Sam Krahn 
Make no mistake, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a fast car. Add the 1LE package, and your 650 hp muscle car is one of the most extreme track weapons on the market today. But if you talk to Texas based Hennessey Performance Engineering, their ideal ZL1 is far, far more powerful. We’ve seen the Hennessey Exorcist Camaro ZL1 before, but their latest video gives fans and owners alike a walkthrough on the build of one of the most insane modified vehicles on the roads today.
To date, Hennessey has built over 50 Exorcist Camaro ZL1s, with 100 in total planned for production. And based on the video, they’ve got the process down to a science. The bump to 1,000 hp requires some pretty involved modifications, and Hennessey starts every one by stripping the 6.2 liter LT4 V8 down to the block.
The main components of the build are an upgraded camshaft, ported cylinder heads, valve train hardware, intake, long tube exhaust headers, upgraded cooling, upgraded 10 speed transmission, and of course, a massive supercharger. In the video, the build begins with installing the custom camshaft, then the ported cylinder heads. The Camaro is then jacked up to install the exhaust headers and upgraded transmission.
After the valves are put on, it’s time for the star of the show: a Magnuson 2.65 liter supercharger. Once the blower is put on the top of the engine, only a few finishing touches are required before heading to the dyno.
The specific Exorcist Camaro featured in the Hennessey video is rather unique, as it’s got the track-oriented 1LE package. The owner also decided to go with a different supercharger than the usual 2.9 liter Whipple unit. Hennessey says the smaller blower is better for doing back to back high speed runs, as there is less heat soak than with the Whipple.
By the time the vehicle gets to the customer, a lot of work goes into it. From stripping and rebuilding the engine, to dyno and track testing, it’s no surprise that the Exorcist package costs $55,000 on top of the ZL1 itself. But with over 50 seemingly happy customers, it must be worth it for those with a need for ultimate power.
INSANE! During the video when he was nearing 100 mph, the traction control light was flashing. I’ve driven some fast street cars, but I have never had the wheels break free on a dry road at triple-digit speeds… and at my age, I hope I never do!