There are all kinds of gearheads. Some people can rattle off engine strokes, rocker arm ratios, and yet never pick up a wrench. Others can assemble an engine blindfolded, but they’ve never owned a new car in their life. The GM Engine Build Experience combines a new car with hands-on experience for those Corvette who want to say they actually built the 500+ horsepower engine in their car.
AutoBlog reports that the first new Corvette owner to opt for the build-your-own-engine option is something of a superfan. Todd Schnitt, a radio talk show host, will be the first person take part in the GM Engine Build Experience.
Picture: GM
Todd Schnitt is a conservative radio talk show host in Florida. His syndicated show, the blandly named “Schnitt Show,” is heard on over 25 stations. Not only a talk show host, Schnitt also owns a trio of Corvettes, including two ZR1’s and a 2007 Z06. He’s taking part in GM’s high performance driving school as well. When he went to buy his third ZR1, and heard about the option to build his own engine, he was all over it.
For $5,800, plus travel to Detroit, Schnitt will get a chance to help build his ZR-1’s LS9 engine. We imagine that even for a guy with three Corvettes already, this might end up as his favorite. He also has a Cadillac CTS-V as his daily driver. Obviously, Schnitt has good taste. We wonder how many engines he has worked on himself before though? It doesn’t matter, as hopefully GM will learn him a thing or two about building high-performance engines.
Press Release
Talk Show Host to be First Corvette Engine Builder
Todd Schnitt ready for 'over the top' experience on Aug. 30
DETROIT – Todd Schnitt's fifth Corvette will be unlike any he has had before because he will personally help build the 638-horsepower supercharged small block engine for his ZR1 supercar at the General Motors Performance Build Center.
Schnitt, host of a Tampa-based syndicated radio show, purchased the recently announced optional Corvette Engine Build Experience. He will be on the line at the PBC in Wixom, Mich., on Monday, Aug. 30.
As part of the Corvette Engine Build Experience ordering option, a special Chevrolet concierge is coordinating all arrangements with Schnitt. After the build is completed Monday, the engine will be tracked and sent to the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky., where Schnitt's ZR1 will be assembled with his engine shortly thereafter.
"To build my own engine is over the top," said Schnitt. "When my dealer told me about the option it was like 'Of course, I'll do it, sign me up!'. I can't wait to get there and build my own LS9. It will be the ultimate personalization for my car. I'm anticipating it being one of the coolest things I've done in my life. It definitely makes my 'bucket-list.'"
Schnitt, 44, is the long-time Tampa-based host of the MJ Morning Show and the nationally syndicated Schnitt Show, heard nationally in 31 cities and carried on XM Channel 152.
Skilled technicians at the PBC individually hand build each Corvette Z06 LS7 7.0L engine, Corvette ZR1 6.2L supercharged LS9 engine and a variation of the Corvette Grand Sport's LS3 6.2L engine. The PBC incorporates the best practices of low-volume niche manufacturers and the established quality and manufacturing standards at GM to ensure the highest-quality specialized engines. Schnitt will be closely guided and coached by one of these technicians. His engine will still be covered by GM's five-year / 100,000 mile warranty.
In addition to building their own engines, Corvette buyers can attend driving school in Arizona or Nevada, take delivery of their vehicles at the National Corvette Museum or watch their vehicles being built at the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green. Schnitt attended the driving school in conjunction with his 2009 ZR1 purchase and took museum delivery of his 2007 Z06.
Schnitt has been a car fan all his life; one of his earliest memories is having a Corvette Matchbox as a child. He even practiced driving behind the wheel of a classic Corvette as part of his preparation to obtain his driver's license.
The popular host's current daily driver is a 2010 Cadillac CTS-V with a 556-horsepower supercharged small block engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Of the CTS-V, Schnitt says "applause goes out to the GM engineers; the products these days don't leave me wanting for anything."
Schnitt's current order is for a cyber grey 2011 ZR1, the same as his last two ZR1s. The Corvette Engine Build Experience time lapse video is an example what of Schnitt's engine build experience will be like.
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