Some may remember my build thread that went bad 1 1/2 years ago and I really don't want to go over that in this thread.

Bottom line is that I built a 2004 C5 damn near the spec's of ECS. I have a Blown 402 (9.4 compression, 8 rib) all forged with studded bolted mains etc. , custom cam, Trickflow's that I have $5K in, stage II ECS fuel system, Stage II RPM A-4 with a Yank 11" (not what everyone uses/9") Nitrous converter. Hardend 1/2 shafts with 373's.

Been a long time but I finally came to the point of reality this last week. Went out with a drive with the tuner and he put it in 2nd gear and nailed it (St Louis, was around 40F) at 45 mph. Car spun the whole way to 110 mph and I felt I was on a ride at Six Flags. The G's were unbelievable.

After we got back to the shop we talked in depth about what I wanted to do with the car. I had the money to take it straight to the fab shop and get a full cage in it.

I like many got caught up in making a dream come true. My tuner is the one that put it in reality: Have a bad day? Fire that bitch up and go and have some fun. You have probably the top five bad-*** c5's in the STL region.

My wife and I golf at least 100 rounds a year. I thought about the cost to put a full cage in the car and how many times I would really use it. I got caught up in a dream from my younger years.

When I was younger I would hear stories about a fast car that the person would say "I will put $100 on the dash and when I hit it, and you can grab it, you can have it".

I now have that car.

Thanks Chris and Doug for this experience. I have a rocket. And do not need a dyno, or track time to prove that I have something that will **** your pants. I did not do anything in my build that was cheap, cut corner's. I still owe you the walnut/maple sign.

Frankly, I built a car that is so frick'n quick and fast that I could make a statement at ATCO.

It sooooooooooo important to tell your builder what your goals are. I got caught up in having the fastest vette in the region that I spent so much money to get that point. Got there.... this last weekend we had a group meeting and it put everything in prosective. It's so fast, but it came to the point that do I want to buy a trailer and put the full cage in the car?

What was my original intentions? I got caught up in H.P. and FAST.

I just want to have fun with a beast.

I'll post up some pic's in the near future.

 

Car made 725 rwhp w/an 11' nitrous converter. 28" (315) M/T's radials on the rear with Bogart's all around w/4.5" front runners.

 

Sounds like a really nice build. But to me I think you have to track a car to get the real perspective of the power the car has. If your spinning tires you are not really feeling the cars power. And there is no feeling like being on a prepped track having grip and letting her have it and not having to worry about idiots on the road. (And that would include you and I both spinning tires at 110mph) its not the brightest thing to do.

725 is a very respectful number no doubt... Congrats on the build.

 

you can never have enough

 

I will prove that isn't the case. ECS has my car right now..I'm hoping for 550rwhp on a stock motor. If it lasts me another 50,000 trouble free miles I'll be in heaven. 550rwhp WILL be enough for me. FACT.

 

I said the same thing and I am over 800 now... So you get a big WHATEVERRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

its never enough but its fun no matter what

 

550rwhp WILL be enough for me. FACT.



I think we all said that!! lol

I remember when I just wanted to be in the 10s.

 

You guys are brutal LOL. I should be able to click a "10" with 550rwhp I'm guessing we'll see how it goes. I'd be more satisfied with a speed around 130 ish.

 

Full Roll-Cage - I don't know what your goals are - Street or Track, 1/4 mile or Auto Crossing?

I say enjoy the car, drive it when you can and enjoy the heck out of it - learn the new power and learn to respect it - then decide whether to 'Cage' it 'Roll-Bar 5-Point' or leave it as is

But first enjoy it and figure it out before you go out and...who know's what

Thanks,Matt

 

I've been at 480-512rwhp for the past 3 1/2 years. If you're like any of us, you'll get the urge for more. I'm thinking 402 and turning the boost up is next on my list(since I'm putting off the C6z for awhile). 700+ rwhp on pump gas sounds mighty nice right now...

 

Congrats on reaching your goal and sticking with it.I'm not sure what your reason is for not putting a roll bar in the car.Judging by the money you've spent I can't see that being the problem.If you think the roll bar is going to make the car uncomfortable and non streetable then that is up to you.For a car like yours a 6 point roll bar would be the absolute minimum to me.Spinning the tires at anything over 60MPH is thrilling at first but if the car ever gets away from you and you loose it you'll wonder what you were thinking.I would put the roll bar in the car and get some serious tires.Then you will be finished and safe.
Take care.

 

Shoot, I got used to the 580rwhp in my dad's C6Z06 while street tuning it that I'm going to skip straight past that power level.

I already know I'm always going to be wanting more.

 

Wow, 100 rounds a year is alot of golf.

 

It's great that you have found the level where you are satisfied, some are never satisfied (so far myself included) on the level of their car. Some keep going until they find that they are no longer satisfied and wish they could bring it back a few levels.
You are definitely not alone on having a car that could be a track record holder, but was never ran to it's track potential. We have built many cars that have the power plant to be a record holding contender, but the owner either wasn't interested, or was more then content in just enjoying the car on the street. Point is, enjoy the car for what you want out of it, congrats.

 

man just have fun until it not that fun anymore then go for more POWER

 

My car has been at the 850/760 level for over 3 years now....I have no desire for more power. It's so over powered that it's a handfull on the street. I built it for the street, but I had no idea how fast 850/760 is. I just put on a set of MT 345/35/18 dr....really helps hook the power, but I always have to be aware of the limits...... in my case more is not better. During the 3+ years I have had zero problems......the design of my S/C system is so efficient that it never overheats, stalls or complains in any way. In short it's just right the way it is.

 

The only way you will be satisfied with 500-600rwhp is if you never ride in a faster car. I rode in Brets car and had to have that much power. Now every other car besides mine and his seems slow.

 

Sorry buddy.

I have had my car on jack stands more times than I can say for many different projects. My wife asks me "don't you ever get sick of this?". My answer to her "nope. This car could sit on jack stands for 6 months while I wait on parts. I love the UPS and FEDEX man coming to my door with boxes. I love looking for parts. I love the pursuit of power and speed almost as much as the power and speed itself and if I get to feel it a week before I put it on jackstands for another 6 months for yet another part, then I'm still happy looking at it. When I no longer feel that way, it's time to say "goodbye" to the car and move on."

I don't have the best looking, cleanest, nicest, fastest or quickest car, but it's mine. I don't count money or time thrown at it. It's a hobby, not an investment and there's no misunderstanding. I turn wrenches while jammin' to 80's and 90's rock and don't care if Iran has nuclear capability or North Korea threatened us again .

I love my car. I love talking about cars. I love working on them and helping others with theirs. This is my passion and I don't have to call two days in advance to get a tee time with it or get up a 6am to play with it.

 

I agree 100%.....