1200HP, LS-Swapped C3 Corvette is American Style On Top, All Race Underneath
The Corvette C3 may not be as loved in performance circles as its later and earlier counterparts, but the addition of some serious mumbo up front might make some folks take a second look.
Success breeds new goals, and after doing well with a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro on Hot Rod Drag Week West in 2016, Ryan Saiki was looking to make a change.
“I had raced in Super Street Big Block Naturally-Aspirated with a pump gas big block,” Ryan said. “I wanted to convert the big block for nitrous going forward, but didn’t want to run race gas.” So, he sold the engine, started piecing together a turbocharged LS powerplant, and was going to take the Camaro to the next level.
When the Camaro was ready for its next debut, Ryan had made the jump to opening his own shop, Free Form Motorsports, gotten married and had a child.
“It was hectic, but we got it done and brought it out for 2021 Rocky Mountain Race Week (RMRW) 1.0,” he said.
Despite no test time, Ryan carded a fourth-place finish with a 5.69 average on the eighth-mile standard for the 26-inxh tall x 8.5-inch-wide Rowdy Radial class.
After the event was complete, Ryan proceeded to click off a 4-second eighth-mile pass and a 7-second quarter-mile pass in short order, both of which were bucket list items for the car. Combined with a second child on the way, Ryan and wife Chandler made to decision to send the Camaro down the road, but the next step was not fair away.
It would involve something that meant more to Ryan than the Camaro, and something he was looking forward to stepping into.
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The next step was his father’s C3 Chevy Corvette.
“He used to race it in the Pacific Street Car Association (PSCA) in heads-up classes,” said Ryan. “I have a lot of history with the car.”
Despite the car’s success in the heads-up game and capturing several championships, Ryan’s father turned his focus to no prep, and deemed the Corvette was too heavy. So Free Form Motorsports got to work building a lighter Mazda RX-7 for his father to compete with, and the Corvette sat and collected dust.
After sitting for two years, Ryan took the opportunity to buy the Corvette from his dad.
“We wanted to give the car a fresh start, so my wife and I got it, cut the roll cage out of it, and the snowball effect happened,” he said. “The only thing we haven’t touched is the exterior of the car.”
Keeping the car looking factory was important to Ryan, who employed the same steps with his former Camaro. The Corvette’s interior, while getting the needed roll cage, lighter race seats, and a Holley dash, the remainder of the interior remains surprisingly stock. Even the Motion Raceworks Operator shifter has the woodgrain handle inserts on it to blend in.
To make the fiberglass two-seater move in short order, Ryan chose to go the LS-swap route, based on an aluminum LC9 block. A Callies crankshaft, Oliver connecting rods, and CP Pistons combine with a camshaft specified by Ryan Mueller to complete a stout short block.
Mueller also specified a set of Brodix BR53 cylinder heads, and the whole package checks in at 328 cubic inches. A single turbocharger provides the boosted atmosphere, and a Powerglide sends the power back to a four-link suspended 9-inch. The car rolls on a set of polished RC Comp wheels, and TBM Brakes help haul it down from speed on the street and strip.
After thrashing to get the car finished just in time for this week’s Redwood Rally, Ryan had just one more stop for the untested ride: Matt’s Fab Shop in Orland, California to put it on the hub dyno and sort out the combination.
After a long night of testing and trying out things, Ryan left the shop with a 1266 rear-wheel-horse-power figure on the screen.
Now, he points his rig to Redding Motorsports Park for the start of Redwood Rally today, where Ryan hopes to compete in the American Graffiti Single Power Adder class, based around a 28-inch x 10.5-inch tire and a single power adder.
“There’s around 25 entrants in the class, and I’m showing up with zero runs on this car,” Ryan said. “My goals would normally be to win, but realistically, finishing would be great, and a top three finish would be amazing.”
Either way, Ryan is thrilled to be starting a new chapter in his dad’s storied Corvette. “I always wanted to do drag-and-drive stuff with the car, ride with the T-tops out,” said Ryan. “It’s the start of something great!”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Ryan Saiki and Motion Raceworks.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com