VIDEO: C5 Corvette Getting a Total C7 Drivetrain, Interior Swap

Amazingly, quite a few parts from the newer C7 bolt right up to this C5 Corvette – though it’s still an ambitious project, to say the least.

In the wide world of restomods, we’ve seen more than our fair share of C1, C2, and C3 Corvettes modernized with mechanical components and other bits and pieces taken from newer models. However, when it comes to the C4 and up, that isn’t necessarily the case – these are pretty modern cars already, though many could certainly benefit from a power boost, at the very least. One thing that we haven’t seen before – at least until now – is a C5 Corvette fitted with more modern bits and pieces, but that’s precisely what YouTuber Gun’R Cowan is working on right now.

The story behind this project began when our host purchased his C5 Corvette back in 2020, at which point it had an LS1 with a cam. When that dropped a valve, he replaced it with a 408 stroker, but that wound up catching on fire and burning down the wiring harnesses, so he swapped a Holley Terminator X on it. Our host wasn’t terribly crazy about that setup, however, which prompted him to wonder – what if he just bought a salvaged C7 and swapped everything over?

After finding a suitable candidate on Copart, our host set out to make this ambitious project a reality, one that will obviously begin with stripping both cars down. He then mounts the C5 Corvette cradle to the C7 transmission and differential, though he will also have to do a little bit of fabrication to account for the larger components. Surprisingly, however, many of the bits and pieces from the newer Corvette fit perfectly, which will help make the job a bit easier.

As one might imagine, our host still has to build custom motor mounts and work on some clearance issues. Those include the fact that the radiator fans are hitting the steering rack, and one tie rod end isn’t providing enough clearance for the sway bar. Regardless, with most of the mechanicals in place at least, our host can begin swapping the interior over to the older car, which is a heck of a project in its own regard, even if certain pieces – like the dash, surprisingly – actually fit quite nicely. Both dashes even have the same bolt patterns, which is pretty surprising for two cars that are two generations apart.

Eventually, everything turns on and is working nicely – at least, inside the cabin – where this conversion is going much quicker than expected. However, there’s still a ton of work to be done, and our host doesn’t anticipate having this project 100 percent finished until January, given the fact that he’s going to be painting the car as well. No matter how long it takes, this ambitious project is certainly worth following, and we can’t wait to see how the finished product turns out.

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