Some enthusiasts would classify their build as a “long-term” project, others concede that a car is never really completed. Mike Stout’s C7 Corvette is firmly planted within both identifiers and continues to forge ahead into uncharted territory for true, street-driven cars. When we asked Mike how much time he has invested in the build, he replied, “Ever since I purchased it!” In layman’s terms, that means the C7 has been a constant progression since Mike purchased it in 2016. Mike explains, “I don’t think there has ever been a time when it was not scheduled for one upgrade or another.”
Humble Horsepower
Mike found this Cyber Gray 2014 “C7” Z51 Corvette online and purchased the pristine-condition car from an individual in Florida. Mike has a vast history in all things that go fast, and when he found this ‘Vette had already been to Vengeance Racing for installation of a Novi 1500 supercharger and the accompanying forged pistons, meth injection, and fuel system upgrades, he was instantly smitten. The 800 horsepower to the rear wheels was just the start for Mike and his C7’s rise to the top.
A few larger superchargers found their way under the hood of the C7. All of which gave way to the current set of Borg-Warner turbos residing under the hood of Mike’s ride. Ron Mowen and the team at Vengeance Racing were responsible for the extensive modifications and custom build of the car in its current state. Mike gives much credit to the fitment and build quality of the car to Ron and Jey Clegg of Vengeance Racing. “Jey Clegg fabricated this car, everything top to bottom, and to me, it is a work of art.”
It’s a work of art, that also works on both the street and the track. Mike explains how this was a goal from the very beginning. “This is a point of contention and everyone has their opinion,” he said. “I set out to build one of the world’s fastest street cars. To me, a street car is full-weight, no reduction, running a stock suspension with the exception of coilovers, and has factory body panels.” Mike’s car does have rear quarter panels from ASC to help keep the wider tires and Weld wheels from poking out, and an RK Sport extractor hood with carbon fiber blister to help keep under-hood heat at bay.
World-Domination Dictate
From the beginning, Mike envisioned a full-weight street car that would do 230 mph in the half-mile and go sub-seven-seconds at 200-mph runs in the quarter-mile. Mike sternly states, “We will get there at full weight. If not, I will never achieve my goals because I will not strip the car!” Currently, the car clicks the scales at 3,950 pounds, and Mike does concede once they do reach these lofty goals, he may lighten the car and go even faster, but until then, he’s unwavering in his resolve to not stack physics in his favor.
Such speeds are quite lofty for even purpose-built cars, let alone one that sees regular street duty. Make no bones about it, Mike’s ride is still very streetable. The car drives great on the street, but it’s obviously not much for turning with the spool and the drag radials. Ron describes the drive as, “It is very comfortable, and with the RPM power glide transmission, is geared well with the quarter-mile or the half-mile gearing.” Ron smirks, “It’s a bit loud, but I like that.”
Most 2,000-horsepower twin-turbo setups have something hanging out of the car somewhere, this car is clean and looks like it could have come from GM the way Vengeance Racing built the car. – Mike Stout
Of course, you didn’t come here to read about the car’s street-going manners, as they typically don’t make for great headlines. When Mike turns up the wick, the car instantly becomes the subject of dreams and cover blurbs. Mike’s C7 is currently the quickest and fastest street-driven C7, turning a 7.32-second 1/4-mile time at over 195 mph. The car also holds the title of the Fastest Half-Mile C7 at 216.34 mph!
Power Driver
The nest for all those bald eagles is a Chevrolet Performance LSX 427 tall-deck block that was de-burred, line-honed, and finish-bored with a diamond hone. The 4-inch Callies crank was chamfered, balanced, trued, and polished to a 2 Ra or better surface finish. The engine was then assembled by Late Model Engines in Houston, Texas using a Cam Motion billet-core, low-lash solid-roller camshaft. A set of MAST Motorsports LS7 heads cap off each of the Diamond forged pistons to a 9.5:1 compression in preparation for the 35-psi of boost that Mike feeds his C7 on a regular basis.
Unlike the car’s original direct-injection system, set of Holley 220 lb./hr. injectors and Aeromotive brushless fuel pump seeks to feed Mike’s beast with his fuel of choice, depending on the task at hand. We’ve already heard Mike describe the car’s road-going manners. When Mike really feeds the beast, the Jekyll-into-Hyde transformation is abrupt and obvious, with 2,100 horsepower and 1,786 lb-ft of torque! The effects of which can easily be noted by the numerous records collected by Mike’s C7. Most recently, Mike took home the trophy at the TX2K for Fastest street-car C7 and as we write this, he is heading out to go break the C7 half-mile top-speed record at the ShiftSector Kansas Air Strip Attack this weekend.
Mike’s C7 has taken a few years to get to this level, and obviously, he has no intention of slowing it down anytime soon. This record-holding hotrod has plenty of trophies on hand and another may be merely days away. If you see Mike’s C7 conquering either the long, or short track, be sure to remind yourself that it does equally well on the stop-and-go driving between record-breaking runs. A true street/strip car if there ever was one, just the way Mike intended.