I've been passively stalking the C5s for sale over the past few months because I have had a Lingenfelter Twin Turbo kit stored in the basement. I got it for a good price, then doubled that price by purchasing the last new parts needed from LPE before storing it all in the basement when I decided that, no, this kit was not optimal for my goals with the Z06. That car now sports a Huron twin turbo kit. My idea in the meantime was the keep the Z06 as the nicer/weekend car and still enjoy a daily driver C5 as I have for years but with the LPE twins quietly installed. Stock driving with boost fun.

That was the idea. Then I came across a combination of parts which caught my attention and as you may guess the car has been paid for and will be shipping east in the next week to two. As much as I stalked the C5s for sale I had also been tracking the C6 Z06 pricing. They just were not in my price range. Not a haflway clean one anyway. And the more beater ones typically moved instantly before I could inquire. Busted.

What I have found instead is a poor man's C6Z.

From the information shared by the seller, Brad, is that he purchased it two years ago from its original owner/builder. This gentleman was a retired engineer from California who took over fifteen years to complete his personal vision of what the ultimate C5 should be. I could feel that vibe as I researched the car. He went over the top on it where he could. That said, it reflects his generation as well as the rough time period when the car was built in the early to mid '00s and early '10s.

On paper, what have I bought?

A custom blue 1999 m6 Coupe
an actual C5-R block 427
Callies crank
Callies rods
Wiseco pistons
AFR heads ported by TEA
Cam spec is unknown
valvetrain is unknown, but with a trunnion kit
LS6 intake with BBK tb
FIC 1650 injectors
Walbro 450 in-tank
A1000 secondary
Afpr and rails unknown
Katech valve covers
Catch can unknown
F1-R procharger head unit with Griptec 3.4" and 8-rib drive
A&A brand new bracket
A&A brand new secondary drive with 10% OD IW hub
McLeod RXT 1200 brand new
"built" driveshaft unknown
"built" transmission unknown
"built" differential unknown but with 3.73s
Diff brace
AMT engine mounts
unsure if there is an aftermarket trans mount
DeWitts cut-down radiator
Spal fans
Turn One ps pump
Kooks long tubes and x-pipe
Kooks mufflers
Brembo GT brakes front and rear
Hotchkiss sway bars
BC coilovers
LPE mini-tub
HRE 547s in 18" with new tires front and rear 275/40 and 315/40
Vette Essentials custom interior
ACP air extractor hood
Tiger Shark tail
unknown rocker panel rear brake air scoops
Tuned by Trevor Timpone currently on E85-only on factory ECU

If you were to go by modern pricing on the known parts and a very generalized best guess at the likely unknowns or equivalent, the original owner invested a lot of effort and funds into this car.

My first love is my electron blue Z06 which I'm slowly finishing this winter/spring. But I fully intend to stretch the legs on this other blue rocket ship as well. I have ideas for it, but nothing decided yet. I will say the Tiger Shark look is not my favorite but I did some graphics work and decided I can be happy with it with some paint and exhaust work.

Here it is.







The RIGHT picture is as it sits at time of purchase. The LEFT image is my preference with this bumper style since I have no interest in repainting the car or changing body panels.

 

Glad to see you finally snatched that car up.

Wonder why it was minitubbed though, a 315 doesn't require it.

 

It also had the option of a drag pack set of wheels and tires. A fair price. But not the style I would run on it. The HREs have only 315s on them currently cut can go bigger too.

 

Congrats on the new ride

 

Thank you. I hope to have better luck than with my last C5 purchase. If not, I can literally strip it and make my money back.

Wheels are going to be one question. The Z can only run one set at a time. I was going to have street tires on the sp500s and track tires on the EC7s for that one. I have some sets I've been trying to sell of wagons, speedlines and the oem brand knock-off of C6Z wheels which the Z came with. These HRE 547s were THE BOMB twenty years ago in the tuner era but look very dated now. The temptation to rock the new vintage look is there though the only real gain is the width and offset which take advantage of the mini-tub. I won't be able to run 17s on either car up front when done even for winter storage so I still need to sell my wagons and speedlines. Maybe I just run a ton of speedlines with cheap all season tires. I tend to think the Z will get the sp500s and the EC7s will walk over to this car for 2025.

The next undecided issue is the combo. It absolutely needs to be converted to pump gas. The tune is not locked and Trevor said he can basically just dial it back to a prior tune and it will be fine. While I do have an E85 pump nearby it is just the one and it tests often at E60 vs the race drum quality E85 the car was tuned for.

Once it's on pump gas and I can suss the car out then I'll decide what is solid and what needs attention.

What would you do with this car if it showed up in your garage?

 

What are the wheel specs, now? To take advantage of a minitub, your wheels will need way more offset, than average.

 

I'll measure at some point when I can remove them. I'm still in a one bay with the Z06 so this one is going to go live with a friend briefly and then a rental garage when I can find one. The basic diameter and width are 18x10 and 18x12. A 325 would be about top end for a 12" rim but those don't really exist in 18" currently. 335/30/18s do exist in various street and track tires. The trick then would be finding something to work on the fronts in the same tire model. It currently sports new Nitto 555 g2s. Continental Extremecontact Sport 2s would work with 285 or 295 in front. As would Nankang CR-S.

Still. I'm not in love with the HREs. @Mr.Black feels the sp500s are an old look which I still like, but the HREs really look like you get a free pair of New Balance when you bought them. I'll probably sell them to put tires on some other sets like the 18x11 EC7s.

I have to look up what fitment C6 ZR1 wheels have. Black with a dark bronze might work.

 

My favorite C5 hood. Great looking car.

 

I would disassemble the HRE's and have them powder coated. That is what I did with my CCW LM20's. I was not a fan of the polished wheel (just not my style), but love them now that I had them powder coated.

 

The HREs have several things against them for me.

The diameter at 18 doesn't look as good as at 19 in this wheel style. Polished is definitely something I don't want more of, you're right. And I like to wash a car and not feel compelled to detail the wheels because of 40+ bolts holding all that carbon. The only advantage at 18 is tire options, but even those are pricy now.

One thing I have determined is that this car will be largely treated like the step child. I plan to drive the Z06 hard, but I would have zero reservations driving this one once sorted. So I do not intend to put much or any money into the car except to keep it in good working order.

In the last year it has all new AC, belts, hoses, expansion and washer tanks along with RXT and the A&A secondary drive with main bracket. I'll make sure the trans and diff get fresh fluids and run the oil off for testing and go over it all as I can.

The thought I keep coming back to is using it for a track car. I was going to run it at Lebanon on Wednesday nights with some friends and that still may be the direction. But I realize the car is also primed for HPDE events if it were NA and not pushing 900w. Brakes, suspension, basically de facto Z06 gearing with the base box and 3.73s. I'm unsure. I am going to get the car, drive it some, let it speak to me and not make too hasty a decision.

Time is on my side.... and there's nothing like driving around with that sweet sweeeet blower music.

 

Here's Brad's walkaround video of the car

 

You are definitely right about that sweet blower music. I kinda wish my V3-Ti was that loud.

I'm looking at that fuel setup, and I can't tell, but are the rails fed from the front and return off the rear? Or are they deadheaded? I'm just trying to figure out how I want to plumb mine.

 

I don't know yet. Nor do I know if it returns off the AFPR instead. It will be some fun doing the dive on this car.

 

That's a "wise " man's proper C5R build. Ain't nothing poor about that build. Much rather have that than a C6 Z06.

 

I hadn't paid attention to power numbers. Here is the current info on the car.

850rw on pump/meth at 10psi. It is now on race E85 only and at 16psi without a dyno number.

 

wait.....

 

Congrats on your latest C5 and best of luck with the changes you will be making.

 

That car is nuts!!! Someone really put their love and money in this hot rod. This car is screaming “RACE ME!” Is there a drag ‘n drive in its future?

Congrats on a great find.

 

Nice. It's just what you needed. lol

 

With an 18x10 front, you could go with a 275/35 or 285/30 tire and a 315/30 on those 18x12's. Poke will depend on the offsets. If you decide to go widebody, the 335/30's would work.
C6 ZR1 fronts are 19x10 with +40 offset and rears are 20x12 with +59. Aftermarket wheels for that application often have less offset though so that's something to check.
Are those HRE's polished or chrome? If the latter, powdercoating will be a problem and more expensive.