1900lb C5 CHESNUT SPEEDSTER WITH LS6
 

Hello, My name is John chesnut. I thought that some of you might be interested in a car that I am building from scratch. I built an aluminum semi-monoque chassis to which the Vette suspension cradles bolt into. (I bought the suspension from a salvaged Z06 so I didn't ruin a good Vette) I shortened the torque tube and moved the engine rearward 22 inches for a 54% rear weight. I scultped the body, made molds, laid up a fiberglass body of my design. I like the late 50's Sports Racers so these cars were my inspiration. I raced the chassis with a different body and IT IS FAST and handles like a slot car. It is 77 inches wide at the rear fenders and 38 inches tall at the top of the roll bar. I am 6'2" tall and sit very comfortably in the car.
The engine is a new LS6, custom headers, FAST intake and FAST 90mm throttle body. I am researching for the right cam, rockers and springs at this point. I hope to have the car finished by the end of summer. Have a great one and thanks for looking. John
http://www.chesnutmotorsports.net/ph...ith%20hood.jpg
http://www.chesnutmotorsports.net/ph...t%20view-1.jpg
http://www.chesnutmotorsports.net/ph...ith%20hood.jpg
http://www.chesnutmotorsports.net/ph...ery/rear-2.jpg
http://www.chesnutmotorsports.net/ph...intake%202.jpg

Very nice work and the car looks great too. It should be super quick with that kind of power to weight ratio. Good luck with the project. Please keep us posted on its progress....:thumb:

:eek: :hail:
That is out standing!!!!! Did you run the body design through some aerodynamics programs?? I'd hate to see such a nice body trashed by unexpected lift at X mph. That is a great car. Congratulations.

That's amazing, very awesome. I'm glad to see someone putting so much effort into a custom design project. It's also very clean and appealing. Great work buddy. Keep us posted on any numbers and info you come up with.

At 1900# that car is going to be a rocket! Nice work. If you want a cam suggestion PM me the use of the car & goals....but at that weight you don't need more power! :cheers:

Very impressive !! Puts me in mind of a cross between a corvette and a shelby ac cobra. At 1900 lbs 300 rwhp is going to be fast. You push 450 rwhp and look out.

Pretty cool how the headers exit the engine bay. Looks like a Gigantic spider. Sweet.

Can't wait to see the final results.

crazy header design

So it's a mold...which means you can make more, right?:secret2:

:nod::drool::headbang::rock::thumb:

Not that I have the money of course:bang:.

Thats a kit car guys
dragon on the front tells it all.

sick for sure. Im just not much of a roadster guy.

A cross between Corvette and a Cobra is a great description. I raced the chassis with a stock LS6 at a 1.67 mile road course. I had a Hot Rod T bucket body on it that I had made. I won the racing by over 5 seconds per lap. This was against mostly Cobras!

I have designed and built about 5 different cars in the last 10 years. I built them from scratch, not from kits. I named my car the Dragon. I had some people want them so I did sell some kits of them. I have been retired for about 15 years and did my cars because I have a passion for them. And, I enjoy designing and building them. (Plus I needed something to do!) I quit Dragon last year and gave it to my former partner. This car, while the body is similiar to the Dragon is completely different. The chassis and body are one offs that I have done them from scratch. Everything that I have built has been made in my home garage.

I think that in this car I have hit on a combination that looks cool and has Supercar performance. Something to give the Cobra guys a run for their money. I have made a second body to use as a plug to pull a mold from. I redid the front fender flares and shortened the hood a couple of inches and added the 2 inches to the cockpit. And, I have built a full jig for the chassis which was built on a flat plate. It is not my intention to violate forum rules and try to sell it here with out paying for advertising.. But, I do want to offer it as a kit. My purpose here is to see what people think of it. If there is enough interest I certainly will purchase advertising on this forum.

contact Patrick-G or PREDATOR-Z for cam help.

John Chesnut, any chance you're interested in adopting a 27 year old gear head to sleep in your garage and play with your toys at night?

If not, it's cool... you're my hero though. For reals.

Thats sick man! I want a "kit car" some day, one that you can build yourself and put your own motor/tranny/suspension package on and really make it your own.

Congrats and good luck!

That is AMAZING :D:D

Very cool. You have a lot of talent.

Dude that is a sick ride. Kinda like an LS version of speed racer if you will. :thumb:

damn thats sick. you have some SERIOUS talent man. that thing is going to be a monster with a cam in.

Looks like a blast. Nice craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Am I the only person in this thread staring at a bunch of text wondering what pictures everybody else seems to be seeing?