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.

What’s your real name?  (What’s your online screen name?)
Brent B or MNBrent on most forums

Where do you live?
Ramsey, a suburb NW of Minneapolis

What do you do for a living?
Application Engineer in Semiconductor Industry (electronics degree)

What GM(s) do you currently own? How long have you had it/them?
2001 ZR2 Blazer 3 yrs
2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 3 yrs
1982 Corvette 9 yrs

What originally attracted you to the Corvette? What keeps you going today?
I had a few Gen2 F-bodies and an 86 IROC Camaro previously. I was looking for something more sport car oriented and fell for the lines of the C3 Corvette. This is the only car I have ever owned this long and I never tire of the body lines. The aftermarket support is amazing for all generation Corvettes, and that’s part of what keeps me hooked as well.

Your Corvette has a LS1 swap in it. What made you tackle this project?
The 82 Corvette with the CFI motor was a “gentlemans cruiser”. I had updated all other items to the car and the motor was the last item left. Although I had no issues with the CFI for reliability, I needed more power. I did not want carburetion, and the LS swap has been proven very successful in many types of cars, even C3s. So to me the power, weight, and drivability of the LS powertrain put me over the edge. The costs to do this are relatively low, and the results are stellar!! The car is now a blvd screamer!!

What was the easiest part of the LS1 swap? The hardest part?
The 82 Corvette has an EFI fuel system that already has an in-tank fuel pump, making the fuel system conversion part of the swap very simple. The available motor mount adapter plates makes mounting the engine in place almost child’s play. The existing transmission crossmember is setup for a 700R4. The 4L60E has the same external dimensions as a 700R4, so only slightly elongating of the mount holes required to bolt up the 4L60E tranny. It did require a 1 inch longer driveshaft.

The hardest parts were figuring out the wiring, which involved intermixing the LS system wiring to the existing CFI computer wiring and finding an air intake setup that fits in the tight underhood space.  The wiring took the most time of any single task and LS1Tech forum has lots of info with plenty of experienced people to let you get this correct on the first pass.

What are your goals for your Corvette and how close are you to achieving them?
My goal has been to build a lightweight performance oriented street car.  The LS1 swap, AC delete, C5-Z06 seats, and removing the rear spare tire have probably dropped close to 200lbs from the curb weight of the car. You can really feel this in the overall feel of the car. The LS1 swap made a considerable difference in acceleration, especially from the 3K+ RPM level!! The Hydroboost brake system has taken the braking of the car and put it into a new level for the street. The control is far superior to the original vacuum assist and has to be experienced. Next items for me would be more modern rubber and possibility of a big brake kit for even greater braking control.

Have a favorite story to tell about your Corvette?
When I bought it, I had it delivered from Anaheim Ca to Mpls Mn on a car hauler. The brakes were bad, so I got a great price on it. Turned out after all the hardware was replaced with no luck by the previous owner, it all came down to just one more component, the only item he did not replace, which was the vacuum power booster. Great brakes after replacing that!!

Who has helped you the most along the way with the car? Any mentors?
I can’t really say I have a single mentor, but there have been many folks along the way that have been inspirational to me keeping the car and effectively upgrading it for real performance. Those folks are mostly Corvetteforum members going back to 2001.

What’s the best part about being a Corvette owner? The most challenging?
Love the feel of driving the C3. Something about the front fenders riding high up and the feel of the torque coming up through the chassis. There is also frequently looks, stares, and positive comments made about the car that let you know you have something special.

The most challenging thing is trying to keep the car nice when I’m driving it so much!!

How often do you get together with other Corvette owners in person?
A few Corvette only type shows a year, but enjoy many “all car” type shows

Do you spend time on any Corvette sites?  Which ones?
Spend most of my time on the CorvetteForum, but do visit LS1Tech, Digital Corvettes, VetteMod, and Corvette Action Center.

Modification list?
The memorable items are:
Drivetrain
LS1-4L60E swap, 3.07 rear gears, AC Delete
Exhaust
C5 Shorty headers, 2.5inch dual exhaust with C6 Corvette X-pipe, Pacesetter Monza style mufflers
Wheels
Torque Thrust II wheels with 3.75 inch backspace for ½ inch total wider track front/rear, Dunlop 255-60-R15s.
Steering
VBP “Rack Attack” rack and pinion kit with a C3 version Lecarra steering wheel
Brakes
VBP O-ring brake calipers, braided SS Teflon brake flex lines, 94 Astrovan Hydroboost power booster conversion
Chassis
100% rebuilt front/rear suspensions, poly bushings, Moog components, Bilstein Sport shocks, lowered 1.5 to 2 inches, VBP Spreader bar linking the upper control arms mounts together
Cooling
PCM controlled Lincoln Mark VIII fan, 4 core Big Block radiator
Interior
All new interior changed from Camel to Black color, C5-Z06 Corvette seats, Chrome shifter hardware, Redline extra tall leather shift boot, Subwoofered stereo
Body
Repaint to Black by previous owner from code 59 Gold, FormulaOne Pinnacle window tint

Are you on Twitter?  Facebook?  How can people find you online?
Facebook and you can usually find me on the Corvette Forum in the C3 section.

What’s your real name?  (What’s your online screen name?)
Vince Lung (Highpockets on most forums)

Where do you live?
Pleasant Grove, Utah

What do you do for a living?
Own and operate an automotive repair shop.

What GM(s) do you drive?
2002 Z06 Chevrolet Corvette, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am and a 1969 Oldsmobile 442.

How long have you had your GM(s)?
I have owned the Corvette for a little more than 3 years, the Trans Am almost 25 years!

What got you into GM(s)?
Definitely the Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit. I loved to watch them do huge burnouts and just tear it up with the TA.

Have a favorite story to tell about your Corvette?
Probably a recent one that happened at the drag strip. Since the car is reasonably fast, I am running in one of the pro classes at our local track. Now the car still looks and sounds relatively stock so occasionally I’ll get told to go back and line up with the street legal guys, but in this instance it was just an idle chat with a fellow racer. The guy behind me was trying to accurately dial in his car. He was debating on a 10.12 or 10.08. I sat and watched, then finally walked over and talked to him. His car is a full tube chassis, BBC pro stock style car complete with chute and a HUGE set of slicks. I look it over and we talk for a few, he asks what I dialed in at. I tell him 10.18, as I have ran 10.12 and a 10.20 and the car generally gets faster in the cool evening air. He looks at me like I am from another planet, points to the vette and says, “That car?” “Yes, that car!” We proceed to line up. Me listening to the radio while I wait for our turn. Him sweating inside his hot race car. We proceed to run, I turn a 10.11 and he runs about a 10.09, but I beat him at the lights for the win. He stops me on the return road in utter amazement. How big a shot of Nitrous am I spraying, he asks. None, don’t even have a bottle in the car, as I collect what turns out to be one of the fastest time slips to date. I love the look on people’s faces when they see the car perform at the track! And it does so with full interior, AC, power windows and all.

Videos of Vince racing his Z06: http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p123/markselig/?action=view&current=2009_07160005.flv and  http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p123/markselig/?action=view&current=2009_07160005.flv

What are your goals for your Corvette and how close are you to achieving them?
My initial goal was to see the car run comfortably in the 10s at our track. I achieved that and more this year, getting the car down as low as 10.09 at 140mph plus and I believe there are some 9 second runs left in it for next year. I just need to do my job driving, the car has plenty left!

Who has done most of the modifications on your Corvette? If you, what have you learned?
I have done virtually everything on my car with the exception of the actual roll cage install. I did strip the car and assisted in the design. I have learned tons about what NOT to do, what the weak spots are on the car, how to drag race a six speed IRS car efficiently without breaking it and how truly streetable a high HP turbo car can be.

What was your favorite modification?  Why?
I would have to say the twin turbo kit from TTi, exceeded my wildest expectations for a true street car!

What’s next for your Corvette?  Why?
Refining the package, some double adjustable remote reservoir shocks, progressive boost controller and some minor tweaking of the 2step. All in the quest for a 9 second street ride.

Who has helped you the most along the way?
My wife has been by my side, many friends on the corvette forum and my good friend Bob Pickering who cheers me on every race! And I can’t forget my Dad, who made it out many times this year as well. I have a very supportive family.

What are two things you’ve learned about yourself while building this car?
I learned that persistence, plenty of help as well as believing in yourself will see you through tough times. I also learned that you can never have too many friends or a big enough support group!

Who do you look up to in the GM community?
I would have to say the East coast guys, as they have raised the bar for FI Corvettes across the US. I wish I could make a trip back to the East coast and run with some of the fastest Vettes on the net. I feel the car would do very nicely.

Is there a particular shop you’d like to recommend?
Sure, mine! Lung Automotive in Lehi, Utah.

Do you spend time on any GM sites?  Which ones?
Yes. LS1 tech, Corvette forum, Digital Corvettes, Performance years, Realoldspower.com

Mod list
Virtually every mechanical component on the car HAS been modified, from a custom twin in tank return type boost referenced fuel system to the custom rear mount battery and cutoff switch.

Lets see, the engine is a Forged 402 LS2 stroker based on a new LS2 block, prepped and stuffed with a Eagle 4″ stroker crank, Fluidampr harmonic dampner, Callies Compstar rods, Diamond Forged dished low comp pistons, Diamond pro-select rings and Clevite bearings. ARP main and head stud kits hold everything together with a custom grind turbo cam. TEA 245 stage3 heads, Jesel J2K adjustable shaft mount rockers, C5R valve covers, ported LS2 90mm intake, ported 90mm TB, TTix twin turbo system, twin nozzle progressive methanol injection. Also installed but not tested is a 90mm plate nitrous system with Microedge nitrous controller. An LPE 2-step helps keep the launch RPMs consistent as well as allowing the engine to build boost.

A Custom line lock setup allows me to warm up the CCW drag pack and M&H Racemaster DOT slicks that are ran when we race it. Power is transmitted through a twin disc textralia clutch, protected by a Quicktime scatter shield to a modified MN12 six speed transmission. A 30 spline output shaft transfers the power to a C6Z rear diff conversion then on to the wheels.

A Custom built 10pt roll cage with dual swing out door bars and 5 point Simpson quick release harnesses keep you strapped in tight. Soon to be installed Firebottle onboard fire extinguisher will offer additional protection to the driver and engine. Vital systems are monitored by a SPA dual readout gauge setup as well as an Innovative XD16 WB O2 sensor and Blitz SBC-ID adjustable boost controller.

The car is kept as close to stock appearing as possible while still being legal to race with Toyo T1R tires on stock Z06 wheels for the street and stock millennium yellow paint on a completely refinished body. Running on premium pump gas and approx 15lbs of boost the car has run a fastest time of 10.09 at 140 plus at Rocky Mountain Raceway and is regularly street driven by my wife.