The Eight Engines of the Crusher Camaro!

shop.davidfreiburger.com
The Crusher Camaro has been a project car for 24 years, and in that time it has been powered by eight different engines. In this video I’ll tell you all about ‘em, from the factory in-line six through the current tunnel-ram Small-Block. What’s next for the car? Not sure yet!
#crushercamaro #davidfreiburger #67camaro

[@AspearMotorSports]

Driving old cars reduces pollution and saves resources by not creating the need for more new vehicles. Keep old cars running and out of the scrap yard.

[@FappinSteve]

Except...Ya know..Emissions

[@alabamacateye8324]

Connor you drive a Prius for the “emissions” haha. I never will. No cats, no mufflers for the win.

[@alabamacateye8324]

jonny j yessir.

[@josephcannon3938]

@jonny j Engineering explained did a video on it, you are incorrect.

[@rtchrg440]

Blown all aluminum BBC FTW! That car just looks right with the blower.

[@jaymorrison2419]

Who dosnt like a little blown BBC...

[@AB-80X]

@Esteban Pedroza Sure they can. In a world of 800+ cid mountain motors the lowly 9.8" BBC has become somewhat "small".

[@hankbizzo5]

Don't think everyone is talking about the same kind of BBC..

[@moneygeewtee]

Whooooaaaaaa…...no adds, just straight up talk about the crusher Camaro???? Impressed!!! But what's with the bagged buick??? Miss you guys.

[@Serps-ii9zc]

The Buick was pre-Roadkill Roadkill. It's actually a pretty awesome car, here's one of the videos of the rescue from like 7 years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXKpoItpn8upsLs

[@jonathanthomsen7218]

I liked the ls7 combo you guys did live. That seemed like the perfect combination

[@king0cans]

To me that car is a piece of history. It really doesn't matter what David puts in it because it will always be fast enough for the street and be cool. Good job!

[@WhistleTeets85]

That Mast LS7 was the best motor u had in the Crusher so far, speed wise. Running 10.0s and might've been able to hit high 9s.

[@AB-80X]

If you do the math, you will find that the current setup is actually faster.

[@GJ-DT]

@@AB-80X you are very right

[@GJ-DT]

With same setup 700 hp ls7 ran 11.1 the blueprint 400 tunnel ram 550 hp motor runs 10.67. 150 hp less than ls7.

[@zaygobrazy5246]

@@GJ-DTbut the ls7 ran 10.07 naturally aspirated

[@Elgauno]

Man, I remember reading about this car back in high school. When I first saw the thing back on Roadkill I was instantly brought back to me reading about this car instead of my school textbooks.

[@KBCC_Garage]

Thanks for the history of the Crusher Camaro. It’s been home for a lot motors and styles. Can’t wait to see what’s next.

[@YouGotsTheRabies]

One of the first magazines I had was the one where David saved this car from the crusher. I vaguely recall that he commented how good the carpet was due to the floor-mats still being in place. The 6-cyl ran smooth. The owner was going to crush it because he had some misguided belief about the smog it produced, and somehow David talked him into a sale.

[@P245Sig]

Remember reading about the Crusher Camaro because the only place you could go to relieve the boredom of in-school suspension was the library and I read years worth of Hot Rod and Car Craft. Wild to see the car 30 years later on.

[@Midnightcrew828]

Keep going with the t-shirts, and the history of the cars! They are awesome!!👍🏻

[@pra3t0rian]

Thanks for doing these videos! Do the blown big block! More TJ videos!

[@ninhomanoel7874]

Just got my crusher Camaro shirt in the mail! Looks great and fits awesome!

[@mattg7952]

Nice to see you still have Ricks moms Buick

[@jamesmeidinger7435]

Bought my shirt just the other night. One of my favorite cars that you have worked on. The scoop alone is fantastic!

[@AngelRamirez-oe4og]

How come I didn't know that this channel existed??? Love the Camaro btw 👌👌

[@phishphan49]

thank you for the video david, i've missed seeing you in the "up next" column

[@chevynova-ev6qp]

Go back to the 489 version (the best version) stance and everything, put a bigger inch motor in like a 502, put a blower back on it and make real power and race the blasphemi

[@AndrewMSS]

Ordered my t-shirt so i can wear it in my 67 Camaro! Love your work David

[@Closeoutracer]

Hey David .. Just wanted to say Good Job on doing some needed Body work on the Mach 1 ... I was hoping you weren't gonna let it languish in beat up body/cond. Absolutely the right thing to do. You're threading the needle. Way to go.

[@ethancain6857]

Just ordered my Crusher Camaro shirt!!! Thanks David you’re awesome. I live in MN and was hoping to see you in Brainerd but I couldn’t make it sadly. I’m excited to see the episode tomorrow.

[@bradfuhrmann5768]

If I remember correctly, the blown 489 short-block was assembled by Dougan's Racing Engines when HRM wrote a book on building Big Block Chevy engines, which was directed by you. The 489 BBC engine was used in a comparison between two Big Block Chevy engines that were identical except for the ring gap to test the theory of piston rings affecting performance.

[@123Jokkmokk123]

The 489 Big-Block with the Blower was the coolest! It would be cool to see it with a Inline six and make a complete cruiser of it!

[@edt11x]

Love hearing about the Crusher Camero, RumbleBee. Would love to hear about each of your cars, running, not running, dreams, etc.

[@cameronjansz88]

I can listen to freiburger all day

[@tyvekhomewrap9164]

Favorite setup was the Mast LS7, the thing ripped and sounded awesome

[@jnng7463]

Frieburger, talk Dulcich into selling T shirts. I would get some of his shirts too. If he put that ratty engine hoist with an engine on a shirt as a joke that many would consider buying it

[@thinredpaste]

I absolutely would buy that. doesn't even matter what the engine hanging on it is.

[@Indalsman]

Probably a mopar 318 smallblock :)

[@jorgyr36]

Don't hit the DART.. Is what it should say on the back!

[@jnng7463]

get an image of Steve's loud shaking grinder you don't like with you appearing annoyed with the thing on a Tshirt; that would expand your reach to the Roadkill Garage fans. All you have to do is reposition the wheel to make that awful shaking to go away;

[@cenoviopereira8603]

Hell yeah, Dulrichs face coming out the bbquda, Rat fink style

[@takovchannel]

Love to see mr.BigDave on youtube. Awesome! Love this shirt. Also... Kinda miss good-old Dave&Mike shows on KZbin platform. Totally love the shows on MTOD and watch em multiple times, but they are not the same old vibe. Oh-uh.. mr.BigDave! How crazy would it be to join Kibbe&Finnegan show at least once? 😱😀

[@ToomasTelling]

awsome history.

[@79c10man]

I love the Camaro David !!!

[@shitbox7413]

Love the Crusher Camaro! 👍🏻

[@supersupernova74]

I’d like to see more videos on what’s not safe to drive. I grew up in sketchy rides, what’s normal to me other is “certain death” to others.

[@BustedClassicGarage]

I think I'm finally at that point of reliability with my 79 Cursemaro that I plan on doing my first Power Tour next year... unless it blows up again. See you there.

[@AB-80X]

If you keep blowing up engines, your car is fine. you're the one who's doing something wrong.

[@EphICanIMite]

I dig the idea of a blown aluminum low deck big block! Maybe a 540 inch?

[@AB-80X]

It would be nice to see the Crusher back on Roadkill Garage or Roadkill. Would be great to see an episode about a Nitrous/9.99sec challenge. Seems like the current combo has a ton of potential using a 150-200 shot plate system.

[@Zero-Fox-Garage]

I might be mis-remembering, but I recall the Crusher having a Gearstar 4l70E behind the Mast 427...and Gearstar being nervous when they found out the power the LS7 was making. Just double checked Roadkill episode 24. Finnigan mentions bolting up the Gearstar 4L70E at the 9:45 mark.

[@TheDavidFreiburger]

Rene Jelles maybe. I thought it was an 80

[@anthonywebber2211]

Rene Jelles I thought it was a 4L70E aswell

[@dalesubic345]

It was probably a 250 because that is what my 67 RS came with? My first was a 65 Mustang with a 200 strait 6 with a 3 speed on the floor, it was almost indestructible. My second was the Camaro. What I learned about Ford's from my first car was that Ford changes their stuff every 6 months. You can use Chevy stuff for many years. Now you can use Ford stuff for about 3 months and it always has to go to the dealer. My 67 RS with a 250 and a 3 speed on the floor was faster than any thing that Detroit had to offer in the 80's. My friend threw a wrist pin on his 67 Chevelle. I got the ISKY cam and lifters and I bought a , Holley 500 cfm 2bbl for the Camaro. It was a bad ass. It could out run any of the new v8's.

[@matthewolerhead8275]

Love that car..

[@XxMusclecarsxX]

I like how the n/a sbc is just as fast as the blown bbc lol. Blower still looks better tho

[@willtaunton8172]

I like the Cleveland idea for the Camaro.

[@aaronpantoja2251]

Shirts look like they fit great. Sleeve length is almost as important as the arm to window angle in a car.

[@adambrown7741]

All aluminum blown big block all the way!!! Put a 4 or 6 speed auto behind it! All the torque of a big block, and the weight of an ls! How could that not be amazing? Fuel injection would be a must!! A 6l90e would be sweet behind one!

[@tomstech4390]

Or twin turbo small block. Similar torque. Less weight. Better economy on the cruise on part throttle (blowers don't like to be throttled), No strain on front bearing shells. Doesn't look as cool but retains a more modest unassuming look....until you get on the 2 step and it gets rowdy.

[@richterman3962]

Auto sucks dude

[@adambrown7741]

Toms Tech The newer blowers are pretty sweet. And an all aluminum big block might be lighter than an iron block ls. I’d have to do the math. Plus he already has the fbomb. Remember it’s like a 400 twin turbo ls car? Why do it again?

[@adambrown7741]

Damon Richter This car is an auto car. Of course he could convert it, but it already is an auto. Also if you are building a drag car generally an auto is better. Good tuning for the newer auto trannies like the 4l80e and 6l90e makes them amazing. My truck has a 6l80e and it’s super smooth. The 6l90e is just far stronger.

[@AdmiralRustyShackleford]

A supercharged all aluminum big block would be cool, but an all aluminum small block would weigh less, you could easily get 700hp out of a 383, the Draguar for example. That Magnuson LS3 should've been the best one. Had you ran it in 50 degree weather instead of 100+ or whatever it was, it could've gone 9's I'm sure.

[@AB-80X]

It's not that simple. The LS3 really showed the limitations of the current setup. If you want to get this car deep into the 9's, it needs a new basic setup.

[@darrenfarrell8316]

always wondered who owns this car now i now nice ride love the show

[@RexCars1]

I love the idea of that engine in the 56.. ( has to be a manuel trans though ).

[@RexCars1]

and Yes.. I think it's time for the Crusher to have BBC.. All Aluminium.??? Even BETTER.. LOT'S of Winning

[@MichaelMyers-qc1dd]

LONG LIVE THE CRUSHER CAMARO!!🤘🤘

[@QuickSpeedShop]

I saw the Crusher Camaro at Carlisle, PA in, I think, fall 1994? It must have been right after you saved it. It was yellow and was right when the first cover story was done in Hot Rod. Am I remembering correctly?

[@cesareomendez6794]

Hey there Mr Freiburger! My question is more for Dulcich but hope you can shed some light. I have a 360 mopar engine with kb107 pistons(flat tops) 9.6 to 9.8 compression ratio. I plan to use the 292/508 mopar cam. Which is about 248° @ 50. So it is a large hydraulic with 108 lobe separation. I am a member of forabodies forum. There a # of members suggest to put this cam in 4 to 6 cam degrees advance to keep good low end. Does that sound ok? My rear gear is 3.91, have a 3400-3600 stall FTI 9.5" converter. Up top a Holley strip dominator single plane intake. Thermoquad that is modified to run better. Sorry for such a long story!!

[@kevinpearson3820]

Love your vids man love the crusher Camaro. But I just have to ask you one thing why the hood prop and no hood Springs is it like a fiberglass hood or something I haven't kept on up on it too much if it was fiberglass would the Springs break the hood because it's just the hood prop looks so bad and it's such a nice car and you've worked so hard on it.

[@jonnyboy3674]

@david freiburger i could really use your input on something. I just had a compression test done to my 5.7 hemi and the diagnosis was that it was loosing vacuum/pressure down towards the bottom of the motor near the crank case. Ive never actually done a motor swap nor had to remove pistons from a motor so... i guess is what im asking is where exactly is the crank case on a 2010 5.7hemi? Also are their any seals around the crank case that could potentially be causing the 46% pressure or vacuum loss? If the crank case is down towards the bottom of the motor is their any way that i can get to the crank case by removing the oil pan or do i have to actually disconnect and remove the motor to get to it??? I would really appreciate your input on this or at least some kind of response. Thanks -jon

[@darryl163]

Replace your pcv valve and all old cracked vacum lines

[@shotforshot5983]

I've always liked real world streetable stuff. More so than trailer queens, you get to enjoy them. The run to the parts store, grab a burger, pick up a buddy at the airport, go to a concert out of town. Take it to work or drive it cross country.

[@Ezrider359]

blown big block. that car was at its best with the blown big block.

[@astark7439]

This car got me into the hobby....

[@TheDavidFreiburger]

A stark How cool!

[@MrMoparWagon]

Id love to see a built 6 go into it. You could even do an engine masters shoot out between the big three inline/slant sixes.

[@n8rev156]

I'd love to see that too. Ford 300 vs Chevy 292 vs Slant 6 shootout.

[@jackmagnium6115]

@@n8rev156 forgot the vortec 4200

[@ayitsyaboi]

Holy shit a clean garage.

[@stevenvanheel3932]

Put a slant 6 in it so that Dulcich can become emotionally attached to the car.

[@projectcarz4798]

Hey im basically biulding the stroked and bored big block with supercharger i was wondering what ignition box i should us can i use msd 6al-2 programmable

[@danielscott6787]

Really odd that its been 26 years since the introduction of the Crusher Camaro. I've always wondered what color of yellow the car is painted??

[@originaldylanbaxter]

Whoa, free content? Miss you guys...

[@AB-80X]

If you go to Motor Trend I guess you'll realize that the Roadkill is free as well.

[@badopinionsrighthere]

Slightly relevant: which classic muscle tire do you prefer, BF Goodrich Radial T/A, or Cooper Cobra Radial GT? (if show sponsorships would make answering this difficult, feel free to ignore me)

[@joefries365]

imagine the hype if you rebuilt the 489 big block and put it back in with a fresh 871, that episodes views would go through the roof

[@dj85241]

Please do the aluminum big block!

[@1962mrmongoman]

What David wants , David gets

[@forterierocks]

Screamer 302 would be sweet!

[@jacobmarshall7945]

Is the 632 going back in with a blower on it ?

[@stevesolo16]

I have a 496 BigBlock Brodix Oval port heads. Do you have a tunnel ram for sale? I live in Orange, Ca.

[@n8rev156]

Would be cool to see a built, boosted inline 6 to pay homage to the original engine.

[@jackmagnium6115]

the vortec 4200 would be a good option, its found in most chevy cars and is very easy to mod. and reliable too

[@johnbecay6887]

thank you Mr. Frei..that history lesson was entertaining...

[@lobmin]

Thanks for putting stuff up here for us to see, you litterally just have to set up a camera like that and tell us about something :)

[@TheDavidFreiburger]

lobmin Thanks

[@jackmagnium6115]

@@TheDavidFreiburger so what would be the next engine swap? i was thinking of the vortech 4200 inline 6 to basically own to what it was originally. and use a procharger too cause that would set it apart from all cars of its category

[@hugovazquez2283]

Which engine was the one that came from nacogdoches texas???

[@TrakSpock1]

The blown big block chevy with gold anodized valve covers is the best there was, best there is, and the best there ever will be! Pull that BBC back out of the Impala, rebuild it, fuel inject it, and put it back in the Crusher Camaro with the 6-71 blower. That's the engine on the t-shirt for a reason.

[@cew142]

David, is that a blueprint 400? I've been considering blueprint's 400, but i have not heard any comments on whether they are a quality unit.

[@TheDavidFreiburger]

cew142 Yes, it is a Blueprint crate 400 with a different cam and intake. It made 550 hp on the engine dyno. See the very first episode of Engine Masters for details.

[@cew142]

David Freiburger Thank you!

[@AdmiralRustyShackleford]

I'd like to know the weight difference between an all iron blown big block, and a n/a all aluminum big block.

[@oldchevysonthefoothills694]

I hope you have been using AC Delco spark plugs for it! 🤨

[@95Sn95]

I think its awsome some1 of davids status installed a gen 1 in the new LS everything world we now live in, even if its just temporary. Kinda like the pre LS days some tenacious people who ran gen 1 smallblocks and successfully compeated with rank bigblocks. I just love underdogs like the sickos that build high hp 305s or build 335 stroker 305s, not for me but like seeing it. But if i had $ to burn i deffinatly do some foolish impractical builds like pro charged stroker 305 in pro touring iroc or 18° headed turbo or procharged 302 sbc in a road race car or something whacky.

[@lb9gta307]

He still remembers how good those older engines are.

[@jaredanthony8070]

I was thinking about it last night and was trying to put a number of how many cars you own currently lol I'm guessing 15-20 counting the ones at dulcich's that are yours. Also the crew can chevelle, the crop duster and the camando are yours correct?

[@springfield03sniper]

He said a few years ago he owns like 8 jeeps alone

[@jaredanthony8070]

@@springfield03sniper hes bought and sold a lot since then. He went down to like 3 flattys but also has his tj and his jk. Bought and sold a lot between then and lately bought a lot lol

[@ethanross5919]

Im kind of pleasantly surprised that you keep uploading videos on here. KZbin needs a little more david frieburger mind barf.

[@cew142]

Have you guys thought of doing roadkill episodes with your fans? I would love to do an episode with you guys. I am a real gear head that knows how to wrench on cars. And i have a chevelle project car...

[@jacobszymczak9323]

Throw an 8/71 on that Blueprint Engines 598 from Engine Masters? Since its the size of a normal Big Block Chevy should fit pretty well, already have a hole in the hood, just need to remove the Grump Lump

[@craigarcher7594]

I swear I remember a rescued yellow Camaro on Horsepower TV. Is it the same car??

[@gregspohn1236]

Does anybody know if and when the Crusher Camaro was first printed in Car Craft magazine? What issue? Should be in 1994-95.

[@hassanhayek6067]

@Greg Spohn it was never printed on car craft it was only on Hot Rod magazine back in 1995 that’s when the Crusher first appeared.

[@tjsean0308]

Isn't the Blown Blue Print motor in Lucky's ChevHell?

[@TheDavidFreiburger]

tjsean0308 Nope, that’s a different engine

[@oldbuckindepmo7682]

Have you ever considered building a tricked out old school straight six for Engine Masters or one of the project cars you guys have parked in the weeds?

[@TheDavidFreiburger]

OldBuckIndepMo I have considered it

[@TheDaltonmichaels]

take the supercharged 6.2 litre , turbo it, and put it back in for power tour. its had so many engines why not give it the most popular current one. before it goes back to its supercharged big block.

[@Peteanigans]

Turbocharged straight 6 for the win

[@large_n_widetm2116]

No. So much no.

[@gasratzcustoms]

Awesome Camaro!!! We are dropping a video Friday of a 6-speed, blown 434 72 Camaro, that we built in the back yard haha. Talk about a bad bitch, hiding close to 1000 horse @wilwooddiscbrakes 6-piston @holleyperformance Sniper EFI @quick_performance 9” rear end @americanpowertrain Magnum T56 #

[@2000freefuel]

for a good laugh in Cali, add a GM diesel mill to the Camaro's laundry list of engines. with the way SMOG works there it should be good for pissing off a number of people.

[@nick4506]

if the car is older than 1975 than the smog laws don't apply. also I don't think trucks count either

[@meanf1502]

The crusher camaro is like the all time bad ass camaro an it has a brother called the f bomb which is another bad ass camaro stay Chevy

[@orrprosegaming7851]

Make sure the salt isnt killing the body

[@kshitijtulsian5271]

Dude what all cars do you own Do an update

[@InternetDude]

Put the straight six back in it and cruise 🤔

[@ethanross5919]

That would be neat but once a car goes v8 it never goes back.

[@ebay4dave]

turbo charge the six and run some nines, yeah.

[@OMGnanerpus]

You are NOT running 9s with a turbod old i6. lol

[@JohnDove]

Barra swap

[@ebay4dave]

it might not be the original i6

[@leoroberts9148]

Why aren't all the motortrend videos on youtube anymore I'm from New Zealand and I can't get motortrend here.

[@tomstech4390]

Get a free vpn. They'll sell the info on whatever you click on but it works.

[@4x4ManiacBadTimeGarage]

Ehi David, any chance i can send you and email or get in contact with you? i'd like to ask you some stuff about the motor trend channel. thanks

[@BenLeBlanc1]

What are your thoughts on a 4.3 v6 in a camaro? Would be interested in seeing some daily-driving MPG!

[@TheDavidFreiburger]

BenLeBlanc1 They shake pretty badly unless you get the balance-shaft version, but they can make an easy 300 hp NA. Brodix makes heads

[@stevenvanheel3932]

Eh, I have owned a few 4.3’s and I have not been impressed. They consume oil, they don’t make much power, and they don’t make any torque. I was much more impressed with a 4.8 v8 Chevy. They make good power, very reliable, get decent mileage, and sound cool. Don’t forget that the rotsun had a 4.3 and the final thoughts on that one was that they were just wasting their time with it.

[@anthonywebber2211]

@@stevenvanheel3932, I use to drive a Chevrolet Astro, and the 4.3 in that always took the beatings I gave it

[@mbsnyderc]

They don't consume oil they leak oil.there aren't enough parts made for this engine to make it worth tuning.

[@jasonbronner7024]

Ahh yes, the 4.3 V6. When you want the power of a four cylinder with the fuel economy of a V8.

[@ElectronicsForFun]

no more crusher impala?

[@ramairgto72]

How about a Blown I6!

[@ajyur9921]

Blown 572????????? That would be the best. And maybe wheelie, or a deep 9 second pass

[@AB-80X]

It's not that simple. It will take a lot of work to get the Crusher deep into the 9's. Even if you start out with an all alu 572 short deck, it will still need 950+ hp. Then you'll need a much stronger transmission, you need to redo the entire rear suspension setup, and what else have you. That 800 or so hp blueprint engine did a great job of showing where the limits are for the current setup.

[@austindaves9912]

It needs a manual and a blown big block.

[@wallbanger1968]

Time for a turbocharged 250

[@HEKTIC458]

It needs a blown v8 in it again!