General Motors’ LS engines have ended up in many cars not made by the American automaker. It has been the bike of choice for enthusiasts and tuners alike for years because of its power potential, finding its way to many makes and models, such as the 1991 Nissan 240SX in the Hoonigan video above. It goes head-to-head with another LS-powered monster – a modified fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro.
The 2002 Chevrolet Camaro featured a juiced 6.0 liter V8 engine. Output with nitro is between 700 and 800 horsepower (521 and 596 kilowatts). Power goes to the wheels and a 9.0-inch rear end via a two-speed gearbox. Inside, the owner gave the Chevrolet safety cage.
Nissan owners replaced the 240’s engine with a nitrous LS motor. The Coupe pumps out around 700 hp, which puts it on par with the Camaro. It would seem like a fairly even race given the engine specs, but there’s a big difference between the two – weight. The Camaro weighs around 3,600 pounds (1,632 kilograms), while the Nissan weighs in at around 2,800 lbs (1,270 kg), giving the 240 a sizeable lead once the race starts.
In the first race, the Camaro jumped the start, sliding from the line well ahead of the Nissan. Looks like the redo is in order. However, the 240SX has enough power to propel itself past the Camaro and across the finish line first – about a car and a half.
The second race retains the same format as the first – head-to-head and 500 feet. The Camaro did not make the start this time, with both leaving the lineup at the same time. The rears of both cars disengaged as they raced down the track, but Nissan held on and crossed the finish line first to win the fight. Camaro struggles for more traction than Nissan.
While both LS powered cars produce the same horsepower, the Nissan is much lighter. The powertrain has less mass to move around and could translate that power into two straight wins over the Chevrolet.
