Turbocharged Chevy Inline-Six Outperforms V8s with 1,320 HP on the Dyno

Turbocharged Chevy Inline-Six Outperforms V8s with 1,320 HP on the Dyno

      Staff Bros Garage

      There’s something uniquely appealing about an American inline-six. Perhaps it’s the countless times I’ve heard “small-block Chevy,” outnumbering even my own name, but the straightforwardly powerful V8s hardly capture my interest anymore. Additionally, people have been enhancing six-cylinder engines for generations; some even prefer them. This 1936 Chevrolet pickup illustrates that massive power doesn’t require a V8 or large displacement, and simply based on style, it’s a build deserving of admiration. The fact that its turbocharged Chevy I6 generates over 1,300 horsepower on a hub dyno is an extra perk.

      This impressive creation comes from Staff Bros Garage, which began with a 292-cubic-inch General Motors engine and then reduced it to 285 cubic inches. This choice raises some eyebrows since most engine builders opt for increased displacement; however, this approach isn’t novel. Many high-performance Barra I6 builds from Australia adopt this strategy to decrease piston travel, enabling higher revs and potentially faster speeds.

      This aspect is crucial for this build as it is fitted with a Garrett 5020 Gen2 88-millimeter turbo. While there are larger turbos available, optimizing this setup requires the capability to rev to around 7,000 rpm. Achieving the 1,320 hp mark necessitated 42 psi of boost, and fortunately, the stock block remained intact. Interestingly, it was originally marked “Property of UPS,” indicating it has likely endured a tough life.

      However, the stock block doesn't mean the rest of the bottom-end is unchanged. To begin with, Staff Bros Garage had a custom billet steel crankshaft made by Marine Crankshaft for this engine. The connecting rods are forged GRP units, and JE manufactured the flat-top pistons. They crafted the engine girdle in-house using 6061 aluminum, and true to a proper race build, it incorporates a dry-sump oiling system.

      The Chevy engine also features a Sissell ported head equipped with a Bullet custom camshaft. Although some off-the-shelf components are available for the 292 platform, many need to be specially made. Staff Bros Garage reports spending between 300-400 hours building the I6 over the past four years, along with an estimated 1,000 hours of research. This undertaking was never going to be straightforward.

      Managing the engine's operation for optimal power and efficiency is a FuelTech FT600 ECU. It also utilizes the brand’s FTSPARK ignition system, which is an essential upgrade for producing these kinds of numbers.

      Staff Bros Garage

      Watch and, importantly, listen to this machine on the dyno. If you're accustomed to rumbling V8s, it produces an entirely different sound, but it's still delightful music for anyone who appreciates horsepower, regardless of its source.

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Turbocharged Chevy Inline-Six Outperforms V8s with 1,320 HP on the Dyno

What should you do with an old Chevy 292-cubic-inch I6 engine from a UPS truck? Customize every part to make it roar down the drag strip.