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If you’ve been following along with the EngineLabs engine giveaway, you know that we teamed up with Late Model Engines and Vortech Superchargers, along with a host of industry partners, in order to put together a 1,500-horsepower supercharged 427 cubic-inch LS engine, with the aim of giving it away to a lucky winner.
The engine was assembled live on the PRI Show floor by LME, and was then shipped back to their shop to await a winner. On January 15th, the winner was chosen. Now that all the legal “I”s have been dotted and “T”s crossed, we can officially announce Celeste Haskins as the winner of the engine giveaway.
Here’s your EngineLabs 1,500-horsepower supercharged LS Winner — Celeste Haskins!
Literally born into the Bow Tie, Celeste has always been a fan of General Motors. “My uncles were into dirt track racing and that always fascinated me,” says Celeste. “The love just grew from there. Small-block or big-block, LT, or LS platforms. I think any GM pushrod V8 is the correct choice — old school or new.”
When we first contacted Celeste to tell her she had won, we apparently interrupted an LS swap already in progress on her project car. “My plan is to drop it into a ‘91 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon. I had it partially set up for an LS already,” reveals Celeste. “Of course, that engine project has now been set aside for bigger and better things. It will be a fun grocery getter for sure!”
The contest allowed for the choice of a supercharger, and she has opted for the smaller Vortech option — A V-7 YSi-B — largely for the more streetable serpentine drive that kit offers. Our next step will be to get the smaller blower mounted and dyno-tested at LME’s facility, and then shipped out to Celeste. Then the work really begins. “Everything will have to be upgraded to handle that amount of power. I’ve got a lot of research and budgeting to figure out — tranny, rearend, suspension, fuel setup, etc. This isn’t a typical 400-horsepower build and it’s going to be a learning curve for me, that’s for sure. But I’m not only excited for this, I’m so truly blessed. This is a dream come true.”
Celeste's 1991 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon was in the process of being LS-swapped when we contacted her to tell her she'd won the giveaway. While the engine bay is ready for an LS, the rest of the running gear is going to need to be upgraded to handle the significant increase in power over the engine originally planned for it.
We’re excited to see the engine going to such a passionate enthusiast, and we’d like to personally thank the companies involved for helping us make Celeste’s journey a whole lot more powerful. It certainly wouldn’t have been possible without Late Model Engines, Vortech Superchargers, ATI Performance Products, Cometic Gaskets, Edelbrock Group, Ferrea Racing Components, Fuel Air Spark Technology, Holley, MAHLE, Manley, Melling Engine Parts, Meziere Enterprises, Milodon, Trend Performance, Dart Machinery, Diamond Racing Pistons, Wrenchers, LTA Manufacturing, Ryno Classifieds, SCT, and VP Racing Fuel.
Make sure to stay tuned as we bring you the final dyno results and complete engine build article soon!
The 427-cube engine was assembled on the PRI Show floor by LME with a Vortech XB105 supercharger and a cog-belt drive. However, Celeste has opted for the smaller Vortech V-7 YSi-B with a serpentine belt drive, as a bit more streetable setup. It will still make a ton of horsepower — well north of four digits.
