Being able to take a street car and push it to the absolute limit can be fun, but it can also come at a high cost. Daniel Linnett has learned what that cost can be, as he pushed his 2008 Pontiac G8 to become the quickest in the world, but killed a motor in the process. Now, Linnett is coming back with an even more extreme G8 … but hold on to your hats, as this is far from your normal four door grocery getter, for sure.
Linnett’s wife nicknamed his car “Delilah”, but don’t let that dainty name fool you, as this sedan has always had a serious nasty streak. Originally, the Pontiac came from renowned LSX shop Lingenfelter Performance Engineering as just a shop car with a blower and a few mods and was Linnett’s daily driver as he raced his GTO.
Like any sensible gearhead, Linnett wanted to see what his G8 could do, so he started pushing it a bit harder, eventually moving to a Nitrous Outlet setup.
“I was obsessed with going fast and at the time the 1/4-mile record was 10.72 for a G8. I added Nitrous Outlet to the mix and we got down to 10.08, holding the record for a good while,” says Linnett. Soon, he added a built motor and a 400 shot of nitrous and ran a 9.56. But then, catastrophic engine failure struck.
Instead of packing it in, Linnett is going to take his record-setting G8 to the next level, but this time, with boost. The new motor will be an LSX 427 that features some Mast Motorsports 295cc heads, a 4500 intake, and a billet rotating assembly that will be prepped by Best Engines. The engine will also use Billet Atomizer injectors to flow all the M1 alcohol that Linnett has converted the car to run on.
Gone is the nitrous, and in its place is a Precision Gen2 Pro Mod 91 mm turbo to make serious boost. FTI supplied the TH400 transmission and converter that will send the estimated 2,000 horsepower to the Ford 9-inch IRS rear suspension with BMR goodies.
This G8 will also be one of the few out there to get a mini-tub treatment to house the massive Hoosier QTP 28 x 14.5 x 15 tires in the rear.
Be on the lookout for this race car in street car clothing to be running soon — and possibly smashing the G8 record in the process.