There’s a storm looming on the horizon, and it’s packing lightning-quick acceleration and one hell of a thunderous GM exhaust note. A swirling vortex of Weapon X Motorsports forced induction upgrades, forged internals, nitrous injection, fuel management breakthroughs, engine cooling ingenuity, all packed into a C7 Corvette convertible. It’s a rigid American middle finger to the gaudy, straight-piped, screaming as loud as possible, two-wheeled turd-rocket sitting next to you at a stop light, and man if it isn’t a ton of fun.
Speaking of forces of nature, Shawn Storm was born and bred to be a muscle car proponent. Being that his old man toiled for GM for over 35 years, Shawn’s daily life was automotive-focused from the moment his parents hauled ass home from the hospital. With a father that was forever eager to instill his petrolhead passions in his offspring and a big brother that was just as enthusiastic, Shawn was pretty much raised with a wrench in his hand. Family trips to car shows and various other events only added fuel to the young man’s fiery infatuation for Corvettes and Camaros, and when Shawn’s big brother began letting him tinker with his 1966 Chevy II, that fire became an inferno.
Fast forward 20 years and Shawn had completed both medical school and residency, subsequently gaining financial stability and independence as an orthopedic trauma surgeon. With a burning desire to own the perfect project car still churning deep within his soul, Shawn set to turning fantasy into reality courtesy of the C7 Corvette.
It was 2014, and the Corvette C7 had just emerged on the market, its aggressively styled lines sending lifelong GM fans and youngsters alike into a frenzy. From the moment he saw images of the convertible C7, Shawn knew that this was the performance vehicle he had been dreaming of since day one. At the time Shawn’s wife was driving a Cadillac CTS-V, and being that they’re both quite competitive, the C7’s ability to keep up with her heavy foot was a huge selling point.
But after a year of owning his dream car, Shawn had grown tired of having just a measly 650-horsepower on tap. After sending the vehicle off for an array of upgrades like headers, a high-performance camshaft, an East Coast Supercharging Novi 1500 blower, and meth injection, he had bumped power numbers upward toward the 1,000 rear-wheel horsepower mark, and Shawn was happy. At least for a while.
Adrenaline junkies always seem to be looking for their next “fix,” and Shawn Storm is no different. Even with a plethora of fresh ponies in his stable, he found himself feening for more power. It was over the course of winter in 2014 that Cincinnati-based Weapon X Motorsports (WXM) popped-up on Shawn’s radar via an online forum, and he immediately liked what he saw. After a few emails with the shop’s owner, an accord was struck, and a complete overhaul of the recently modified C7 was put on the roster.
Rallying around a forged, over-bored, stroked, sleeved 427 bottom end, methanol and nitrous injected combustion system, and a series of high-end bolt-ons, the overhauled Corvette seemed destined to crest 1,000 horsepower right off the line. But a lack of aftermarket fueling options and heat issues at the time were causing severe limitations, forcing the team at Weapon X to head back to the drawing board, leaving Shawn without a finished build or a solution.
When the guys at Weapon X first began speaking with Shawn about going “next level” on his C7, everyone involved knew that there would be setbacks along the way. Fueling and cooling limitations had proven to be a significant hindrance, giving the guys at Weapon X a series of obstacles to overcome. When asked what he meant by this, Shawn explains that working out the kinks while simultaneously jetting dual methanol and nitrous setup was without question one of the most substantial hurdles. However, it is this same challenge that ultimately led to a series of unique solutions and the subsequent development of some of the most game-changing products the C7 community has ever seen.
By the following summer, it became evident that finding ways to slake the C7’s insatiable thirst for ethanol was going to be the team’s greatest challenge. At the time, auxiliary fueling options were not readily available, and pushing the envelope was proving to be far more challenging than previously predicted. But after going over some options with the guys at Weapon X Motorsports, Shawn agreed to let them test-out a supplemental port injection kit on his convertible.
From there, it was onto tackling things like blown nitrous solenoids, dyno-tuning, and testing out beta versions of various products. By this point, Shawn Storm’s C7 had become the test mule for both Weapon X Motorsports’ supplemental port injection kit and an AC-run boost chiller system, a point of pride for the vehicle’s owner.
With aesthetics and advancements in the research and development of revolutionary C7 technologies now complete, the Corvette was passed back to its owner. Weapon X Motorsports had unchained a staggering 1,500 wheel horsepower, and by safely tuning the car down to around the 1,400 rear-wheel horsepower mark, its owner could now safely drive the vehicle without the fear of overheating or running out of juice. Shawn had successfully bankrolled one of the most extreme street legal C7 Corvette’s in history, and he couldn’t be happier with the results.
Having spent an afternoon with what many refer to as the “Storm C7,” I can attest that while the noise this Corvette makes is a dead giveaway that a gale-force like no other rests beneath the hood, the vehicle itself isn’t obnoxious. Is it a handful? Oh absolutely. But it’s not entirely out of control either. Idling with a notably mild lope, the Storm C7 has zero overheating issues, retains a usable ride height, and with the slightest blip of the throttle will throw you back in your seat all the way to redline.
Shawn tells us that this car is without question the most amazing automobile he has ever driven, and we can see why. He admits that a child-like grin creeps onto his face every time he fires it up and that he is counting down the days to warmer weather and vivacious commutes to and from the office to see patients.
Lightning bursts of speed from a force-fed monster that’s hooked on laughing gas. Ominous Forgeline rollers are resting beneath widebody Z06 silver linings. Exhaust notes that border on being thunderous. It all culminates right here, deep within the heart of the perfect storm. As clouds of smoke billow out the back, and you’re left wondering what just blasted past you on the interstate.
Bischoff Racing Engines forged short block (re-sleeved gen V LT1 w/ Darton 4.125-inch bore sleeves)
Wiseco Pistons, Callies Ultra Rods, Callies Magnum Crank w/ 10:1 CR
WXM LT Big Valves
WXM G1Pro air to water intake
WXM Armageddon Stage 4 Camshaft Kit
WXM SPI Secondary Port Injection System
WXM Modified F1X Procharger Kit running 25 PSI
Stock exhaust with cat deletes
WXM valve covers with a catch can system
WXM Boost Freeze AC chiller system
WXM Track Attack Heat Exchanger
Nitrous Express controller w/ three pre-programmed tunes and 200-shot
Nitrous Express pressure gauge and toggle box
Nitrous Outlet system with controller
Nitrous Express 15-lb bottle hydro dipped in carbon fiber wrap
Stand-alone fuel cell and pump for nitrous fueling
Modified stock rear end with forged cryo-treated C6 ZR1 spider gears
Forgeline GA1R open lug wheels (19 x 10 front 19×13 rear)
Toyo Proxes R888R Tires (295/30R19 front 345/30R19 rear)
C7 Z06 Big Brake Kit
WXM Z06 widebody conversion
RKSport Extractor Hood with modified vents
Spade Kreations and paintwork