sergeyk

C4, C5 Base/Z51 or C5 Z06?

I prefer to have still street drivable, but still emphasis put on HPDE/TT, so suspension be tuned more for track then street.
Yes, I realize that for $15K, that would be high millage Z06...

If somebody went one of those routes, please share you knowledge and reasons why you choose X vs Y (X,Y are C4, C5 Base/Z51 or C5 Z06).


Thank you!

jaa1992

Find someone's built C5!

Or you can spend the same amount trying to get a C4 up to snuff. I still haven't got the suspension fixed up enough on the 92
And I am building engine #3

Sidney004

Stick with the C5, I would look for a C5 Z06 with a stock engine.

sergeyk

What about this car:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...c-408-cid.html

Is it a good candidate?
From my point view, I will need to replace suspension and later tranny....

drivinhard

LQ9 block - iron. lots more nose weight, for sure going way backwards here

sergeyk

Yes, by 100# heavier, but relocating battery to the trunk and adding roll bar behind seats should equalize it, no?

yakisoba

Equalizing the load is just the beginning. You're still heavier. That means more brake wear, more tire wear, etc. Lighter is king.

Find a good, stock manual C5 for $13K. Spend a little on a race seat, harness (and a HANS too), rims, stainless steel brake lines and some good race pads. Get a trailer for your tires and spare rotors. Go have fun! Add coolers when you need to as the next mod, but you can run without them for a little while.

gmccreary

I paid $14.9K for an 01 C5Z with 113K miles. Deals are out there. Keep looking.

sergeyk

So, C5Z is best bang for the $, even high millage one?

gmccreary

For me it was. Mine now is a dedicated track car with 120K miles. Granted I've done some upgrading to include Spec Stage I clutch and aluminum flywheel, Hardbar harness bar, Pfadt poly bushings, Corbeau FX1 Pro seats.

You can take a stock C5Z and upgrade the brake fluid to DOT 4, put some track pads on and a set of Nitto 555 R2s on stock wheels (275/40-17 front, 305/18-18 rear) and have one good car that you can drive to/from the track.

93Rubie

I'm a C4 guy, but he is right the best deal on a track ready car right now is the C5Z's. Someday....there was one local to me for 14K, had 100K+ on it. Any way you go, bring money....speed is addicting.

Aardwolf

I could build a super nice C4 for 15K but that would be a lot of time and work involved. If you're not doing the work yourself that budget wouldn't be worth it over a C5 something.

NoOne

I looked at that car, from what I read the LQ9 was the Escalade motor which was aluminum.

I'm in the same boat. After screwing around and renting a car the past 2 years I plan on building one over the winter.

Plan on finding a high mileage 10-14 k C5, FRC or Z06 and turning it into a stripped out HPDE car, just something to play with that I don't have to worry about every weekend.

I came up with about 24K in total costs starting with a 12K car and doing all the work myself. This bought me:

6 point Cage/Roll bar(pay to have that done)
Seats
Harnesses
BBK up front
Coilovers/bushings/camber kit
Tunnel brace, trans brace, and new engine mounts

That should get it ready with planing for a clutch sometime the first season and maybe a basic rebuild the 2nd season.

That did not include tires but just going to buy scrubs.

travisnd

1. Buy a stock high mileage C5Z06

2. Install titanium lug nuts

3. ????

4. Win HPDE championship

sperkins

I swear I could build more car than 90% of drivers could actually use for under $15k. With all the threads going on now with folks looking to buy a track car, I may just have to build one. I don't know why people are shy about using an LS1 C5. They're pretty darn good too.

travisnd

Hrmmm... depends on the acquisition costs of the car and how much work it needs to make it reliable on track. I'm not racing a 100k mile LSX w/o a fresh oil pump, timing chain and valve springs. Then there's all new fluids, brake job and an oil cooler. Then a good seat, pads, brake hoses and track rubber and at least one set of spare wheels.

If you could find a well maintained regular C5 for $10k that didn't need much work then you could probably do it. Took a whole lot of looking to find a good C5Z for under $15k when I built mine. Ended up getting mine for a tick over $14k, but I was able to wheel and deal because the seller didn't know the EBCM could be fixed online for cheap and other quirky things like the turn signals not working because of the hazard switch and jiggling the passenger side door wiring harness to get the window motor working etc. etc. etc.

Jason

Don't let high street mileage scare you. A lifetime of the worst street abuse doesn't come close to a year of track use. the things you'd consider worn out on s street car are just routine maintenance once you start running hard on sticky tires.

And stuff like hvac, radio, window motors all end up stripped out eventually.

varkwso

ukrbmw

Keep looking - I found several cars that would fit your need in this same price range. You just have to be patient and willing to travel.

And sperkins - after this CMP weekend I'd rather have Kevin build me a car

gmccreary

Ouch!