An 800 Horsepower, Front-Wheel Drive Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Exists
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The 2006-07 Monte Carlo SS isn’t usually the platform most people start with when looking to make an 800 horsepower monster to attack the dragstrip. While it did feature a 303 horsepower version of GM’s 5.3-liter V8 engine, its front-wheel drive layout made it less than ideal for most people looking to go fast. But Sam Buscemi had a vision, a vision to take the 2007 Monte Carlo SS he purchased new and create an insanely quick, front-wheel drive bowtie-badged coupe.
“Sure, it would have been much easier and much less expensive to do this to a new Camaro, but I’ve always liked these Monte Carlos and it seemed like a worthy challenge,” Buscemi said. “Yes, maybe it was a crazy idea, but I think the results speak for themselves – it works, and it’s fast. Really fast.”
We believe Buscemi when he says the car is fast. He knew extracting 800 horsepower from the stock 5.3 liter engine would be nearly impossible, so he bought an all-new billet aluminium cylinder block based on the LS7. The engine uses a Callies Magnum crankshaft with a 3.750 stroke, 0.25 inches less than the stroke of an LS7, giving it a 6.6 liter displacement. For that extra bit of gusto, a single turbocharger was installed, creating a whopping 20 lbs of boost. The result is 813 horsepower and 768 lb-ft of torque. Again, to the front wheels.
Of course, with a car that powerful, everything else had to be upgraded too, which Buscemi says was the hardest part. Everything associated with the cooling, engine and drivetrain had to be replaced with aftermarket or custom fabricated parts. The axles were beefed up, as well as the suspension components after the stock lower arms bent on a dyno pull and the front wheels were pulled 1.5 inches forward.
Cooling was another difficult aspect of the build. The car is running a racing-style water pump and a Ron Davis radiator. Holes have been cut in the hood to make way for a hood extractor vent off of a GT500 Mustang, which helped to dispel of some of the heat produced by the turbo. The front fascia was switched with one off of an Impala, because surprisingly, it had larger openings for providing air to the cars heat exchanges.
GM High Tech Performance went for a ride in Buscemi’s insane creation and as it turns out, 800 front-wheel horsepower is just as hard to control as you think it is. They likened the ride to walking a mountain lion through a forest, it’s docile when you are just cruising along, but building the RPM’s is equivalent to trying to control the lion when a deer walks in front of it – it’s almost impossible.
“To be honest, after putting about 300 miles on the car, I’m still learning how to drive it,” Buscemi says. “It takes all your concentration, because if you’re not paying full attention, the torque steer and wheel spin will send you across the road immediately.”
So while its not the last word in performance or refinement, its a hoot to drive, and who can argue with that? Check out the full rundown of Buscemis insane front-wheel drive creation over on GM High Tech Performance.
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My 2004 Bonneville GXP has an Eaton Supercharger along with performance camshafts and heads on it which produces a smooth 440HP and 460FT-LBS. I also put GM’s HiPer Struts, Corsa Exhaust, Brembo Brakes and Bilstein Shocks on it. .
There is virtually no torque steer transmitted into the steering wheel! I love my car so much!
How the hell did you manage that? None of the mounting points are the same. I am intrigued.
I would like more information as i also have an 04 GXP.
What u do beef up the transmission
I have 300 HP and 315 FT LB@1800-5300 RPM 23 psi in my daily driver HHR SS and torque steer. I just changed the two T Maps to three bars and flashed the computer.
It is not really too much of an issue as it is getting traction. With launch control it just slows you down and with everything shut off it will spin the tires even rolling 50 MPH the boost hits.
The real issue is the transfer of weight just unloads the front end and kills traction. This is why we do not see many FWD drag cars and when we do they are using the wheelie bars to hold the front end down.
God I wish it was RWD.
I like the idea of having a sport crossover. The Equinox really needs a sport version with a 5.3L V8 (VVT, SIDI, AFM and iVVL) that puts out a potent 365HP and 390FT-LBS paired to an 8L90 Manumatic or a 7-Speed Manual which sends power to all 4 wheels. Brembo Brakes, Borla Exhaust, Bilstein Shocks, Thicker Sway/Stabilizer Bars, Sport Seats, Sport Wheels, Special Badging etc.
I think it would sell very well because the Saturn Vue Redline, Pontiac Torrent GXP and Chevrolet Equinox Sport all sold pretty good for what they were. Not to mention that the 5.3L would get very good gas mileage with VVT, SIDI, AFM, iVVL and an 8-Speed transmission! Expect a hearty 21mpg City / 31 mpg Hwy!
I cannot stress how much Cadillac needs an X1/GLK competitor! Maybe on the Alpha p!atform. .
How hard would it be to take awd from like a equinox and put it that Monte Carlo or that sweet sounding hhr with 300 hp! Could you even beef up the equinox awd to take the hp, maybe by just letting 25% power to the rear?
Owning a Terrain it is the last thing I would put a sport suspension on. The stock set up is not bad but the vehicle is not really a sport vehicle as it is too heavy and top heavy. Also I would not want the FWD and it would take more then the present 301 HP to make it sporty.
I would rather see a Alpha base small Sport wagon that could be truck like in the way Audi and the small BMW is. Sell it as a Buick to keep the price down to where it is reasonable or even a GMC. The price would be too high to do it right with w Chevy.
I would use a Haldex AWD system as it is much more advanced than the Nox AWD and stronger. I would look for 350-400 HP and a lower ride height.
As for putting the AWD on the Monte or HHR it would take a lot of work and refinement. The cost of any project would also exceed the value of the car by a lot. You would be better off just buying a CTS Turbo AWD or waiting for one of several CUV models coming to Cadillac. One of which I heard will be on the Alpha and provide a perfect platform for a sport CUV.
I have had many say they wished GM had put AWD on the HHR SS. But the SS as it was stickered at $28,000-29,000 and adding AWD would have put it well over $30,000 and while I love my car there are a lot better out there once you clear $30K. Keep in mind that price was 2008 too.
We built a 32 Ford AWD at work and it has a Syclone front drive and ZR1 rear set up. It will do a 0-60 in 3 seconds but slows in the quarter mile due to the extra drag on the drivetrain. It runs good but even with a lot of sorting out it still has issues you have to live with. Automakers do not spend millions on these vehicles and not see refinement results. To do this for one vehicle it is difficult to sort out some of these more complex systems and it can become a compromise.
While this guy did a nice job I would have just picked a RWD platform from GM for it but that is just me.
Perhaps a second generation Encore could fit that description? An X1/GLK size is perfect! Having it on Alpha is just the icing on the cake! Powered by a 1.8L Turbo I4 (VVT, SIDI and iVVL) that has 240HP and 285FT-LBS or a 5.3L V8 (VVT, SIDI, AFM and iVVL) that has 365HP and 390FT-LBS attached to an 8L90.
GMC could really benefit from a new Envoy to take on the successful Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Cadillac needs a mid-size CUV! On the Omega or Super Epsilon platform? I am thinking Omega. .
The hood and wheels are retarded. Those headlights come in a close second. I wonder, did he paint the interior plastic pieces of match the color of the car? Those headlights are not far behind, either.
What are we here, 16?
I have a 2001 Grand Prix GT, has a chip and a K&N intake. does around 250HP but I do not plan on doing more than 320HP because its fwd.
“It’s FWD” is not an excuse. Go buy a pair of GM’s HiPer struts and have at it! Of course you’d have to make some other modifications to the drivetrain so you don’t ruin it like Scott said..
I would like to hear how you swapped the HIPER strut
You will kill the tranny with any more power in the GTP. We had one before and I knew people who built them up and ran them hard and once you got past 320 HP the life of the tranny could see some mixed results. In many cases the tires spin would save the tranny.
Word is Alpha and Omega may both provide a platform.
Steering wheel covers are made of a wide range of fabrics including plastic and leather. Also they come in a massive array of colors, designs and textures. A car owner can get matching covers for his wheel in any car accessories shop including online car parts showrooms.
Where did you get the hood?
Stock hood +Sawzall+ Hood louvers = Current Hood
I would like to do this to repower my 1993 Oldsmobile convertable