Project Gotham

Build in progress, started 12/01/2024 - ETA: Phase 2 by the end of 2027. More info below photos/videos:

Built, not bought (with a LOT of help). The goal of this project car is to achieve 5,000HP (whp) on the dyno while being able to road race (circuits) and handle traffic without overheating. Estimated to weigh around 3,500+lbs, this will be a heavy race car. A twin 98mm turbo Steve Morris SMX 5,000HP big block engine, billet 4L80e transmission, and more! Fully billet block, this car will require a lot of maintenance and will likely be slower road racing than the 1,200S. Still, I hope it will be somewhat close road racing to the 1,200S, and someday be able to do a quarter mile in the sevens.

Project Gotham is built prioritizing drag & drive over road racing (circuits). A true American muscle car.

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Lacking a tube chassis, this will not be as lightweight as a true pro mod. Reinforced Stock Frame and driveline. Beautiful to look at, fun to drive, and amazing on the dyno! An actual HyperMuscle car, about fun, looks, and dyno figures. Pure american muscle. Not much else!

Phase 1 (chassis & show body): ETA 2026

• Custom 3D-printed + fiberglass molded custom body by legend Matt McEntegart with a cyberpunk/batmobile/max-max inspired look.
• Corvette C6 donor frame (none of the body will be used, only the metal frame rails will be preserved). I opted for the base C6, as it features a removable targa top (the Z06 C6 doesn’t have one) and a stronger Steel frame compared to the Z06's slightly lighter/weaker aluminum frame.
• An Aim SW4 350mm GT steering wheel with all the buttons required to start & operate the car. Including blinkers, horn, gear shifting, engaging converter lockup, 2-step, bump, etc. The same wheel I had in my Formula car, just much bigger.
• Red/Black Recaro Podium CF bucket seats with a 6-point harness, HANS, + rollover protection (just a roll + harness bar for now, will do a full cage for phase 2).
• Custom interior. A custom dash running Unreal Engine with a 60” display controlled by an eye tracker. An additional display is fitted to the formula steering wheel.
• Y pipe valved exhaust (silent when needed, straight pipe under load).
• Adjustable ride height (KW HLS 4 lift system, all 4 corners).
• 400mm radical break disks up front, ap racing 6 piston calipers.
• Wheels & Tires:
  
  • Show Wheels: Flashy 24" red/black wheels for the street.
  • Drag Wheels: Drag 18" billet + Beadlock wheels in the rear, skinnies up front. Can't go smaller than 18" with the massive 400mm break disks in the front.
  • Road Racing Wheels: Slicks setup for road racing, 18" all around (squared up). Will be setup with Pirelli DH (Ferrari challenge slicks) or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3Rs if being driven to the track.
• Stock 6 speed manual transmission (for a tiny bit until the billet 4l80e arrives in time for phase 2).
• Stock LS2 engine (for a tiny bit until the SML arrives in time for phase 2)

Phase 2 (SML Engine): ETA Q2 2027

• The Steve Morris SML is a turnkey LS-compatible billet 4,000+HP (crank hp) platform with unique features like six head studs per cylinder for maximum strength. LS compatible with design inspiration from pro mod big block gen 2 hemi's. Fully water jacketed and street drivable (without overheating), it has separate sets of injectors for Methanoyl and (E85 / pump gas).
• Twin 89mm turbos (remote rear mounted while the engine sits in the front).
• Air to Water intercoolers, Oil Cooler, Trans Cooler, Radiators. Divorced circuts. Ice Box.
• Transmission: 4-speed auto, Mark Micke Paddle-shifted billet 4L80E rated for up to 5,000HP w/ full converter lockup + overdrive.
  
  • The 4L80E is similar to the transmissions used in the pro-mod category on most 4,000-5,000HP cars (Powerglide / Turbo 400), but features overdrive and full converter lockup to keep things cool in traffic and on the road (circuit) racing. A 4-speed with full converter lockup at the press of a button + a massive trans and oil cooler. I am also considering a Turbo 400 (instead of the 4L80E) with a paddle shift kit. However, by the time I add the paddle shift actuator, overdrive, and lockup converter, it becomes a 4L80E in terms of complexity and weight. It can be easier to obtain high-horsepower pro-mod parts for a Turbo 400 at events. Parts availability is the main advantage I see in this particular case of a turbo 400 w/ overdrive + lockup + shift kit over a 4L80.
• Reinforced frame, subframes, upgraded driveline (axles, driveshaft, etc...).
• A full cage.

- Optional: Phase 3 (More Power and a bit more weight! If it can take it...): 2030+

• Engine: 5,000+HP Steve Morris Big Block SMX Engine: 
  
  • 481X compatbible billet big block. Fully water jacketed. Can even run on pump gas but will have a deticated 100% methanoyl cell which the engine will transition to under very heavy loads.
  • NA this engine produces over 1,000HP at the crank. Slap on a couple 100+mm twin turbos, and it produces over 5,000HP on 100% methanol.
  • This engine being all billet is not as heavy as you would think (when compared to the Stock LS2 in a C6).
  • This billet big-block aluminum engine is fully water-jacketed and water-cooled. Designed for drag and drive. It’s capable of running on 100% methanol, Race Gas, pump gas, and E85. Attached to this engine will be two 98mm rear-mounted turbos, mounted remotely at the rear of the car while the engine sits up front. The vehicle will also feature a 2-step + rolling anti-lag. The car features a split-circuit intercooler, radiator, oil cooler, and transmission cooler.
  • Pros vs SML: More power over the SML engine. Over 1,000WHP naturally aspirated, over 5,000WHP twin turbocharged on 100% methanol. The SML is really at it's limit around 3,000WHP but it is capable of 4,000WHP (for a few seconds). The SMX should be happy around 3,000WHP, with it's limit closer to 5,000WHP.
  • Cons vs SML: Heavier, not as reliable, a lot more work, not LS compatible, worse fuel economy, less accessory support, etc...

I don’t expect this car to be quicker around a road racing circuit than my ultra lightweight McLaren 1,200S, or better at drag racing than an actual pro mod! But it will be a blast! (hopefully not literally). It will be capable of producing 1,500HP continuous road racing in ambient air temps below 100f (close to sea level), and above 5,000HP in short bursts on methanol (for drag racing).

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A dream would for this car to be decent road racing (close to but slower than my McLaren 1,200S and much slower than my Formula Car) while getting into the high 7s in the quarter mile. This build is muscle first, handling second.