srproductions

It's been a few years since I got rid of my C5 Z06 track car. I owned and tracked a couple different cars in between those years including a Spec Miata, S2000 race car, and currently a Cayman S and a 300HP Miata (Honda K24 engine).

With 5 cars currently in the household, I'm looking to downsize the Miata and Cayman to 1 car I can use on the track and as a weekend car.

The C5 Z06 market seems to have risen a little since I got rid of mine. Experience wise, I'm a instructor and have been tracking for 11 years now. To get a C5 to the level I expect for heavy track use, I would need a trans cooler, diff cooler, radiator, oil cooler, SKF hubs, harness bar, seat, harness, big brake kit, Turn One PS, and upgraded suspension. I figure I can purchase a car like that for around $25k or build one for around $27-28k starting with a stock Z06 and buying used components.

After looking at a number of Grand Sport cars available for low 30's, it seems this would be a better option. The GS comes equipped with all the coolers. It is a fairly modern car so I suspect I maybe happy with the suspension for a while so need to upgrade here. It seems the reliability for the dry sump LS3 is fairly strong with the only required upgrade on the GS being a big brake kit. I figure I can get into a GS for few grand more then a setup C5Z and just install the safety gear and brakes to be ready to go. Ultimately, it is a significantly nicer and newer car in the process.

Am I missing anything as far as C6 GS track reliability?

I'd appreciate any inputs or thoughts on this decision.

Thanks!

StreetSpeed

If you're looking to keep the thing stockish and reliable and it's only a few grand difference I would go with the Grandsport for sure.

srproductions

Eventually take it past the stockish level. Coilovers and aero down the line. I don't see much else the GS would need. Not interested in more power.

C5 Hardtop

Out of the 11 things you listed to upgrade on the C5Z, buying the C6 would negate just the coolers. You'd still need a BBK, harness, seat, SKF hubs, harness bar, seat and upgraded suspension. Brake ducting will probably be needed on both.

Btw, I'd want the C6 too . The push-button start is awesome .

Rob Willis

My 2011 GS was a great track car, very reliable.

It had harness bar, harnesses, race seats, zr1 splitter, zr1 spoiler, tow hook, Castrol brake fluid, brake duct kit and AP racing calipers. Ran r888s and r6.

I ran about the same times with it (mid ohio) as I've been able to extract out of my 2015 c7 z51 so far.

The C6 GS is a good track car!

chpmnsws6

Go with the manual GS. Also worth its weight is the dry sump system. I thought your name looked familiar (Mt.net)

TCE sells a cheap Wilwoods setup if you want to ditch the padlets OEM calipers.

srproductions

When I had my old Z06 I was not driving anywhere near the pace I am now. I didn't have any issues with the cars I had. Its been a few years now and I've really honed in my driving progressing up through slow cars.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...k-a-vette.html

I read this thread about and it scares me getting back into a C5 Z06 at the speeds I'm driving now. It seems guys are losing motors, breaking transmissions, power steering issues, diff issues, torque tube, and the list goes on.

Did they strengthen and upgrade everything by 2010 when the GS came out? My research shows the TR6060 is considerably stronger but all the stuff I read was from drag guys, not road racers.

Has anyone here been running a GS hard for a few years now? I'd love to know some of the long term concerns of a heavily track GS.

chpmnsws6

You will have very few issues. Braking will be about your only and that's an easy fix. The stick GS is a factory track rat.

TKOGTO

Have ~ 60 track days on my GS and driving it in anger requires all of the above and a little aero. The front-end lift at speed will only have to happen once, and it will, for you to want to add a splitter, side skirts and a spoiler. For me, the BBK is largely a convenience issue, via thicker pads and significantly easier pad change. I still get about the same tapering with Wilwood W6As. So BBK not critical but I like anyone that has added one, kicks themselves for not doing it sooner.

Even just putzing around the track you will find the stock suspension inadequate or wholly inadequate. Shocks and sways significantly open the performance envelope.

The stock seat gave me radial tunnel syndrome from having to hold onto to the steering wheel (with angel wings) while cornering. Other additions: SS brake lines and a camber kit, brake cooling is a must, a CAI and a good tune should get HP/TQ up to the stock C7 levels which you will notice and appreciate. I have added a few other items you may/may not consider e.g., a tunnel reinforcement plate, 160* stat, APR studs when added the SKFs, bushings.

Reliability has been quite good. So far, only needed to replace the steering rack, springs, TPMS sensor, harmonic balancer, one tie rod and several windshields.

EdsC6Z06

A buddy of mine runs crazy fast laps in a mildly modded C6 GS and I struggle to hang with him with my similarly equipped C6 Z06. I still love my Z but a GS is definitely a good track car platform.

bigmackloud

How's the K24 Miata? After I sold my turbo miata I stopped keeping up with things, but the K24 swaps seemed very promising. 300hp naturally aspirated in a Miata seems like a perfect combo.

or swap that combo into an Exocet!!

chpmnsws6

I ended up selling my Exocet chassis and ls swap gear to get into this blown c6

dowroa

OP, thank you for posting this, as I am in about the same situation and have arrived at about the same answer (LS3 replacements are also cheaper than the LS7).

I personally have not found a lot of information about the dry sump on the LS3 (yet) doing well on TW200+ tires (still searching).

Honestly, if the oiling and cooling work well for 20-30 min sessions from the factory, those are the biggest "worries" I have. Solving those keep me going and on the track.

I appreciate the thread and the responses!

- brian

BigMonkey73

Camaro v6 with 1LE package released for 2017 FYI

Solid track car for under $35K new. Pretty tempting for a second owner vehicle after first 2 years depreciation..assuming first owner didn't run it into the ground.

Quickshift_C5

Read my mind. I am also looking for the answers to those exact questions after reaching the same conclusion.