1971 Corvette
Past Due Vette
In these trying economic times, we'd rather not be a commodities trader. Despite that, Doug Kurzydlo can still feed his appetite for Corvettes. When Doug was about 20 years old, he purchased this 1971 Corvette. This was 1976, so the car was still pretty new. From the beginning, he wanted to "twin turbo" it, but being in his early 20s and turbos being less popular than they are now, this proved to be an impossible task. Instead, he did a halfway restoration to spruce it up, but he wasn't happy with the result. In 1981, he got married, and his attempts to bring the Vette back were futile.
In 2005, he got a break. He teamed up with Performance Restorations of Mundelein, Illinois, to complete the build he always dreamed of. Just as he planned it over 30 years ago, this would be a radical twin-turbo--powered car that would be comfortable to drive. He steps out of Detroit's ultimate modern-muscle daily driver, a Corvette Z06, so his expectations were high. He wanted something with brutal power, but with the smooth ride and excellent handling of his late-model Corvette.
Doug brought the project over to the shop one piece at a time. This wasn't because he was running out of funds, but because he wanted to take his time and really enjoy the build. The first part to arrive behind the tall roll-up doors was the frame. There they acid dipped it, welded all the seams, and ground down the rough edges.
The engine was built from a fresh Dart block with a 375-inch displacement for high-rpm capabilities. Most of the internals are top secret, known only to well-known turbo engine builder Gale Banks. The cool thing is that this motor can be run on its 800-horsepower 91-octane setting, 850-horsepower 93-octane setting, or its 1,100-horsepower 100-octane setting. Then when the world's gasoline supply is down to a trickle, this Vette can run on E85!
By The Numbers
1971 Corvette
Doug Kurzydlo, 50 * Lake Forest, IL
| ENGINE |
| Type: | twin-turbo 375- inch small-block Chevy |
| Block: | Dart |
| Oiling: | 7-quart pan |
| Rotating assembly: | forged crank, |
| | H-beam rods, Banks forged pistons |
| Cylinder heads: | Dart Pro 1 CNC 23° aluminum |
| Camshaft: | Banks custom grind |
| Valvetrain: | 2.08/1.60-inch Manley valves |
| Induction: | ACCEL Gen. VII DFI, |
| | ACCEL ProRam CNC-ported intake |
| Ignition: | ACCEL |
| Cooling: | Be Cool radiator |
| Fuel system: | fuel cell |
| Exhaust: | Banks headers, 3-inch exhaust |
| Fasteners: | ARP |
| DRIVETRAIN |
| Transmission/shifter: | Richmond |
| | 5-speed manual, |
| | McLeod dual disc clutch |
| Driveshaft: | aluminum |
| Rear axle: | Corvette center section |
| | by Tom’s Differentials |
| CHASSIS |
| Front suspension: | tubular A-arms, |
| | composite springs, QA1 shocks, |
| | ’71 Corvette spindles, 1.375-inch sway bar, |
| | Steeroid’s rack-and-pinion steering |
| Rear suspension: | Vette Brakes boxed |
| | control arms relocated for bigger tires, |
| | composite springs |
| Brakes: | Corvette 12.2-inch rotors |
| MISCELLANEOUS |
| Seats: | black leather Recaro |
| Dashboard: | factory restored gauges in dash, |
| | boost/fuel pressure gauges by Auto Meter |
| Wiring: | Painless harness |
| Column: | Grant steering wheel |
| Comforts: | Classic Auto Air |
| Body: | Ecklers aftermarket hood |
| | for turbo clearance |
| Paint: | PPG Daytona Blue with pearl |
| WHEELS/TIRES |
| Wheels: | Boze 18x8- and 18x10-inch |
| Tires: | Michelin Pilot Sports 255/40R18, |
| | 285/40R18 |