There is more than one reason why this 1971 Chevrolet Camaro is simply unbeatable on the drag strip.
This 1971 Chevrolet Camaro packs in a serious punch. Its blown big block motor produces an insane 1000 horsepower. But this brilliant machine looked nothing like what it does now when its owner, Ken Paparella, first got hold of it back in 2009. Since then, he has carefully built it up, giving it a bunch of high-performance upgrades and turning it into the ultimate drag racing machine.
Paparella is a true gearhead. His previous project car was a stunning pro-touring 1969 Camaro that he built from the ground up. But when his buddies started showing up with blower motors, he also decided to through his hat into the ring. He bought and modded the 71' Camaro you see above, turning it into a wild muscle car that is simply unbeatable on the drag strip.
Austin Collins from Hot Rod Heaven USA gives us a full low down of this insane build in a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
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Ken Paparella has always been a first gen Camaro guy. But for this build, he decided to go for the second-gen model of this sports car. So underneath all those fancy upgrades sits a real example of a 1971 Gen 2 Chevy Camaro Z28. Of course, it still has its iconic styling with those split front and rear bumpers. But that's precisely where the similarities between this Camaro and any other 71' Z28 end. Under that pretty body lurks an entirely different monster.
Paparella's Camaro is currently running a Big M Block motor. And he has added several high-performance parts to it. It's got a Callies Magnum crankshaft, a complete serpentine system, a mechanical vacuum pump, and many other upgrades. But the show-stopper has got to be the BDS 1471 Blower that Paparella has slapped onto this big block motor. In addition, there are two quick fuel 1050 carburetors. And a custom adapter plate that Paparella has developed himself.
Right now, the motor in this Camaro is only running on six pounds of boost. And that allows Paparella to drive it down the street and run it on pump gas. But he can easily increase the boost if he needs to take the car out to drag racing events.
With all its upgrades, the big block in this Chevy is producing anywhere near 1000 to 1100 horsepower. And you'd agree that's plenty of power. But the high-horsepower engine is not the only reason this 1971 Camaro Z28 is a serious contender on the drag strip. It also runs several other high-performance parts, giving it a slight edge over others.
It uses a stage five FTI transmission with a 4500 stall pro mod converter. This unit can handle up to 2000 horsepower, making it an overkill for Paparella's Camaro. Power goes to a 430-gear Moser rear end with 35 spline axles. It also gets a custom Spintech exhaust with a four-inch pipe, and a muffler neatly tucked away on the car's underside.
This Camaro rides on TRZ front suspension; at the back, it gets a complete kit from Competition Engineering with adjustable shocks all around. Stopping power comes from Aerospace brakes, interestingly fed by a Wilwood master cylinder. The car gets a massive contact patch at the rear with giant 22-inch by 33-inch Hoosier slicks.
Paparella's Camaro has a fully race-prepped interior. All the components inside the cabin have been fabricated from scratch. As he mentions in the video, the car has got every gauge that you can possibly imagine. The only thing that's still stock is the seats. But of course, they are a bit redone with new foam and better bolstering. Even though the Camaro has a plethora of gauges on the dash, Paparella has still mounted a digital dash from Fuel-Tech Management Systems in the middle.
The multiple levers of the stage five FTI transmission peak through the central tunnel. As Paparella explains, the first lever is to shift the car into second, the second lever to shift it into third, and the last one kicks the car into neutral. The Camaro also gets a complete trans-brake system coupled with a line lock.
The cabin also gets a full-blown roll cage which was fully certified in the past. The cage, along with the dashboard, is wrapped in carbon fiber. Another interesting quirk of this Camaro is that it comes with a quick-release steering wheel.
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As you'll see in the video, Collins has the time of his life when Paparella takes him out for a spin in his blown 1971 Chevy. For him, it's an absolute dream come true. Collins says that he can not take his eyes off the giant intake of the blown big block motor sticking out of the car's hood. And you can't blame him for that, as the chrome-covered unit looks stunning.
For Collins, this insane build is right out of his childhood when he used to collect "Muscle Machines." As Paparella taps on the gas, Collins is slammed into his seat with a massive smile on his face. He mentions in the video that though he has been in a lot of fast cars, this Camaro is different from anything he had ever experienced. And you'd probably agree!
Source: Hot Rod Heaven USA - YouTube
Ayush's love for all things automotive started with his grandfather's old Suzuki. This early initiation has transformed into a passion for cars that he now chooses to express through his words.