Up next in 10
CORVETTE TODAY #240 - Holiday Vendor Showcase
251 views
Jul 12, 2025
Just in time for the upcoming holidays, CORVETTE TODAY features a Holiday Vendor Showcase. This show is packed with great holiday ideas!. The 3 Vendors featured in this show are: 1. Soler Engineering 2. E5 Wheels 3. Racing Sport Concepts So whether you're dropping a hint to someone or simply buying a gift for your Corvette, be sure to check out this Holiday Vendor Showcase from CORVETTE TODAY.
View Video Transcript
0:00
[Music] Welcome to Corvette Today, the show that
0:06
talks about everything Corvette with your host Steve Garrett, lifetime member of the National Corvette Museum,
0:13
president of the Corvette Club of Kansas City, Missouri, and radio disc jockey at the number one radio station in Kansas
0:20
City for over 45 years. Here's Steve Garrett.
0:28
Thanks for listening and watching Corvette Today, the show that talks about everything Corvette and the only
0:33
current podcast dedicated to Corvette. I'm your host, Steve Garrett. I appreciate you tuning in. Corvette Today
0:39
is brought to you by Wheelcraft. Want to dress up your Corvette with bright chrome or black chrome wheels? Visit
0:44
wheelcraft.com and learn about their advanced PVD chrome finishing. They can refinish your wheels or offer a wheel
0:50
exchange for most models, and it comes with a 5-year warranty. Visit wheelcraft.com today or call them at
0:57
833-84-5334. You can listen to Corvette Today on all
1:02
podcast platforms. You can also listen on your smart device. Just say, "Hey Google," or "Alexa, play the podcast
1:09
called Corvette and you're connected." And be sure to visit the Corvette Today website. It's corvette.com.
1:15
You can access everything there, including the Corvette Today merchandise store. You can also join our Corvette
1:21
Today Facebook group there as well. Also, make sure you sign up for the Corvette Today emails, notifications,
1:26
and updates at corvette. CK.page. And if you like YouTube, be sure to
1:32
subscribe to our Corvette Today YouTube channel. See all Corvette Today episodes on YouTube as well. And be sure to
1:38
patronize our flagship sponsors of Corvette Today, mid-engine Corvette forum.com, the forum that focuses on the
1:45
new mid-engine C8 Corvette. Meet a lot of fellow Corvette enthusiasts like yourself at mid-engine Corvette
1:51
forum.com. Soul Performance Products developed and manufactured in the United States. The Soul Performance Products
1:57
exhaust portfolio has been tailored to elevate the experience of the world's most exciting sports cars, including the
2:04
latest generation of the Corvette. Soul Performance Products at sulp.com,
2:09
the official performance exhaust of Corvette today. Aerolari wheels, a true forged wheel with over 20 unique styles
2:16
to choose from for your C8 and widebody versions of the C7, C6, and C5 Corvette.
2:22
It's an amazing value starting at only 23.88 for a set of four fully forged
2:27
wheels. And use the promo code CT111 and get $100 off your purchase. Visit
2:33
aerolari.com. That's a r o l r i.com. and use the promo code CT111 for your
2:41
$100 discount. Sioka Corvettes. If you're a Corvette enthusiast, and I know you are since you're listening and
2:47
watching Corvette Today, then you need to know about Sioka Corvette. They're based in Atlantic City, where you can
2:52
find over 100 new and pre-owned vets on the lot and inbound. Seioca also ships Corvettes all over the country,
2:58
customordered to your specifications. They're staffed with experienced pros who can answer all your questions, so
3:04
don't compromise. Visit seiocorvette.com. That's ciocorvette.com
3:10
and find out more. Chevrolet together. Let's drive E5 Wheels. E5 Wheels is a
3:16
passionate and dedicated wheel company that serves only Corvette. They make spun forged wheels for your C8, C7, and
3:23
C6 Corvette. With the best fitment in the industry, E5 Wheels ensures your wheels complement the aesthetics and
3:29
functionality while optimizing the performance of your Corvette. Visit e5wheels.com or call them at 3059647429.
3:39
And a shout out to Canadian Corvette Forum and Corvette Forum welcoming Corvette enthusiasts from around the
3:45
world. Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, Corvette Today features our annual holiday vendor showcase
3:52
filled with some great gift ideas for every Corvette enthusiast. First up, Dante is here from E5 Wheels with some
3:59
terrific holiday ideas. Dante, welcome to Corvette today, buddy. Hey, Steve. Thank you so much for having
4:05
me on, man. I really appreciate it. You bet, buddy. Dante, tell me how you started E5 Wheels and what the mission
4:11
statement was for the company. So, E5 Wheels started. I've always been a huge fan of Corvette. I'm a Corvette
4:18
enthusiast myself. We have a few Corvettes. I have a C7. We also have a C8. So, I've always been into it. Also,
4:25
my dad was actually the founder of American Force wheels, which is a very prominent wheel brand in the wheel
4:30
industry. Yeah. And I've always had a passion for Corvettes. So, I really wanted to start a brand of wheels specifically for
4:36
Corvette. That's pretty much why we started it. That's really cool. Now, E5 Wheels has wheels for C6, C7, and C8 Corvettes.
4:44
Isn't that correct? Yes, exactly. So, we produce C8, C7, and C6 wheels, the spun forged wheels. So,
4:52
we have them for the C8 Stingray. We're working on them for the C8, Z06, E-Ray
4:57
and ZR1. We have them for C7 Stingray, the Grand Sport and Z06 and the ZR1. And
5:05
for the C6s, we have them for the base, for the Grand Sport, Z06, and for the
5:10
ZR1 as well. And we're actually about to release our fully forged drag racing wheels, which are going to fit all those
5:16
applications. They're going to be 18 by 12 in the rear, 18x6 in the front. We're
5:22
going to have double bead lock, single bead lock, non-bead lock. So that's something very exciting that we're about to release on our website as well.
5:28
That sounds awesome. So you have for Stingray and widebody then for all those generations. Yes. All the different applications.
5:34
That's cool. Now tell me more about spun forged wheels because that sounds really, really cool. They're tailor made
5:40
for Corvette. So it's actually funny because these wheels, they're a lot stronger and lighter compared to the factory wheels.
5:46
I get calls every single day about the C7 OEM wheels cracking, right? Because, you know, there's just a
5:52
problem with those wheels, the way they were manufactured and designed. I get calls every day. People are calling me like, "Okay, like I have these wheels,
5:58
the Grand Sport wheels or the Z06 and they cracked and they're leaking and stuff like that and I need something
6:03
ASAP, something as soon as possible. Like, what do you have?" And I'm like, "We have all our wheels for all the applications, but that one is pretty
6:09
popular." The spun forge process really helps because it's just a different manufacturing process and I have them in
6:15
stock ready to go. So if they have a leaking problem or cracking issue, I ship them out the same day as order. That's fantastic.
6:21
Yeah. So it fixes a lot of those problems and people don't have to worry about the cracking or leaking anymore.
6:27
What's good about these wheels is that they're very compatible with the Corvette. You know, they fit the factory OEM center cap fits them. If if you
6:33
don't want to use the E5 center caps, you can use the factory Corvette center caps. You can also use the factory lug nuts. So you don't have to buy
6:39
aftermarket. It's optional. They're hubcentric, so you don't have to worry about any spacers. You don't have to worry about any shaking. You can also
6:46
transfer your factory TPMS sensors to our wheels. You don't have to get aftermarket. For the C7 and the C8, you
6:53
can use your factory stock tires. You don't have to worry about getting a different size or anything like that, a
6:58
different brand. You can use the same exact tires. The only difference with these wheels is the offset is going to be a few millimeters different. So, the
7:05
wheels are going to sit flush with the fender. The factory wheels sit in. And sometimes you'll buy some aftermarket
7:10
wheels and they sit too aggressively outside. These are going to sit right under the fender. So, it's going to have a nice look, a nice bold stance to the
7:17
car. That's awesome. Now, each set of wheels comes with a 5year warranty, too, doesn't it? Yeah. So, all our wheels come with a
7:23
full lifetime structural warranty under normal use. So, any normal use, yes, lifetime structural warranty. But, you
7:29
know, let's say you're going like 60 m hour and you hit like a pothole or something like that, we can't cover that. But, any normal use, we do cover.
7:36
As for the finish, the finish is a 5year warranty. If it peels or it chips, we do
7:41
cover that as well. Nice. Now, tell me about the different finishes for your wheels. We have five different finishes
7:48
available. We have the gloss black, titanium, bronze brush tint, and dark
7:53
bronze. And finally, we just put them up on our website. They're finally available. The chrome is also available.
7:59
I know a lot of the Corvette guys have been asking me like, "Why don't you have chrome? Why don't you have chrome?" Like, that's what we want. In the
8:05
beginning, we didn't have them, but now we finally have it available, which I'm really excited about because most of my calls that people are asking for Chrome.
8:11
I finally have it available for all these guys. So, that's pretty exciting. That's awesome. Now, Dante, tell everybody where a Corvette enthusiast
8:18
can get in touch with you guys at e5wheels and where can they follow you on social media.
8:23
So, you guys can find us at E5 letter E number fivewheels.com
8:28
or you can find us on social media at e5wheels. You can give us a call at 3059647429.
8:36
I'll take care of all you guys. My name is Dante and I'll be here to help you out if you have any questions or anything like that for some wheels for
8:41
your Corvette. Fantastic, buddy. Thank you so much for taking the time to be on Corvette today, Dante, and happy holidays.
8:48
You got it. Thank you so much, Steve. Let's take our first break. When we come back, Solar Engineering is here to talk
8:53
about throttle bodies and throttle controllers. Next on Corvette Today. We all know that wheels make the car.
8:59
Wheelcraft's PVD chrome finish in bright chrome or black chrome will take your Corvette to new levels. And it comes
9:05
with a 5-year warranty. Durability is defining feature of the Wheelcraft finish. Their PVD chrome is superior to
9:11
traditional chrome with a finish that is brake dust resistant and cleans effortlessly with soap and water. Wheelcraft offers factory wheel exchange
9:18
for select C4 through C8 models or they can apply the PBD finish to your current wheels. No matter what generation you
9:24
own, Wheelcraft will transform the look of your Corvette. With every Corvette comes a unique story, and Wheelcraft has
9:31
embraced this idea. When you purchase your new set of wheels, you receive a lifetime membership to the Wheelcraft
9:36
Pit Crew, granting you access to your own page on Wheelcraft's website, where you can post pictures and tell your
9:41
Corvette story. Visit our website at wheelcraft.com or call 833639-4231.
9:48
Arrive in style with Wheelcraft. The National Corvette Resto Society is
9:53
celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. 50 years of affirming and promoting the preservation and
9:59
restoration of the Corvette. 50 years as the foremost Corvette collector car organization for building value with its
10:05
prestigious awards. Have you ever considered joining NCS? Over 70,000 people have. We're so much more than
10:12
just the nuts and bolts. The NCRS flight judging program can and often does increase the value of American sports
10:18
car by researching and publishing the leading tech manuals and judging guides for the 1953 through 2007 Corvettes by
10:26
training the best judges and by hosting local, regional, and national judging events. And when you join, you'll get
10:31
award-winning magazines like Corvette Restore and Driveline all throughout the year. Joining is simple and easy. Just
10:38
go to ncrs.org and sign up. There are NCRS chapters all throughout the US and all around the
10:44
world. Chances are there's a local chapter near you. So join NCS today at ncs.org.
10:51
We come for the Corvette. We stay for the friendships made along the way. When you want to buy a Corvette or any
10:57
Chevrolet for that matter, get yours from Hendrick Chevrolet Shauny Mission located in Kansas City. Hendrick
11:02
Chevrolet is the largest Corvette dealership and showroom in the Midwest. With a knowledgeable sales staff and
11:07
Corvette sales specialists on hand, they'll help you build the Corvette of your dreams. And they ship nationwide.
11:13
With Corvette certified master mechanics on site and a huge parts department with over $24,000 parts and $2 million in
11:20
inventory, Hendrickk Chevrolet is well equipped to take care of your every need. From sales to service to collision
11:25
repair, Hendrickk Chevrolet has you covered. Visit chevusa.com or call 913-384-1550.
11:33
For the best in CB Stingray Z06 and -ray aftermarket carbon fiber replacement
11:38
components and body kits, check out racingsports.com or call 1800815-3751.
11:45
Tell them Steve sent you to save 10% with coupon code corvette today.
11:51
You're listening and watching Corvette Today with Steve Garrett. Thanks for checking out Corvette Today
11:57
on podcast and YouTube. It's the only current podcast dedicated to Corvette. Corvette today is brought to you by
12:03
Wheelcraft. You want your Corvette looking its best? We'll dress it up with bright chrome or black chrome wheels.
12:09
Visit wheelcraft.com and learn about their advanced PVD chrome finishing. They can refinish your wheels or do a
12:15
wheel exchange and you get a 5-year warranty. Visit wheelcraft.com today or give them a call 833-639-4231.
12:24
I'm your host Steve Garrett. Joe Lanza is here with me from Solar Performance with some great holiday ideas. Joe,
12:30
welcome to Corvette today, buddy. Hi, Stephen. Thanks for having me today. A special thanks for all you do for the
12:36
Corvette community and ensuring we all know the key happenings every week. Buddy, it's a labor of love. I
12:42
thoroughly enjoy the job that I've created and do every week. So, it's great to have you on, Joe. Solar
12:48
Performance focuses on throttle control systems for Corvette, Camaro, and Cadillac. Talk to me more about the
12:54
solar throttle bodies and the throttle controllers. Sure, Steve. So, first off, for those
12:59
that may not know Solar Performance, we specialize in high performance throttle controllers and throttle bodies. Both
13:06
products produce incredible acceleration gains and driving experiences. Our throttle controller, think of as an
13:12
electronic change, while the throttle body is actually a physical change. Let me first talk a few minutes about the
13:18
throttle controller. In a nutshell, it does not alter the tune of the car. It does not change fuel trims, nor does it
13:25
void your warranty. What it does do is fully eliminate that lag in the pedal
13:30
and provides instantaneous intoxicating acceleration, Steve, and drivability that is literally a night and day change
13:38
over stock. Those that have installed it say it feels like they picked up 100 horsepower or lost 700 lb off their
13:44
weight of their car. Now, those sound like really bold statements for sure, but you can check those out on the many
13:51
YouTube videos or testimonials that we post right on our site, www.solarengineering.com.
13:58
And the installation on both of these products is very easy and very straightforward, isn't it? It is, Steve. In terms of the throttle
14:06
controller, we have some great install videos, and you can literally install it yourself in about 10 minutes. And then
14:13
from there, you just simply program it to your Bluetooth phone and you're off and running. You can also, if you don't
14:19
choose to use your Bluetooth phone, there's a small LCD screen that you can put near the start button or you can
14:26
actually put it in your console if you want it out of sight. So, you actually have three different ways to go. You can
14:32
use your phone only Bluetooth, you can use only the LCD display, or you can use
14:37
both at the same time. Fantastic. Now, talk to me about the advantages of the throttle bodies along
14:43
with the horsepower gains. And let's talk about the advantage of the throttle controller because I've also heard
14:48
there's a lock feature on the controller that will help protect our Corvettes, isn't there? There is, Steve. And let me finish off
14:55
with that. Actually, it's a good point in terms of the throttle controller before we jump into the throttle body.
15:01
Lots of Corvettes, as you know, and others listening. There's been a lot of thefts of C8 and Z06s of late and so we
15:09
came up with a way to actually lock the gas pedal from the throttle body. So if
15:15
somebody were able to actually get in your car and somehow start the car, they would simply hit the gas and quickly
15:21
find out that they're going nowhere. And that's because on our Bluetooth, we've
15:26
actually implemented a lock feature that when enacted does exactly what I just described. By simply hitting the button
15:33
and unlocking it, you're back to actually driving your vehicle. Wow, that's amazing. Also, Joe, I heard
15:39
that you now have partnered with NCM Insurance where the policy holders are now eligible for a discount on their
15:45
insurance because of having the solar engineering throttle bodies and the throttle controllers. So yes, Steve,
15:51
proud to announce that working with Adam Bokeh, there now is a credit that all
15:56
existing NCM insured policy holders can get and all new policy holders can get.
16:02
And it's actually a passive endorsement that we are now being recognized for.
16:07
And presumably if you're in a state that allows that type of discount, and most do according to Adam, some for whatever
16:14
reason do not, you would be eligible to receive a annual discount. And we're
16:19
also working with Adam on providing a discount code that can be presented at the time of purchase on our product so
16:26
you can save money actually two different ways. That's fantastic. Now, both the throttle
16:31
body and the throttle controller will work with other mods. Isn't that correct, Joe? That's correct. Let me give your
16:37
listeners a little bit of insight on throttle bodies and why they should consider ours not only over stock, but
16:44
over any other competitors. First off, Steve, most people do not even realize that often the same stock throttle body
16:51
by manufacturers is actually used in different models. So, they are not always maximized to each car. For
16:58
example, the same throttle body can be in a Corvette and also work in a
17:03
Silverado truck. So, right there, you get the sense that they're interchangeable, but not necessarily
17:09
maximized. Right? Why do companies do this? They do it for economies of scale. It's easier to buy five million of one
17:16
throttle body and use it across your product line than it is to buy 20 different throttle bodies for each and
17:22
every model. Right. Right. What makes us unique is our throttle bodies have a totally redesigned
17:29
geometry which will improve what we call the airflow characteristics curve. Simply said, this will allow more air in
17:36
at every single throttle position starting right after idle all the way to
17:41
wide openen throttle. We also have a redesigned blade to allow more air flow
17:47
as well. Others just generally port their throttle body, polish it, and just
17:52
put it out there in the market. One real example, Steve, that I'll share with you is that we have Corvette throttle bodies
17:59
that allow up to 50% more air in at just 30% open throttle.
18:05
Wow. Yeah. That's a significant improvement over stock. and the owner will instantly
18:10
notice a meaningful gain on low-end and mid-end range torque. The car really,
18:16
really wants to pull. Now, I think you touched on having potentially both, right?
18:21
Yes. While you can do a throttle controller separately than a throttle body, they do work better together since
18:28
the controller will still have to follow the OEM throttle body air characteristics curve that I mentioned a
18:35
moment ago where when you pair them, you actually get the best of both worlds since each product tackles one aspect of
18:42
the problem. And we always recommend using them together for a complete solution. buddy. I've got the solar
18:48
throttle controller and I absolutely love it. I put it on my car just a few weeks ago and it makes a night and day
18:55
difference. It is absolutely incredible how much response you get from that accelerator pedal now that I've got that
19:01
solar controller on it. Steve, we're so confident that your listeners are going to like either or both of our products
19:08
that we always offer a 30-day no questions asked buy and try full 100%
19:15
money back guarantee. Fantastic. Joe, where can you purchase solar throttle bodies and controllers?
19:22
And I think you've got a promo code for Corvette Today followers, don't you? We absolutely do. So, the website again
19:28
is www.solar. s o l e r e n g i n er i n g.com. So
19:37
it's www.solarengineering.com. And at checkout, whether you're buying
19:42
one, the other, or both, we are allowing a Steve code to be put into the discount
19:49
section and automatically you will be deducted off your total purchase price 5%.
19:55
I love it. That's great. I've never had my own promo code, so thanks for that, Joe. I appreciate it. Hey, if someone
20:01
wants to get in touch with you guys to learn more about solar engineering and solar performance products, whether it
20:07
be the throttle body or the throttle controller, how can they get in touch with you? And where's your social media
20:12
as well? Sure. So, they can actually email me directly and I'm happy to answer any
20:17
questions or assist them with anything we've talked about in terms of your make, model, whether their thoughts are
20:23
getting a throttle body or throttle controller andor give them more information on the new packs we have
20:28
with NCM Insurance. So my email is just simply joe solar s o l e
20:35
rengineering.com that is also obviously our website and on our website we have not only all the
20:42
products we have helpful video gallery with installs live installs that people have done as well as just a ton of
20:49
unsolicited feedback from people like yourself Steve who either put in the controller and had a night and day
20:54
difference experience andor the throttle body as well. I watched the videos, Joe, and put it on myself. It took just a
21:00
couple minutes. It makes a world of difference. Buddy, thank you so much for taking time to be on Corvette Today. And
21:06
happy holidays. Happy holidays to you and thanks again, everybody. Let's take our final break. And coming up next, Bill from Racing Sport Concepts
21:14
is up next here on Corvette Today. Are you ready for a better insurance
21:20
policy without the Corvette tax? With agreed value protection, the value of your collector vehicle will never
21:25
change. Plus, you'll save money. Get a quick quote at ncm insurance.com.
21:32
Hey Corvette lovers, this is Brian Sar from IntelliSense Family Office. You formerly known us as True Wealth and
21:38
Company. First off, a huge congratulations to Steve Garrett on celebrating five amazing years of
21:44
Corvette. Today, we've been proud sponsors every mile of the way. You know the thrill and drive and the pride of
21:50
ownership. But here's the big question. Do you have the same confidence in managing your wealth? At IntelliSense
21:55
Family Office, we specialize in helping high- netw worth individuals like you protect, grow, and enjoy their wealth.
22:01
Whether you're a successful entrepreneur, a professional athlete, or someone who's worked hard to achieve your financial goals, we've got you
22:08
covered with personalized expert advice, we understand the unique challenges you face and the dreams you have for the
22:14
future. From advanced tax planning to succession planning, we provide comprehensive services tailored to your
22:20
needs. Our goal to give you peace of mind so you can focus on what you love. Ready to take your financial management
22:25
to the next level? Visit intellisense.com or reach out to us today at 9136538783.
22:33
Let's drive your financial success together. I'm Brian Sarf and I look forward to helping you live the dream.
22:38
Save the wave and see you on the road. Investment advisory services offered through IntelliSense Investment
22:43
Solutions Incorporated, an SEC registered investment adviser. Rev up your ride with the ultimate upgrade. The
22:50
Radiator Grill Store is your go-to destination for top-notch C8 Corvette
22:55
Stingray, Z06, and -ay accessories. Elevate your style with custom painted
23:01
engine bay covers, sleek front splitters, and side skirts that scream sophistication. Keep your C8 protected
23:08
with premium radiator grill screens. Stand out from the crowd at car shows and beyond. Use code CT10 for an
23:15
exclusive 10% discount off your total purchase at radiator grillilstore.com.
23:20
Don't miss out on turning heads. Upgrade your Corvette today. [Music]
23:27
And now back to Corvette Today with your host and my husband Steve Garrett.
23:33
Thanks once again for listening and watching Corvette Today, the show that talks about everything Corvette.
23:38
Corvette Today is brought to you by Wheelcraft. I know you want your Corvette looking its best, so dress it
23:44
up with bright chrome or black chrome wheels. Visit wheelcraft.com and learn about their advanced PVD chrome
23:49
finishing. They can refinish your wheels or do a wheel exchange and you get a 5-year warranty, too. So, visit
23:56
wheelcraft.com today or just give them a call 833-639-4231.
24:02
I'm your host, Steve Garrett. Bill Waldock from Racing Sport Concepts is here with me to talk more about RFC.
24:09
Bill, welcome to Corvette Today. Hi, Steve. First off, thank you for inviting me on the Corvette Today
24:14
podcast and allowing us to be a sponsor of the show. It's great to be a part of the Corvette Today community. What would
24:21
you like to get into? Bill, let's talk more about RSC because you've got a company that is really
24:26
after my own heart. You guys make carbon fiber pieces and accessories for Corvette, don't you?
24:32
Yes, sir. So, RSC is short for racing sport concepts. A lot of people
24:37
sometimes assume that it's just RSC or it's racing sports. It's racing sport
24:43
and then concepts is plural. We specialize in carbon fiber body kits and
24:48
carbon fiber replacement components for the Corvette C8 - and the Z06 as well as
24:55
other performance vehicles. For example, the BMW M3 we've been working on for
25:00
almost 10 years now. We do some Porsche GT3, GT3 RS parts. We do a few different
25:06
models of Lamborghini parts. Everything we do is very focused on carbon fiber
25:11
and engineering body parts or trim pieces for high-end vehicles. I love it. Tell me more about your R&D
25:18
process, Bill, because I know you guys use pre praer carbon fiber, and I'm sure people that are listening and watching
25:24
the show are saying, "What is prep carbon fiber?" Sure. So, there's three main
25:30
manufacturing processes for producing carbon fiber. The first process I would
25:35
say is kind of described as wet laid. This is a process where you're taking dry carbon fiber fabric and you're
25:42
placing it into an open mold and then you're applying resin with typically a
25:48
paintbrush or a roller. This is the most basic form of manufacturing carbon fiber. The benefit to it is that it's
25:55
less expensive from a tooling and from an equipment standpoint. Mhm. The challenge is it tends to be heavy
26:03
because you're using more resin. You have very little control over how much resin is being applied compared to a
26:10
vacuum infusion, which is a different type of process that we'll discuss next. When you do a vacuum infusion, you can
26:16
kind of control how much resin there is. And then you're sucking that resin into
26:21
a vacuum bagged mold with a part in it. and that resin is being sucked in and
26:27
it's being infused into the fabric. The challenge with this is you're relying on that vacuum to distribute that resin
26:35
through the carbon fiber fabric. And with both the wet laid and with a vacuum infusion process, you start with this
26:42
dry fabric that's a lot more prone to tearing or pulling apart where you'll
26:48
see those slight imperfections in the weave. M another thing you'll see is hazing under high sunlight. It won't
26:55
have that super flat pressed against the mold look that you get with a pre praer
27:00
product. Prep praer is short for pre-impregnated. What that means is that
27:05
the resin is pre-impregnated into the carbon fiber fabric when the fabric's
27:10
being manufactured. So when you buy that fabric, you get a roll of it. It has kind of like a film on both sides of it.
27:18
It needs to be refrigerated. It's very very sensitive to humidity and it needs to be in a temperature controlled
27:24
environment. So typically the first challenge with a pre prag is you have to lay it up in a clean room that's a
27:30
temperature controlled climate controlled room. It's got to be around you know 65 70°. So that adds cost. The
27:37
material needs to be refrigerated. That adds cost. But some of the benefits are because that resin is pre-impregnated
27:44
not to reuse the word into the fabric. very evenly distributed end to end. It
27:50
also has a tack to it. Now, when you use a dry carbon fiber product like a wet
27:56
lathe or a vacuum infusion, you can buy certain spray adhesives like a high-tech
28:01
spray adhesive from 3M, which will kind of hold the material into the mold, but
28:07
it still distorts a lot more than what you will see with a preer product. Having that resin infused kind of
28:14
stiffens it up and it kind of holds it all together. Sometimes you have to use a heat gun to kind of loosen it up so
28:20
that you can apply it into the mold and get it into all those little cracks and crevices. But ultimately a preer product
28:27
is the lightest and the strongest of those three methods. And for someone like yourself who's really buying the
28:33
product as an aesthetic enhancement to their vehicle, the pre praer will always look the best
28:39
in the sun or in high sunlight. It'll have a very straight and flat weave.
28:45
Within pre praer, there's actually two different processes. There's an out of autoclave prep praer and then there's an
28:52
autoclave cured preer. We use autoclave cured because the autoclave adds an
28:58
external pressure chamber to the mix. So you have an external pressure pushing on
29:04
the vacuum bag of let's say roughly eight bar which is like 120 PSI or something like that.
29:09
Mhm. And so you know if you're trying to pull a vacuum like you're just doing a vacuum infusion you might be able to get one
29:15
maybe two atmospheres of vacuum. With the autoclave you got this huge pressure chamber. So, you've got the vacuum
29:22
hooked up to the vacuum bag and you've got all that external pressure of the autoclave pushing that material as hard
29:29
as it can, as evenly as it can into the mold. And that creates a very flat,
29:36
crisp weave, which is what most of our customers are looking for. They want it
29:41
to look consistent under high sun. And that's the process that Corvette uses.
29:46
They work with a company called Dotech down in North Carolina that does, you know, all their parts. And all the major
29:53
OEMs, whether it's Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, BMW, all of those OEM
29:58
manufactured parts are prerag autoclave cured product. Very cool. Now, Bill, talk more about
30:04
the differences between carbon fiber replacement parts and custom body kits. Sure. So, we have two basic types of
30:12
parts like you just described. A custom body kit is something that we designed.
30:18
It's a unique package that goes on the Corvette C8. It's not a copy of, let's
30:25
say, the 5VM kit. So, I think on your car, you've got a 5VM kit, right?
30:30
That's similar to the factory 5VM kit that was offered from GM. We know a lot
30:36
of people want to do things that are different. They want to customize their car. Sometimes they want to fix something that they don't like about how
30:43
the car looks. And I want to be very clear, I have nothing but respect, admiration for the entire Corvette team.
30:51
We don't view what we do as improving on the Corvette. We think the Corvette is basically perfect already, but there are
30:58
small groups of people who want to do things differently. And there are parts of General Motors that don't always
31:04
support the Corvette team in everything that they want to do. And so we kind of view our custom body kits as an
31:11
opportunity to produce a product for a small niche group of people that you
31:16
know might not be approved by a multinational corporation for a variety of reasons that we probably won't get
31:22
into. Yeah. A replacement part is a part that is similar to a factory part. So a good
31:28
example of that would be our carbon fiber side vents for the C8 Stingray. So, we produce those black, you know,
31:36
sometimes they're called boomerangs, right? It's the door handle and the trim piece below it. We had a bunch of
31:41
customers reaching out to us because the only options that they could get were overlays where they would basically
31:48
stick a layer of carbon fiber on top of the painted piece and it would be held on with tape. And the challenge with
31:55
that is there are seams. Things aren't consistently gapped between the factory
32:00
piece and where it's being held on with tape. And a lot of people don't want to add a carbon fiber piece on top of a
32:07
factory piece because it kind of goes against the idea of carbon fiber being lightweight and high quality.
32:12
Exactly. Right. Yes. So, our piece is a full replacement. So, we worked for months to redesign all the
32:19
little tabs and all the little mechanical attachment points so that you
32:24
can actually take those factory parts off the car completely and then you'll replace them with the RSC side vents.
32:31
They go into all the same places. You use the exact same mounting fasteners you use to take off the factory ones.
32:38
And that just gives you a very clean installation. You don't have to worry about it flying off because it's held on
32:44
mechanically. It's not just taped on. And then you don't have like the little seams and kind of the distortions in the
32:51
surface that you get with an overlay. Yeah, that's awesome. Now, I know a lot of people get confused sometimes, Bill,
32:57
when they're ordering online because there's a difference in the parts between the Stingray and Z06 and -ay,
33:02
which are widebody. Isn't that correct? Correct. So, the -ray and the Z06 share
33:09
the same front bumper. The Z07 does have a slightly different bumper to hold the
33:16
canards that you get with the Z07 package, but the base Z06 and -ray
33:22
bumper is the same. So, you know, front splitters for those two cars are kind of interchangeable. The C8 front bumper is
33:30
totally different than the widebody. The rockers are totally different than the
33:35
widebody. I will say the diffuser mounting area is technically the same
33:42
between the Z06, the -ray, and the C8, but obviously the Z06 has the
33:49
centermounted exhaust. So, you can use a Z06 diffuser on a regular C8 as long as
33:56
you have some sort of center exhaust conversion, but the spoiler and the wing
34:02
area is different between the widebody cars and the narrow body cars. So, the
34:07
C8, Z06, and -ay have the same rear bumper with the same rear spoiler. The
34:13
Z07 car has a similar bumper, but it doesn't have the mounting locations for
34:19
the Z06 E-Ray spoiler. Instead, it has two cutout slots, which are for the
34:25
metal brackets that go through the bumper to hold the Z07 or the ZR1 weighing on.
34:31
Gotcha. And the side vents are different, too. Yes. And everything is warrantied from RFC, isn't it?
34:36
Correct. So, all our parts have a 2-year warranty. We do handle things on a case-bycase basis. We're here to provide
34:43
a great purchase experience for our customers. We feel that no matter what the scenario is, we want to do their
34:50
thing. We may not always agree on what fair is. Some people have different perspectives on that. You can always
34:56
give us a call and we'll try to find a way to either repair something, replace it, even if it's outside of that 2-year
35:03
warranty period. We really just have that on there because sometimes a car gets parked outside at a dealership for
35:09
two years and that's kind of an extreme scenario compared to average usage. Well, and that leads me right into my
35:14
next question. Give them your website, the phone number, and where they can follow you guys on social media.
35:20
One of the big things that we hear about from customers is that they really appreciate our response speed and the
35:26
fact that they can get someone on the phone during normal business hours from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday
35:32
Eastern Standard Time. We do have live Corvette specialists. It might be me, it might be TJ, it might be James, who have
35:38
a lot of experience with our parts and with these cars, and we can answer any questions for you, help you with
35:44
installs. We can be reached at 1 8008153751
35:50
or 614-516850. The best email for us is sales@
35:58
racingportconcepts.com. And then we also can be reached via our
36:03
website through contact forms or the live chat. We do try to respond to everything within one business day. We
36:10
try to respond to messages over the weekend as best we can. What I can tell you is that we don't hide and we're easy
36:16
to get a hold of and we like to speak to other Corvette owners who are passionate
36:21
about their vehicles and happy to take the time to explain things or clarify things or whatever we can do to assist
36:27
you. That's awesome. Bill, thank you so much for taking the time to be on Corvette Today and happy holidays, my friend.
36:33
Thank you. Happy holidays to you, Steve, and the rest of the Corvette Today podcast audience. Thanks again for listening and watching
36:39
Corvette Today. And be sure to tell your family, friends, and other Corvette enthusiasts about the Corvette Today
36:44
Show. And thanks to our sponsors, Wheelcraft. Want to dress up your Corvette with bright chrome or black
36:50
chrome wheels? Visit wheelcraft.com to learn about their advanced PVD chrome finishing. They can refinish your wheels
36:55
or offer a wheel exchange for most models and it comes with a 5-year warranty. Visit wheelcraft.com today or
37:02
call 833639-4231. Soul performance products at sulp.com.
37:09
The official performance exhaust of Corvette today. Seioa Corvette at cioccvette.com.
37:16
E5 wheels at e5wheels.com. IntelliSense at intellisense.com.
37:22
Also, Aerolari wheels. Get $100 off your purchase with the new promo code CT111
37:28
at aerolari.com. Racing sport concepts at racingsports.com.
37:33
And Hendrick Chevrolet in Kansas City at chevusa.com. Thanks for checking out Corvette Today
37:39
on podcast and YouTube. If you'd like to contact Steve with ideas for Corvette today, you can email him at stevegared
37:47
djgmail.com. Garrett has two Rs and two T's. That's Steve Garrett DJ@gmail.com.
37:55
Also, sign up for email notifications at corvette. CK.page.
38:01
Follow Steve and the show on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and threads at Steve Garrett
38:08
DJ. Thanks again for listening and watching Corvette Today. [Music]
#Automotive Industry
#Custom & Performance Vehicles
#Gifts