$5K is definitely expensive. If you install aftermarket lowering springs, you will need to drop the front and rear subframes, so it’s not a small job no matter who does it.

I’m sure it’s much cheaper if someone other than Callaway does it. GM may deny warranty claims if you have failures (such as dampers, magride, nose lift) later on.

All of Callaway’s work, including the chassis group, is covered by their warranty. Just like your supercharged engine, if their work causes a failure they will take care of it. Case in point, fixing my trans slipping under launch control.

 

Of course if you need Callaway warranty work you need to find an authorized Callaway service facility which may be few and far between.

 

i am lucky i live less than an hour from their hq in old lyme and have an authorized dealer in my town. So that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

 

I’m also less than an hour from their Temecula facility and a mile from an authorized dealer. This definitely factored into the decision to go with Callaway.

 

callaway told me the suspension set up only lowers it about an inch. You got 2 inches you said? I just want to get rid of the gap. I think an inch would be good and than maybe bigger wheels with a better offset would till it up more

 

I didn’t measure before sending my car to Callaway, which is why I said “about 2 inches”

I just now measured at my wheel wells. Front 26”; Rear 27”. I can’t find GM published specs for C8 but several YT vids have C8 owners averaging roughly 27.5” F and 28.5” R (before adjusting collars.) So call it 1.5” for my C8.

I did find GM specs for C7 height at wheel wells and their stated manufacturing tolerance is 10mm. Maybe I have a very low build.

 

I have Callaway C8 #92 and am loving it. When I was discussing this package with Callaway reps, I was told that the transmission clutches can handle the extra power (I'm guessing they torque limit it at shift points). My other concern was what are the chances of breaking an axle with aggressive driving or launches. I was told stock axles are okay unless I'm "drag racing" the car. This left me a bit concerned, as I'm not sure what that means. Although I've not heard of any problems, is anyone aware of any DCT or axle issues with Callaway C8's?

I've also learned that Callaway C8's are not eligible for the GM extended warranty. If I'd known that, I might have had second thoughts.

 

when did you have yours done ? Just curious on the numbers. I had mine done in late November love it so far no regrets . First I heard they wouldn’t extend warranty because of it .

 

I dropped my C8 off in Old Lyme on September 10, 2024 and took delivery on October 23. 2024. Two reasons for the long lead time: 1) they had to wait for parts and 2) I asked them to delay shipment by a week because I was out of town. Regarding the extended warranty: I know! but both Tod Southerland at MacMulkin and a local dealer told me the Callaway modification excludes the car from the GM extended warranty. This makes absolutely no sense to me. Does that mean when you buy a new Callaway corvette from Ciocca or Criswell or another dealer that offers them, that those cars are automatically excluded from the extended warranty?

If anyone here has been able to get an extended GM warranty on a converted corvette, please let me know where you got it.

Fun fact: I dropped my car off at their CT facility but was told if I picked it up in person that they would have to charge me CT sales tax. Since that would cost about twice the cost to have the car delivered to my home, I opted for delivery.

Fun fact #2: My C8 is insured for declared value through NCM (American Modern). When I tried to increase the declared value to include the additional $30K for the supercharger, it was declined, even though if I had bought a Callaway corvette new from a dealer the retail cost would have been the same. Perhaps another reason to buy new.

I have no regrets since I already had a 2023 C8, given current depreciation, it made financial sense for me to take this upgrade path.

 

Callaway offers an optional 5-year powertrain warranty.

 

Yes, I did opt for the 5-year extended power train warranty. But that doesn't cover all the computers and other gizmos that can fail.

Oh and BTW, the folks at Callaway told me (and they probably told you) that under no circumstances should the ECM be reprogrammed. When I brought the car in for the required software update, the service tech indicated that they have no control over possible ECM updates that GM might push. I certainly hope that's not true.

 

True.

That's interesting about the NCM insurance. I bought my car through MacMulkin and had the Callaway supercharger package specified when I ordered the car. As you state, there was no problem insuring the car through the NCM for the full value.

 

Yeah, apparently buying a Callaway car new is the way to go if you can. I recently got a quote from Hagerty for full replacement cost and it was a bit more than 3X what I'm paying at NCM.

 

has anyone verified if thats true. Are they saying if GM pushes an update it could mess with the Callaway tune to the ecm? That's not a very comforting statement since my callaway is on order right now.

 

Yes. The dealer should not reprogram the ECM because that could/will wipe the Callaway tune.

 

Well, FWIW, Callaway does install this plug in the ODB port which hopefully will help prevent tampering with the ECU.

 

What happens if you want to add something like headers, an intake or other simple bolt ons after. Will the ecu be able to adapt at all or will that not be good or work with the Callaway tune?

 

That's a question for Callaway. I believe that any changes in the ECU will mess things up. When I arranged to have my car modified I was told to remove all mods and put it back to stock and I was told to remove the Soler ported throttle body + controller and Attack blue air filter. I later reinstalled the Soler throttle controller and haven't noticed any issues.

 

The very first thing that must be done now when you bring a car into a GM dealer for service is to plug in a special scan tool that grabs all the info. That scan tool plugs into the OBDII port, which is what that cover is on. I doubt seriously many dealer are actually going to call Callaway, and will at most just ask the owner what it's about.
The ECM is still the same as factory, so it should still adjust based on the wide-band O2 readings for minor changes (i.e. headers, air intake).

 

I understand about removing the throttle body (+controller), but needing to switch the air filter back is a little crazy. Will they add the supercharger if you already have a cat-back exhaust installed?