One of the distinguishing features of the Chevrolet Corvette in recent years has been its hand-built, precision-engineered V8 engine. But while the hands involved usually belong to one of the dedicated craftspeople at GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., that’s about to change for some customers. For enthusiasts who want to take building their Corvette personally, Chevrolet is now offering buyers of a new 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 the chance to assemble their cars’ engines themselves.
“In a way, this is a dream program for a Corvette customer. I would have jumped at the chance to build the 427 in my ’67 ’Vette, and that didn’t have half of what goes into one of these modern precision engines,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations. “Today’s LS7 and LS9 Corvette engines are pinnacle achievements in engineering, and to personally involve our customers in their final creation shows the depth of Chevrolet’s commitment to make lasting connections with the customer.
Ticking off the check box for the Corvette Engine Build Experience puts customers right at the heart of the action, allowing them to literally build their own engines with their own hands (with supervision and support from one of the Build Center’s skilled technicians, of course). The result will be a powerplant that’s as unique as it is powerful.
The LS7, standard in the Corvette Z06, is a 7.0-liter monster that boasts an all-aluminum block with titanium intake valves and connecting rods for light weight, as well as a hi-po dry-sump oil system that ensures all components are well lubricated even during high-g driving conditions. Leveraging an 11:1 compression ration, the LS7 is capable of delivering 505 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque for a top speed of 198 mph—all while still avoiding the gas-guzzler tax with an EPA highway fuel-efficiency rating of 24 mpg.
Powering the fastest production car GM has ever sold, the Corvette ZR1’s 6.2-liter LS9 V8 ups the ante by packing an intercooled, four-lobe Eaton supercharger. The numbers on this beast: 638 hp and 604 lb.-ft. of torque. And with an aluminum frame that gives the ZR1 a better power-to-weight ratio than rivals like the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Gallardo and Porsce 911 GT2, this limited-availability Corvette doesn’t run out of steam until it hits 205 mph.
In much the same way no other sports car manufacturer can match the Corvette driving experience, “no other sports car manufacturer can match the level of personal customer involvement that Corvette offers,” according to Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s vice president for U.S. Marketing. “And the Corvette Engine Build Experience takes this personal involvement to an unprecedented level.”
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