This C6 Corvette Is Getting A Turbocharged Honda Four-Cylinder Swap: Video
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Thanks to its capable chassis and easily upgradable Small Block V8 engine, the C6 Corvette is one of the best performance bargains out there – particularly for those looking to carry out their own modifications.
For this reason, we’ve seen countless C6 Corvettes transformed into production-based road racing cars and drag racers over the years. These cars typically utilize a modified version of the stock Small Block or an aftermarket V8 based on the iconic GM engine design, but a group of drag racing enthusiasts out of Stafford, Virginia are currently building a different kind of C6 Corvette race car.
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Unruly Motorsports this week shared details on its new Honda K24-swapped C6 Corvette drag racer, which it hopes to have completed by the time the 2023 Hot Rod Drag Week kicks off next September. Despite the downsized engine, Unruly Motorsports says their Honda-powered Chevy should produce roughly 900 horsepower thanks to a long list of upgrades that include a 67mm turbocharger and forged pistons and rods. Power will be sent to a set of ultra-wide rear drag slicks through a two-speed Powerglide transmission with a special bell housing to make it compatible with the 2.4-liter engine.
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Despite the compact size of the Honda K-Series motor, it’s actually not that much lighter than a comparable Small Block. In a recent interview with The Drive, Unruly Motorsports’ Kevin Brown said the K24 weighs about 318 pounds with the aftermarket turbocharger and other adjacent parts accounted for, while the LS2 it replaces weighed about 488 pounds. He expects the car to tip the scales at roughly 3,000 pounds when it’s complete – about 131 pounds less than the estimated factory weight of a C6 Corvette.
As for quarter-mile performance, Brown has a lofty goal of achieving a high six-second pass time with this four-cylinder powered ‘Vette. He knows he probably won’t reach that goal in the car’s inaugural appearance at Hot Rod Drag Week next year, but he hopes to get there eventually with some tuning and driving skill.
While many GM fans won’t be overly thrilled about this Honda-powered C6 Corvette, we look forward to seeing it out on the track one day. It may be sacrilege, but we support any and all enthusiasts building cars they like – whether it’s a Honda-powered Corvette or a Camaro V6-powered Geo Tracker.
You can learn a bit more about this wild project via the video embedded below, which comes from the Unruly Motorsports YouTube channel.
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Thinking about Honda sounds coming out of a Corvette makes me sick to my stomach!
More money then sense. I wish I had that problem.
I’d rather have sense. You can make and keep money with it.
Honda motor in a vette…oh heaven forbid
Just no, this is a bigger Dbag move then the average Vette driver on the highway…😉😁😉…
My coworker races motor cross with an AWD mitzu. He uses a 2.2L I4 bored and stroked to 2.5L, turbo’d and tuned for ethanol to get just at 600hp. He blew 4 motors in 4 years. All of them had different points of failure from being high strung. 12k a pop per failure.
I recommended him to go with a small block build next, particularly the 4.3L LV3, which could be picked up for under $500 at a junk yard, and put extensive work into the heads and cam. A lopey cam with stiff enough springs to withstand 10,000 rpm’s on even the 4.3 would pull the same power without blowing up, overheating and would be lighter.
Disappointed that the comments aren’t all that ragey.
I’ve seen plenty of SBC engines making well over 1000 RWHP, so what is special about building a 4 cyl to do that.
It’s special because it’s a 4 cyl and a SBC is twice as big.
why ,ruin a corvette for this bs ,thinking more money than brains and to hear it run would be against all good ,just ruined a vette which im not a fan of this body style at all
I’m thinking will the 2.7t be the next hotrod motor in the next 10 years?, 310hp/400 tq is nothing to brush off.
Really?, imagine you drop the 2.7t in an old S10 or even an old Cobalt…
Since GM makes an EXCELLENT 4 cylinder turbo engine, I am surprised that they would choose a Honda power plant. Certainly nothing against Honda, as all of their engines are great!
Have fun rebuilding that little 4-banger after 3-4 runs down the 1,320′. They just don’t hold up like a GM LS engine does when getting romped on. I have yet to rebuild the LS3 in my ’11 SS after many, many runs down the 1/4.
So why? Just to be different I guess. Kudos for that…maybe?
I saw and understand a K24 Ferrari, ( much more affordable and build-able) but this seems difficult to rationalize.
High 6’s in the quarter mile!? How much horsepower does that usually take for a car of this weight? I’d estimate 2000hp, not 900 ponies. If that car runs 6’s, I will guess the engine can’t last more than 4 runs (less than 30 seconds WOT time). So I will be very curious the amount of money spent for a short-lived engine.
A total diss to an icon.
Oh crap! I was going to do this. I guess now I will just put a Model T engine in my new Ferrari instead. I figure it could run 6’s for around $800k.
So they ruinned a good corvette to save 170lbs!- you could save that much by trimming away extra fiberglass and metal iif you want a racecar!- not to mention that similar investing into the stock ls-v8 would net you more horsepower! And then theres the sound!!!- the first corvette that NOBODY wants to hear run!!!!