Look close, and you'll see...
Look close, and you'll see plenty of custom touches like a '55 Corvette back bumper, '59 Cadillac taillights, and filled-in exhaust openings at the aft end of the rear quarters.
Data File: '56 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
Owner: Wayne Ausherman, Frederick, Maryland
Body
Modified production ’56 Corvette
Body Modifications: Handmade Z06-style “NACA duct” hood scoop, Z06 rear brake scoops, ’55 Corvette rear bumper, ’59 Cadillac taillights, exhaust bezels capped/filled, lowered tag frame, ’06 Corvette exhaust tips, vinyl-covered hardtop, one-off Z56 emblems, crossed-flags emblems replaced OEM nose/deck emblems
Bodywork: Mickey Schultz, Union Bridge, Maryland
Paint: House of Kolor’s Sunset Pearl acrylic lacquer; paint preparation and applied by Mickey Schultz
Wayne substituted a one-piece...
Wayne substituted a one-piece '55 Vette rear bumper for the '56's two-piecer, and now the exhaust exits below the car.
Chassis
Frame: Production ’56 Corvette
Suspension: Jim Meyer Racing front/rear independent suspension with QA1 shocks all around
Steering: Rack and pinion with chrome ididit column
Brakes: Discs at each corner replaced the overmatched OEM drums
Wheels: American Racing Torq-Thrust, 15 x 6 inches front, 16 x 7 inches rear
Tires: Goodyear Integrity, 205-65R15 front, 235-60R16 rear
Wayne bought his '56 with...
Wayne bought his '56 with a 283 under the hood. That engine now displaces 301 cubic inches, and wears a set of 327/365 heads and a 750 Holley under all the brightwork.
Engine
Modified chevrolet small block v8
Engine Built By: Owner
Displacement: 301 cubic inches
Modifications: Original 283 block bored out to 4 inches, TRW pistons, steel connecting rods, forged steel crankshaft
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Cylinder Heads: Modified cast-iron production smallblock Chevrolet 327/365 heads (2.02-inch intake, 1.94-inch exhaust)
Ignition: AC/Delco dual-point distributor with Taylor wires and Billet Specialties wire looms
Induction: Weiand cast-aluminum intake manifold with a Holley 750 double-pumper carburetor
Camshaft: Comp Cams hydraulic
Exhaust: Hooker Headers with 1 5/8-inch tubes and 3-inch collectors, 2 ¼-inch stainless steel pipes and Flowmaster mufflers
Horsepower: 375 @ 6500 rpm (Estimated)
Torque: 420 ft. /lbs. @ 6500 rpm (Estimated)
Transmission
Muncie m-21 close-ratio four-speed manual
Shifter: Hurst “Competition Plus” with custom shifter ball
Rear End: 9-inch rear end with Dutchman axles and Jasper 3.55:1 rear gears
Big disc brakes on each corner...
Big disc brakes on each corner stop the '56 much better than its OEM drums did, and look great behind the Goodyear-shod American Racing Torq-Thrusts.
Interior
Restored/modified ’56 corvette
Interior: Restoration work by Classic Upholstery & Glass Company, Frederick, Maryland
Modifications: Billet Specialties steering wheel, ’58 Corvette center console modified to fit power window and HVAC switches, ’61 Corvette nose letters placed vertically on glove box, lower dash painted Tangerine Metalflake and pinstriped by Nelson Grimes
Seats: Restored production ’56 buckets, upholstered in beige/tan ultra leather
Carpets: Auto Custom Carpet dark tan (loop-pile)
Instrumentation: Production ’56 Corvette (0-140 mph speedometer plus fuel level, ammeter, coolant temperature and oil pressure gauges)
Sound System: JVC AM/FM/Cassette player with 12-disc CD changer, Pioneer speakers
HVAC: Vintage Air