Supercharged 1987 Camaro Hits 883 Horsepower
A YouTuber's widebody Camaro rebuild, nicknamed Double Wide, was prepared for SEMA after winning the 2026 Throtl Throwdown.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Performance Vehicles
YouTuber ScrapLifeLee rebuilt a 1987 Chevrolet Camaro purchased for $2,000 into a supercharged, widebody street-drag car nicknamed Double Wide for SEMA. The car was dyno-tested at 883 horsepower and achieved an 8.5-second quarter-mile run.
Why it matters
The project shows how a neglected former race car can be rebuilt into a high-output street machine using a supercharger swap and extensive engine work. It also highlights the parts-compatibility and machining challenges that enthusiasts face when adapting components across platforms.
The rebuild added 66 horsepower over the prior 817-horsepower output at roughly 17 psi, and the car runs 19×11.5-inch front and 19×13.5-inch rear Forgeline F3C wheels with 345-section Toyo tires.
The players
ScrapLifeLee
A YouTuber who documents automotive builds and rebuilt the 1987 Camaro into the Double Wide drag car.
The details
The team sourced a Camaro-compatible Magnuson 2650 supercharger after spare Corvette units had incompatible accessory-drive spacing, and adapting it required extra spacers, fuel-rail modifications, and injector adjustments. The engine is a supercharged LT-based V8 derived from a 2024 Yenko Camaro package, with replacement pistons and Callies Ultra Enforcer connecting rods after severe overheating damage.
Timeline
2026: Double Wide won the 2026 Throtl Throwdown.
Two weeks before SEMA: Double Wide was being prepared for the show.
After SEMA: Lee plans to diagnose the uneven air-fuel readings.
Performance Vehicles
The build repurposes a 2024 Yenko Camaro-derived LT V8 in a 1987 chassis, showing how modern GM engine architecture is being transplanted into older Camaros for street-drag performance.
Enthusiasts planning similar supercharger swaps should expect to source compatible accessory-drive hardware and budget for fuel-rail and injector adjustments. Significant overheating damage can require full engine machine work, adding cost beyond the donor car price.
The takeaway
A neglected classic can be transformed into a high-output street machine, but the parts compatibility and machining work often cost more than the donor vehicle itself.
What happens next
Lee plans to diagnose the uneven air-fuel readings after SEMA.
Further reading
For more builds like this, explore Performance Vehicles coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Guessing Headlights.
