Blacked-Out Corvette Z06 Packs Big Naturally-Aspirated Horsepower

Fresh LS7 block with worked heads, a big cam, headers and an E85 tune allows this Corvette to make 613 rear wheel horsepower.

One of the key aspects of the C6 Corvette Z06 was the naturally aspirated 7.0-liter LS7 engine, packing 505 horsepower. This engine was developed specifically for road racing dominance, weighing less than the stronger supercharged V8s, but many owners who want more power turn to forced induction without worrying about the added weight.

However, while flipping through Corvette Forums‘  C6 Corvettes for Sale section, we came across the 2008 Z06 owned and listed for sale by “Nasty Vette”. This car has been built to make big power without forced induction, keeping the curb weight low while offering significantly more horsepower and torque.

The Introduction

When the OP first posted his 2008 Corvette Z06 for sale, he didn’t go into detail as to why the car is up for sale, but he did provide a detailed list of upgrades.

Brand new LS7 short block
FasterPromsfully ported Heads 5 angel valve job, steal valve guides, ferrea LS7 stainless steal valves
ARP head studs
BTR stage 3 cam
BTR dual valve springs
Titanium retainers
Fast 85lbs injectors
Walbro 450 fuel pump
DSX Felx fuel kit
MSD intake manifold
Nick Williams 102 TB
Halltech Cold Air Intake
1 7/8 Kooks long tube headers
ATI dampener
Corsa exhaust
MSD 2 step
Tuned by DSMLIGHTS – 594 whp on 93, 613 whp on e85

Monster triple clutch kit
Tick performance slave cylinder with billet sleeve
Tick performance remote bleeder
MGW shifter

Forged star drag pack wheels (custom painted gloss black)
MT tires

Custom hood
Carbon fiber front lip
Custom black housing oem headlights
Kenwood double din head unit with Bluetooth smart phone connect

While the exterior upgrades are subtle, the hood, lip kit, light housings and wheels help this Corvette stand out in a crowd of C6s, but the big story is the performance.

Drag-Ready Road Car

The C6 Corvette Z06 was designed to tear up a road course and this one will likely still hold its own on the likes of Virginia International Raceway or Road America, but the upgrades makes it a far more formidable foe on the drag strip. The power will help in any driving situation, but the Mickey Thompson tires and the MSD 2-step work with the new clutch to lay down quicker quarter mile times.

There is no mention of track times, but with 613 rear wheel horsepower, this lightweight Chevy should be a solid 10-second street car with a good driver. Best of all, with a price of $32,000, this car is very reasonably priced. Kelley Blue Book states that a 2008 Corvette Z06 in excellent condition is worth roughly 30,000, so with the built engine, this one is barely priced above a stock car.

Click here for a closer look at this built, naturally aspirated Corvette Z06.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com