Lingenfelter is one of the top General Motors tuners, having created a special-edition Corvette last year and working on tuning packages for everything from electric hot rods to even the Blazer SUV. Now, the company has turned its attention to the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. Stock, this LS7 V8-powered beast produced 500 horsepower - plenty for a track-focused toy that you want to have fun with rather than fight. But if you've spent the last decade or so getting to grips with 500 ponies, you may be a little bored by now. Rather than sell your car for something newer and faster, Lingenfelter suggests a tuning package that won't break the bank or kill the characteristics of the Z/28 that made you fall in love with it in the first place.

This means that the tuner hasn't resorted to forced induction to add to the Z/28's power output. Rather, Lingenfelter opted for naturally aspirated-friendly upgrades, but that still means a lot of work. The engine is taken out of the car and the intake manifold is removed, as are the cylinder heads and camshaft. Thereafter, the heads are CNC ported and polished and the compression ratio is changed to 11.5:1. At the same time, proprietary work is done on the valvetrain including new dual valve springs with titanium retainers and valve locks. The camshaft is replaced by a GT21 unit from Competition Cams and the intake manifold is port matched. The throttle body is ported and polished too, while the fuel injectors are replaced with bigger units. As part of the reassembly process, new head gaskets and bolts are fitted, along with a 160-degree thermostat and American Racing 1 7/8 long tube headers with high-flow cats. Spark plug wire thermal heat protectors round out the upgrades.

As a result of all the upgrades, Lingenfelter claims at least 660 hp, with the above video showing over 700 with some mild additional upgrades. While you still get excellent throttle response and more power, which means loads of fun on the track, there are some drawbacks. For a start, the conversion is not legal in California, and the tuner admits that a more aggressive idle is to be expected, as is a rougher driving experience, particularly at low speeds. But if you don't live in California and don't mind a lumpy idle, we do have to mention the final advantage of the kit: it's affordable. $13,495 gets you all set up, with installation times quoted at 4-6 weeks. Not bad for a 32% increase in power.