From Stock to Shock (Part One)
What began as an electric car is now a 4,200-pound gas-powered beast. Three years ago, Greg Ward received a stripped-out shell of a 2015 Tesla Model S 85D from a friend who had removed the drivetrain for a project. Greg and a handful of friends were in his garage, tossing ideas back and forth about what to do with it. It was the kind of late-night talk that usually stays a fantasy, but this one didn’t.
Today, that idle brainstorming has become a thundering reality. Greg and his team transformed the empty frame into a street-legal monster, then modified it for the dragstrip, aiming for drag-and-drive events across the country. The car now houses a 565 c.i. Big-Block Chevy engine, along with a long list of performance parts sourced from Edelbrock Group and other supportive companies.
Robert Freund, a longtime friend of Greg, became involved after initially following the build through texts and updates. When the original plan for another driver fell through, Greg invited Robert to partner on the project and take the wheel. In the coming weeks, Robert’s team plans to replace several performance components, including the hydraulic camshaft with a custom-ground, solid-roller tool-steel cam using COMP Cams’ low-shock technology lobes. The Evolution lifters will be upgraded to COMP Cams Race XD DLC-coated, bushing-style solid roller lifters. The current intake will also be replaced with a new Edelbrock Pro-Flo XT EFI manifold.
Upcoming Events for the Tesla
The team has already registered for several significant events, including Edelbrock SICK Smokies, SEMA, PRI, and SICK Week 2026. After countless late nights in the garage and hours on the track, they’re still fine-tuning the performance. “It’s definitely making boost,” Robert says. “We just have to dial in the tune a little better.”
With time running short, the crew is working diligently to complete their upgrades before these major events. Check out the video “From Stock to Shock” below to learn more about the Tesla and how it came to fruition. Stay tuned for Part Two of the series to see just how fast the Tesla can go as it’s tested under extreme heat and tight deadlines.
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