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I've just finished installing new ported heads on my LT1 which meant draining the coolant and disconnecting the fuel rails (among many other things!). The car has also been out of action for about a month (sadly with a full tank of gas).
I have a few questions regarding the first start-up:
- Do I need to drain the month-old fuel (was premium), or will it still be OK?
- Before I start the car, should I crank it with the ignition system fuse removed so that the oil gets circulated?
- What is the best way to bleed the coolant system? Keep the cap off, get it up to temp and then squeeze the hoses?
Gas and oil are unaffected. No different than the car just sitting around. Burping coolant may take a few times. There is a procedure in the book regarding getting the proper level. Not as simple as it used to be since the coolant tank is multi chambered.
You're fine - fuel is fine at only one month, and you never had the oil system apart so it likely still has prime anyway. Reassembly and light it off!
PS: WOW! That's a lot of parts! Hope it's all coming together for you! Getting that many vendors and so on to interoperate and fit and play nice can be challenging...
You're fine - fuel is fine at only one month, and you never had the oil system apart so it likely still has prime anyway. Reassembly and light it off!
PS: WOW! That's a lot of parts! Hope it's all coming together for you! Getting that many vendors and so on to interoperate and fit and play nice can be challenging...
So JUST a bit more involved than the usual cold air intake, ported throttle body and X pipe.
What’s your power goal?
Sounds like a standing mile car, do you have plans for it?
Anything north of 1krwhp would make me happy. For me the car is mostly just a learning experience and a bit of fun. Aside from the bottom-end work, I've done everything myself - on a cold damp driveway in southern U.K. with nothing but a small toolbox!
I just like getting to know the cars that I own, and not having to rely on others to fix them. I've found that adding speed parts is a great way to do this. Sometimes I break things too, but It's all part of the learning curve.
We do have a few drag strips here in the UK, but I think they are all 1/4 mile. I do intend to take it to one though as soon as I've got some kind of cage inside it.
Anything north of 1krwhp would make me happy. For me the car is mostly just a learning experience and a bit of fun. Aside from the bottom-end work, I've done everything myself - on a cold damp driveway in southern U.K. with nothing but a small toolbox!
I just like getting to know the cars that I own, and not having to rely on others to fix them. I've found that adding speed parts is a great way to do this. Sometimes I break things too, but It's all part of the learning curve.
We do have a few drag strips here in the UK, but I think they are all 1/4 mile. I do intend to take it to one though as soon as I've got some kind of cage inside it.
1,000 hp sounds very realistic. Maybe it will hook up in third gear, maybe. Send a video of your track run whenever that might be.
I tip my hat to you, it’s got to be a big challenge to take on such a project in the U.K., is there much aftermarket support for the Corvette in your area?
1,000 hp sounds very realistic. Maybe it will hook up in third gear, maybe. Send a video of your track run whenever that might be.
I tip my hat to you, it’s got to be a big challenge to take on such a project in the U.K., is there much aftermarket support for the Corvette in your area?
Thank you, I definitely will record it. I’d quite like to do a 15” conversion on the rear end too as traction is a very big issue.
i’m running R888R’s right now which are as close to slicks as you can go in the U.K. legally, but even they still loose traction at high speed!
There is zero support for Corvette in the U.K. and I suppose it is understandable too, as last time I checked there was only 27 C7 Stingrays registered in the whole country! The WeaponX cylinder heads I just installed, I brought home from Florida with me in a suitcase after a family vacation lol. The TSA must have said “wtf” when that went through the x-ray 😂
Thank you, I definitely will record it. I’d quite like to do a 15” conversion on the rear end too as traction is a very big issue.
i’m running R888R’s right now which are as close to slicks as you can go in the U.K. legally, but even they still loose traction at high speed!
There is zero support for Corvette in the U.K. and I suppose it is understandable too, as last time I checked there was only 27 C7 Stingrays registered in the whole country! The WeaponX cylinder heads I just installed, I brought home from Florida with me in a suitcase after a family vacation lol. The TSA must have said “wtf” when that went through the x-ray 😂
I imagine you get a a lot of attention when you take it out.
I imagine you get a a lot of attention when you take it out.
What made you choose the Corvette?
SO much attention, it's like a magnet. Most people have no idea what it is and want to know more, but those who do know that its a C7 appreciate being able to see one in the flesh
I've always liked having something different to everyone else. In a normal week I will see Porsches by the bucket load, a Ferrari or two and maybe a Lamborghini. I think it's fair to say that the latter two are largely purchased by people wanting to show off their money rather than their love of cars. Even though my pin-up car as a kid was a Lambo - and I could have purchased one instead of the C7, I just don't want to be 'that guy'.
The Corvette (in the UK especially), to me, says that the owner loves cars, loves V8's and and is willing to make sacrifices (like driving on the wrong side) to drive something he is passionate about. I also LOVE the USA. I swear I was born in the wrong country, because I love everything about America and would give up my UK residency at the drop of a hat to have a green card. Our last 12 holidays have all been to Florida, Miami, LA, Las Vegas...etc
I first saw the C7 at Disney's EPCOT on the Test Track ride when I was visiting with my family. It was love at first sight:
It took a while for me to find the same colour and specs in the UK, but it was worth the wait and I wouldn't trade her for anything
SO much attention, it's like a magnet. Most people have no idea what it is and want to know more, but those who do know that its a C7 appreciate being able to see one in the flesh
I've always liked having something different to everyone else. In a normal week I will see Porsches by the bucket load, a Ferrari or two and maybe a Lamborghini. I think it's fair to say that the latter two are largely purchased by people wanting to show off their money rather than their love of cars. Even though my pin-up car as a kid was a Lambo - and I could have purchased one instead of the C7, I just don't want to be 'that guy'.
The Corvette (in the UK especially), to me, says that the owner loves cars, loves V8's and and is willing to make sacrifices (like driving on the wrong side) to drive something he is passionate about. I also LOVE the USA. I swear I was born in the wrong country, because I love everything about America and would give up my UK residency at the drop of a hat to have a green card. Our last 12 holidays have all been to Florida, Miami, LA, Las Vegas...etc
I first saw the C7 at Disney's EPCOT on the Test Track ride when I was visiting with my family. It was love at first sight:
It took a while for me to find the same colour and specs in the UK, but it was worth the wait and I wouldn't trade her for anything
Well it doesn’t doesn’t get much more American than a Corvette! You are definitely part of the Corvette family.
Have you you ever had the opportunity to do any Corvette activities when you were in the US?
Last edited by Guard Dad; Apr 26, 2019 at 06:02 PM.
Well it doesn’t doesn’t get much more American than a Corvette! You are definitely part of the Corvette family.
Have you you ever had the opportunity to do any Corvette activities when you were in the US?
Sadly not. The closest I have come to such activities were attending a couple of car meets and chatting some vette owners, and I also popped into West Coast Corvette (which was actually pretty boring - sorry guys!). I'd love to go to the Corvette Museum, but we've not been within reasonable distance of it on any of our vacations. Most of our vacations are in FL, and I don't really know what vette related activities are over that way.
Sadly not. The closest I have come to such activities were attending a couple of car meets and chatting some vette owners, and I also popped into West Coast Corvette (which was actually pretty boring - sorry guys!). I'd love to go to the Corvette Museum, but we've not been within reasonable distance of it on any of our vacations. Most of our vacations are in FL, and I don't really know what vette related activities are over that way.
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I’ve been to the Museum but the factory tour was off limits (getting ready for the C8 I believe) so I’ve yet to do that. There are some enormous events that are held, time to time, across the country.
And...they are going to ban Corvettes from the UK.
Dont get me started on the UK’ and it’s controlling government! This is why I love the USA so much. It isn’t perfect, but it’s got a damn lot more freedom than over here
Initial start-up after top end rebuild
