FRC to the Max
"FRC Tom" Feuerherm’s modified Z06 is his version of fixed roof coupe perfection

Text and images by Jerry Heasley


"FRC Tom" was really turned on by the new C5s, especially a certain body style you might guess by his nickname. He explained, "In 1998 when the convertibles first came out, I hoped they would make that style but where the roof didn’t come off. And low and behold, in 1999, they came out with the fixed roof coupe and I bought a black one."
    You can imagine his glee when the Z06 hit, which is only available in the FRC body style. "I put my deposit down the day the allocation came out in may and took delivery in august."
    Tom Feuerherm loves fixed roof coupes, which every Z06 is. He’s even a moderator on www.z06vette.com, where he’s earned the nickname "FRC Tom."
    Like most other hardcore C5 owners, Tom wasn’t about to leave his Z06 stock. "I was trying for 450 horsepower without going into the engine."
    You’ll also notice a red stripe over the top of the body, a unique interior, plus Delco/Mongoose markings on the front fenders. Officially, Tom explained, his 2001 is a Delco Mongoose 450 SZ, the latter numbers standing for the horsepower, which were achieved with engineering expertise from Jake at Corvette Concepts in Sarasota, Florida.
    The "S" in SZ stands for either "Street" or "Super," Tom says. "Street" certainly applies because the Z06 is under factory warranty, meaning the heads haven’t been pulled and the cam is still stock.
    The Z06 is fed air by a Corvette Concepts’ Ram Air system featuring their own Slick Sleeve, which goes inside the accordion hose to smooth out the air flow, and a ported throttle body.
    With superior air flow on the intake side, Tom needed to improve the exhaust to harvest the horsepower. He went with TTS long-tube headers, which required removing the pup cats. The absence of these small catalytic converters does not void the emissions or the warranty in Florida. Tom also added Corsa Indy exhaust mufflers.
    Topside are MSD wires, a 178º thermostat, and an NTI underdrive pulley which conserves six horsepower. Z/Industries re-flashed the computer for optimum use of the modifications.
    Chassis dyno measurements recorded 384 horsepower to the rear wheels, which calculates to approximately 452 at the crank based on the 15 percent loss through the drivetrain.
    One more interesting modification is a part Tom manufactures on his own, the screens on the front fender scoops. Los Angeles Performance Division, better known as LAPD, is the sole distributor for Tom’s part, which is not functional and for looks only.
    Tom got the idea for the red stripe from TV. "I was watching Speedvision, and they were doing a segment about a team in Germany called Red Motorsports. They buy something like 20 silver C5s from GM every year and set them up for racing.."
    Another FRC Tom exclusive is the pair of red/white/blue Z06 badges. "The zero and six is in white and blue, instead of silver like on other cars. That was an idea I came up with as soon as I got the car. I made a mess trying to paint it, so we made actual vinyl stickers. I felt red/white/blue was appropriate for the Z06, being the all-American sports car."
    The interior looks stock, but it’s not. "I added GM red carpeting, and I had the windshield sills, the center console door, and the shifter and emergency brake boots done in Torch Red. Corvette Concepts painted the Corvette logo on the passenger side of the dash. I have a B&M Ripper shifter with a hard-ball shift knob."
    Last Labor Day at the National Corvette Museum, Tom had a meeting with Corvette chief engineer Dave Hill about a possible gathering of Z06s. "We met with Wendell Strode and Larry Hayes, along with a friend of mine, Zippy, about having a Z06 event at the museum. I must have said the right things. Dave liked what I had to say, and turned to Larry and said, ‘Make it happen.’ I’m very proud of that." CM.com