many times on the preceding generations of Chevy small block.

Vincenzo71 > 2 Wheels awesome!
10/27/2013 at 17:31

They do 'em the best.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
10/27/2013 at 18:10

Yeah, the first shipment just came in , and the site was updated with more info on the SS sedan as well as configurators for both the SS and 2014 Camaro a couple of days before the Performance section showed up.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

BahamaTodd > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
10/27/2013 at 18:21

Hours and hours of fun configurating the SS with all 2 available options.

Zachary Oberle > sadfasdf
10/27/2013 at 18:27

The early versions of them were very light. Mine was actually a bit heavy compared to the very first K-cars. The '84 model tips the scales at less than 2400 pounds, but adapting the more modern turbocharged powertrain to them is more difficult. The '86 strikes a nice balance between lightness, stealth, and relative 'modernity'.

Of course, if you really want to be a weight weenie then you can take the same engine/tranny combo that I used and bolt it into one of these suckers:

Kinja'd!!!

Dodge Omnis, even the later ones, generally weigh in around 1900 pounds. Couple that with 300 ft/lbs at the flywheel and you've got yourself a comically fast shoebox of a car.

Now, with all that lightness comes an appalling lack of safety gear and other equipment. No airbags, no ABS, no cruise control, woeful HVAC system, etc. Granted, none of those aspects are much worse than a lot of other cars from that era, but still, there are sacrifices. Such problems are why I eventually gave up my Turbo-Dodge habit. Great cars to learn on and develop your gear-head-ness with, but there are better automobiles out there to be sure.

BiPolarWithCars > Zachary Oberle
10/27/2013 at 22:27

Damn fine sleeper!

greencow > Zachary Oberle
10/28/2013 at 01:09

Comically fast, as soon as the front wheels stop spinning, and you wrestle the steering wheel to a more centered position after all the torque steer. :P All that aside though, I love me some omni.

Zachary Oberle > greencow
10/28/2013 at 08:22

They can be a bit troublesome that way in stock form, but it's nothing that drag radials and an LSD won't fix :P

OBX makes a helical LSD that is an imitation of a Quaife design. The manufacturing on it isn't quiiite as nice, but it's plenty strong and if you re-tap the bolt holes and clean it up before installing it the little $600 unit will take you a long way.

One of the nicest things about these old turbo-dodges is their equal-length half-shaft setup. The vast majority of powerful FWD cars are plagued by unequal length half-shafts which leads to jacking, single-wheelspin, and all kinds of other issues.

The drivetrain setup on turbo-dodges is preternaturally oriented to getting a good launch. With a little fettling these cars can easily achieve a 60-foot time in the 1.5 second range, which is a performance benchmark than many modern cars, even when modified, struggle to achieve.

Clean, grippy, high-torque launches are the hallmark of the turbo-dodge. Witness the crowd's great reaction to this Plymouth Reliant launching at a local run-what-you-brung drag night:

Here's the same kind of launch, albeit a little slower, from a 2.2-swapped minivan:

Aaaand an Omni doing much the same:

In all of these videos, note the limited wheel-spin, straight tracking, and hilarious leaps-off-the-line acceleration. None of these are super-modified cars. They all retain the factory drivetrain layout, just with stiffer engine mounts, a bit off diff work and plenty of extra boost.

I'm not trying to say "Turbo-Dodges are best drag racers, phwaaaar!" They have great off-the-line characteristics, but tend to get caught by their opponent halfway up the track due to their lack of top-end power. I'm just pointing out that a lot of people think they have ridiculously wayward handling on throttle and that just isn't the case. Despite their high torque and light weight they are shockingly tractable and easy to drive. Even in bone-stock form they are not difficult to get a handle on. Other powerful FWD cars can be much trickier to get a good launch out of.

Zachary Oberle > greencow
10/28/2013 at 08:22

They can be a bit troublesome that way in stock form, but it's nothing that drag radials and an LSD won't fix :P

Clean, grippy, high-torque launches are the hallmark of the turbo-dodge. Witness the crowd's great reaction to this Plymouth Reliant launching at a local run-what-you-brung drag night:

Here's the same kind of launch, albeit a little slower, from a 2.2-swapped minivan:

Aaaand an Omni doing much the same:

Zachary Oberle > BiPolarWithCars
10/28/2013 at 08:32

These old cars make fantastic sleepers. Their ability to create "WTF just happened!?" reactions from those who witness them in action never ceases to be amusing.

My car was middle-of-the-road quick for a Turbo Dodge. For a truly hilarious sleeper, check out Gary Donovan's Plymouth Reliant (same body style as my LeBaron):

The crowd's reaction to his launch is pretty typical of how people respond to these cars. There's the gasp/laughter of the initial shock, followed by the "oh snap! " bemusement towards the car's real-world performance.

2 Wheels awesome! > Vincenzo71
10/28/2013 at 09:41

they should pair up a t56 or the new 7 speed too... hell I don't even see a 2 speed power glide for the drag racers...

rommelrommel > Bluecold
10/28/2013 at 13:27

Shouldn't be too much, 572 is a tall deck big block bored and stroked.