Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Will Be Built with Deck Plating Process

The world beater that is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is being built with a precision-machining process called deck plating that is normally reserved for high-performance engines.

The advantage to deck plating on the Camaro ZL1 is it maximizes engine life, reduces friction between engine parts and increase horsepower. As if the ZL1 is going to need more horsepower with its output of an estimated 550 horsepower (410 kW) and 550 lb.-ft. of torque (745 Nm) from a 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine.

“It amazes me what GM does with some of their production engines,” said Andy Randolph, engine technical director at Earnhardt-Childress Racing, in a news release from Chevrolet. “Deck plating is a time-consuming process that fine tunes the bore to get every ounce of power, torque and durability possible. It’s standard practice when building high-end race engines. It tells me the Camaro ZL1 will have some serious performance.”

The deck plating process is used in applications where cylinder head pressures are greater than average, to ensure cylinder sealing and prevent scuffing of the piston against the bore wall. In the Camaro LSA engine, this means improved bore life and ring sealing. True bores and better sealing are keys to optimizing power. This is a common process also used with the Corvette ZR1 and Z06 blocks.