1997 C5 Corvette: The Black Sheep
- Oct 30, 2013
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This 1997 C5 Corvette sleeps by day and terrorizes by night
A first glance at this C5 gives most people the impression of “Cool, another C5 with wheels and exhaust tips. Another C5 ’Vette.”
Taking a closer look, you notice the Nitto Drag Radials sizing up at a whopping 305/45/R18. That’s over a foot of rubber on the ground. Once the car is started, it sounds like it has a bad alternator– screeching and whining… then roaring to life.
But wait, that sound is familiar to the average car guy. One brand only–ProCharger. The P-1SC puts out a mild 8 pounds of boost to this LS1, spitting out the burned molecules through TPS Headers and a full Borla Exhaust. The car has been custom tuned by Mike Norris motorsports, and the valve covers have never been removed, signaling stock internals. This C5 has consistently put down 480-500 horsepower at the rear wheels (depending on the dyno).
The power is transmitted through the original, bone stock 6-speed transmission with a Breathless Performance shifter. Also assisting are a lightweight steel flywheel and Z06 clutch, with a fully built Rockland rear differential with a 3.90 gear. The tires are sticky, but once the boost needle is kicking over to the right, they easily go up in smoke from a roll! The only suspension upgrades are the polyurethane bushings and Heim joint sway bar links.
Bottom line: this C5 is a very quick, fun, streetable car that runs 11.90s @ 130 mph in the quarter mile.
Owner: Mike Katrick, Mims FL
Check out The Black Sheep on the dyno!
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