The C5 Corvette is a perfect, fiscally-responsible, modern-day hot rod for those who don’t want to stand in line to pay “market adjustment” prices for a new C8 Corvette. They just happen to also be the humble beginnings of our beloved LS-based engine platform!

When the C5 Corvette came on the scene, the level of smooth power was intoxicating. When the Z06 came out in 2001, the world lost its mind. Headlines around the globe touted the fact that “horsepower is back!” Starting with a mere 385 horsepower and eventually poking its head up over 400-horsepower, the LS6 was the darling of crate engines for years. In the C5 Z06, it could loosen your eye sockets!

As is always the case, enthusiasts grew accustomed to the new level of performance, and as generations rolled by and other engine codes surfaced, “only 405 horsepower” didn’t have the kick in the pants that it once had. ProCharger offered a kit to push the power output to keep those power-hungry enthusiasts satiated, but that was over 20 years ago and time marches on.

Supercharger technology improved, and so did the engines they were bolted onto. With that, the guys at ProCharger decided to go back and re-visit their C5 kit to see how it would perform in this new normal where the horsepower of daily drivers is hovering in the four-digit zone.

ProCharging A Stock C5 Z06

To do that, they started back where it all started, with a bone-stock, 17,000-mile C5 Z06 Corvette. Because this car is currently stock, it gives them a great starting point from which to build. As far as the supercharging kit is concerned, ProCharger has consistently upgraded components throughout the C5, C6, and C7 generations. Now, there are plenty of upgrades available to suit almost any power output level imaginable.

The supercharger used on this install is a ProCharger P1SC-1, but this system can be upgraded all the way to a massive F1x supercharger, capable of churning out 1,000 horsepower! The drive system used on this install is ProCharger’s 6-rib, Stage II kit, but you can upgrade to an 8-rib drive system on C5 Corvettes or go big with ProCharger’s 10-rib pulleys for C6 and C7 Corvettes.

Since this car only has 17,000 miles and is completely stock, and is set to run on 91 octane fuel, things were kept very conservative. Even so, the upgrade really brought the car’s performance up nicely. In stock form, the car churned the dyno with 334 horsepower making it to the rear wheels. Remember, this is an ’01 C5 Z-car, which started out with “only” 385 horsepower at the crank. With five pounds of boost, the car now makes 482 horsepower to the wheels.

With a solid 500 horses spinning around the crankshaft of this two-decade-old Corvette, it now has the power potential to keep it relevant, even in today’s world. The nice thing is, the car is still basically stock other than the supercharger so it has all the street manners that GM worked so hard to impart upon the car when they were bringing it to life. The noise from that ProCharger is the song of performance and music to an enthusiast’s ears. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy a little whine with their C5 Corvette?

You Can Win This ProCharged C5 Z06!

If you think this car would just look awesome in your garage, well, it can! The guys at 1320video.com are giving it away! You can check out their website for all the rules and such, but suffice to say, come the end of May, this car will be headed to someone else’s garage. Maybe yours! Good luck!