Cooper Lees — Chicago, IL

2017
Chevrolet
(Holden VF Series II)SS

LS3 6.2L · Stage 2 N/A Build · Commo / Shagadore

457
RWHP
~537
Flywheel HP Est.
6.2L
Displacement
113
LSA
Scroll
First Fire

Cold Start
After Stage 2

First cold start in the garage after bringing her home.

221/241
Duration
.619"/.617"
Lift
113°
LSA
1-7/8"
Header Primary
Cold start — Stage 2 cam + Kooks headers
The Machine

Stock LS3 Specs

The LS3 6.2L V8 — an Australian-built icon brought to North America for the final model years of the Chevrolet SS. The last RWD V8 performance sedan from Chevy, built on the Holden VF Commodore platform.

Engine Type
90° V8, Aluminum Block & Heads
Displacement
6.2 Liters (376 cu in)
Stock Horsepower
415 hp @ 5,900 rpm
Stock Torque
415 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Valvetrain
OHV, 2 valves/cylinder (16 total)
Bore × Stroke
103.25 × 92 mm
Fuel System
Multi-port Fuel Injection
LS3 6.2L engine bay — Stage 2
LS3 6.2L — Stage 2 build

Power Roadmap

Stage RWHP RWkW Flywheel HP (Est.) Status
Stock LS3 ~355 HP ~265 kW 415 HP Complete
Stage 2 — Cam & Headers 457 HP 341 kW ~537 HP ✓ Done
ProCharger P-1X (7–9 PSI) 630 – 660 HP 470 – 492 kW 740 – 780 HP Planned
The Story

Why the SS?

I'd been eyeing the Chevrolet SS for years — the idea of owning the last car ever built in Australia was something I couldn't shake. When Holden shuttered its Elizabeth, South Australia plant in 2017, it was the end of over a century of Australian car manufacturing. Only ~12,400 SS sedans were ever sold in the US across the entire 2014–2017 run.

Then I found one — a 2017, 6-speed manual, sitting in Huntley, IL. The rarest configuration of the rarest final model year. Had to have it.

The SS was Chevrolet's first rear-wheel-drive V8 sedan since 1996 — a rebadged Holden VF Commodore, built in Adelaide and shipped to America. Stock 415 hp LS3, 0–60 in 4.5 seconds, 12.9s in the quarter. And then we got to work.

May 2026

Stage 2
N/A Build

Full cam, valvetrain, and exhaust overhaul — 457 RWHP on the dyno. Everything done right: new valve springs, pushrods, timing chain, oil pump, and NGK wires. Dyno-tuned on pump gas.

Baseline dyno — stock LS3
Baseline — Stock LS3 (~355 RWHP)
Stage 2 final dyno — 457 RWHP
Stage 2 Final — 457 RWHP
Stage 2 dyno comparison overlay
Before vs. After Comparison
Stock LS3 ~355 RWHP
Stage 2 — Cam + Headers 457 RWHP
ProCharger Target 630–660 RWHP

What's Under the Hood

Valvetrain / Top End
  • BTR LS Stage 2 Centrifugal Cam — 221/241, .619"/.617", 113° LSA
  • BTR .660" Platinum Dual Spring Kit w/ Titanium Retainers
  • BTR Chrome Moly Pushrods — 5/16" dia., 7.400" long
  • Comp Cams Rocker Arm Trunnion Upgrade Kit
  • 2007+ Cam Install Conversion Kit (GM12586481)
Bottom End / Oiling & Timing
  • Melling LSx High Pressure, High Volume Oil Pump
  • Melling Performance Timing Chain — LS1/LS2/LS3
  • Melling Gen IV Chain Dampener
  • New GM water pump gaskets, balancer bolt, crank seal
Exhaust
  • Kooks 1-7/8" Long Tube Headers & Catted Connection Kit — 2014–2017 Chevy SS LS3
  • Jet Hot Silver Ceramic Coating (Classic Polish finish)
Ignition
  • NGK Copper Spark Plugs — set of 8 (Stock #3951)
  • MSD LSx Superconductor 8.5mm Spark Plug Wires
Brakes
  • SJM Manufacturing Line Lock Kit — 2014–2017 Chevy SS
  • Motul Hydraulic Brake Fluid
On the Rollers

Dyno Run

Build Gallery

Kooks long tube headers — Jet Hot ceramic coated
Kooks headers — Jet Hot Silver ceramic coated
Kooks long tube headers installed
Headers installed
BTR Stage 2 cam installation
BTR Stage 2 cam install
BTR Platinum dual valve springs
BTR Platinum dual spring kit
Exhaust system installation
Exhaust installation
Dyno session — Stage 2 tune
Dyno session — 457 RWHP
Interior Tech

Wireless
Apple CarPlay

The factory head unit in the Holden VF Commodore didn't have CarPlay — so that got fixed. Retrofitted a Kayhan Audio Wireless CarPlay / Android Auto module behind the factory display for a clean, OEM-looking result. Full wireless mirroring, no dongles.

Install Details
  • Kayhan Audio Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Module for Holden VF Commodore
  • Factory display retained — no head unit swap
  • Wireless — no USB connection required during use
Kayhan unit ready for installation
Module pre-install
Module mounted in glovebox
Mounted in glovebox
Dashboard during install
Dashboard during install
CarPlay active on factory display
Finished result
Apple Music fullscreen on factory display
Apple Music fullscreen
May 2026

Chicagoland
Cruise Night

First cruise night out with the full Stage 2 setup — post dyno, post tune. Shagadore hits the streets.

2017 Chevy SS at Chicagoland Cruise Night
Chicagoland Cruise Night — May 2026
Shagadore Shows Up
The Plate
MATE plate

MATE — ordered and on the way

Coming Soon

What's Next

Stage 2 N/A is dialled in. The next chapter: forced induction. A ProCharger P-1X kit targeting 630–660 RWHP on 7–9 PSI.

⚡
ProCharger P-1X Kit

Centrifugal supercharger kit purpose-built for the LS3. Clean install, progressive power delivery, and a properly loud bypass valve.

630–660 RWHP
💪
Drivetrain Upgrades

Power at that level needs a proper clutch. Twin or triple disc package on the list, along with an auxiliary fuel pump for the boost.

Twin / Triple Disc
🎯
Dyno Tune

Every stage gets properly tuned. The ProCharger install will finish with a full dyno tune to make sure the power is clean, safe, and reliable.

740–780 FHP Est.
🏎️
Performance Tires

255/40R19 front, 285/35R19 rear. Continental DWS 06 Plus or Michelin PS All Season 4 — all season performance that handles Chicago winters.

255 / 285 Setup