Inside Out

DSE’s test mule elevates C3 Corvette handling to world-class levels thanks to a ground-up suspension overhaul.

- Stephen Kim

Sometimes the things that don’t stand out are far more revealing than the things that do. You might think that the 590hp LS3, epic 335mm-wide rear meats and deliciously retro livery on Kyle Tucker’s 1972 Corvette tell plenty about the car’s go-fast intentions, but they don’t. Any poser can copy and follow this exact same formula and pretend like they’re the real deal. If you really want to know what this car’s all about, check out those -AN fittings. As ridiculous as that sounds, the logic behind it is so backward that it might actually make sense.

Monkeying around with worm clamps, NPT fittings, and thread sealant simply isn’t an option during the heat of battle, so everything from the fuel rails and the radiator hoses to the coolant overflow tank and the brake and oil lines on this C3 prioritize easy serviceability and leak-free seals. What’s even more revealing than the fittings themselves are the components they’re connected to, like the dry-sump oil system and tandem master cylinders. It takes a real racer to know that many a wet-sump engine has puked oil out the breathers on the auto cross, and a quaint proportioning valve doesn’t always offer the flexibility in front-to-rear bias that late braking maneuvers demand.