I am getting out of building my 02 Z06/ C6 World Challenge bodied road race project, selling the body, will finish the cage, etc but want to build a pretty tricked out(meaning real performance, not a trailer queen show boat) street rod.

Not going to announce the body I plan to use, my all time favorite, short, aero, ahead of its time, ok, somebody may guess now:)

Fully caged but very drivable and the idea of diesel power is just so tempting!

It will help that the tranny is in the rear and I can move weight around pretty well but not sure I want a full bore Duramax weight up front so looking for suggestions, please:)

This car has to have superb handling as an absolute must.

I am doing this all by myself and have 3 other projects and run my own business as well as going in for knee surgery on both knees soon, it will take awhile before this is done so there is no schedule but I plan to keep this until the pry the keys from my cold dead fingers:)

Thanks
Rick

well body sounds like a stingray body and it would definitely be a long process with a ton of custom work but it will be sick.

how bout a 4bt cummins......

Nah duramax is more of a challenge I am putting a duramax in the newer style cameros when I get the money

4bt weighs close to the same as a dmax IIRC. Either engine is too heavy for a vette chassis.

People have put them in grand nationals and impalas anyone can make it work and mustangs too

Grand nationals, impalas and mustangs are not vettes. It's possible to tweak a vette chassis badly enough hitting a bad pothole that the doors won't line up with the body enough to close. They do well to handle the 450lb engine that is in them.

For the sake of argument, lets say that you do manage to shoehorn in a dmax. You're probably gonna have problems with the transaxle as it wasn't designed to handle diesel torque. The transaxle housing on c5s and c6s along with the torque tube that houses the drive shaft is also a stressed member.

Bottom line, If you can overcome all the above hurdles, i don't see how your weight distribution wouldn't be trashed because of the engine weight and added reinforcement required IMHO.

I did some digging around and figure I would have to go with some European modern car diesel to make this happen, I wonder what GM uses there? I have to look!

This is just an idea, I have all the parts I need to keep an LS, which I own, in the car which is much easier of course, I have a great deal of time to contemplate this:)

Not going to be a Vette body unless it is an early one, probably not going to be a Vette at all, not even GM;)

Thanks
Rick

There's an older vette right now with a 5.9 cummins in it. There are many pics and I believe a video over on comp d. He may be a good person to share ideas with.

Thanks, I have to keep the weight in check, I can live with some added weight and can move things around for balance but not able to have a huge weight penalty as this car will see the track on occasion(road not drag, well, once or twice on the strip). It absolutely has to handle very very well, stop, go, and be comfortable on long drives...

It also has to be cost effective, this is something I would love to do but not throwing money into it like there is not tomorrow(done to much of that in my life already, $80k into the project so far and that is with a stock LS6, I am selling off some expensive bits so I can invest into the change of plans and do it the way I want, anybody need a new C6 WC body? :):)

Thanks
Rick

Sounds pretty cool to me.

Let's see "my all time favorite, short, aero, ahead of its time". I'm thinking Studebaker Golden Hawk??? Avanti???

If it was "back in time", I'm thinking DeLorean?

you are getting quite close, lose the fins and big grill for a more sleek look and better aero, that is more my cup of tea:)

Citroen SM???

http://www.awecar.com/Make/Citroen/SM/Citroen_SM.jpg

I raced with a guy back in the 70's that had one for a daily driver, pretty wild looking car from that era! Masserrati (spelling?) V6 with triple webers, air suspension, terrible reliability.

Of course the US version did not come with the triple front lights where the middle ones turned with the steering.

How about a VM Motori Motor, they are inline and compact like their R756IE3 motor. Its a inline-6 4.5L rated at 120hp and 500ft-lbs. Or their MR706LX, inline6 4.2L common rail its rated at 257hp 700ft-lbs and it weighs 460lbs dry. If your looking for the most light weight youd have to go with a motor from europe, made with the Compacted graphite Iron block. Lots of strength minimal weight!

Justin