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I purchased this 1996 Torch Red Chevrolet Corvette in San Antonio. It is equipped with LT4(330HP) and the ZF6 manual transmission and had 50,085 miles when driven off the lot. It was originally ordered through Maroone Chevrolet in Pembroke Pines, Florida as a lease vehicle. Total new vehicle price came to $39,545. It's only options besides the engine/transmission is a power driver's seat. Initially, it weighed 3220 pounds with no fuel. Equipped with a new set of Goodyear GSC's (stock size) and 5 runs the car ran an uncorrected 13.24 at 110 mph at River City Raceway (San Antonio) as well as a 0-60 time of 5.01(G-Tech). Original topspeed was 170 mph according to the digital speedometer and two white-knuckled idiots (and yes they ran out of room). Gas mileage ranged from a high of 33 on the Kansas Turnpike to 19 to and from work, a three mile distance. For a used vehicle price, the return was a excellent value for the performance!

Winter 2000: Came the preparation for One Lap of America which including simple freshening of 'soft' parts and adding slightly better suspension (sway bars), brakes (pads/SS lines), rolling stock (GS type wheels with appropriately sized Michelin Pilot Sports), and finally Corsa Exhaust (worth 17 WHP/total of 277 WHP).

Winter 2001: Came more freshening of soft parts with some major upgrades (optispark, waterpump, clutch, drivers seat). This was my first experience of removing an engine/transmission from a late model auto. Lots of connections, but overall one missed wire was only defect! Also added a huge Griffin aluminum radiator and replaced the LT4's valvetrain with a GM HOT camshaft (worth 26 WHP/total of 303 WHP).

Winter 2002: Brought Koni dampers, Nitto Extreme roadracing tires, CNC cylinder heads, and for the first time some computer programing. Engine is running with some minor glitches (power noses over at 6100 rpm-identified as a valve float condition), but an improvement is still shown of 33 RWHP and 17 RWT. Still plagued with a high rpm issue, I was able to make 4 runs as local quartermile dragstrip with a best of 12.729 at 109 mph. Finally, 12 second runs as it sits coming off the street as well as a 56 mile one way drive. Pretty happy. (+33 WHP/total of 336 WHP)

Winter 2003: New Years Day 2004, the original LT4 shortblock was removed! And on 26 March my new owner built 381 cubic inch came to life! I assembled a 1995 LT1 block with a SCAT 4340 rotating assembly (5.7 H-beam rods, 3.75 stroke crank, and 4.020 flat top SRP pistons) using my CNCed LT4 heads and intake. The camshaft is a GM part (847) from Chevrolet. It is quite large with 296/304 duration and .575/.595 lift with my 1.6 rockers...this is by design as my final measured compression ratio is a staggering 11.9 to 1!. After breakin and final dyno tune resulted in 363 WHP and 323 WTQ. Little less than I had hoped (hoping for ~385 or so), but with stock throttle body and OEM cast iron exhaust manifolds...maybe about what one could expect. The engine pulled ok to my 6800 rpm redline, but it peaked at 6300 rpm which leads one to believe there might be some other issues (again identified as a valve float issue). Global West front suspension bushings were also added as well as some selected polyurethane items to the rear suspension. Our short term goal of competing in the 2004 Car and Driver One Lap of America Cannonball Run event was a smashing success. We finished 9th overall (out of 82 cars) and first in class. Met short term goals fully! (+27 WHP/total of 363 WHP)

Spring 2004: New Competition Cams 'Beehive' valvesprings were installed with steel retainers along with a Holley 58 MM throttle body equipped with a NOS dry port. The valvesprings had significantly less 'over the nose' pressure and slightly less seat pressure at the same installed heights, but due to the lighter 'moving' weight the springs alleviated the power drop above 6200 rpm with no ill effects. The engine was dyno tested for the final time with an additional ~12,000 miles after the OLOA competition and returned the same HP and 10 more torque than the first test. Basically, the engine showed slight increase in power overall and was still shown to be in great shape-most important! (Total of 363 WHP)

Summer 2004: With everything set on kill, the car petered out at 184 MPH (~6300 RPM). Conditions weren't optimal (95% humidity, headlights up, etc), but to gain 16 MPH is not going to happen. Disappointment is the word. Significant changes would need to be employed to the current combination.

Fall 2004: Upon notification that we would be transfering to United Kingdom, a major effort was put forth to replace a leaking oil pan (due to road debris damage on OLOA) and solve a failing power steering rack issue. The engine was again removed and replaced. Within 250 miles of completion, an engine defect was noted-rattling off idle and a miss. Neither were able to be solved before the snow flew and the car was put into longterm storage since shipping a problem vehicle overseas is not smart. Another disappointment, but the plans are already formulating for a slightly new engine combination and major improvements to the chassis for future competitions!

End Goal is 200 MPH street car with 11.90 at 120 MPH capability in the quarter mile events!

1996 Chevrolet Corvette LT4

Sorry-it doesn't go 200...184 is All She Wrote.