[PICS] CorvetteBlogger Visits the Headquarters for Katech Performance

Last month we had the fantastic opportunity to visit Katech Inc. at their suburban Detroit headquarters. For 40 years now the team at Katech has been designing and building some of the hottest engines in the aftermarket and motorsports industries. Their power plants have found victory lane and taken championship trophies in NASCAR, IROC, Grand-Am, ALMS, and even the IRL. Their engines also powered the dominant Corvette C5R racers that won countless times in the US plus 6 triumphs at LeMans. Racing legends such as Dale Earnhardt, Johnny O’Connell, and Ron Fellows have piloted Katech powered racecars to victory lane.

Katech’s facility consists of 3 buildings near the back of an industrial court in Clinton Township, Michigan. The complex totals roughly 30,000 square feet and they employ 20 people. In addition to street and track engine builds they provide engineering services, project management, low volume production, and testing services.

We spent our time at Katech with Jason Harding, Katech’s Director of Aftermarket Sales. Our tour began in the engine build area. There they can do everything from basic hop-up parts to all-out high-end engine builds. The room is clean, organized, and parts are laid out neatly as they wait their turn for installation.

From there it was on the CNC machining area. In this portion of the facility, it’s CNC mills and lathes as far as the eye can see. Adjacent to them you can find untouched billet aluminum chunks as well as complete newly minted cylinder heads. There’s just something oddly hypnotic about watching a basic block of metal getting slowly whittled into an automotive work of art.

Next we moved over into the dyno room where Katech can prove out and put their creations to the test on any of their 3 dynamometers. Two of the 3 dynos can support 1,000 horsepower while the third can support 800. The dynos do everything from basic power pulls to simulating actually race tracks from around the work.

Our penultimate stop was over in the vehicle area where the final builds take place. We were greeted by cars of all types in various stages of assembly as we walked in the door. In here they had everything from a recently reincarnated C6 to a partially reassembled C7 and even to a late model prototype racer being restored for its current owner.

Katech’s heritage room lurks just outside the vehicle build room. In there they showcase some of the legendary power plants they’ve produced over the years. It’s where you really realize just how many different motorsports they’ve been involved in – and been highly successful in – since their inception.

After our tour was over Jason told about their recently launched website, thekatchnetwork.com. Their new endeavor showcases virtually everything in the Katech portfolio. Users can check out vehicle builds, new products, build tips, and catch up on all their latest on-track success.

If you decide to do a build with Katech, Jason will be your project manager and guide you along as the project progresses.

Thanks to Jason Harding and the team at Katech for their hospitality during our time there. If you’re interested in adding some zing to your ride check out http://katechengines.com/ for more information or give Jason a call at 586-791-4120 extension 234.

Related:
Katech Partners with Forgeline on new KT1 Wheels for C6 and C7 Corvettes
Katech Track Attack Engine Package Gives C7 Corvette LT1 Over 650 hp without a Supercharger