Mark Selig’s 1990 Corvette Project
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.
Ben Meissner’s 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Wagon
When Ben isn’t working on illustrations for hot rods, custom cars or designing graphics (shameless plug – www.streetroddesigns.com). He spends his time working on his station wagon (along with all the other cars/trucks he owns), that’s right – station wagon. In this interview he tells us about its current state and where he’d like it to be one day.
Nicholas LeBlanc’s 1936 Chevy Truck
With the help of some friends and an awesome wife, Nick’s 1936 Chevy truck is chopped, shortened, custom upholstered (by him) and sports a 348 motor. He’s been kind enough to share his story along with beautiful pictures of his truck.
John Thomas’s 2010 Chevy Camaro
After owning over 25 first generation Camaros, John was lucky enough to pick up a brand new 2010 2SS RS, 426 horsepower, 6 speed Camaro. John loves his American made muscle and tells us why in this interview.
Ella Lung’s 1967 Pontiac Firebird
What is your real name?
Ella Lung
Where do you live?
Pleasant Grove, Utah
What do you do for a living?
Co-own and operate an automotive repair shop; housewife and I also take care of two small children – a one-year old little girl and an eight year old little boy.
What GM(s) do you drive?
2002 Z06 Chevrolet Corvette, 1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible and a 2004 Cadillac Escalade.
How long have you had your GM(s)?
We have owned the Corvette for a little more than three years and the Firebird almost five years.
What got you into GM(s)?
My mom drove a 1979 Firebird.
Have a favorite story to tell about your Firebird?
My favorite story is when we take the Firebird to car shows and people look at the before pictures of the car. They are completely amazed by the car now. Oh ya, and the other one is when my husband tells them it’s not his it his wife’s!
How many cars shows do you attend each year with your Firebird?
I currently attend three or four plus a few local cruise-in’s.
What do you love most about car shows?
Having it be one of the only really nice Firebirds, most of the old cars like mine are Camaros. That and the dropped jaws when most people see it. Some people just can’t get over how nice it is. Hell, I still have trouble with that.
What are your goals for your Firebird?
Spend more time behind the wheel of it or find someone who will. The car doesn’t get 200 miles a year on it, maybe fifty if I’m lucky!
When was the last time you took your Firebird out for a cruise?
I took it on the Alpine Loop (in Utah) late in the fall, I think the first part of November 2009.
What do you love most about driving it?
The feel of it, how fast it gets up and goes.
What’s next for your Firebird?
Possibly a stereo if I can bring myself to cut the dash.
What is your favorite mod you’ve done on your Firebird?
428 stoker engine.
Who has helped you the most along the way?
My husband has pretty much built the car from the ground up, everything but paint and Triple R restoration took care of that.
Any advice for women who want to get into cars?
I would have to say go for it!! Get the one you want the first time around. Don’t settle for less, make it the way it want it. Oh and pray to God your husband is understanding like mine and doesn’t mind that you have a nicer car than his.
Who do you look up to in the GM community?
I would have to say the designers of the car, they sure don’t make them like that now!
Is there a particular shop you’d recommend?
Sure, mine. Lung Automotive in Lehi, Utah.
Do you spend time on other GM sites?
Just browsing on Performance Years and Corvette Forum.
Mod list
Original sheet metal,1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible with all new interior, top, all rubber trim replaced, all chrome polished or redone. Engine started as a 1968 428 Pontiac, 4-bolt main with a new eagle stroker crank,forged pistons, ported 62 D-port heads, aluminum intake, Holley 800DP, Full MSD ignition with 6AL module. H&S roller rockers and stud girdles, custom sheet metal valve covers, fully coated headers and exhaust system. Lakewood scattershield covering a dual friction clutch with a Borg warner ST10 trans. Power goes back to a custom 8.8 31 spline disc brake Ford rear end with 3.73 gears and Trac-loc. Custom 17″ alum wheels, low profile tires and four wheel disc brakes round out the package. The complete front suspension/subframe has been powder coated including core support and inner fenders. The car was taken down to a bare tub and completely reassembled one piece at a time over an approx. two year time frame.
Vince Lung’s 2002 Z06 Chevrolet Corvette
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¤t=2009_07160005.flv and http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p123/markselig/?action=view¤t=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.
