Article contributed by Mitch Talley
If you think it was complicated putting your kids’ toys together for Christmas, try talking to Jeff Kasper.
The California salesman recently became the first person to go through Chevrolet Performance’s new Crate Engine Build Experience, which lets customers take part in the construction of their engine at the General Motors Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., northwest of Detroit.
Article and photos contributed by Steve Burns
As part of the NCRS national convention last week we were able to participate in a tour of GM’s Performance Build Center. The facility is located about an hour northwest of Detroit in Wixom, MI. The low-volume plant hand assembles all of the dry sump motors for Corvettes. Previously, they also made the powerplants for the Cadillac STS-V and XLR-V. You can learn more about this unique facility and take a photo tour with us after the break.
NASCAR team owner and Chevy dealer Rick Hendrick spent today at Wixon’s Performance Build Center to take part in the Corvette Engine Build program. Hendrick built his own 505 horsepower LS7 V8 which will go into his Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition.
Fans of Corvette and readers of this blog are familiar with the extra attention Corvette owners can receive from the factory as well as some of the advanced personalization options when buying a new Corvette. If you thought the ZR1/Z06 Engine Build Experience was cool, wait until you hear about the new PIN RPO. Yes, Corvette owners can now choose your own VIN. This is great for collectors who want to match an older Corvette’s sequence number with a brand new Corvette. The special RPO does come with a hefty price of $5,000 and like the Engine Build Program, you’ll be working a Corvette concierge to coordinate the special order.
This summer Chevrolet unveiled a new program for Corvette buyers called the Corvette Engine Build Experience. For a cool $5,800, the program allows a Corvette buyer to assemble the LS7 or LS9 engine that will be installed in his Corvette Z06 or ZR1. To help promote the program, Chevy will be taking the Performance Build Center on the road to SEMA where one of GM’s skilled engine builders will assemble the Corvette ZR1′s 638 horsepower engine live from the floor of this year’s SEMA show.
![[VIDEO] Radio Host Assembles His Own LS9 Corvette Engine](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/090210_1.jpg)
Earlier this week, radio host Todd Schnitt became the first consumer to participate in the Corvette Engine Build Experience which allowed him to assemble his own engine that will then be installed in his new 2011 Corvette ZR1 at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. Here is a video of Schnitt assembling his supercharged 638-horsepower engine and some of his comments regarding the engine build program.
The last time we spoke of Todd Schnitt, his 2009 Corvette ZR1 was on the assembly line in Bowling Green and he was sharing photos of the assembly process with his listening audience. Schnitt makes our Corvette news again, but this time its because of an option he ordered for his new 2011 Corvette ZR1 – The Corvette Engine Build Experience. Next week, Todd becomes be the first customer in Corvette history to build his own engine for his 2011 ZR1.
Today at 12 noon EST, GM held a live chat featuring Performance Build Center’s manager Carl Pickman, engine builder John Ross and John Fitzpatrick, Corvette’s Marketing Manager. While the conversation was centered on the new Corvette Engine Build Experience, the staff also answered several technical questions about the LS engines and the PBC. Check out the transcript.
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