By Chris Petris

There used to be a time when the underhood fluids were checked every time the fuel tank was filled. When was the last time you did that?  We jump in our cars and expect maximum performance and minimal maintenance, with no concern for the extremes the lubricants face.  For this very reason, GM decided that making a low oil level warning system standard in 1991 was worth the cost.

These days, sticking up for the oil companies is not a position anyone wants to be in. Fuel prices keep rising while federal regulations restrict the oil company’s formulas for a greener environment. The long standing federal concern is exhaust emissions and fuel economy. Engine oils now range in the 0W30 viscosity range, in stark contrast to 20W50 oils used in earlier generations.

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When the decision was made to start a restoration effort on our 1963 split window coupe, the chassis was one of the primary concerns.  As confirmed by Petris Enterprises (Corvette Central Project Split Mod: Part I), the original frame was severely rotted, to the point of being held together by the body near the rear axle.  However, the birdcage, interior and body were all worthy candidates for restoration, and the decision was made to search for a suitable chassis for the Split Mod.

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The C6 Corvette has many features to aid in the comfort of the driver, and this makes the car an ideal long distance or daily driving vehicle.  As a result, many C6 Corvettes are put into daily use, and they require more maintenance than cars that see occasional weekend duty.

The engine air filter is usually high on the list for inspection.  The car should be able to breathe freely for optimal performance and fuel economy.  But what about the driver?

Fear not, Chevrolet has included a cabin air filter (486113) in C6 Corvettes for this very reason.  But to say it gets overlooked during routine maintenance is an understatement.  Replacement of this filter is easy.

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For your enjoyment, below are some videos we captured while attending the 2011 Corvette World Tribute.

The event, coordinated in conjunction with the Registry of Corvette Race Cars (RCRC), took place August 21, 2011 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  Over 40 significant racing Corvettes were present (including the Corvette C6.Rs that raced the previous day in the American Le Mans event), along with noted racing drivers including Tony DeLorenzo, Bob Bondurant, Dick Guldstrand and many others.  Enjoy!

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By Chris Petris

Corvette projects are something many car guys consider doing at some point in the future.  Some enjoy just being a part of any restoration project, watching the process from conception to completion.

Corvette Central has been a huge part of the restoration hobby for many years and has been instrumental in manufacturing previously discontinued Corvette parts.  One of their specialties is exhaust systems that they manufacture in house.  The exhaust kits are ready to go with all the factory bends and original looks. With the myriad of parts available, Corvette Central wanted an opportunity to show customers what they supply in person. What better way than to have rolling live Corvette projects on display? This is where Chris Petris and the guys at Corvette Central come together.

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Corvette Central is pleased to introduce correct push-down antennas for C1 Corvettes, available in three versions: 1956-58 (early), 1958 (late)-60 and 1961-62.  Our new assemblies not only reflect the attention to detail that judges are looking for during shows, but our dedication to producing the highest quality parts possible.  As an example, the antenna tips on all three versions of our C1 antennas are identical to factory specifications.

161021 (1956-1958E)
Correct push down mast antenna as original. No rings on mast.  Fully extended, the mast is 45 inches. Normal height, not extended, is 11.5 inches. The mast pushes down into the antenna approximately 2 inches as they did from the factory.

161017 (1958L-1960)
Correct push down mast antenna as original. Features rings on mast.  Fully extended, the mast is 45 inches. Normal height, not extended, is 11.5 inches. The mast pushes down into the antenna approximately 2 inches as they did from the factory.

161016 (1961-1962)
Correct push down mast antenna as original. Fully extended the mast is 26.5 inches. Normal height, not extended is 15 inches. The mast pushes down into the antenna approximately 5 1/2 inches as they did from the factory.

For your convenience, we have identified the following parts on our C4 Corvette Cutaway, as well as some larger overview shots at the beginning to help you orient yourself as while viewing them.  Clicking on each thumbnail will expand the image to fill your screen.

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By Chris Petris

The fifth and sixth generation Corvettes are engineering masterpieces. As the first Corvette built for comfortable extended highway travel, the C5 Corvette has plenty of power and torque with excellent fuel economy, and the C6 continues to improve the breed.  Accolades aside, the stock exhaust systems leave a lot to be desired.  For one, the puny bell-shaped outlets do not fill out the valence. And the sound?  Just a low hum at road speed and non existent at idle. Whether satisfying federal regulations or NVH objectives, engineering an OEM exhaust system is quite a feat. The result?  Mundane exhaust systems on factory built performance cars.

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Information courtesy of Vette Brakes and Products.  Buying new wheels?  Also check out our wheel offset calculator.

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Watkins Glen is known as the “birthplace of Sports Car racing in the US” after World War II.  “The Glen”, as it is commonly called, is a road course race facility owned by the International Speedway Corporation.  It has hosted road racing events for almost every sanctioned class (including many that include Corvettes) for over 50 years.

The town of Watkins Glen (population 4,654) sits in a valley at the foot of Lake Seneca in the scenic “Finger Lakes” region of upstate New York.  In 1948, in the interest of organizing a place to host auto races, officials laid out a 6.6 mile circuit.  The start/finish was on Franklin Street, still one of the main thoroughfares in town.  The course climbed up to and through Watkins Glen State Park and descended steeply back downtown.    In 1951, GM stylist Harley Earl was invited to display his Buick Le Sabre at the Watkins Glen races.

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Lineup at Monterey Historics

Corvette race fans take note!  Corvette Central is pleased to announce an alliance with the Registry of Corvette Race Cars (RCRC).  The RCRC was formed to “…preserve the heritage of Corvette race cars that keeps the Corvette legend alive”.  The organization maintains an active registry of all Corvette race cars, from C1 through C6, in various racing series, including but not limited to the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and many others.

Corvette Central will be publishing feature stories covering topics of interest from within the RCRC, with the goal of building awareness for Corvette owners and enthusiasts.  Look for updates here in the CC Blog, as well as Corvette Central’s Facebook fan page.  We have also established a gallery that will showcase many different Corvette race cars (most still actively racing) and events across the country.

The first installment will be an overview of Watkins Glen, the “birthplace of sports car racing” after World War II.  Stay tuned!

After class wins at LeMans and a few hiccups at Lime Rock, the 2011 season is shaping up to be as exciting as ever for the Corvette Racing team.  For your convenience, below is the complete 2011 schedule for the Corvette Racing team.

By Chris Petris

Original small block “rams horn” exhaust manifolds (produced up to 1979) can be said to flow efficiently.  Their flow may not be optimal, but they are better than many of the original equipment manifolds. The idea is to reduce back-pressure while tuning the flowing exhaust gases. The center exhaust ports on the OE cast iron manifolds dump into a rectangular box that the outer cylinder exhaust gases flow into. This mixing of exhaust gases so close to the cylinder head and exhaust valves hurt engine performance from lack of flow.

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Have a C5 Z06 in need of replacement mesh grilles, but can’t find any that will utilize the OEM mounting holes?  Our new C5 Z06 reproduction mesh grilles take functionality a step further with the addition of mounting tabs.

Where other manufacturers versions (pictured above on right) simply add double stick tape, our versions (pictured on left with arrows) go the extra mile with true mounting tabs just like on the originals.  The result is mesh grilles that will work on all C5 Corvettes, including the Z06.

Get your set today!  Part # 335120.

For your convenience, below are caliper and master cylinder casting numbers for 1953-82 Corvettes.  Information courtesy of Lonestar Caliper Co.

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Corvette Central is proud to introduce a new online catalog developed exclusively for Corvette performance enthusiasts: Corvette Central Performance.

Corvette Central was established in 1975 to provide Corvette owners with uncompromised quality parts and accessories for every Corvette.  While we will never stray from that mission, we are always striving to better meet the demands of every type of Corvette owner, including those who want to attain improved performance from their already potent cars.   Our team of performance specialists has developed a catalog of the most innovative performance products available for all Corvettes, from C1 to C6.

Customers searching our online catalog will recognize some formidable performance part manufacturers, including Pfadt Racing, Kooks Custom Headers, Air Flow Research, Callaway and many more.  From simple upgrades to thoroughly researched and developed performance packages; from exhaust and electronics to superchargers and suspension, Corvette Central Performance will be able to meet the demands of this ever-evolving group of enthusiasts.

In addition to one of the most comprehensive performance parts catalog inventories in existence, we have developed Corvette Central Performance to be a technical reference center for Corvette owners.  We have partnered with journalist/Corvette guru Chris Petris and SCCA champion Corvette racing driver Danny Kellermeyer to bring you exclusive and frequent technical how-to articles and advice for maximizing the performance on your car.  We will continue to add new features to Corvette Central Performance as it evolves.

We invite you to visit and bookmark www.CorvettePerformance.com today.

By Chris Petris

1965-1968 Corvette disc brake systems were a major technological advancement at their onset.  The early Corvette design utilized “fixed” disc brake calipers, used until 1968.  When disc brakes became commonplace in 1969, “floating disc brake calipers” were used.  Floating calipers slide on a ways system, repositioning the caliper as the disc pad wears.  This sliding or floating caliper proved to be a good thing, allowing for discrepancies that the fixed caliper would not compensate for.  From 1969 on, the majority of vehicle manufacturers used floating disc brake calipers for easy serviceability.  GM utilized the early style fixed calipers on the Corvette until 1982.

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All kidding aside, we’ve been reading about a few cases of C6 Corvette owners being “trapped” in their cars after the battery has died (see here and here for examples).

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Corvette Central and CorvetteCentralExhaust.com are pleased to introduce the Doug’s Headers line of exhaust components for C2 and C3 Corvettes.

Doug’s Headers, the most respected name in the header industry since the 60’s, began in 1958 as a small muffler shop in East Los Angeles, California.  The company expanded rapidly into a shop that designed and built innovative headers for muscle cars and many of the sport’s top drag racers. Cars with the famous “Headers by Doug” decal were consistently among the top performers in their various classes.

Doug’s Headers Corvette Side Mount Headers and Side Tubes are made for the 1963-1982 Chevrolet Corvettes and are available for both Small Block and Big Block powered cars. Doug’s thick 3/8” flanges and heavy 16 gauge tubing ensure peak performance and long life.  Other industry-leading features include machined sealing beads, polished primary tubes, CNC mandrel bent tubing, TIG welded ports and precision formed collectors.

Click these links to CorvetteCentralExhaust.com for more information.

For 1963-67 Corvettes

For 1968-82 Corvettes

We took these photos at the recent C5/C6 Bash, held at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.  Pictured below are shots of the new Centennial Edition Corvettes, identifiable by their unique 100 Years decals on the B-pillars (coupes) and rear quarters (convertibles).  Other new items for 2012 are:

• new wheel options
• Carbon Flash black metallic paint (available on any Centennial Edition Corvette) and Carlisle Blue paint options,
• color options for brake calipers,
• a carbon fiber hood option for Z06 Corvettes,
• Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires that will be offered on specific Z06 and ZR1 packages,
• updated seats with more bolstering.

Enjoy!

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