Sam Krahn 
Katech is one of the reputable General Motors engine builders of all time, full stop. This is because the Michigan-based company successfully built race engines for the championship-winning Cadillac CTS-V.R, Corvette C5.R and C6.R, among a list of other race vehicles that’s too long to mention here. Plus, theyBacked by all of this experience, Katech has just released the new Track Attack LT5 crate engine. Folks, this Katech C7 ZR1 engine packs 1,159 hp, 1,063 lb-ft of torque, and you can buy one. You know, just in case the standard 755 hp engine is too feeble for your needs.
To get these insane power levels, the team at Katech has completely overhauled the LT5. It features proprietary LT5 CNC-Ported cylinder head with Competition Valves, new pistons from Diamond Pistons, and two supercharger choices. One is Katech’s own CNC-Ported LT5 unit, the other is a Magnuson TBVS 2650 Supercharger. Displacement is also rated at 388 cubic inches, up from 375, while compression is raised to 10.3:1 from 10:1.
There’s no word on price right now, but the Katech Track Attack LT5 won’t be cheap. To get an LT5 from GM directly, you’re already looking at $18,811 before any modifications. You could probably go to another tuning company to get similar power out of the engine, maybe even for less money, but it’s hard to deny Katech’s legendary reputation in the engine building scene.
Katech has built up GM small blocks to be endurance racer engines that competed in the infamous 24 hours of Le Mans. The new Katech C7 ZR1 engine will certainly be capable of making it to the local car meet, and then some. It’s called the “Track Attack” for a reason. Plus, GM engines are already known for their reliability and durability from the get-go.
GM crate engines are also known for the compactness the small block design allows. This means the Track Attack will fit in a decent amount of vehicles, although not every car’s chassis can handle this level of power. Still, we can’t wait to see what this engine ends up in.
