speedmon

Their F/I section is sooooooooooo different.

They are all into JY (junkyard) 5.3L stock stuff.
Like buy a 150K mile 5.3L for $400, put in a LS6 cam (that we throw away), hook up a turbo, push 15-20lbs and make 650lbs+ of torque....

They are all running 10s and pushin into the 9s.

Read some of the threads...its absolutely hilarious.

Here's one...check on the Nova at the end
http://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-ind...-ur-setup.html

bradenW

Going faster than most of the guys here at a fraction of the cost? Pretty awesome in my book.

speedmon

Sounds fun!
If you blow an engine, which they don't seem to.....just buy another for $400....

Apparently the 5.3s have thick cyl walls and can sustain alot of boost!.

madmatt9471

Those 5.3 Iron blocks are great! Not too shabby!

Good combo's!

Thanks,Matt

MawneeC5

Sold my LS6 cam on those forums to someone doing a turbo build

bradenW

My race engine is based on an alum 5.3 block.

joshtownsend

I run a iron 5.3 in my vette..

2003VETT

some of these are impressive...

ysb02

Plus doing their own work

user_name

They discovered how strong these engines are when you get the tuning right. It's just like guys on here making 700rwhp on stock bottom ends.

CamminC5

Looks like they hit all three: Cheap, Fast, and Reliable.

ajrothm

Yeah it really pisses me off when I look at how much I am spending to try to build a bullet proof, 800rwhp combo and those guys are doing it for less then what I paid for my heads alone.... Most of them are running WELL into the 9s in a setup chasis..... I will have to blow up 3-4 rear ends before I get into the 9s....

Sometimes I question my direction when I see what those guys are doing....


Props to them for going faster then most and 1/8th of the cost....

user_name

These cars are not a good platform for the 1/4 on a budget AT ALL. They are however very fun street cars. If the money matters, and you want to go 8's or 9's I wouldn't chase that on a c5. The drivetrain is such a problem there. These cars are hard to work on in comparison to fbodies and other non transaxle cars as well.

ajrothm

Yeah C5s are definitely not the best drag platform... I am not intending to build a drag car but I would expect to be able to go to the strip a couple times per year and lay down some "decent" numbers.... 60's and 330's will likely never be good...and damn sure not match the HP but.... I would for damn sure hope I could squeeze a 9.90 out of a 3500lb car with 800rwhp.... The 6 spd is the monkey in the formula though...

I am really interested in doing an auto conversion but....I'll be quite broke for a while with the engine job so......Its not likely to happen any time soon.

Smoove

I too.... Building a tt Mustang with used parts...plans to go 8s in it one day....mid 9s will be easy. Fd up I know but, been saying these engines can handle more then you think. Tuning, is key.

mdaniel

My C5 seems to run those numbers without much fuss. The autos are considerably easier on parts than the standards.

My combo consists of an RPM 4L6X, Yank convertor, stock 342 diff with a few upgrades, hardened output shaft, and a trans brace. This is fairly modest in my opinion.

There is no free ride in the F-Body if that's what people are thinking. You'd still need a trans - $2K+, something to replace the stock 10 bolt - another $2-3K. Convertor - $1K and so on and so on.

I definitely agree that you can go fast if you do your own work and shop for used parts selectively, but that's just not how most Corvette people operate. As a group we're a bit older and just don't have the time to wrench. Just my .02.

Milan

Those truck motors are way underrated. People always think they need to build a motor for everything because that's how it was back in the day before computers came around, but these days it's all about the tune.

What people don't realize is that our motors handle the cylinder pressure pretty well it's just detonation that's the enemy. IMO there is no reason to build a motor for under 800 whp. It's a much better investment to wait and see if it actually blows first, by that time you will have the itch and be looking for four digits anyway.

speedmon

Here's my fav...the I'll leave it alone...
http://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-ind...-fairmont.html

Ford Fairmont
$100 4.8 engine
$500 T400 & converter
$300 Turbo from E-bay
LS9 Cam

I think he's got like $4,000 into the whole car...pushing 650+wrhp...going to the track to push low 10s, high 9s.....

In order to be legal in CA, I would have to do a pre-76 car.....the problem is any decent roller, camaro, malibu, is like $8000K+ to start.

CYA-Vett

This guy lives about a mile from me. That car is hilarious. He totaled it when the rear broke and he spun out of control. He does many of these cars with his friends. I could tell you some great stories... That car ran low 11's in the mid 130's.

you can follow his builds on www.sloppymechanics.com

sami85L98

Those Camaro guys are more hardcore than Corvette guys and most of em do thier own work and always looking for spending less and get more thing. Dont take me wrong a tuner once said he has problems with vette guys than camaro guys. But i still like vette.