Turbocharged Five-Cylinder Engine from a Chevy Colorado Propels Wagon to 8-Second Quarter-Mile Time

      Nivlac57 via YouTube

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      Many people are unaware that the first-generation Chevy Colorado came with a five-cylinder engine. Known as the Vortec 3500, it belongs to the Atlas engine family, which also comprises inline four- and six-cylinder models. While few of these engines have been modified for speed, this Ford Fairmont wagon illustrates their potential, achieving an impressive eight-second quarter-mile time at a speed of 153.64 miles per hour.

      This fast wagon is owned by Calvin Nelson, who is known as Nivlac57 on YouTube. He has built multiple Atlas engines, including a 4.2-liter inline-six that produced over 1,000 horsepower at the wheels in a fifth-generation Chevy Camaro. Nelson's channel is gaining traction, and he is assisting others in constructing their own Atlas-powered hot rods.

      The Fairmont wagon shown here has been quick for some time, previously achieving eight-second runs with the larger six-cylinder engine. However, as Nelson mentions in the beginning of his latest video, he wanted to experiment with the often-overlooked inline-five. The outcome is a setup that delivers around 720 hp at the wheels, which is significantly more than what the chassis and suspension were designed to accommodate. He plans to improve traction by adjusting the four-link rear suspension for better power transfer.

      Nelson left the engine’s stock aluminum block untouched and retained the factory camshafts. The head was ported by Snyder Performance, and MW Steel crafted a custom intake plenum that looks impressive. The 75/88mm turbo is a major contributor to the power increase, complemented by a large intercooler that Nelson estimates could support 2,000 horsepower. Overall, the engine has a displacement of just 211 cubic inches, yielding just over 4 hp per cubic inch at the flywheel, which is quite remarkable.

      Listening to it rev past 7,500 rpm is quite a delight. With your eyes closed, you might mistake it for an Audi Quattro rally car or an Audi 90 IMSA GTO. It’s astonishing to realize that this is an American engine, produced and sold here (albeit in relatively small quantities) in a pickup truck! There was even an option for a five-speed manual, which reportedly can handle significant power.

      I can't get enough of these Atlas builds. They are genuinely a cost-effective alternative to the 2JZ and are considerably cheaper than Stellantis' 3.0-liter Hurricane as well.

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