He thought that the cars and truck would benefit significantly from a general reduction in weight, and subsequent upgrade to its power plant. Duntov took the comments to heart, and also considerable revisions to the SR-2 begun in the wintertime of 1956/1957.
The SR-2’s supply interior was scrapped, opting rather for using fiberglass door panels, and container seats, obtained from a Porsche, were installed. Racing The SR-2 also got a revised power plant. The previously utilized 265 cubic-inch V8 was removed, as well as a much more robust 331 cubic-inch small-block took its place. This engine was also fitted with a speculative twin meter gas shot system, and coupled with an all-new four-speed transmission.
Among one of the most notable changes to the SR-2 came in the type of a new, high-mount fin that sat straight in line with the back of the driver’s compartment. This larger account fin inevitably changed the center place stabilizer fin that had been located on the automobile’s rear deck, as well as featured an integrated headrest, in addition to the Corvette logo.
The newly fine-tuned SR-2 would certainly make its return for the 1957 racing season, though it would just take place to experience moderate success. The car’s potential was eventually lowered short, as GM business realigned their way of thinking towards auto racing, to far better reflect conformity with the newly carried out AMA competing ban of the era. This restriction, for all intents as well as purposes, dealt a fatality blow to the SR program, as just 2 more SR-2 cars were ever constructed.
Before all SR-2 production was halted, a second such cars and truck was constructed for Costs Mitchel, who worked as the supervisor of layout under Harley Earl. This SR-2 very closely mirrored the recently redesigned Jerome Earl cars and truck in lots of ways. Extensive decrease of unnecessary heft brought the SR-2’s complete weight to an outstanding 2,300 extra pounds. The car also included the very same, currently notorious, high-profile fin.
Any kind of distinctions that did exist in between these two cars and trucks might straight be credited to well known race vehicle driver and designer, Smokey Yunick’s involvement in the 2nd SR-2’s development. Throughout his participation, Racing Yunick changed the cars and truck’s brake ducting and established front fender air vents to enhance cooling ability to the engine.
However, Yunick’s most significant contribution to the SR-2 program was available in the type of his deal with the car’s nuclear power plant. The SR-2’s original 283 was tired and brushed to 336 cubic-inches. The engine was after that outfitted with a Rochester gas shot system as well as mated to the all-new four-speed transmission.