LS-swaps are among the most popular trend going these days, with enthusiasts dropping these iron and aluminum-block mills into some of our favorite muscle cars. Chief among which, is the Chevy Chevelle. As it turns out our friend at BMR Suspension, Pete Apple, owns such an example that he races in entry level heads-up drag racing class in the National Muscle Car Association.
Equipped with Chevrolet Performance‘s relatively new DR525, the sealed LS3-based powerplant and accompanying ECU is aimed directly at the competitive drag racer who wants a slightly more even playing field. With an advertised 525 horsepower on tap, the Chevelle has enough power to get it deep into 10-second bracket with essentially a cam swap. Rounding out the hardware is a fortified gearbox, Strange Engineering rearend, BMR suspension and Viking Performance coil-overs found throughout the chassis. Hedman headers help expel the spent fumes from the aforementioned LS3.
The Chevelle rolls on lightweight Billet Specialties wheels, which shave weight and give the A-body a killer look, while Pete relies on a Racepak gauge cluster to provide him with information on the engine vitals and vehicle performance, among other benefits. Closer details reveal a set of E3 Spark Plugs firing all eight cylinders, with an FTI Performance damper Aerospace Components and Hedman Hedders all contributing hardware to the final build. Pete will be making stops and various drag competitions all over the country, including Holley LS Fest, and others, through the rest of 2016 and into 2017. Check out the video above, if you haven’t already!
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of AutoCentric Media, the parent company to Timeless Muscle Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the magazine’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next round modifications for his own cars.
