Chevy showcases 650-hp LT4 crate engine in 1970 Camaro RS at SEMA

6.2-liter V8 finds a home in a classic muscle machine

Chevrolet brought its new LT4 crate engine to SEMA in a wrapper that muscle cars fans should find appealing: The 6.2-liter V8 is being showcased this week in a classic 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS.

Pumping out 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, the LT4 is the most powerful production-vehicle engine from GM. Slated to be offered in dry-sump and wet-sump versions, the LT4 is ready to be customized by builders with front-end accessory drive kits and systems like air conditioning. In the Camaro RS SEMA concept, Chevrolet used a wet-sump kit along with this monster of an engine, which is connected to a T-56 Super Magnum six-speed manual transmission -- a setup designed to appease the pantheon of muscle car gods.

The engine is based on the Gen V small block architecture, just like the LT1 engine found in the 2016 Camaro SS and the Corvette Stingray, and features Rotacast A356T6 aluminum cylinder heads to cope with the greater cylinder pressures generated by forced induction.

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The LT4 crate engine pumps out 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.PHOTO BY CHEVROLET

"Chevrolet Performance pioneered the concept of high-performance crate engines and the LT4 represents a new threshold in technologically advanced, production-based choices for builders,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "Whether it’s in a classic Camaro, like this resto-mod concept, or a vintage truck or street rod, the possibilities are almost endless – and that’s exactly how we continue to fuel the dreams of enthusiasts."

The Camaro itself is not meant just to sit on a podium -- Chevy made sure that this thing can walk the walk. The automaker beefed up the suspension and chassis, giving the concept rack-and-pinion steering, an independent front suspension with coil-overs, and a four-link suspension with coil overs out back. The builders of this concept also made sure that it has plenty of stopping power to reign in all those 650 horses, and installed Corvette Z06-based front and rear disc brake kits borrowed from the modern Stingray.

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Chevrolet has updated the 1970 classic with LED lights front and back, in addition to beefing up the suspension, brakes, and wheels.PHOTO BY CHEVROLET

When it comes to exterior design Chevrolet went with Hyper Blue Metallic paint, which is one of the colors offered on the sixth-generation Camaro, in addition to giving it 19-inch polished aluminum wheels. Then there are the obligatory stripes, without which the Camaro just wouldn't look right. The build team also switched out the headlights for LED units front and back to give the car a slightly more modern look. Bottom line: we feel bad for anyone who tries to drag-race this car.