Project Gotham - 5,000HP
Build in progress, started 2024 - ETA: 3-4 years from phases 1 to 4
Built not bought (with a LOT of help). The goal of this project car is to achieve 5,000HP (whp) on the dyno, be able to road race (circuits), and handle traffic without overheating, all while weighing < 3,500lbs (dry). A twin 98mm turbo Steve Morris SMX 5,000HP big block engine, billet 4L80e transmission, and more!
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!
This build in happening in phases (more info if you scroll below the photos/videos)
Phase 1 (chassis & body):
- Custom 3D-printed + fiberglass molded custom body by legend Matt McEntegart with a cyberpunk-inspired look. The removable targa top is the only original Corvette body panel remaining.
- 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.
- Stock LS2 engine (for a tiny bit until the SML arrives in time for phase 3).
- Stock 6 speed manual transmission (for a tiny bit until the billet 4l80e arrives in time for phase 3).
- Upgraded brakes.
- Adjustable ride height (hydrauslic lift system)
- Y pipe valved exhaust (silent when needed, straight pipe under load).
- Flashy 24" red/black wheels for the street. 18" billet + Beadlock wheels (square all around) for the track. Can't go much smaller than 18" with the massive brakes I want to run for road racing. This will not be a drag-only car. ODs will be closer than you would think between the two.
Phase 2 (interior):
- 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. I am a software engineer by trade, so this should be fun! I also do some mechanic work, and tuning, but mostly I stick to the software side of things.
- A formula 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 vehicle will still have power steering, so this will be a silly combo, but it’s not designed to make sense!
- 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 3).
Phase 3 (SML Engine):
- Reinforced frame, upgraded driveline, etc... A full cage.
- The Steve Morris SML is an LS-compatible 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 pump gas.
- Can even run on pump gas but will have a deticated 100% methanoyl cell which the engine will transition to from pump gas or E85 (flex fuel) under very heavy loads.
- Twin 89mm turbos (remote rear mounted while the engine sits in the front).
- The car will have two fuel tanks: one 13 gallon baffled tank for Pump Gas / E85 (felx fuel) and one smaller fuel cell for 100% methanol.
- 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.
- Optional: Phase 4 (More Power and a bit more weight! If it can take it...):
- 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.
- The car will have three fuel tanks: two baffled tanks for E85 (capable of also running on pump gas) and one smaller fuel cell for 100% methanol (drag events).
- The car will feature a mechanical fuel pump with an electric primer pump, along with a separate pair of injectors for E85 and methanol. Capable of switching between 100% Methanol to 100% E85 or flex fuel pump gas with the flick of a switch.
- The car also features a fully valved exhaust. Capable of getting quiet for around town driving, then opening a straight cut-out pipe on demand.
I don’t expect this car to be quicker around a road racing circuit than my 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).
Will it be able to put that power to the ground? (maybe someday, but not anytime soon).
