Mark Selig’s 1990 Corvette Project

July 12, 2010 in Featured 5 Comments

Awhile back Gearbox Magazine asked our readers what they would change on Gearbox. Your feedback said you wanted interviews on projects not just completed builds. With that – here is your first project interview. Mark’s taking what Chevy did for the Corvette and making it better and . . .  faster.

What’s your real name? My real Name is Mark Selig

(What’s your online screen name?) My screen name is Tachout.  I had that name hung on me a long time ago when I was in High School.  It means driving past the red line.  I had this 1977 Camaro and I would drive around in first gear, running it until I could hear the valves start to float, and then just step on the clutch and letting it coast.

Where do you live? I live in Sandy, Utah

What do you do for a living? I do custom home designs and work for a production home builder.

What GM(s) do you currently own? I have a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban that I have had for 5 years.  I also have a 1990 Corvette convertible that I have had for about 2 weeks and a 1990 Chevrolet Corvette coupe I have had for about 5 Years.

What originally attracted you to the Corvette? When I was much younger my dad used to say that the true sign of success was a Mercedes, and at that time I would look at the C2 and C3 Corvettes and say to myself that is the true sign that you are successful.  The guys I saw driving those cars all seemed to be successful.

You’re doing a pretty immense build on your 1990 Corvette coupe. Can you tell us about it (time frame, goals, etc)? I really should start by saying that originally I wasn’t planning on doing this much.  Driving home from work one night, not doing more than 30 I started to hear a knock and I knew what it was.  I did ask someone to come over to look and listen and then confirm that it was at least one rod knock.  Well I sat down for a week or so thinking, and as I start prep and planning I took a look at the weak points.  Sure enough it started to get out of hand fast.  First it was “I will just build a 383 and go from there”.  Well the transmission was questioned, and yes I know it was going fast. Well let’s go with a TH400.  From there I thought about a week on going Pro Street or just keeping the stock look.  At the same time I knew that if I were to do much to it, I should put some sort of a roll bar or cage in the car if I were going to go out and beat on it much.  If I planned on doing Pro Street I would need to back half the car.

Well let’s move to now.  I bought a used Motor that needs to visit the machine shop but is top shelf on parts.  I have a TH400 core that has been dismantled so I can get under the car with it and build a cross member.

What work is completed?  I have a full 10 point cage in the car.  I need to add two front frame to front down tube supports and then it will be an IHRA Certified cage down to 8.5 Seconds.  I do not plan on the car going that fast, but I like to know it is safe.  I have the car back halved, and the rear end has been replaced with a Narrowed Ford 9”.  It is set up for rear coil overs.  I need to make a few changes to the rear suspension and add in the wheelie bar mounts.  I have to also add a receiver hitch for the Parachute mount.  Soon I will be adding in the tubs and the interior sheet metal.  Once that is completed, I am going to put the full interior back in the car and set it up for the transmission mount inside the car.

Then things start to get expensive.  The engine will be off to the machine shop, the transmission off to my transmission guy. The engine machine work and short block assembly should be done about the same time as the transmission.  So far I have done 100% of the work myself, and I plan on doing most of the hands on with the guy rebuilding my transmission.  I am having the short block build by a pro engine builder just because of what I am planning for the rest of the build.  Once the short block and transmission are in, I am going to have a driveshaft built for the car. I’ll work to finish the buildup of the engine and then start the fabrication of the custom exhaust system.  Mind you, a large part of this build is a pair of twin GT3788 turbochargers, an intercooler and a 3 stage meth injection system.  I already own the Gen VII for the computer controls.  There will be a ton of electronics to take care of on this car, so I will have my work cut out for me there.

As for a time frame on this car . . . a lot of that depends on the economy and parts availability at the right price when I have the cash. I am guessing it will start to come to final assembly by the spring of next year.

Have a favorite story to tell about your Corvette? A favorite story about my Corvette, no not really, however I do love to push it out into the driveway on the weekend, and enjoy a cup of coffee while I plan on what I am going to do that day.  It amazes me how many people stop, look, and even take pictures of it.  No interior, no engine, some of the body missing and they still stop.

Who has helped you the most along the way with the car? Any mentors? I would say that Vince Lung has been one of my biggest help with the car. Bruce Osborne would be my true mentor, and I get a ton of support from the Utah Vette’s Community.

What’s the best part about being a Corvette owner? The best part of being a Corvette owner is the others in the community.  I just love listening and talking with other Corvette owners.

The most challenging? So far I’ve done 100% of the work myself and will have very minimal help throughout the build by my choice.  Hardest part is getting people to understand I can do this myself. Everyone seems to look at me like he is just a guy who works on a computer.  Before I worked on the computer as a home designer I built all kinds of different cars. From full on race cars, street cars and show cars.  I am a Lincoln Tech Grad, and graduated with Honors. I worked as a mechanic  for a Lexus dealership. I’ve also worked for a couple of California general repair shops and ran a mobile mechanic service for a couple of years.  I was ASE certified and although it has been quite a few years since I did this heavy a build, I have built several of these from the ground up.  Mind you a C4 is not like doing a first gen Camaro.  I have built a couple of these out of C2 bodies when I worked for Bruce Osborne Corvette Specialties and BOSS Racing.

How often do you get together with other Corvette owners in person? I try to get together with other owners as often as possible.  I am going to be a regular at a Saturday morning cars and coffee, and once the coupe is completed, at least every other Friday I will be out at the track having fun with it.

Do you spend time on any Corvette sites? Yes Which ones? Corvette sites would be the National Corvette Forum and Utah Vettes. Other sites I frequent would be the Utah Muscle Car Association and theFoat.com

Modification list?
377 Small block Chevy, Tuned Port Injected (One off Lingenfelter), stage 3 Snow System (Meth Injection) with Twin GTC3788 Turbochargers.  I also have an intercooler planed for this build.  This motor runs a dry sump oil system and will include a custom separate oiling/cooling system for the Turbo System.  Replace the TH700R4 with a TH400 with manual valve body.  Narrowed Ford 9” Rear, 4-Link rear suspension with Coil overs.  Upgraded front brakes to C5 brakes and upgraded rear brakes to something aftermarket.

On this car, just about everything drive train is going to be upgraded.  Rear tires are Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro Tires (33X21.5X15’s) on Centerline Comp Rev Wheels.  Fronts will be M&H Frontrunner tires on Centerline Comp Rev Wheels.

Are you on Twitter?  Facebook?  How can people find you online? I am not on Twitter, but am on Facebook.  I am also on several forums and can be contacted by either my name or screen name.  Just do a search for Tachout on any forum and most of them are me (there is a guy out in Cali that uses my name).  If you are on Facebook or want to Yahoo me I am markselig on both of them.  I welcome all questions and comments, good or bad.  If you would like to follow my build with pictures and comments look on Utah Vettes, Utah Muscle Car Association, or theFoat.com.

Chevrolet, Corvette, Drag Racing, Projects, Salt Lake City