Gray Ghost GS

The Virginia Speed team, led by Shawn Miller and Ed Hutchings, are building me a new forged LS2 403 engine for my 2004 Corvette C5 Coupe after my LS6 based 383 decided to call it quits after 4 1/2 years of excellent service last weekend at VIR!

The new GM short block will be CNC machined, blue printed, and use forged Callies Compstar crank and rods, and forged Wiseco pistons. The target CR is approx. 11.4:1 for 93 octane gas. I have a tight budget for this project, but am very confident that we’ll see great results!!

The build includes: ARP head bolts, hardened push rods, ATI balancer, Comp Cam 921 dual valve springs, and a custom spec cam optimized for road racing since my C5 is basically a dedicated track car with some daily driving to work.

Fortunately, when the LS6 bottom end gave way, it didn’t damage many of the performance items that can now be transferred to the new LS2 engine, which includes the following:

• AFR 205 heads (machined, valve job, ported and polished)
• FAST 90 Intake Manifold and GM LS2 Throttle Body (ported by Vengeance Racing)
• American Racing Headers 1 ¾” long tube headers with high flow catalytic converters.
• Yella Terra Ultralight 1.7 Roller Rockers
• Katech Adjustable Belt Tensioner
• 42# SVO flow matched Fuel Injectors
• Lingenfelter Oil Cooler with Canton Racing Oil Thermostat

The build project will include the installation of a new RPS Street Twin Carbon clutch and flywheel kit, DeWitts Performance Aluminum Radiator, RPM Torque Tube Polyurethane Couplers, Canton Racing 3 quart Accusump System and updated F55 removal. Other performance components already on the C5 include:

• Callaway Honker Cold Air Intake (CAI)
• GM T1 Transmission Cooler
• GM Z06 Power Steering Cooler
• AMW Oil Catch Can
• RPM Transmission “Level V” MN6 Transmission
• DTE Stage 2 Micro-polished 3.42 gear set with 300M HD Output Shaft
• LG GT2 Adjustable Coilovers
• GHL Bullet SS Exhaust
• PFADT Camber and Control Arm Bushing Kit - Poly/Aluminum Sleeves
• LG G-Stop Wilwood 6-piston front calipers with Goodridge Stainless Steel Brake Lines
• MGW short shifter
• Piper Motorsports Full SCCA Roll Cage with Fire Suppression System
• Sparco EVO 2 Plus Race Seats with Schroth Profi II ASM Harnesses
• CCW C14 18” wheels

[/CENTER]

McLeod

Good luck Mike. You took your car to the right place. One day I'll have the money to get a Va. Speed built motor.

Gray Ghost GS

I should have the vette back in approx. 6 weeks in time for a good break-in period before going back to VIR in October and November.

AU N EGL

Cool Mike

What ever you can do to NOT have a valve lift above .600 do it.

High lift cams over .600 are the main reason engines give up on road course

many of the road race engine builders keep valve life under .570 for longevity. GM Cup cam is still the most successful cam on road course

Still means the engine valve train may need to be rebuilt each year or at lease looked at and checked

If you can get a dry sump system in there too that will help


Good Luck Mike as I was thinking of asking them to do the same for me

Tom

CHJ In Virginia

Gonna be harder than ever to try to keep up with you Mike. Arm is poised for the point by as you scream past. Maybe one of these days my stock LS6 will die and I can convince the wife to let me build something like that monster motor.

golfinz

Thats a ton of power for a 383! Your in great hands and good luck with the build

Gray Ghost GS

I was thinking about going with a simple LS2 crate motor and calling it a day, but after reading Kevin's 427 with L92 heads thread and learning more about Virginia Speed Inc. technologies and procedures during that and other builds on the LS1Tech forum, I decided I had to go for it!

I've been working with Ed Hutchings before he joined Virginia Speed and have always been impressed with his LSx tuning knowledge and general attention to detail on everything. Shawn's reputation as a race engine builder is outstanding.

Curtis, I know you'll continue get many more years of use from that stock LS6! I hope to have the same reliability from the new LS2. I'm looking forward to seeing the final results of this project and reading Ed and Shawn periodic updates on this thread once the build begins.

WKMCD

Everyone wants to be like Kevin...

Sounds like a solid build Mike. Post up more as it comes in!

Stevo92z28

Sounds like a sweet build. Looking forward to see the results.

Do you work or have had work done over at Koons Chevrolet in Tysons? I saw your car over there a few days while i was doing some work for them. I guess i never realized it was yours from the avatar picture. But it looks great in person.

Gray Ghost GS

Thanks. I have all my general GM services done by Joe Malo at Koons Chevrolet.

QIKSLVR

Dry Sump

Vic

WKMCD

I believe Mike does run an Accusump on the car already.

AU N EGL

Mike you know your going to race NASA soon.

Your building a NASA ST1 car anyway

or at the very least NASA TTR time trials.

Gray Ghost GS

Tom,

You're right! I plan to start NASA and other club time trials with this car next year. I just wasn't sure what category my car would fall into based on its mods, e.g., ST1 or STU. HPDE is fun, but I'm looking forward to the competition of Time Trials!

Mike

AU N EGL

NASA ST ( Super Touring ) and SU ( Super Unlimited ) rules

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=18

Car classification here
http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13037

SU are the old BUSCH and ARCA road race stock cars with 800+ hp. The only way to do well in this class is by attrition. The stock cars break down and you finish.

time to start stripping the weight out now . .

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...06-weight.html

Coal is King

I have a buddy who was at VIR last weekend with his BMW M3, anyway he showed me video of a lady in a C5 that lost it in a curve and smacked the GR doing 100MPH or so. Looked like total destruction of the car from the video I seen....would you know how she is?

mariofromnewyork

Mike

I love your wheels and I am going to get the CCW C10's when I flare my car.

What exhaust do you have?

Why don't you get rid of the AFR's and get some PI heads and make that thing A Fu@$ing Monster!

Mario

AU N EGL

mario

Road race car, Bigger heads are not the answer, smaller heads means more air velocity at low valve lift .200 to .500, and higher low end torque.

Low end torque is get out of corners and up to speed ASAP. it is the 2000 to 5000 rpms, torque not the 5000 to redline HP that makes the difference on road course.

phils C5 vette

can we get half price if he builds two ?

mariofromnewyork

I understand that but PI, TFS, ETP small bore 215 style heads give up nothing down low and have better midrange and top end so best of both worlds.

I have a 230's 600's 113 cam right now, next I will try 228r so i can see/feel the difference in a TQ monster and a mid-top end monster.

Mario