The 1,000+ HP Corvette Club: Your C8 Tuner Guide To Right Pedal Righteousness

The eighth-generation ZR1 and ZR1X Corvettes opened the floodgates and challenged tuners to horsepower numbers nearly beyond comprehension. When GM dropped the hammer with the 1,064 hp ZR1 and the jaw-unclenching 1,250 hp ZR1X, the message was clear: the factory was done playing nice. The C8’s horsepower trajectory didn’t just raise eyebrows—it lit a fire under the aftermarket. Suddenly, the 1,000+ HP Corvette Club wasn’t a distant fantasy reserved for race builds and dyno queens. It became a battleground. And for enthusiasts staring at dealer markups on the ZR1—or bracing for a 2026 ZR1X that could sail past $200,000 after the inevitable “dealer greed”—the tuner path started looking less like rebellion and more like righteousness.

The Psychology Of A Happy Right Foot

Horsepower hunger isn’t new. It’s wired into car culture. Think back to your early driving days—remember the first time something quicker blasted past you? The instinctive question wasn’t polite curiosity. It was primal: What’s under the hood? Corvette owners are no different. That LT2’s 495 horsepower felt electric on day one. The shove in the back, the intake growl, the immediacy of a mid-engine launch—it was intoxicating. But give it time. Your internal “butt dyno” recalibrates. What once felt outrageous becomes familiar. And once familiar, it becomes… not enough. That’s when the late-night browsing begins. Bolt-ons. Boost. Bigger numbers. The quest to keep that right pedal delivering a fresh rush.

ZR1 Shockwaves And The Tuner Arms Race

GM didn’t just introduce high-output halo cars; it detonated a horsepower arms race. With 1,064 horsepower in the ZR1 and 1,250 horsepower in the ZR1X, the bar moved from “impressive” to “almost absurd.” Tuners heard that challenge loud and clear. If the factory can build four-digit monsters with warranties, what can the aftermarket do with fewer constraints and a motivated client? The result is a rapidly escalating war of dyno sheets and dragstrip slips. These days, the ceiling isn’t defined by engineering limits so much as financial ones. The right builder, the right combination, and a willing checkbook can put you deep into the comma club. The real question becomes less about if you can reach 1,000+ horsepower—and more about how far you want to go.

Bang For The Buck… Or Buck For The Bang?

Here’s where the math gets interesting. Stack a serious tuner package onto a base C8 MSRP and, on paper, you might be staring at supercar-slaying performance for a fraction of exotic pricing. That’s the seductive angle: custom-built thunder tailored to your tastes, potentially undercutting a heavily marked-up ZR1 or a sky-high ZR1X. But don’t kid yourself—some of these packages will make your jaw drop, especially from the top-dog builder chasing the biggest headline number.

The pursuit of four digits isn’t always a bargain basement affair. So is it serious bang for the buck, or are you simply redirecting the same budget into a different lane? That tension is part of the thrill. Because for the enthusiast who believes factory horsepower is merely a starting point, the answer is simple: there’s no such thing as too much power—only the next level of right pedal righteousness waiting to be unlocked.

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The 1,000+ HP C8 Corvette Club

[Ranked from lowest to highest; Not an exhaustive list]

5 — 1,000+ HP

7.0L Twin-Turbo 427 C8 LT2 STROKER Engine Package

♦ Tuner/Builder: Lingenfelter

♦ Application: Just bring your C8 Stingray, and they will do the rest

♦ Notable Feature: You get to deal with one of the top names in the business

♦ Base Package Cost: $55,990 (Starting price of $32,495 for the stroked LT2, which includes installation/tuning and $23,495 for the Stage 1 Twin Turbo Air to Water Intercooled Kit by Huron Speed, which also includes installation.)

♦ Package Highlights:

Extensive CAD modeling was used to find the clearances needed for the custom rotating bits required for the stroker.
The resulting stroker 427 LT2 engine spit out 704 horsepower on the dyno and right around 600 lb-ft torque, before the twin turbos were added.
Lingenfelter by Callies 4-inch-stroke, eight-counterweight crankshaft
Lingenfelter by Mahle boost-rated pistons
Lingenfelter by Callies H-beam connecting rods
Lingenfelter GT35 camshaft
Lingenfelter big-bore direct injection fuel pump
Lingenfelter by Nostrum Stage 2 direct injection fuel injectors
Lingenfelter ported LT2 cylinder heads
Lingenfelter dual valvespring upgrade kit
Lingenfelter x Huron Speed twin-turbo kit featuring a center exit exhaust
Garrett G35-900 T4-housing turbos
Turbosmart GenV Hypergate-45s wastegates
Turbosmart GenV BOV Race-Port plumb-backs
Huron Speed by Bell Air-2-Water intercooler system

♦ Company Link

True works of art from Lingenfelter

4 — 1,000+ HP

BD1000 C8 Stingray Twin Turbo Package

♦ Tuner/Builder: Boost District

♦ Application: Any C8 Stingray will suffice

♦ Notable Feature: Boost District has come on the C8 scene with a vegeance!

♦ Base Package Cost: $68,500 (starting price that includes installation)

♦ Package Overview:

Precision 6466 twin turbos, robust fueling, and supporting mods let you push the envelope to quadruple-digit power.
Includes everything from hotside/cold-side piping to an air-to-water intercooler—neatly fitting into OEM locations to keep your Corvette’s sleek appearance.
Our Midlothian, TX facility offers a tailored install and tune for a turn-key solution.
A rear fender-mounted heat exchanger and airbox-located intercooler ensure optimal temperature control and minimal modification to factory body panels.

♦ What’s Included:

Precision 6466 Twin Turbos
Air-to-Water Intercooler
Hotside & Cold-Side Piping
Precision Wastegates & Blow-Off Valves
Preassembled Oil Scavenge Pump
Couplers, Clamps & All Necessary Hardware
Optional ECM Unlock & Tuning

♦ Company Link

This rear turbo setup is sick!

3 — 1,100+ HP

Twin Turbo Kit for Corvette C8 By ETS

♦ Tuner/Builder: Cicio Performance

♦ Application: Any C8 variant

♦ Notable Feature: Personalized service for C8 enthusiasts

♦ Base Package Cost: $19,845+ (price does not include installation and is for the turbo kit and intercooler only)

♦ Package Highlights:

Cicio Performance uses the PT6466 across all TT C8 builds.
The PT6466 is perfect for the customer looking to build the ultimate street car with quick spool and transient response.
This kit is capable of approximately 700hp on the stock clutches and stock engine, and over 1100whp with upgraded clutches, a built engine, and a fuel system.
Intercooled and non-intercooled options, depending on your horsepower needs, with the water-to-air intercooler with side heat exchanger option designed to support over 1500whp.
Oil Scavenge Pump – This is the first pump in this field to offer external motor brushes for easy/inexpensive replacement. The custom heatsink allows the entire motor/pump head assembly infinite rotation, allowing optimal orientation of the in/out ports, including port functional reversal.
Wastegates in line with the flow of the very high flow rates of the new billet wheel turbos, we have found the wastegate system must be very efficient, or else boost creep could be induced.
Critical Lines Away from heat – All of the Oil/Water lines are routed away from heat, down and around the turbos, instead of over and across the turbos. This will ensure a lifetime service life for these lines, while also lowering the temperatures of the fluids within the lines.
Fully ported at every transition – From the 3-bolt flange to the exhaust flanges and even the PCV barbs in between, we pride ourselves on the best craftsmanship and attention to detail in the industry. This means that all flanges are surfaced, all transitions ported, and all pieces are clean. These details may not make any major power differences, but they can be the difference in numbers, such as 998 vs 1,002 whp.

♦ Company Link

One of Cicio’s earlier C8 creations!

2 — 1,333+ HP

PT64, PT68, & PT76 ETS Packages

♦ Tuner/Builder: Extreme Turbo Systems (ETS)

♦ Application: Designed for C8 LT2 variants

♦ Notable Feature: Flexible packages for your budget

♦ Base Package Cost: Starts at $20,635+ (price does not include installation and is for the turbo kit only)

♦ Package Highlights:

Available turbo options: PT64 (1200+ WHP), PT68 (1500+ WHP), PT76 (2000+ WHP)
Fully ported transitions and surfaced flanges for maximum flow
Dual 3.5” stainless exhaust with quad 4” tips
Water-to-air intercooler system supports 2000+ WHP
Includes dual water pumps, a heat exchanger, and an integrated ice box
High-performance oil scavenge pump with external brushes and heatsink
Dual 44mm external wastegates and twin blow-off valves
Complete oil feed and return system with scavenge pump harness
Direct bolt-on fit — no permanent modifications required
3-year warranty on fabricated parts; manufacturer coverage on hardware
Hand-built and tested in the USA by Extreme Turbo Systems

♦ Performance Stages:

Stock: 450whp (factory setup)
Stage 1: Turbo Kit + Intercooler – 600whp (stock engine)
Stage 2: Turbo Kit + Intercooler + Aux Injection – 850+whp
Stage 3: Turbo Kit + Built Engine + Aux Injection – 1000+whp

♦ Company Link

♦ Bonus Deep Dive: HotRod Magazine’s ETS Article, “Record-Breaking C8 Corvette Goes 8.64 With Twin-Turbo LT”

What a 1,385 whp launch looks like! Image sourced from HotRod Magazine

1 — 1,564 HP

Stage III YENKO/SC® Twin Turbocharged C8 Corvette E-Ray

♦ Tuner/Builder: Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE)

♦ Application: C8 E-Ray, 655hp stock

♦ Notable Feature: Only 50 numbered builds available

♦ Base Package Cost: $139,995 (includes installation)

♦ Package Highlights:

Custom-built 6.2L LT2-based engine with aluminum block, forged steel crankshaft,
Forged H-beam rods, forged 2618 aluminum pistons, ARP high-strength head and main studs,
CNC ported high-flow cylinder heads with upgraded valvetrain, proprietary ground camshaft, custom intercooled intake manifold (custom paint optional),
Custom valve covers with integrated oil separators,
Twin Garrett 58mm ceramic ball bearing water cooled turbochargers, water cooled wastegates, upgraded high and low pressure fuel systems, auxiliary port injection, flex fuel conversion fuel system,
sYc® lid accent in standard black (custom colors optional),
Custom performance calibration,
Boost-By-Gear boost control for enhanced traction,
Upgraded stage III 8/9 dual clutch unit in transmission with billet baskets and upgraded pressure controls,
Unique Yenko® exclusive dual-dual exhaust tips with factory exhaust available in black finish (optional high flow exhaust available and highly recommended),
YENKO® badged brake calipers in factory color w/YENKO logo graphic in white (custom colors optional),
Forged and CNC-machined lightweight 20” x 10” front and 21” x 13” rear wheels available in 3 styles (see brochure for styles) and 2 finishes (custom colors optional) with sYc centercap logo graphics in white or black,
YENKO/SC® side and hood graphics available in 9 standard colors (other stripe configurations optional),
YENKO® Crest fender emblems and rear emblem, Crest Twin Turbocharged embroidered front floormats,
sYc® embroidered front headrests in white (custom colors optional),
YENKO/SC® doorsill plates,
YENKO® 1564HP Twin Turbocharged power badge and key fobs with vehicle build number (1-50),
YENKO® Crest embroidered portfolio, owner’s manual, window sticker, manufacturer’s certificate of origin,
3-year/36,000-mile (60,000-kilometer) engine and twin turbo assembly limited warranty,
3-year/36,000-mile (60,000-kilometer) non-powertrain component limited warranty

♦ Company Link

The CorvSport Takeaway

The deeper you dive into the 1,000+ HP Corvette Club, the clearer it becomes: this isn’t just about numbers—it’s about mindset. Bang for the buck… or buck for the bang? Writing checks will absolutely get you whatever power level your right foot demands. The only real limiter in today’s C8 landscape isn’t engineering—it’s budget and bravery. And once you’ve felt big boost, the psychology resets all over again. What felt outrageous at 495 horsepower becomes normal. What felt insane at 1,000 becomes manageable. That’s the slippery slope of speed.

The Smart Money Play In The 4-Digit Club

If we’re talking value inside the four-digit arena, the 7.0L Twin-Turbo 427 C8 LT2 Stroker Engine Package from Lingenfelter deserves serious attention. For a base package cost of $55,990, you’re stepping into 1,000+ horsepower territory with installation and tuning included. That figure breaks down to $32,495 for the stroked LT2—installed and calibrated—and $23,495 for the Stage 1 Twin Turbo Air-to-Water Intercooled Kit by Huron Speed, also installed. The application is simple: bring your C8 Stingray, and they handle the rest. Beyond the hardware, you’re aligning with one of the most prestigious names in the performance world. In a space where trust matters as much as torque, that counts.

Boost On A Budget… And Beyond

Right behind it sits the BD1000 C8 Stingray Twin Turbo Package from Boost District, coming in at $68,500 installed for 1,000+ horsepower. Any C8 Stingray qualifies, and Boost District has stormed onto the C8 scene with a vengeance. Then things get modular. Cicio Performance offers the Twin Turbo Kit for the C8 by ETS at $19,845+—but that’s for the turbo kit and intercooler only, no installation included. It’s available for any C8 variant and leans heavily into personalized service. Meanwhile, Extreme Turbo Systems (ETS) brings flexibility with its 1,333+ horsepower PT64, PT68, and PT76 packages for LT2 variants, starting at $20,635+ for the turbo kit alone. These are buffet-style power plays—choose your hardware, plan your install, and scale up or down according to your appetite and wallet.

When Money Is No Object

And then there’s the apex predator: the 1,564-horsepower Stage III YENKO/SC® Twin Turbocharged C8 E-Ray from Specialty Vehicle Engineering. At $139,995 including installation, this is a budget-busting entry into hypercar territory. Built on the 655-horsepower stock C8 E-Ray platform and limited to just 50 numbered examples, it’s exclusivity and excess rolled into one headline-grabbing package. This is what happens when “more” isn’t enough—you want the biggest number on the board.

So where does that leave us? Right back at the psychology of the throttle. If I were in the market, I’d align with a well-known tuner/builder who performs the installation in-house. When you’re chasing four-digit output, integration matters as much as components. The truth is simple: whether you’re spending $19,845+ on a turbo kit without installation or $139,995 on a limited-run YENKO build, the formula remains unchanged. The right check unlocks the right power level. And once you’ve tasted it, don’t be surprised when your calibrated senses start whispering the same dangerous word all over again: more.

The team at CorvSport truly appreciates having you as a reader. Make 2026 our best year yet and join the CorvSport movement!