the5

Hello Guys,
Looking into building a C6 into an endurance race car. Wondering if anyone has done so and if so what would they recommend?

For the series we are running the car will need to have a Minimum Fuel cell of 26 Gallons Preferably closer to 29, Is this possible in the corvette?

Also as far as engines the car needs to make around 500-550 Hp at the wheels reliably for 9-24 hour races, For reference the car needs to do 1:30-1:32 at Road Atlanta, 1:58-59 at Watkins Glen, 1:55 at VIR full to be able to compete with the caliber of cars.

Thanks!

Racingswh

Interesting project. I have not built an endurance car but am familiar with the C6 and am in the process of converting it into a sprint racing and time trials car.

Either a C5 or C6 will work. If I had to do it again I would purchase a completed car and probably a C5. You could even start with a roller. You will probably need to add the fuel cell unless you can find a car with one already. An LS3 with a dry sump will make all the power you need it to.

What class and sanctioning body of amateur endurance racing?

the5

The LS3, I see that is a very common engine to swap into any Corvette. Any reason everyone goes with these engines over the Ls7 ect? Also what upgrades could I do that dont sacrifice Reliability? Also I forgot to state the engine will be running on 93 Octane.

The Car would be run In AER or American Endurance Racing in Class 5/Overall

Racingswh

Reliability from my experience is better with the LS3 and they are cost effective.

I would go for making the car the lightest weight they allow for the class making whatever reasonable amount of power you need to in order to stay competitive. Don't worry about significant internal engine mods for making more power. In my experience they are counterproductive when the goal is superior reliability. 93 octane won't be an issue.

I would ask for their help with a project like this. They ended up using an LS2 for this project and are with it right now at COTA for Nationals. Looks like they are winning TT3.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ght-c5z-4.html

Good luck! Sounds like fun!!

HULLY

If the rules will allow I would run the factory tanks and add a 8-12 gallon fuel cell to get you to the compacity you are wanting. It will be very expensive to put bladder style fuel cells to get you to 26-29 gallons in a corvette C5/6.

You can easily get to the hp #s you are wanting running a stock bottom end LS7 with ported heads and a good road racing cam.

My car is not an endurance raced car. I have raced it ar Watkins Glen in several sprint races. C5 corvette won the 2016 NASA Eastern states ST1 championship with a LS7 restricted to 460hp and weighed around 3150 I think. Fast lap of 1:54.5 which also set the ST1 track record. I have also ran TA3 in the same car with LS2 restricted to simular hp with less areo and approx 3000# with fast lap of 1:55.2. In both of these races we were running slicks.

Not sure what tires you will be running or what weight you will be at, but maybe these results will help.

Don McMillon

Racingswh

In your experience Don how is the reliability of the LS7 for your purposes?

Awesome times!! That is just flying!!

HULLY

Dane@LGmotorsports

Power is easy. Cooling/Reliability, Suspension and Weight would be the areas to start with. You are welcome to give us a call 972-429-1963.

0Adrian @ F.A.S.T.

We raced our car in the NASA 25 HR in 2016, we had no problems over the 25 hrs. I think the biggest thing is heat insulation, cooling, heatshields, coolers for everything and not to install over-engineered parts that will fail. We have a dry break mount to the passenger side for quicker access to the pit wall and to hold 1-2 gallons more fuel the tube running across to the other side.

To run those times consistently I would go with the 480 hp LS3 crate motor and add a drysump to it. It will make around 470 rwhp with headers, intake, and a good tune.

EdsC6Z06

A buddy just built a C6 Grand Sport and he never found a good solution to the fuel capacity issue. Just running HPDE's now getting it sorted. Curious what you do to solve it.

Mark@AMT Motorsport

No one is running those lap times in Class 5 at AER with 200TW tires. You'd be the only guy doing those times, at least at WGI. See if you can get ahold of Alex Ruebenstein from AER to talk about his class 5 C6. He had his share of problems, car was ultimately crashed and totaled at WGI this year, and he was happy not to build another one. But he definitely knows his stuff on endurance racing Corvettes and he'd be happy to share his experience with you.

GSpeed

500-550whp for 24 hours would take a proper LS7. Sleeved block, endurance based camshaft, compression on the lower end, and good cylinder heads. It will be costly for certain, as the engine will need to be put on a preventative maintenance schedule, or you will be replacing items as they fail, and potentially cost you more money in the long run .



As don said, keep the stock tanks, and add a 5-10 gallon feeder cell, or utilize the patch tank as the main tank, essentially an overzised surge tank.

Good luck with it.

the5

Well We are running close to that with our Mustang all on 200tw Street tires
2:02 at Watkins, 1:26 NJMP, 1:33 at Road Atlanta



The reason I asked in the first place is I feel we reached a point that anything more that we do to the mustang will be $$$. I know the corvette is a better platform and might make the move before putting anything more into the mustang.

the5

How much would a motor like that cost? I see motors as consumables so want to make sure its not outrageous.

Mark@AMT Motorsport

Ahhhh you guys are BBY. Well except for YOU, no one seems to be running those lap times! Aren't the Sahlens cars running mere 2:06s at WGI?

My motor can do close to what you're talking about and it was 15kish. 402ci stroker built by Golen Engines. Did 600hp/600tq on his engine Dyno. You'll be well over 20k going with what G Speed was suggesting, but he'd know better than anyone since he builds those motors.

the5

They ran 2:03 to our 2:02, While at Road Atlanta We had the 458 Challenge to deal with which ran a 1:31 to our 1:33.

The main reason of this post was to look into corvettes and see if it makes sense financially. The motors we currently run our Mustangs only cost $4500, while the motor I would need to put in is more like $15k. '

But in the end a Heavy car like ours (3500 with driver) with a Stick axle in the back is at a disadvantage to a Corvette.

NSFW

What motor is that? My other track car is a Mustang that I share with a couple friends. We're not in a hurry to change motors, but at that price I can't help but be curious.

the5

Stock Coyote engine, Mustang motor $4500 and 11:1 Compression, Truck engine is 10.5:1 and a little cheaper

NSFW

Thanks!

Racingswh

At $4500 that's a bit less expensive than the engine in a Corvette running 2:02's at the Glen.

Impressive times. Most of the Mustang's I have seen aren't quite that quick except for the Phoenix cars which are a little quicker but I don't know the differences in their cars.

I do not believe that in comparison a Corvette makes financial sense. It will be quicker but not more cost effective.

After watching the video at WG it looks like pace is traffic dependent? Looks to me like the Car/Driver combination is already faster than everyone else?