I have been obsessed with cars before I could even speak. From Hot Wheels, to Legos, to RC cars, to car magazines, if it had four wheels I was playing with it or dreaming about it. Once I hit 16, I had somehow forgotten to save up some money because I had $800 dollars to my name. I started by buying the neighbors '82 Buick Regal, I then ditched that for an '86 Trans Am in about two weeks through some creative salesmanship with my parents. By the time my father turned 21 he had owned 10 cars, and I was following in his steps right behind him. Some time passed and I was still buying, trading, and modifying cars. I had gained some experience with imports and decided I should build a car that could out handle and out accelerate anything I was going to run across in my area. That car turned out to be a '74 Datsun 260Z with stretched fenders, a 500hp turbo 2.0l 4 cyl, and a decent amount of suspension work. With the completion of that car, I knew it was time to get back to my V8 roots and stay there.
I found my way to Lateral-G one day and was amazed that I found a website completely devoted to the way I thought people should be building cars. I made an introductory thread sometime later and called out my two favorite cars.... Bad Penny and Killer. Chris (69myway), the original owner of Killer, contacted me and had an interesting proposal. He had built and later sold Killer to a gentleman in Florida and had a case a sellers remorse. He then purchased a project car to fill the void and had made some great headway when some family obligations came up and he offered the car to me. I was then in a hurry to sell my Datsun and build the best C3 I could. As luck would have it, I sold the Datsun and was on my way to pick up the Vette. Chris showed me around the car and we even took it out for a spin with no top, no windshield and no seatbelts on a chilly 40 deg day. I don't even think the seats were bolted down. It was a lot of fun, I was sold. I purchased the car from him and set out to recreate my own Killer. It's been a long road to get the car finished. Life just kept getting in the way. I made a long distance move, changed jobs twice and even sold my '68 Nova Pro-Touring project to fund the Vette, but it's been worth it.
I'd love to be able to say that I had the vision of this car from the beginning but originally, the plan was to duplicate, at least the looks, of Killer. Some project redirection was needed on the current car. I had LS fever at the time so an engine swap was in order. The frame had been powder coated red, not my usual black on black on black color scheme.... I could go on but then it hit me.... why not take the opportunity to do something different and make this car something better than just a copy of another car, albeit a great one? Challenge accepted; make Killer II bigger, badder and better than the original Killer.... but how? The plan I came up with was to modernize everything possible while giving the car a more classic racing look.
Chris had really forged the way with the Vortec 8100 swap into the Vette, even authoring a two part article in Corvette Enthusiast magazine using this car. After getting the car home and driving my neighbors nuts with my laps around the block in a car that was nowhere near street legal, the big block really grew on me. There is quite a bit of misinformation out there on the web about these engines. They have been completely revised from the previous generations even incorporating LS style cathedral port cylinder heads. The LS based engine control system with it's fuel injection, coil on plug, and drive by wire adds up to a fully modern big block that really makes this car what it is. It's backed by a Richmond 6 speed manual so torque is plentiful and everywhere not to mention the statement it makes when the hood is raised. I really like the old road racing Camaros and Cobras from the 60's so this car takes a bit from both. I picked the Vintage Wheel Works V48 wheels because they really modernized the original Mini-Lite design. I used a custom Cobra style roll bar, side pipes and vintage style L88 flares front and rear. The red interior helps give the car some "pop" with the red hash marks on the left front to bring the color out and keep with the vintage racing theme. For the modern aspect, the Vette Brakes and Performance suspension more than holds its own, Dakota Digital VHX gauges integrate all of the driver's information into two dials in seamless fashion, and the keyless locks and push button start really finish it off. I am very happy with how the car has turned out and look forward to my next project.
Engine/ Drivetrain:
2007 Vortec 8100 (L18) - 496ci big block (430 hp, 570 tq) (450 wtq @ 2200 rpm ~ 150 more than an LS3)
HR 270 Comp Cam, springs, retainers, locks, pushrods
Raylar double roller timing chain
Hooker headers & side pipes
JCL/STS Spiral baffles
TRE-343 255 gph fuel pump
Dewitt Radiator
Spal twin fan
Richmond ROD 6 speed manual
Centerforce Clutch
Painless DBW engine wire harness
Body:
Amazing pure black paint
L88 Fender Flares
L88 Hood
Corvette hash marks (vinyl)
Cobra style roll bar
Electric power headlight conversion
LED taillights
Shaved door locks
Painless chassis wire harness
Original soft top
New soft top (not installed)
Original Hard top
Interior / Features:
Keyless entry & alarm
Power locks
Push button start
Cruise control
Vintage air
Dakota digital - VHX gauges
Recaro - Speed S Seats
Pioneer touch screen audio & nav
Optima battery
Chassis:
Powder Coated Frame
Vette Brakes & Performance - Performance plus suspension
Vintage Wheel Works - V48 wheels (17x9.5, 17x11)
Kumho - Ecsta XS tires (295-17, 335-17)
Steeroid - Rack & pinion steering conversion
Flaming River - Steering column
