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About 20 years ago, I purchased a very nice numbers matching LS5 365hp Vette. Over the years, some bolt on upgrades were made in the quest for more power, but I was never satisfied with the result. Following this forum, and more specifically Alans (ajrothm) 71 vette, I knew what had to be done... Call Mark Jones!
Mark was able to build me exactly what I needed, a 496, and told me exactly how the car would perform.
The first time at the track, immediately after installing the engine, the car ran 12.0 @110mph. I could tell the exhaust was killing it. Then, on the third pass with a 1.60 60', the stock axles exploded. It may be worth noting that Mark also knew this would happen!
So with an exploded differential late 2019, I had to get Gary to build me a Super 10! When that was complete and installed, I also ditched the 2 1/4" chambered exhaust on the car, and went dual 3" with an X pipe and Hooker Aero Chamber mufflers, very similar to Alans setup.
With that, I put a few hundred miles on the car in the spring and summer of 2020, breaking in the new gears and just cruising. I could tell it was a different car from the one that went 12.0 the previous season.
I took the car to the track this fall hoping to get some good air. The air was terrible. 3700' DA
My first pass was 11.09 @120.13mph! Zero additional tuning had been done to the engine from when I had picked it up from Mark, other than setting the total timing to 34 degrees!
I was warned by the track officials immediately that I was too fast, and I would have to let off at the 1000' if I was going to stay under 11.50.
Letting off at the 1000', I was still running 11.29 @ 104mph!
Best 60' of the day was 1.48 with both wheels up! Best et of the day was my final run, 11.04@120.10mph, with the only change being 36 degrees timing.
Next year, the car should easily run 10's in some decent air, and with a couple small tweaks.
I couldn't be happier with the engine built by Mark @ Vortecpro. Everything he told me to expect with this engine was bang on.
Can't wait for 2021. Already planning a trip to Mission! First pass of the day. Left lane. Letting off at 1000'. Best 60'. Right lane Best et of the day. Right lane. Wheels up!
Just a couple videos from the track. I need to correct the slippage on launch as can be seen with the front end dropping and coming back up again. What drag shock would be the best to remedy this, and maintain good handling on the highway? QA1?
Nice, i'm also one of his 496 customers, currently in the workshop waiting to be installed. What is your buildsheet?
I can see the AFR behaves atypical, leaning from peak TQ towards peak HP. Normally its the other way around... Maybe have an eye on that?
It was a virgin 454 block out of a chevy half ton that had been sitting for many years. Mark cleaned it up, and installed my Edelbrock RPM Oval Port heads after doing some work to them as well. Ended up with a 10.7 compression ratio. Camshaft is a 236/244 with 632/632 lift on a 111 LSA. Up top, Mark installed a Edelbrock performer RPM intake with a 1000cfm AED carburetor.
About 20 years ago, I purchased a very nice numbers matching LS5 365hp Vette. Over the years, some bolt on upgrades were made in the quest for more power, but I was never satisfied with the result. Following this forum, and more specifically Alans (ajrothm) 71 vette, I knew what had to be done... Call Mark Jones!
Mark was able to build me exactly what I needed, a 496, and told me exactly how the car would perform.
The first time at the track, immediately after installing the engine, the car ran 12.0 @110mph. I could tell the exhaust was killing it. Then, on the third pass with a 1.60 60', the stock axles exploded. It may be worth noting that Mark also knew this would happen!
So with an exploded differential late 2019, I had to get Gary to build me a Super 10! When that was complete and installed, I also ditched the 2 1/4" chambered exhaust on the car, and went dual 3" with an X pipe and Hooker Aero Chamber mufflers, very similar to Alans setup.
With that, I put a few hundred miles on the car in the spring and summer of 2020, breaking in the new gears and just cruising. I could tell it was a different car from the one that went 12.0 the previous season.
I took the car to the track this fall hoping to get some good air. The air was terrible. 3700' DA
My first pass was 11.09 @120.13mph! Zero additional tuning had been done to the engine from when I had picked it up from Mark, other than setting the total timing to 34 degrees!
I was warned by the track officials immediately that I was too fast, and I would have to let off at the 1000' if I was going to stay under 11.50.
Letting off at the 1000', I was still running 11.29 @ 104mph!
Best 60' of the day was 1.48 with both wheels up! Best et of the day was my final run, 11.04@120.10mph, with the only change being 36 degrees timing.
Next year, the car should easily run 10's in some decent air, and with a couple small tweaks.
I couldn't be happier with the engine built by Mark @ Vortecpro. Everything he told me to expect with this engine was bang on.
Can't wait for 2021. Already planning a trip to Mission! First pass of the day. Left lane. Letting off at 1000'. Best 60'. Right lane Best et of the day. Right lane. Wheels up!
BAD *** PICTURE!! WOW!!
Getting it done for sure!
What race wheels are you using? any side pics of the car with them on?
Nice job on the car. 120 mph at 3700' DA is 123 mph or more at 0'.
Just a couple videos from the track. I need to correct the slippage on launch as can be seen with the front end dropping and coming back up again. What drag shock would be the best to remedy this, and maintain good handling on the highway? QA1?
After watching your vid, it looks like you are running weld RTS wheels on the rear. Care to share the specs? Do they clear the stock rear brakes? I called Weld and spoke to two different reps and both told me they don't have and can't even make an RTS with clearance for the stock brakes. Matter in fact they couldn't even make me a 15x8", 4.0" BS wheel PERIOD....
I had a set of Alumastar rears made for it and they don't clear the brakes, not even close. They are flat faced and no caliper clearance. So I need something else. Yours is the first C3 I've ever seen on RTS...
After watching your vid, it looks like you are running weld RTS wheels on the rear. Care to share the specs? Do they clear the stock rear brakes? I called Weld and spoke to two different reps and both told me they don't have and can't even make an RTS with clearance for the stock brakes. Matter in fact they couldn't even make me a 15x8", 4.0" BS wheel PERIOD....
I had a set of Alumastar rears made for it and they don't clear the brakes, not even close. They are flat faced and no caliper clearance. So I need something else. Yours is the first C3 I've ever seen on RTS...
Thanks for any info....
Thanks Alan! I have to run a 1/2” spacer on the back wheels to clear the brakes. The wheel fits perfect with a 255/60. I did notice that the drivers side inside lip of the wheel has some scraping marks from the e-brake cable
bracket. It must rub on launch, so I need to move it or slightly modify it to make it safer. Attached is the spec of wheel I purchased.
Awesome! Looks like your hooking up very well. Can you please share what all you have done suspension wise?
Thanks[/QUOTE]
Havent done anything yet. The springs are all likely original, and the shocks are just a standard off the shelf parts store type. Will be upgrading the shocks this winter to QA1’s likely. The tires do break loose a little in the first 10’ and the front end nose dives then comes back up. Hopefully shocks on all four corners help that!
Thanks Alan! I have to run a 1/2” spacer on the back wheels to clear the brakes. The wheel fits perfect with a 255/60. I did notice that the drivers side inside lip of the wheel has some scraping marks from the e-brake cable
bracket. It must rub on launch, so I need to move it or slightly modify it to make it safer. Attached is the spec of wheel I purchased.
Hope to come race you someday in some good air!
Thanks for the info man. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out a wheel solution to clear the brakes. The only race wheels I’ve found that fit and clear the brakes are “Race Stars” from Dragstar wheels. Some Chinese wheels. I don’t like em.
I talked to Aerospace brakes about a drag brake kit for the C3, they can make them, not a stock item. They are $1k for the rear and still no guarantee they will clear the wheels with a flat face like most drag wheels.
The RTS has pad clearance in the spokes. Weld said they couldn’t make a 15x8, 4” BS. Only a 15x7 or 15x10 which made no sense to me.
So yours is a 15x8.25” with 4.5” BS.
On the 1/2” spacer, did you use a bolt on adapter type spacer with it’s own studs or just a slip on spacer and add longer wheel studs?
I think I’d rather go this route then messing with the drag brakes gamble.
I went with just the slip on and longer studs. I’ll get some close up pics of the wheels/calipers/spacers.
Man that would be awesome!
I have been dealing with this for almost a year......Weld reps swear no wheel will work that they make. I don’t see why they can’t make a 15x8 with 4” BS with medium pad clearance for the calipers but they say it can’t be done.... yet they make it in a 4.5” BS.
I appreciate any pics you can post of the car in them showing fitment, caliper clearance etc.
You can just text them to me if it’s easier for you.
My custom made Alumastars that I waited 2 months for ended up on my Buick. Luckily they fit that one perfect with drum brakes... At least I totally didn’t waste that $1200....🙄
71 Vette/Vortecpro
