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Once the RideTech 48-Hour Corvette finished the 2015 race season Chris Smith, who piloted the Corvette throughout the year, removed the vinyl wrap and modified body panels to allow for wider wheels and tires

A 1972 C3 Corvette pulled into the RideTech facility almost one year ago for a complete transformation into what is now known as the Spectre custom intake equipped RideTech 48-Hour Corvette

The one-year anniversary of the first debut of the RideTech 48-Hour Corvette is only a month away. The eBay purchased car began its transformation as a bone stock red 1972 Chevrolet C3 Corvette. On March 10, 2015 the car pulled into the RideTech facility to begin a massive transformation over a mere 48-hour period from factory stock into a street legal, track ready beast. Fans of the original 48-Hour Camaro build were able to tune-in online and watch live as the Spectre Performance equipped 48-Hour Corvette was torn and put back together with the latest upgrades as well as a new color scheme. The build was concluded early that Friday morning with the sweet sound of the Lingenfelter LS7 motor firing for the first time. Since the completion of the build, the 48-Hour Corvette has raced all over the country including several events in the Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series and the Goodguys Autocross Series.

As winter approached and the 2015 season came to an end, many drivers began working on their vehicles for the upcoming 2016 race season. Chris Smith, who piloted the 48-Hour Corvette during the 2015 season, also had big plans for the car over the winter. The fenders and rear quarter panels were modified to allow for a bigger wheel & tire setup and the yellow vinyl wrap was removed. With the bodywork making progress, it was determined, after removing the wrap, that a fresh coat of paint was needed before the new season started.

Spectre Performance Air Intake Components were used to build a fully customized, reliable and efficient air intake setup for the 48-Hour Corvette

After replacing the vinyl wrap with a fresh coat of yellow paint, the 48-Hour Corvette is in the final cut and buff stage before the reassembly process begins

Once the wrap was removed the decision to strip the car of its original red color came with quite a surprise as Chris removed 9 layers of paint before he could start working on the body. Once the paint was removed and the bodywork complete, the Corvette was sent off to paint. In order to remain consistent with the yellow accents on the Corvette, such as the stitching on the seats, it was decided that the Corvette would again remain yellow for 2016.

With just under thirty days before the Spectre Performance equipped RideTech 48-Hour Corvette is set to debut for its second time at the Goodguys 7th Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona, the car is in the final cut and buff stage. Reassembly will begin shortly, along with some last minute touch-ups. In addition to wider fenders and fresh paint some small under hood changes will be made before the 48-Hour Corvette’s one-year anniversary.

During the original build the Lingenfelter LS7 was installed along with a custom Spectre Performance Air Intake System. Like many custom built muscle cars, the 48-Hour Corvette team needed to design a Custom Spectre Performance Air Intake to fit within the tight confines of the engine compartment. The Lingenfelter LS7 engine, making 630 HP and 570 lbs-ft torque, left little room in the engine bay for other additions or modifications.

Using Spectre Performance aluminum tubes along with a Spectre High Performance Race (HPR) Filter, part number HPR9891K, the RideTech crew was able to adapt a custom air intake to the C3 Corvette’s specific setup. This also allowed the Spectre High Performance Race (HPR) Filter to be relocated away from the direct heat of the engine and radiator. Since this Corvette would be driven on the street and raced at the track, the goal was to achieve the maximum amount of horsepower. By relocating the filter, the RideTech crew was able to add additional horsepower to the already stout 630 horsepower Lingenfelter built Chevy LS7 engine.

The Spectre Performance equipped 48-Hour Corvette will debut for the second time at the Goodguys 7th Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona in March 2016

The RideTech 48-Hour Corvette is proud to represent the Spectre Performance brand as it gets ready for the 2016 race season

RideTech has released photos as the 48-Hour Corvette has evolved through different stages during the winter months. With no further mention of modifications under the hood, it will not be until the second debut of the Spectre Performance equipped 48-Hour Corvette when further changes made to the car will be revealed. The RideTech 48-Hour Corvette will hit the Goodguys autocross track March 4-6, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona

Since 1983 Spectre Performance has designed and offered unique, innovative, parts and components to fuel your car or truck obsession. Even if your fixation happens to be a classic muscle car with a modern powertrain, Spectre will help fuel your passion for performance. Browse all Spectre automotive products by category at SpectrePerformance.com. While you are there use the Products by Vehicle Search to find Spectre performance products specifically made for your vehicle. To find a Spectre dealer near you use the Spectre Dealer Locator.

Spectre Performance air intake system, part number 9006, for the 2014-2015 Silverado & Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 is an easy upgrade to help increase horsepower

The constant fluctuation in gas prices has lead to the popular topic of fuel-efficiency over the last five years. A consumer would much rather buy a fuel-efficient vehicle in today’s economy. With the continuous release of electric and hybrid vehicles hitting the market, truck consumers were next in line for some overdue improvements. The demand for a more fuel-efficient truck with added power and reliability was finally met. Though different in name, the 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 both meet these expectations.

2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 models are rated at 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque stock, but this can be improved with a Spectre intake

Both the GM Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 share more than just a parent company. When looking under the hood the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 puts out 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque with an EPA estimate of 16-23 miles per gallon. Take a closer look and notice three key technologies in both the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500: direct injection, continuous variable valve timing and active fuel management. While the direct injection helps mix fuel more efficiently, the continuously variable valve timing runs most efficient when applying the most power across the wide operating range. The active fuel management allows both the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to run on four cylinders until more power is needed which will result in all 8 cylinders coming online. With the conscious efforts to provide better fuel management, the question is if there is room for improvement?

When looking at both the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado, General Motors has made significant improvements that are more appealing to the general consumer. People are paying less at the pump and spending more time in their trucks. The number of stops for gas has been decreased while the distance between stops has increased without a compromise in power. This sounds like the perfect package. Yet some consumers are still looking for additional upgrades to help increase the truck’s performance. An air intake system is one of the easiest and most affordable means to increase horsepower. Adding a Spectre Performance air intake system can help improve power and increase acceleration without the hassle of extreme modifications.

Using the included Spectre Performance High Performance Racing (HPR) Filter, part HPR9891, can help save time and money on maintenance

By replacing the restrictive air box with an air intake upgrade, a higher volume of cooler, denser, air can potentially enter the intake system. The replacement of the stock plastic intake tract with a polished aluminum tube helps smooth out airflow restrictions encountered with the stock tube. Add a Spectre Performance High Performance Racing (HPR) air filter and you will quickly see how the Spectre Performance air intake can help add power and increase acceleration.

In addition to increased power, the Spectre Performance air intake can help save money long term. A stock paper filter will require replacement approximately every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. The Spectre High Performance Racing (HPR) air filter, number HPR9891, that is included in the Spectre Performance air intake 9006 can be washed and reused with the Spectre Performance Accucharge cleaning kit 884820. This allows for easy, affordable, maintenance for the long-life Spectre air filter.

The Spectre Performance air intake kit, part number 9006, comes with all the necessary components for easy installation. The Installation Instruction Sheet included in the Spectre Performance air intake kit along with some basic hand tools will assist in making the installation process stress-free. Unlike some modifications, this Spectre Performance air intake kit will take approximately 90-minutes to install. In addition, owners of 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models with the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 gas engine can rest assured knowing that Spectre Performance warrants all its products to be free from workmanship and material defects with a limited 90 day warranty.

Spectre Performance air intake 9006 is designed to increase the performance of the following Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra models:

2015 GMC Yukon XL 5.3L V8
2015 GMC Yukon 5.3L V8
2015 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3L V8
2015 Chevrolet Suburban 5.3L V8
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3 L V8

Find additional air intakes for the Silverado and GMC 1500s at the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Air Intakes page or the GMC Sierra 1500 Air Intakes page. Since 1983 Spectre Performance has designed and offered unique, innovative, parts and components to fuel your car or truck obsession. Whether your fixation happens to be a classic muscle car or modern pickup truck, Spectre will help fuel your passion for performance. Please use the Vehicle Search tool to find additional vehicle specific parts, or browse a wide array of custom Spectre Performance products at SpectrePerformance.com. If assistance is required please feel free to call Spectre Performance at 909-673-9800.

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Wickham Racing is family run and consists of brothers Kyle Wickham who drives the 4823 car, Jade Wickham serves as the co-driver, and Doug their father acts as the crew chief

Each February since 2007 thousands upon thousands of off-road, Jeep, 4x4, and ATV enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to Means Dry Lake in the Johnson Valley OHV area near Landers, California for one of the largest off-road events in the United States. This special event combines the thrills of high-speed desert racing with extreme rock crawling and due to the many trails with hammer in the name; this event has earned the title King of the Hammers (KOH). The King of the Hammers has grown from the original 2007 race of 13 invitation only competitors to a weeklong festival of everything off-road.

Hammerking Productions combines high-speed desert racing with rock crawling and due to many trails with “hammer” in the name; the race in Johnson Valley is called King of the Hammers (KOH)

The 2015 King of the Hammers was the first time that the Spectre Performance supported Wickham Racing team entered this brutal event. Wickham Racing is family run and consists of Brothers Kyle Wickham who drives the 4823 car, Jade Wickham serving as the co-driver, and their father Doug acts as the crew chief. The Wickham brothers compete in the Legends 4800 class in the Ultra4 Racing off-road series. For King of the Hammers, 4800 class Legends racers participate in the SmittyBilt Every Man Challenge held the day before the big 4400 class race.

For their first attempt to become King of the Hammers, the Wickham Racing team did quite well in 2015. Unfortunately, much like the majority of the field, Kyle and Jade Wickham suffered mechanical failures on the course and were unable to finish the 2015 KOH race. This isn't to say the Wickham Brothers gave up easily, as it was their fourth mechanical failure that sealed their fate. Around mile 76 of the 2015 course, and with just 1 hour left to finish the race, a power steering failure disabled the 4823 car. Realizing the possibility of finishing within the allotted time was out of the question the brothers admitted defeat.

Wickham Racing relies on a custom air intake system made using Spectre Air Intake Components and Spectre HPR Air Filter HPR0882K for their Ultra4 and King of the Hammers racing efforts

Kyle and Jade Wickham will leave the KOH 2016 starting line in their Spectre Performance HPR air filter equipped # 4823 car at 8:00 am on Thursday February 4, 2016

In 2015 when the Wickham brothers were asked if they'd be back for KOH in 2016 Kyle Wickham was quick to say We'll definitely do it again next year. That was almost exactly a year ago, and the Wickham Racing team has come a long way since the 2015 KOH. They will need that kind of will and determination to get through the 2016 King of the Hammers. Despite their DNF in the 2015 KOH the Wickham Brothers followed the Ultra4 Racing series and overcame extreme adversity at nearly every round to finish well. Barring any extreme unforeseen circumstances Wickham Racing stands an excellent chance at KOH 2016.

The 2016 King of the Hammers week will begin January 29th, 2016 for registration, practice, and qualifying. The first race of the week will be the King of the Motos on January 31, 2016. Kyle and Jade Wickham will leave the starting line in their Spectre Performance HPR air filter equipped # 4823 car at 8:00 am on Thursday February 4, 2016. Wickham Racing relies on a custom air intake system made using Spectre Air Intake Components and Spectre HPR Air Filter HPR0882K. Use the Vehicle Search tool to find additional vehicle specific parts, or browse a wide array of custom Spectre Performance products. If assistance is required please feel free to call Spectre Performance at 909-673-9800.

Spectre Performance sponsored driver of the 1963 Chevy Corvette, nicknamed Scar, earned one of 10 golden ticket invitations for the 2015 OUSCI, just two days after the car’s debut at SEMA

Each year following the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Optima Batteries, in cooperation with the Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) puts on the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI). Throughout 2015, the USCA promoted nine nationwide Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car events as an opportunity to qualify for a highly coveted spot in the 2015 OUSCI. For racers unable to attend a USCA event, or who were not fortunate enough to qualify, Optima Batteries reserves 10 additional spots in the OUSCI which are awarded at the SEMA show in the form of a “Golden Ticket.”

Greg Thurmond’s first event of the 2015 OUSCI at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the autocross, and as he got a feel for his Spectre equipped car and the course, his lap times improved

Spectre Performance sponsored driver of the Spectre HPR air filter equipped 1963 Chevy Corvette nicknamed Scar was one of 10 lucky golden ticket recipients for the 2015 OUSCI. Greg Thurmond, founder of GTS Customs, built and unveiled his latest personal 1963 Corvette at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 3, 2015. Greg's 1963 widebody Corvette was placed inside the Spectre Performance booth, number 22557, in the Central Hall. Many times SEMA show cars are “SEMA ready,” meaning they look finished but probably still have a lot of little details that need to be finished.

So for Greg Thurmond to finish his Corvette in time for the 2015 SEMA Show, and have it race ready for the 2015 OUSCI says a lot about Greg’s skills as both a builder and driver. Even still, as the 2015 SEMA Show was coming to a close Greg Thurmond took an opportunity to further tune his car during show tear down and the SEMA Cruise immediately after the show on Friday November 6th, 2015. The SEMA Cruise ends at the SEMA Ignited after party held in the LINQ Las Vegas High Roller Event lot. While Greg was honored to have been handpicked to do a one-on-one interview at the SEMA Ignited event, it meant he’d have to do additional race prep on Saturday morning.

Greg took the first couple laps of the Speed Stop Challenge conservatively to get a feel for his Corvette and explore its limits and as he found his groove he pushed Scar further

Saturday morning began early for Greg Thurmond as he had a personal check list of items he needed to go over before his first event. One such item on his list was to swap the Corvette’s front wheels with another set he brought with a more favorable offset. After completing his checklist and applying all the appropriate OUSCI sponsor decals Greg was ready for his first event. Greg’s first event was the autocross portion of the OUSCI, and prepping the car that morning meant he didn’t have time to walk the course. Greg struggled, as did many others, on his first few runs. But as he got a feel for the course his lap times improved.

Any time a car is put to its limits parts are bound to fail. This is only more common in a fresh build with very little run time. Greg suffered from a failed starter motor in his LS swapped C3 Corvette, but luckily the comradery amongst OUSCI drivers resulted in Kyle Tucker at Detroit Speed and Engineering helping Greg with a starter and get the car up and running just in time for the Lingenfelter Design Challenge and the Speed Stop Challenge. Greg took the first couple laps of the Speed Stop Challenge conservatively to get a feel for his Corvette and explore its limits. Once Greg found his groove he started to push Scar more and more.

Greg Thurmond’s quickest lap time during the Hot Lap road course competition was 1:56 compared to the fastest car of the weekend, a 2007 Corvette Z06 driven Danny Popp, with a 1:39

Day two of the 2015 OUSCI started out smoothly for Greg Thurmond, but as the day wore on he discovered further issues with his Corvette that probably wouldn’t have been noticed in normal driving situations. Greg started out easy in the Hot Lap road course portion of the event; however as he started driving more aggressively the car began to experience issues with vapor lock and fuel starvation. This caused the car’s LS engine to hesitate when exiting turns. This isn’t an uncommon problem so as the day wore on Greg was able to get the car sorted; working around his fuel issues, and began doing extremely well. His quickest lap time during the Hot Lap road course competition was 1:56 compared to the fastest car of the weekend, a 2007 Corvette Z06 driven Danny Popp, with a 1:39.

All things considered Greg Thurmond did very well for a fresh SEMA build that rolled out of the Spectre Performance Intakes SEMA show booth and onto a race track for the first time. Overall Greg placed 54 out of approximately 90 competitors. If it wasn’t for all the hiccups during the weekend, Greg might possibly have done much better. Greg Thurmond is an experienced driver and has proven this in his previous Corvette builds. With a little more seat time in the 1963 widebody Corvette nicknamed Scar; Greg Thurmond will surely become a force to be reckoned with on the Pro Touring scene.

Since 1983 Spectre Performance has designed and offered unique, innovative, parts and components to fuel your car or truck obsession. Whether your fixation happens to be a classic or modern muscle, Spectre will help fuel your passion for performance. Please use the Vehicle Search tool to find additional vehicle specific parts, or browse a wide array of custom Spectre Performance products. If assistance is required please feel free to call Spectre Performance at 909-673-9800.

The fourth Gen Grand Cherokee WK2 introduced significant changes including 4-wheel fully independent suspension to improve the Jeep's on-road manners

The third gen Dodge Durango uses an extended version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 platform to create a three row full-size SUV

The fourth generation Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 was introduced to the car buying public for the 2011 model year. The fourth Gen Grand Cherokee WK2 introduced significant changes including 4-wheel fully independent suspension to improve the Jeep's on-road manners. The fourth gen Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 shares its assembly line, running gear, powertrain and chassis parts with the third generation Dodge Durango. The third gen Dodge Durango uses an extended version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 platform to create a three row full-size SUV.

The third generation Grand Cherokee WK2 has several engine options including a 3.0L turbo diesel and the increasingly popular Pentastar 3.6L V6. However, for those who prefer the deep throaty exhaust note and rumble of a V8 engine, the 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 and 2011-2014 Dodge Durango can be equipped with a 5.7L Hemi V8. The 5.7L HEMI V8 is rated at 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque and the 2011-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 5.7L V8 even utilizes a Multiple Displacement System (MDS) to shut down four cylinders when that kind of power isn't needed. This serves to save 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 and 2011-2014 Dodge Durango owners a few bucks when it's time to fill up.

Spectre Performance air intake 9021 can help 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 5.7L and 2011-2014 Dodge Durango 5.7L models during acceleration as well as during cylinder deactivation

Reducing intake tract restriction and increasing the amount of available airflow with Spectre Performance air intake 9021 can help 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 5.7L and 2011-2014 Dodge Durango 5.7L models during acceleration as well as during cylinder deactivation. This Spectre air intake includes a High Performance Racing (HPR) Spectre Performance air filter and application specific air filter heat shield in place of the factory air filter box. The red synthetic HPR filter, # HPR9892, of Spectre Performance air intake, number 9021, is clamped onto a high-quality polished aluminum air intake tube to aerodynamically direct air into the engine while adding some flair to the engine compartment. An additional benefit of Spectre HPR air filters for Spectre air intake systems is that they are washable and reusable.

Spectre Performance air intake systems use high-quality components throughout and are designed to increase horsepower, as well as torque output. The Spectre Performance 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 5.7L and 2011-2014 Dodge Durango 5.7L performance intake system includes all necessary components and can be installed using basic hand tools in about 90-minutes in the comfort of a garage or in a driveway. Additionally, 2011-2014 Grand Cherokee or Durango HEMI owners can rest assured knowing that Spectre Performance warrants its products to be free from workmanship and material defects with a limited 90 day warranty.

The Spectre Performance 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 5.7L HEMI V8 and 2011-2014 Dodge Durango 5.7L HEMI V8 performance intake system includes all necessary components

This Spectre Performance air intake will provide one of the most cost-effective performance upgrades for the following Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango models:

2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 5.7L V8 F/I - All
2014 DODGE DURANGO 5.7L V8 F/I - All
2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 5.7L V8 F/I - All
2013 DODGE DURANGO 5.7L V8 F/I - All
2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 5.7L V8 F/I - All
2012 DODGE DURANGO 5.7L V8 F/I - All
2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 5.7L V8 F/I - All
2011 DODGE DURANGO 5.7L V8 F/I - All

Additional Spectre Jeep Grand Cherokee Air Intakes and Spectre Dodge Durango Air Intakes can be found on SpectrePerformance.com. Since 1983 Spectre Performance has designed and offered unique, innovative, parts and components to fuel your car or truck obsession. Please use the Vehicle Search tool to find additional vehicle specific parts, or browse a wide array of custom Spectre Performance products. If assistance is required please feel free to call Spectre Performance at 909-673-9800.