Looking for info on ZF 6 speed.
05-27-2010, 04:15 PM
#1
Instructor
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Looking for info on ZF 6 speed.
Do people like it? I drove one and I had liked it. I have heard some people stay away from them. Are they reliable?
05-27-2010, 04:39 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
I like mine, its time to replace the clutch though.
Only problem is the dual mass flywheel is scacer than hens teeth.
zfdoc has lots of info on his site about them!
Only problem is the dual mass flywheel is scacer than hens teeth.
zfdoc has lots of info on his site about them!
05-27-2010, 05:41 PM
#3
Race Director
Love mine, but like said above, clutch is the kicker with these. Replacement with anything but the stock ( BIG $$$ ) type dual mass makes them rattle at idle like a coffee can full of marbles. It doesn't hurt them, but it is irritating and embarrassing to have a nice car like a Vette make that noise.
05-27-2010, 05:48 PM
#4
Racer
i really like my zf, just got a new clutch kit from tpis.. i said f! that duelmass flywheel and got a conversion kit that take the stock 49lb flywheel to a 12lb and no more external slave, kit come with internal slave that hooks to the lines with no problem... it was 930$ form tpis and the kit is from ram. and i also got the B&M short throw for it to, i cant wait to put it in
05-27-2010, 07:11 PM
#7
Race Director
05-27-2010, 07:25 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
The ZF is tough as nails. There are many people who have been putting serious torque through these gearboxes for years without any problems. Obviously, it's possible to damage one, but generally speaking they're quite rugged. I have them in both of my C4s, and couldn't be happier with them. I do wish that sixth gear wasn't quite as tall as it is, but a set of 4:10 gears in the diff would mitigate that to a large extent.
The Dual-Mass flywheels are getting hard to find, and were always expensive. They are also very heavy. Many have reported here that switching to a lightweight aluminum Single-Mass unit tends to cause a lot of gear rattle at idle, and tends to make the car more challenging to launch from a dead stop in everyday driving, but of course it will also allow the engine to rev up faster because there's less rotational mass to accelerate. Many others have reported that switching to a steel Single-Mass unit made for a good compromise between the extremes of the DMF and the aluminum SMF. The steel unit weight comes in somewhere between the DMF and the aluminum SMF, which makes launches less problematic, and helps to keep the gear rattle at bay, compared to the aluminum SMF.
Note that I have no personal experience with this, but when the time comes, I plan to switch to a steel SMF after hearing what others have had to say about the whole subject.
Live well,
SJW
The Dual-Mass flywheels are getting hard to find, and were always expensive. They are also very heavy. Many have reported here that switching to a lightweight aluminum Single-Mass unit tends to cause a lot of gear rattle at idle, and tends to make the car more challenging to launch from a dead stop in everyday driving, but of course it will also allow the engine to rev up faster because there's less rotational mass to accelerate. Many others have reported that switching to a steel Single-Mass unit made for a good compromise between the extremes of the DMF and the aluminum SMF. The steel unit weight comes in somewhere between the DMF and the aluminum SMF, which makes launches less problematic, and helps to keep the gear rattle at bay, compared to the aluminum SMF.
Note that I have no personal experience with this, but when the time comes, I plan to switch to a steel SMF after hearing what others have had to say about the whole subject.
Live well,
SJW
Last edited by SJW; 05-27-2010 at 07:28 PM.
05-27-2010, 07:42 PM
#10
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05
Strong and reliable, just make sure the hydaluics are in good shape.
ZF trannies are more expensive than avg. to rebuild but any trans shop that works on German ZF boxes can do one;no need to fork up big bux to a Vette only trans guru.
ZF trannies are more expensive than avg. to rebuild but any trans shop that works on German ZF boxes can do one;no need to fork up big bux to a Vette only trans guru.
05-27-2010, 07:52 PM
#11
Race Director
Other than shift forks in certain models... what is a POS with them? I've seen a lot of people put a whole lot of hard miles on them and I have NEVER seen a C5/C6 6 speed transmission fail.
05-27-2010, 07:58 PM
#12
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St. Jude Donor '05
Seen a bunch of C5 trans go seems like 3rd is a weak spot but the LTx T56 dont like it either for some reason. Good trans though overall.
There are upgrades to overcome like anything else just dig into those pockets. Cant wait til I hurt mine to get a custom 6th gear and Z06 gearing set.
There are upgrades to overcome like anything else just dig into those pockets. Cant wait til I hurt mine to get a custom 6th gear and Z06 gearing set.
05-27-2010, 08:09 PM
#13
Race Director
Seen a bunch of C5 trans go seems like 3rd is a weak spot but the LTx T56 dont like it either for some reason. Good trans though overall.
There are upgrades to overcome like anything else just dig into those pockets. Cant wait til I hurt mine to get a custom 6th gear and Z06 gearing set.
There are upgrades to overcome like anything else just dig into those pockets. Cant wait til I hurt mine to get a custom 6th gear and Z06 gearing set.
05-27-2010, 08:23 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
Love my 6spd
Love my SPEC clutch (so far)
Love my SPEC Alum. Flywheel (so far)
B&M Ripper shifter - kinda notchy and haven't banged through the gears yet so... (TBD)
Love my SPEC clutch (so far)
Love my SPEC Alum. Flywheel (so far)
B&M Ripper shifter - kinda notchy and haven't banged through the gears yet so... (TBD)
05-28-2010, 08:45 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
05-31-2010, 07:49 AM
#18
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Dick!? , fill out your ID!! for all we know your an 11 year old girl?
The ZF weighs a freaking ton. Seriously, it's heavy. The thing is made for a truck [ true story].
The 4+3 is light by comparison, old tech, and strong. 4+3 is a T10 with a mini power glide attached. The "4" part rarely breaks.
The +3 part is as big a pain to fix as a ZF.
Not making a commercial here, but give some thought to aftermarket stuff if your planning on keeping the car and will be putting any stress on it [ as in racing].
TJM,
Last edited by TJM; 05-31-2010 at 07:50 AM. Reason: I can't spell?
05-31-2010, 11:54 AM
#19
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Dick!? , fill out your ID!! for all we know your an 11 year old girl?
The ZF weighs a freaking ton. Seriously, it's heavy. The thing is made for a truck [ true story].
The 4+3 is light by comparison, old tech, and strong. 4+3 is a T10 with a mini power glide attached. The "4" part rarely breaks.
The +3 part is as big a pain to fix as a ZF.
Not making a commercial here, but give some thought to aftermarket stuff if your planning on keeping the car and will be putting any stress on it [ as in racing].
TJM,
The ZF weighs a freaking ton. Seriously, it's heavy. The thing is made for a truck [ true story].
The 4+3 is light by comparison, old tech, and strong. 4+3 is a T10 with a mini power glide attached. The "4" part rarely breaks.
The +3 part is as big a pain to fix as a ZF.
Not making a commercial here, but give some thought to aftermarket stuff if your planning on keeping the car and will be putting any stress on it [ as in racing].
TJM,
