genolan

OK I'm a new Vette owner and have a 08 with z51 and it's a manual. My questions is if i want to come close to the posted 0-60 numbers (4.3sec) what gear shift do I need and what RPM should I shift at? Some forum members have suggested I just leave it in First but that seems unrealistic since I don't want to hit the red line and possible damage the engine.

ByByBMW

I'm pretty sure you can hit 60 in first, it's just a matter of watching your revs and shifting just before redline but at that point, you will probably already be over 60.

Vette_DD

No, only engines that redline at over 6500 RPM can hit 60 in 1st gear. That includes C6 Z06s, but not base C6s.

http://mysite.verizon.net/foofoo2/c6/

tim414

I was thinking both 'Z' model Vettes could/will do 60 mph in 1st gear???

TLS_Addict

Actually, doesnt the Z51 have shorter gearing in the 1st gear or am I wrong? If so it wont go as fast as the regular tranny car in 1st gear.

tim414

I had a LS3 Vert w/Z51 and if I remember correctly the gearing is very similar to Z06.

Wayne O

Here's an old chart (probably for the LS2) that may be helpful:

ENGINE<------Vehicle_Speed------------>
RPM...1ST...2ND...3RD...4TH...5TH...6TH
1000....8....13....20....27....37....47
1500...12....20....31....41....55....70
2000...16....26....41....43....73....93
2500...20....33....51....68....92...116
3000...23....40....61....81...110...140
3500...27....46....71....95...128...163
4000...31....53....82...109...147...186
4500...35....60....92...122...165...186
5000...39....66...102...136...184...186
5500...43....73...112...149...186...186
6000...47....79...122...163...186...186
6500...50....86...133...176...186...186

Trying the achieve the best 0 to 60 time depends on many factors....obviously your car (engine power, setup, etc.), your driving skill, the tires you use, tire pressures, road conditions, temperature and much more all come into play. IMO whenever going WOT always shutoff traction control. You don't want the system fighting your efforts to accelerate. You might be better served posting in the drag racing section....there's lots of information and many knowledgeable drag racers that can help. If straight line acceleration is your thing I suggest you take the car to a drag strip to learn and practice. Keep it legal and safe. You might even find a 1/8 mile drag strip if you don't want to run a full 1/4 mile. Like with most things it takes practice, practice, practice! Good luck and have fun with your car.

JoesC5

The Z06 and the base C6 have the same transmission gearing. The Z51 and the GS has lower ratios.

Z06/baseC6 =2.66:1 first gear
Z51/GS = 2.97:1 first gear.

And then you have the 7,000 RPM redline on the LS7 vs the 6,500 redline on the LS3.

Z51/GS = 51 MPH in first gear.
base C6 = 57 MPH in first gear
Z06 = 61 MPH in first gear.

carl3989

With out doubt the expert in proper launch of a C6 is Ranger of rangeracceleration fame. Also, please check out his clutch fluid change method which should be pro-forma for C5/C6 owners. Ask me why I know. http://www.rangeracceleration.com/Launch_Tips.html

HOXXOH

Quick acceleration is the direct result of driving skill. Just exactly how quick that is, becomes related to the conditions and equipment.

A good driver in snow (really poor conditions) with summer tires will still be quicker than a poor driver with studded snow tires.

Better equipment/conditions helps the better driver to get even better times. Practice will help you learn to adjust your skills in relationship to the equipment or conditions.

BTW, hitting redline with the stock tune doesn't mean automatic engine damage is a result. The rev limiter will shut you down first. Just don't make hitting the limiter a habit.

LS WON

Just get an automatic

Bill Dearborn

The C6 Z51 and the GS come with the shorter gears in 1,2, 3, 5 and 6. Same ratios as the C5 Z06. With a 6500 rev limiter you be on the limiter at 50 mph. With a HP peak at 5900 rpm the best rpm to shift for acceleration is probably around 6200.

Bill

HOXXOH

Don't think for a minute that an automatic or any other equipment is a replacement for driving skills. I'd place my money on the average Michigan driver in a M6 against your A6 during a snowstorm.

KWC6

Get real.

2K14C7

I remember reading that the engineers specifically designed the gearing in the C6 ZO6 so it would reach 60 without shifting to get the lowest 0-60 possible.

JFKLS3

My C6 days are finished when I can't drive a manual anymore.....

tim414

Thanks Joe. I knew the 'Z was similiar to one of them....so the GS and Z51 equipment are also same, are they not?

tim414

Thanks Bill. So the GS/Z51/C5Z are all the same?

JFKLS3

They have the same transmission, yes. The only other differences between the two are the wide body styling and the brakes on the GS.

Kadorja

I use this website from time to time. The link is for a C6 Z06 but scroll to the bottom to get pretty much every Vette gear ratio possibility out there. You can enter the values by speed to see what RPM you need to be in at each gear or change it to RPM for each gear speed.

http://xse.com/leres/z06/calculator.html



I think if you did some stronger valve springs you could raise the redline in a C6 to get a better 0-60 and keep it in first... but at the end of the day it's all just numbers. Who cares what your 0-60 is as long as you can get to the finish line before the other guy you win. He can keep his faster 0-60.