Laughing (gas) LeMans - Wade Martin - This LeMans Blue street driven Vette is nothing to laugh at!

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december 2020 | RPM Magazine

Story & Photos By

wes Taylor

Laughing (gas) LeMans This LeMans Blue street driven Vette is nothing to laugh at!

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hh, the Corvette, imagine a middle-aged man that golfs on the weekend; nine times out of ten, a Corvette is parked in the garage. To a point, this is true, though the “C6” over the years attracted people of all ages.

Personally, I must say this body style is my favorite of all the Corvette series; the smooth, flowing clean lines beg to be driven fast. From 2005 until 2013, the C6 is easily the most popular platform for gearheads to get their hands on now. Wade Martin is no different; this is his second sixth-generation Corvette to date. This one, a 2007 model, also happens to be the iconic Z06 variant, which replaces the base Vette’s 6.2 liter LS3 with the monster 7.0 liter LS7. With 505hp on tap backed by a Tremec 6060 6 speed transmission, it quickly ruled the factory trim streets during the last of the 2000s. Any average guy would stop right there with the more than adequate OEM power and enjoy it. Not Wade though, he wanted more, way more.

Wade came from a family of gearheads; his dad always had a hot rod in the driveway and growing u. His fondest memories were going to the Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway and Saturday night cruise-ins with his dad.

It was in 2013 when Wade got the itch for another Vette in his life and happened to run across this

The RPM Z06 Violator hood provides a little extra breathing room for what lies beneath it.

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december 2020 | RPM Magazine

LeMans blue was exactly the color Wade Martin was looking for when he found his Corvette online in 2013

From the exterior you might think this is a stock (ish) 2007 Z06 with a set of nice wheels, and you would be completely wrong.

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Again, on the inside of the Vette things look OEM, except for the Precision Products shifter. Martin is installing a full cage before he uses the 450HP hit of nitrous.

The OEM interior ends in the hatch area where twin Nitrous Outlet nitrous bottles sit awaiting their next assignment.

Front and center is the custom air intake piping, twin throttle bodies and custom LME billet LS7 intake.

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This 461-cube LSX was built by Late Model Engines of Texas.

A Callies forged crank swings Oliver 6.30 H-beam rods pinned to Diamond custom nitrous pistons and the mill is topped by All Pro LS7 heads equipped with 1.8 Crower Pro Series shaftmount rockers.

one on eBay. The car was in immaculate condition, had super low miles, and was his favorite color, LeMans Blue. One hour after the listing was made, he called and bought it right then, flew up to Iowa to pick it up and drove it home to Georgia. He already had a plan in mind for the car and that plan was detailed even further during the ride home.

Once back in Georgia, Wade reached out to Ron

Mowen, owner and founder of Vengeance Racing, to perform the LeMans Corvette’s transformation. The “in” thing to do in this day and age for a streetcar is boost, but since Wade’s previous build followed that road, this time, he came up with something different.

How about an all-out, giant cube nitrous fed monster?

The factory 427ci 7.0 liter LS7 is a perfect specimen for spray with lots of nitrous www.rpmmag.com

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The Corvette has seen a best of 9.07 at 156mph in the quartermile on the small hit of nitrous…

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The factory rear independent suspension was used with double adjustable QA1 shocks.

loving cubes stock; where’s the fun in that though? Martin decided to start fresh with a completely new motor.

The base to any strong foundation starts with the block; Wade wanted something big; unfortunately, the stock aluminum block will not support what he wanted. Late Model Engines began with a solid iron LSX tall deck block capable of supporting the nitrous they wanted. A lot more goes into creating a block of this caliber than the average smaller cubed ones most people opt to go with. On a torque plate, the bores were stretched to 4.155 inches and then honed and chamfered. The bottom end starts with a Callies billet 4.250 stroker crank with Oliver billet 6.350 inch H-beam rods and custom cut Diamond pistons supporting the nitrous ready 12.5:1 compression ratio finish out the rotating assembly. Everything is balanced and blueprinted, crank polished, rods pin fit on both ends, and rings are file fit. A setup of this

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How about an all-out, giant cube nitrous-fed monster? magnitude must be impeccable for longevity. These precautions and block modifications are a must or the motor won’t live a happy life. The final short block cube count grew from 427 to a giant 461ci monster. A Cam Motion Cam LLSR cam spec’d to .756/.738, 264/274 (intake / exhaust) with a lobe separation of 112 finishes out the assembly.

Nitrous motors gotta breathe and a set of All-Pro aluminum LS7 heads were used with 2.250 Victory titanium intake valves and Rev Inconel 1.600 exhaust valves to help make that happen. The big bumpstick requires some trick rocker arm assemblies; thankfully, Crower has just what the Late Model Engines doctor ordered. Their Pro Series 1.8 shaftmount stainless roller rocker assemblies keep the engine in time. ARP studs and fasteners were used as insurance throughout, while a Katech “Red” dry sump pump with modified windage try and support keep the assembly well oiled.

60lb/hr injectors guzzle fuel from a Walbro 340 fuel pump regulated at 58psi, which is plenty for a nitrous application like this. Induction of air comes from Late Model’s own Billet LS7 intake manifold with twin LSA throttle bodies. When the RPM Z06 Validator hood is popped, it’s that intake that draws attention first.

Spent gases are expelled via 2-inch American Racing Headers stainless units, crossing into a 3-inch x-pipe dumped without mufflers. I’ll say one thing; the sound of this nitrous 50

december 2020 | RPM Magazine

LS mill is music to the ears throughout the rpm range. Giggle gas is supplied by a Nitrous Outlet four solenoid direct port system capable of 450hp of punch; Wade has jetted up to a 250 shot currently, producing a staggering 1200whp, and he plans to go all-in at some point, but not before installing a full roll cage. Behind the HP tuners recalibrated PCM sits Mike Carnahan, a guru of Ron’s, knowing exactly how to extract everything the new 461ci LSX has to offer.

Wade decided on going a different route reagdring the trans in this Vette, selecting RPM Transmissions Powerglide Corvette swap, which retains the factory independent rear end. A 4500 stall nitrous converter from Pro Torque transfers the nitrous fed power through the torque tube into the factory, but internally beefed-up, Z06 housing. Gearing is relatively low at a 3.90 ratio, which equates to axle snapping torque off the line; Drive Shaft Shop half shafts take all the abuse Wade’s Corvette will give them. Surprisingly, everything about the suspension stayed stock aside from QA1 double adjustable rear shocks.

The design team from Chevrolet did an outstanding job with the C6 body style, as aside from that RPM Validator hood, the Vette stays how it came off the showroom floor with the Z06 small additions such

Wrenching during a Corvette outing at the track.

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as a carbon deck lip. Aside from the beautiful LeMans Blue paint, Wade’s Z06 sits apart from the rest with Weld Racing drag pack hoops. A monster brake setup comes with the Z06 package, ideal for road course but not so much for drag racing. Carlyle Racing understands Corvette drivers want to be able to click off fast straight-line times, which is why they came up with their rear conversion setup allowing a meaty tire to tuck under the fenders.

The kit comes with a smaller set of brakes suitable for drag racing while retaining street-stop braking power.

Mickey Thompson 275/60r15 drag radials wrap the 15x10 beadlocked S71 Weld rears.

Sitting inside the cockpit seems factory, all of the Z06 goodies remain, along with a/c and other streetcar amenities. With the TR6060 six-speed gone, a shiny Precision Products shifter sits in its place. Looking into the rear hatch area, two 10lb Nitrous Outlet bottles on a billet mounting bracket stare back at you, ready to go. Wade is just getting started on taming the beast, but he’s made significant headway so far, going a 9.07 at 156 mph, and that’s pretty impressive for a car that can be driven home, with the air on of course!

Wade Martin with his wicked street driven nitroused 2007 Corvette.

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Wade Martin‘s Street/Strip 2007 C6 Z06 Engine:

Current cid: 461 LSX Bore/Stroke: 4.155 x 4.250 Crankshaft: Callies Billet 4.250” Pistons Diamond Custom Connecting rods: Oliver 6.350 H Beam Compression ratio: 12.5:1 Engine built by: Late Model Engines of Houston Texas

Machine work

Index/Weld Reluctor Wheel/Balance Rotating Assembly/Polish Crankshaft /Pin Fit Rods.

Pin Fit Pistons/File Fit Rings/Align Hone Block/Set Main Bearing Clearances/Bore Block- IRON/Hone Block with Torque Plate/Square Deck Block with True Deck/Debur Block/Chamfer Cylinders/Hone Lifter Bores/Jet Clean Block.

Oil Pan: C6 Z06 Dry Sump Oil Pump: Katech “Red” Dry Sump Pump

Other modifications (windage tray/lower support):

Camshaft Make: Cam Motion LLSR Duration @ .050 in/ex: 264/274 Lift @ .050 in/ex: .756 / .738 LSA: 112

Cylinder Heads Make/Type:

All Pro LS7 built by Late Model Engines

Intake Valves Make/Size: Victory Titanium / 2.250

Exhaust Valves Make/Size: Rev Inconel / 1.600

Rocker Arms:

Crower Pro Series Shaft Mount Adjustable Stainless Steel Rocker Arm Assembly- Needle Bearing Roller Tips

Rocker Ratio: 1.8

Air & Fuel: VCM: GM ECU calibrated with HP Tuners Engine Tuner: Mike Carnahan of Cumming, Georgia Injector Size: 60lb/hr Pump(s): Walbro 340 Pressure: 58psi Intake Manifold:

Late Model Engines Billet LS7 with Dual Throttle body Throttle body make/size: Twin LSA/CTSV

Headers: American Racing 2” Stainless H/Xpipe: 3” X pipe Power Adders:

Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous Outlet four solenoid Direct Port Wet or Dry: Wet Jet size(s): .026 Single or multiple stage kit: Single

Transmission:

Type: Powerglide Clutch / Converter: Pro Torque Flexplate / Flywheel : Shifter: Precision Products Stall speed: 4500 on nitrous Cooler: B&M Bar & Plate Other trans/driveline modifications: DSS ½ Shafts Trans built by: RPM Transmissions Daleville, Indiana Rear End: Type: C6 Z06 Gears: 3.90 Axles: DSS

Chassis-All Stock

Rear shocks: QA1 double adjustable

Wheels:

Front: Weld Racing 18x4.5 Rear: Weld Racing Bead Locks 15x10 Tires, front : Race Master Tires, rear (street/strip): MT

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