LS1-Powered Chrysler More Than A Captive Import

Remember the Chrysler Conquest? Most people don’t. Simply a rebadged version of the Mitsubishi Starion that was produced from 1987-89, it was a competitor to the Nissan 300 ZX and other Japanese Camaros that were popular at the time. The top TSI version was equipped with a turbocharged and intercooled 2.6L four, but Michigander John Lazorack III had a different idea: an LS1 out of a 2002 C5 Corvette paired to a TREMEC T56 6-speed transmission.

But this Conquest is not just an engine swap − it’s an impressive nut-and-bolt rebuild to make the Mitsu a hot track car.

After enjoying the Conquest during his teen years, life’s priorities took over and the car was holed up for awhile. Upon unearthing the Conquest and playing around with it, John decided to tear it down and rebuild it from scratch − basically, living up to its namesake. He designed a roll cage, built it digitally, and then had a professional fabricator weld it in, as John had not yet learned to weld.

Then John stumbled upon a Corvette LS1, which he promptly snapped up but, alas, he then had to save his pennies to be able to afford the TREMEC tranny. In the meantime, John cut the firewall so he could install the LS1 as far rearward as possible for better weight distribution. He then taught himself how to weld so he could cut out the entire center section and make things fit, but then other issues arose that needed to be addressed, such as relocating the steering system due to an intrusive oil pan. John redesigned the steering knuckles for better geometry, then built them digitally and had them CNC’d. Tubbing the front inner fenders for tire clearance at full lock came next, so once he had the chassis back in place, John proceeded to custom-build the interior.

Four years, $10,000, and about 25,000 miles later, John has a daily driver that can be taken to the track for road-racing, drifting, or drag racing, and then be driven back home.

Not a bad fate for a captive import.

Exterior

• 17-inch HRE 505 wheels (17×9 front and 17×12 rear)
• Nitto tires (255/40 front and 275/40 rear)
• Ford Mustang 5.0 power brake booster with a 1993 Cobra master cylinder
• 2004 mustang cobra PBR calipers, 13-inch rotors 
• Hawk Black pads
• Modified front fascia
• Vacuu-formed fog and turn signals, with custom-made LEDs
• 2004 Caddy STS HID headlights, hand-made housings, lenses, etc…
• 1989 Mitsubishi Starion tail lamps, cleared, then tinted red inside
• Custom-built, vented aero hood
• Body-molded b-pillar vents

Interior

• Full spec, custom-designed DOM roll cage, fabricated by Art Morrison
• Sparco Evo-L seats
• Corbeau five-point harnesses
• Redesigned interior, hand-fabricated from aluminum, carbon and suede
• Autometer Gauges for oil, voltage and water temperature
• Pivot 10K tachometer
• Full toggle-switch controls
• Push-button start
• Complete re-wiring of the entire car
• Trunk-mounted OPTIMA battery
• Power windows
• Samsung in-dash tablet pc
• Hand-made hydraulic hand brake

Engine

• 2002 Corvette LS1
• Improved road racing oil pan with baffles
• Custom intake with K&N carbon fiber filter
• Cable-driven throttle body
• Hand-built long-tube headers to dual three-inch collectors, leading to a single 3.5-inch exhaust system with a Magnaflow muffler
• Custom poly engine mounts
• Three-inch dual-pass radiator
• 16-inch torque flow fan
• Modified wiring harness
• T56 six-speed transmission
• Custom-made shifter and knob
• Tuned by Church Automotive Testing
• 400+ horsepower at the wheels

Steering/Suspension

• Swapped rack and pinion using a Ford 5.0 steering rack
• Poly rack bushings
• Steeda bump steer kit
• Custom designed, CNC’d steering knuckles for better steering geometry
• D2 custom-valved coilovers
• Custom control arms
• MK1 poly bushings
• Suspension Tech sway bars

Chassis

• Stitch-welded
• Firewall cut out and rebuilt along with the entire transmission tunnel
• Engine relocated six inches rearward for proper weight distribution
• Front end tubbed for steering clearance
• Modified front crossmember