Bear86

What exactly is the Z51 - Performance handling package?
Thanks Larry

Barbara_S

yes - it comes with stiff springs, different shocks and sway bars, plus a quick turn steering rack.

CentralCoaster

...plus oil cooler, power steering cooler (some years), extra cooling fan, wider wheels, and some chassis reinforcements.

vader86

In 86 it gets a quicker steering rack, 3.07 gears for A4, much stiffer springs, slightly stiffer shocks, different bushings, bigger sway bars, auxiliary fan, oil cooler, wider tires (9.5")

doesnt depend on the transmission in 86

jimmers

BADDUCK

Built to RACE!

CentralCoaster

Someone mentioned different mufflers for the Z51 also. But the factory manual doesn't agree with this.

It does show different mufflers based on rear end ratio though, starting in 87.

CentralCoaster

On the 4+3 cars, the Z51s had a shorter overdrive gear (.68:1) instead of .60:1

Bear86

Thanks for all the info.
Larry

scorp508

Z51 depends a LOT on what year you're talking about.

Both sets of tips are functional, vs. only the (thinks hard) inner (?) tips on non Z51 vehicles. At least that is what we've always said. My original mufflers are LONG gone and the brain cells I had when I had them were overwritten eons ago too.

davemack

The Z51 has the same single functional tip as all early C4's, at least on my 85. That is, unless my muffs have been replaced with non-Z51 (never say never...).

Z-07 freak

Standard mufflers vs Sport mufflers `87 through `91;
All verts had standard mufflers.
Coupes with 2.59 axle autos had standard mufflers. (single nozzle funtcional)
Coupes with 3.07 axle autos and manuals had sport mufflers. (dual nozzle funtcional)
A lot of `91 manual coupes received the standard mufflers. (Maybe the factory used all the sport and didn't bother getting more with the new LT1 style.)

BigLee

early Z51 models = rides like a dump truck on the street...
and if equipped with the 4+3 manual tranny, it shifts like a
dump truck too...

CentralCoaster

I disagree. I've driven one of these and it was much more comfortable than my 85 Z51. And you don't shift a dump truck, they're electrically driven now.

JD'S WHITE 93

Z51 is a badge some really goofy C6 owners will stick on their front fenders

scorp508

Nobody mentioned the longer front air damn. The lower radiator hose is also different on Z51 models to clear the added frame bracing. Nobody that I know of makes a repro Z51 lower hose right now.

CentralCoaster

I think it's otherwise referred to as the "Convertible" lower hose. My Goodyear HiMiler kit came with both versons.

In fact, both of those were curved more than the hoses I've bought at parts stores, and both fit my 85 Z51, so actually there's 3 distinctly different hoses I've seen. That bracing became standard soon after anyways.