We’ll choose a manual transmission for pure driving pleasure any day, but when it comes time to hit the track, an automatic is the quickest shifter these days. But, Cleetus McFarland’s fenderless C5 Corvette has set a record: it’s the first General Motors car with a manual transmission to dip into the 7-second mark in the quarter mile.
The car, known as Leroy, had already been crowned the fastest Corvette with a manual transmission in the quarter mile, but McFarland wanted more. His Corvette returned to the shop for a rebuild after setting an earlier time of 8.106 and mechanics diagnosed a boost leak. All was thought to be A-OK, but a cylinder head gasket failed on another pass, which kept McFarland from the record.
When all seemed lost, a bold idea was tossed into the ring: run the Corvette without coolant. Risky, but a new world record was at stake. Ultimately, the crew went for it and now we’re looking at a 7-second Corvette.
Comments
Really not much of a Corvette.
How so, the chassis, drive-train is all corvette. It’s simply missing the interior and body panels.
I could understand your statement if it was the reverse. A completely fabbed chassis with body panels pinned on, but everything under the skin that makes a Vette a Vette is alive and well.
Yes, I missed the twin turbos and shorty exhaust sticking out of hood of a stock Corvette on the lot. Not to mention drag slicks and roll cage.
Very impressive how streetable that Corvette is and how much punishment the LS engine can take. Good job.
Your article gives me another approach on the subject. Very good, I think I found the knowledge I needed.
You are such a bot. Nobody thinks like that.
Engine top end – upgraded, race transmission – upgraded, 2 massive kickass turbos – upgraded, Dominator electronics – upgraded, custom driveshaft – upgraded, roll cage – upgraded, race seats and harnesses – upgraded, drag shute – upgraded, drag slicks and skinnies – upgraded.
The lower chassis is about all that’s left of the C5 – it’s a racecar with a hint of C5 at best. The next phase of the build does away with the engine bottom end altogether; no aluminium – all cast iron block with 6-bolt to stop the gasket blowouts (read: warped aluminium heads/block).