Custom bomber-jacket leather and Olive Drab interior dye were used to carry the theme of the LSXP-40 into the cabin. Notice the Simpson 5-point racing harnesses and Olive Drab-colored rollcage.
To acquire the sound necessary for a national-level show car, Mike installed an MTX Elite 604 4-channel amplifier, Thunder Axe 5.1 components, a Pioneer 390P head unit and MTX speakers. "It's enough to shake the tarmac," he says. What makes this sound system unique is its inboard/outboard speaker layout. He installed one for the vehicle's occupants, and a second that cranks the tunes for the onlookers ogling over the Trans Am. "It's like having stage monitors and a full P.A. system for the crowd," he says.
Powertrain
The original plan was to outfit the T/A with an LSX crate engine, which explains the car's name, but the crate engine was not released in time so another route had to be taken. "Although we originally mounted an iron-block 6.0L LQ9 into the T/A, it didn't produce the naturally-aspirated power I was after," he explains. "I went to an LS6; I wanted something stronger than the LS1 that won Bullrun, and that's what's in the engine bay now."
Inside the 346ci cast-aluminum block is a 3.90-inch bore allowing a 3.62-inch nodular cast iron crank to actuate powdered metal steel connecting rods and hypereutectic aluminum pistons. Fully CNC ported-and-polished 215cc heads, provided by Trick Flow, are outfitted with TF 51/416-inch pushrods operating Harland Sharp 1.7-ratio roller rockers that compress Comp 921 springs and open and close 2.08/1.65 Ferrea valves. A Futral Motorsports roller cam has 232/234-deg duration with a 0.649/0.602-inch lift on a 114-deg LSA. The compression ratio is 11.0:1 and custom tuning was performed by racing specialists Exotic Performance Plus, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Fuel comes from a stock Firebird tank outfitted with a single Wahlbro 255-lph pump through factory lines and regulator to SVO 42 lb/hr injectors installed in a Wilson Fast 90mm intake manifold ported by Dustin Wheelock. Air feeds from an MTI power induction airbox that utilizes the airscoops on a stock WS6 hood to an 85mm GM MAF and 90mm Nick Williams throttle body. Ignition is handled by a GM distributorless coilpack system running spark through factory GM wires to NGK TR55 plugs. Exhaust is evacuated by Pacesetter headers with 1.75-inch primaries and 3-inch collectors, flowing through a 3.5-inch y-pipe and dump. There are no mufflers on this show car.
Though the LQ9 block was still in the Bird when this photo was taken, it has since been replaced with an LS6 block. Trick Flow heads, a Futral cam, MTI airbox, and FAST 90mm intake are some of the mods included on this show/strip car. | 
The Nitrous Express nitrous system is good for a 200-shot of juice. | |
Pushing the power rearward is a TCI flexplate, a Yank 3,600-rpm stall torque converter and a custom-built 4L60E transmission by Guaranteed Transmissions, of Lafayette, Indiana. It sends the torque through a stock driveshaft to a Moser 12-bolt posi rear assembly with 4.10 gears and 33-spline axles.
This air/fuel ratio gauge from FJO Racing Products was installed in the driver's air vent. | 
This Trans Am doesn't take jet fuel, but premium race fuel is preferred at all times. | |
Suspension And Brakes
This Trans Am features state-of-the-art suspension components from BMR including tubular upper and lower control arms, subframe connectors, panhard rod and torque arm, transmission mount and QA1 springs and adjustable shocks at all four corners. BMR Fabrications' Lee Spicher says, "We were excited to be involved again in a project with Mike Alsop. We supplied the suspension components for the Bullrun Trans Am and gladly supplied the components for the LSXP-40 Trans Am. We thought the car was extremely well-executed in the use of our components and in its uniqueness. Using our lightweight chrome-moly race hardware, we are confident we equipped this Trans Am with the components it needs to make it a force to be reckoned with."
The front suspension features QA1 coilovers and BMR tubular control arms for extreme handling in the air...and on the ground. Note the BMR 32mm sway bar has yet to be installed. | 
An outboard sound system from MTX allows Mike to convert his Trans Am into a mobile P.A. system. The big Moser 12-bolt rear puts the power to the ground reliably and other mods include parts from Carrera and BMR. As this is an assembly photo, the y-pipe and the BMR 21mm rear sway bar have yet to be installed. | |
Braking power comes from SSBC units. On the front are Force 10 Tri-Power three-piston aluminum calipers handling 13-inch vented directionally slotted rotors followed by 11.9-inch rear rotors and stock calipers. The LSXP-40 rides on 17x9 WS6 wheels from an '01 T/A painted black, shorn in Goodyear Eagle F-1 275/40ZR17 tires up front and 16x8-inch T/A rims with M/T 26x11.5x16-inch rubber in the rear.