Garage-Built 800-HP Chevy Camaro Brings Big Block Power And A Massive Blower: Video

Paying someone else to build your car for you is all well and good, but there’s a place of honor for those enthusiasts that opt to do the work themselves. After all, if you want something done right, you’ve gotta do it yourself, no? Such is the case with this hot-to-trot classic Chevy Camaro, which now makes 800 horsepower thanks to a blown Big Block, as seen in the following in-depth video.

The video comes to us from AutopiaLA and features Nelson Claborn’s 1969 Camaro build. Claborn first got the car 34 years ago at age 14 after his grandfather purchased it for $1,500. Although initially in rough shape with a blown engine, Nelson has spent the last several decades transforming his Chevy Camaro into a truly beastly machine, with much of the work done in his home garage.

The Camaro now boasts a 489-cubic-inch big block engine topped by an 8-71 supercharger. The engine was put together with the help of a family friend who specializes in drag boats, and was upgraded to deliver insane performance for a street car, producing over 800 horsepower at the crank. The car also features a Turbo 400 transmission, a narrowed nine-inch rear end with 3.73 gears, as well as a custom exhaust system using Hedman Husler headers. Further details include a mini-tub, a roll cage, and manual steering and brakes for a raw, driver-focused experience.

Nelson, his wife, and twin daughters worked together on the car, even handling the paint job themselves in their garage. The result is a clean yet aggressive design that maintains some of the Camaro’s original character, including its stock subframe and original-style seats. The exterior shows 15-inch wheels that resemble the original design. However, with 295/55R15 Hoosiers in the rear and a massive blower sticking out of the hood, any notion of subtlety is quickly thrown out the window.

The video concludes with a test drive, so make sure to stick around for that:

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Jonathan Lopez

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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