Daily Slideshow: 890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06

Chasing a childhood dream has never looked better, or gone faster.

By Geoff Castaneda - June 7, 2018
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06
890HP of Deranged Fury in This C6 Z06

Boyhood Dreams

We live in a world of instant gratification. If you're hungry, there are drive-thrus to accommodate your needs. Feel like shopping and don't want to leave the house? There's Amazon Prime. Despite this, the true satisfaction of owning your dream car takes a lot more time and money. For a 15-year-old Bill Cobb, he was close to having his dream Corvette at his disposal. Unfortunately, his father realized the adverse effects a Corvette could have on a teenager. In a flash, Cobb's dreams were crushed. The 1978 Silver Anniversary Vette was gone, sold before Cobb could ever get behind the wheel and muscle the Vette around. But, as most happy endings have in common, Cobb's tale of Corvette ownership and fulfillment starts with perseverance. Click along to find out how he put together a Corvette better than his teenage self could've imagined.  

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

After his father sold the '78 Vette, Cobb found a way to stay near the Corvette scene. He found a job with John Drahos of Corvette Conspiracy and absorbed as much as possible. His time around Drahos left an even deeper impression on Cobb and further fueled his desire to fulfill his boyhood fantasies. In 2006, Cobb made the triumphant march to his local Chevy dealership and ordered his prized 2007 Corvette Z06.  

>>Join the conversation about this Hopped Up C6 Z06 right here in Corvette Forum.

Sliding Down the Rabbit Hole

As is so often the case, Cobb drove his Corvette and loved it. After a few years of ownership, he began hearing about the high horsepower builds coming out of Corvette Conspiracy. Shortly thereafter, Cobb decided to join the party. 

To prep, the Z06 for the incoming horsepower the LS7 was plucked out and sent to ERL Performance. Among the laundry list of upgrades the engine received were an upgraded crankshaft, pistons, ported heads, sleeved cylinders, and a FAST intake manifold. Fuel injectors were an obvious install given the influx of air headed to the engine. With the groundwork laid, a Procharger D-1SC centrifugal supercharger was thrown into the mix. In stock form, the LS7 put out a then earth-shattering 505 horsepower. With the added sauce, Cobb's Z06 now throws down 890 rear-wheel horsepower.  

>>Join the conversation about this Hopped Up C6 Z06 right here in Corvette Forum.

Hiding in Plan Sight

Anyone who knows anything about Corvettes will be able to identify Cobb's silver Vette as a Z06. To the uninformed, this build is just another silver Corvette, something that could be owned by your dentist or local real estate agent. The unsuspecting, over-eager teenager in a V6 Mustang would be terrified to know what kind weapon lies beneath the clamshell hood of this silver bullet. 

>>Join the conversation about this Hopped Up C6 Z06 right here in Corvette Forum.

Subtle Styling Mods

In keeping with the sleeper exterior appearance, the only noticeable change are the HRE wheels. The wheels measure 19x10 in the front and 20x13 in the rear. They're wrapped in Nitto Invo tires measuring a massive 345/25R20 in the rear. 

>>Join the conversation about this Hopped Up C6 Z06 right here in Corvette Forum.

Four Tips, Must Be a Vette

890 wheel horsepower is a hell of a soundtrack. That raw power is amplified by a Pfadt Tri-Y header system and X-pipe. Towards the rear, Billy Boat Fusion mufflers complete the exhaust system. The stock Z06 transaxle was left unmolested but the torque tube of the driveshaft was reinforced to meet the new power levels. 

>>Join the conversation about this Hopped Up C6 Z06 right here in Corvette Forum.

Familiar But Improved

At passing glance the interior of Cobb's Z06 is standard Corvette fare. Underneath the stock Z06 seats and tucked away beneath the carpet is a layer of Dynamat, aimed at toning down some of the LS7's newfound fury. Other minor improvements include upgraded stereo speakers and a hidden fuel pressure gauge.  

>>Join the conversation about this Hopped Up C6 Z06 right here in Corvette Forum.

Dream Come True

Now that Cobb has built the Corvette he waited decades for, what's left? Well, in 2013 he took home Best in Class at the Piston Power Show in Cleveland. As for the Vette's day-to-day role? It's Cobb's stress reliever of choice. Hard to argue with the form of therapy. Especially since I don't think there's a prescription pill that would go from 0-60 any faster. 

>>Join the conversation about this Hopped Up C6 Z06 right here in Corvette Forum.

For help with your repair and maintenance projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.

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