Road and Driver

If you feel like burning this issue to a crisp after reading this story–assuming you actually make it to the end–we feel your pain. Why would anyone pull an automotive Pearl Harbor by putting a Toyota Supra motor in a ‘67 Camaro, an original show-quality RS/SS at that? We’ll save the message board trolls some time by throwing out our own official “WTF?” For decades, Chevy boys have been chuckling on the sidelines while Mouse motors and LS1s were dropped into everything from Porsches to Datsuns to BMWs to Mazdas to Hondas and even Fords. The purists balked. The heretics went fast. Now that the tables have been turned, however, maybe hybrid warfare isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. At least that was our knee-jerk reaction to this sushi burger; but there’s far more to this machine than controversy.

Photo Gallery: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro - Hot Rod Magazine

Once the combination was in place, it was time to put a tune in the car. This would be the key to its performance as a daily driver. Dan strapped his Stang to the Mustang Dyno at Realspeed and set his baseline. To keep the fuel under control, a 255-gph high-pressure, in-tank, fuel pump, along with a T-rex in-line pump feeds fuel through the stock lines to a set of 60 pound injectors. A Crane Hi-6R ignition box supplies spark to the NGK plugs via a stock distributor and Moroso wires. The final result of Dan’s street tune is 525 hp at the rear hides. With racing on the brain, he headed to the dragstrip to see just how well his new combination would perform. After a few warm up passes, Dan launched his R&D rocket to a best elapsed time of 10.46-seconds at 132 mph. This is pretty impressive considering the car was driven to and from the track and gets 17 mpg. “I could easily make it a 9-second car,” Dan tells us. “It’s a street car, I drive it everywhere. I don’t see the point in cutting it up or making it a trailer queen. I have too much fun driving it.”

Photo Gallery: 1990 Mustang GT RealSpeed - Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: 1990 Mustang GT RealSpeed - Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

Go quicker–go faster. That’s been the goal of many a Corvette devotee since Zora Arkus-Duntov joined Chevrolet’s engineering team in 1953 and set out to make the Corvette do just that. Six generations of production Corvettes have gone quicker and faster than their predecessors. But, in more than a few cases, it has taken an owner’s urge, plus aftermarket hardware, to make it happen.

Photo Gallery: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette - Dual Purpose 10-Second C5 - Corvette Fever Magazine

Photo Gallery: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette - Dual Purpose 10-Second C5 - Corvette Fever Magazine

As the weather begins to warm up for most of the country, drivers begin thinking of spring and the services needed to maintain their vehicles now that winter has passed.    

Unfortunately, it’s during this time of year that automotive myths are often unintentionally perpetuated.

Knowing which stories are myths and which ones are fact can be difficult. Because of that, NAPA’s 2009 Technician of the Year, Jack Gregory, is dispelling some common myths to keep everyone’s vehicle running smoothly in 2009.

Myth: Filling your cooling system with all water and no anti-freeze will save you money while not harming your vehicle.
 
Fact: The vehicle’s cooling system requires a mixture of half water, half anti-freeze. “Too much anti-freeze causes the vehicle to run on higher than optimal temperatures,” cautions Gregory. “Too much water can cause lower operating temperatures and possible freezing.”
 
  
Myth: Driving at 56 mph will give you the best fuel economy.
 
Fact: Although most vehicle manufacturers base their product’s gas mileage at 56 mph, driving at that speed doesn’t guarantee the best gas mileage. Keeping a consistent speed, whether it’s 25 mph or 65 mph, will ensure the best fuel economy.
 
  
Myth: Over inflating tires helps with gas mileage.
 
Fact: Over inflated tires cause wear in the middle of the tire. Under inflated tires causes wear on the outside of the tire. “Drivers should inflate tires to the recommended level to maintain maximum fuel economy and improve the life of the tires,” says Gregory.
 
  
Myth: Driving closely behind an 18-wheeler will protect you from headwinds and allow your car to use less gas.
 
Fact: Driving closely behind an 18-wheeler doesn’t help with gas mileage, is dangerous and can be illegal. A sudden stop from the 18-wheeler could force a driver to slam on the brakes or even worse, cause an accident.
 
  
Myth: A vehicle can run a long way on empty.
 
Fact: Once a gas gauge reaches empty, about two gallons of gasoline remain in the vehicle’s tank. It’s always best to not test your vehicle’s limits, especially with colder weather affecting most of the country. 
 

“Vehicle owners should talk with their regular automotive technician about information they’ve heard from others before acting on the info,” says Gregory. “A quick 10-minute stop at your regular service shop will make sure you’re acting on correct guidance.”