FuelTech USA, a Georgia-based purveyor of standalone engine control units for high-performance road cars and drag racing applications, has managed to squeeze over 1,000 horsepower out of its C8 Corvette shop car.
The company recently shared a video to its YouTube page showing Anderson Dick, FuelTech’s founder and CEO, making some final adjustments to his work-in-progress C8 Corvette shop car before hooking it up to a dyno to validate its output. With two Garret G35-900 series turbochargers, 1700cc fuel injectors and a FuelTech FT600 standalone ECU, the company’s C8 Corvette is good for a whopping 1,075 horsepower and 888 pound-feet of torque at the wheels.
Usually squeezing over 1,000 horsepower out of a twin-turbocharged Chevy Small Block isn’t very hard, but it’s a different story with the C8 Corvette and its 6.2L LT2 V8. General Motors used an encrypted ECU on the C8 Corvette for cybersecurity purposes, which the aftermarket has yet to fully crack. That means tuners haven’t been able to adjust the engine mapping, air/fuel ratio and other settings, limiting the returns on upgrades like turbochargers.
To solve this, FuelTech USA installed its own FT600 standalone ECU, which works in conjunction with the C8 Corvette’s stock ECU. This allowed the company to adjust the ECU settings without confusing the car’s stock computer altogether.
“We’re so happy to finally accomplish a number that for us is very important,” Dick said. “I know a dyno number… each dyno might have a different number. But from our perspective, just having over 1,000 horsepower, it’s an honor. We know how many people are trying to do this and it’s awesome that we also are getting through these barriers.”
FuelTech USA says it will release a 1-hour long episode later this week documenting how it managed to work around the C8 Corvette’s ECU, which many tuning shops will be watching with great interest, we imagine. For now, check out the impressive dyno run in the video embedded below.
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Comments
This confirms once again how tough ,well made and reliable GM engines are. Try this with a bmw engine and watch how blows-up in a second.
Well this makes the upcoming Z06 ancient history already, LOL
I like to sell my order on my new 2021 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Red mist Lt2 package and Z51 package and Transparent top much much more for $10k over MSRP Weʼll be Build in May or early June thanks joe $75,975 Msrp plus $10 K over Msrp Makes it $86k plus tag
title tax and dealer fees Dealer welcome well not last long contact me ASAP please don’t contact me if you don’t have the money no financing cash deal only please no more tire kicks only buyer do your home work first before try to buy this corvette thanks joe miles not 300 new no miles in And you we’ll take delivery of your new corvette Z51-LT2
Anybody know what wheels those are? They look great on the C8