Poppy's Vette

I have a 07 C6 Z51 which I will be tracking in open track events. I am happy with the power output but have tinkered with the idea of a CAI and tune. Now though I'm wondering if my money may be better spent in stiffening up the suspension with an aftermarket tunnel plate since I think the power output should be fine. I'm coming from a 492 rwhp F-Body with a pretty decent upgraded suspension. I am forced to run the OEM tires for this year but will probably add a set of track wheels and tires next year.

Eventually I may do both but if you could only do one mod at the present time going in to the season, which would you guys recommend?

TIA for your input!

Paul

95jersey

Tunnel plate is not going to help on the track no matter what marketing you have read. Modding for road course duty is as follows:

Saftey items first
Track time to improve driver second
Brakes third
Suspension 4th
motor/hp DEAD last

This is not directed to you, but I love when I hear guys say they need headers or a cam or intake before they hit the road course for the first time. To put things in perspective, if you gave a 1st time novice a turbo with 600hp, an advanced driver or instructor would eat them ALIVE in a stock Honda Civic by a couple seconds overall

Cobra4B

I think you need the new warhawk block setup to 455 c.i. w/ some twin turbos. 1000rwhp is the only way to truly enjoy an HPDE

AU N EGL

Brian Now be nice to the new guy

Welcome to this fun and sometimes crazy, but always learning part of the forum.

gkmccready

Brake pads. Brake ducts. "Downgrade" to C6 base (aka C5) caliper brackets and rotors ($25 @ NAPA vs whatever the stock cross-drilled one cost ($85+?)). After this I put in a Hardbar harness bar, TeamTech harness, and Hardbar lap belt bar.

I didn't research a lot, but I don't think the C6 Z51 inherited the C5Z brake pads?

95jersey

I disagree, for a novice driver (1st year), no mods to a Corvette are necessary. Basically 99% of novice drivers don't carry enough real speed or momentum to stress a stock Z51 car. This doesn't mean that you wont hit 120 or even 130, but you just won't be carrying hard speed through corners and under braking.

carnut101

95jersey, I disagree. I've only been to 2 events, and I think it's about time to mod my C5z a little bit. Some things that I could have used from day one: oil cooler, radiator. That's probably more of a regional thing. It was around 115 degrees both times, but we were in the middle of the desert in Southern California in the middle of summer. It didn't take too long for oil to hit 300+ and coolant to reach 240-250. Also, my second time out, I managed to break my speaker cover from leaning into it. Mid-turn, the seat back collapsed. A good racing seat is definitely a priority right now. I might as well get a harness bar and harness while I'm at it. Don't you hate how these cars make your money disappear?

bowmanized

I'm not sure why but there is a general consensus on this board that everyone who hasn't done a ton of track days doesn't know how to drive and should not upgrade their car. Not everyone who is starting out sucks and can't drive. Just like other sports some people have a natural ability to get it done. Presuming everyone sucks as bad as the slow guys in HPDE 1 is a total generalization and should be avoided. Also why not recommend safety items at a minimum. In light of recent crashes I would think that's a least a good place to start. I'd consider brake pads a safety item. The stock pads are not up for it and brake fade is very dangerous. Seat, harness, and bar to swap for track days is a nice upgrade to have.

When you push a stock c6 whatsoever it rolls over worse than Paris Hilton coming out of a club. Sway bars are absolutely necessary to keep a good contact patch even with run flats. Also why ruin a perfectly good set of $1200 street tires when you can run R-comps and they are 10x better. Either way sway bars, brake pads, and tires are the best place to start imho.

Poppy's Vette

Wow, how did such a simple question get out of hand?

I thought I set the stage for my request fairly well but maybe I didn't. I've been driving open course for years with a heavily modded car. I am not a novice on a road course. I know all about brakes, brake pads, brake fluids, safety equipment, etc. I am a more than competant driver and mechanic and 57 years old (only mentioned because I've been around the block a few times )

I have not tracked my new vette. It has the Z51 performance package which I bought specifically with an eye to it's upgraded suspension, coolers, braking.

I merely was looking for opinions on the true benefit to an after market tunnel plate. If you have input on that, I would sincerely appreciate it. I don't need the other advise thanks for thhe concern though.

Thanks again,

Paul

Ben Diss

While I am a relative neubie, I did the Spring Mountain course and they use stock C6 Z51's and Z06's. The only thing they change is (I think) the brake pads.

John Shiels

tunnel plate is basically a waste. May it do some good I doubt it except excluding some heat. I never felt or was able to gain in lap times. I was given one to test and it is still there.

Cobra4B

I was joking w/ my post... but seriously a 455 TT would be ****ing sweet

Your C6's coolers are all run through the oem radiator. The oil cooler is a 3 plate I believe in the left end tanks, and the trans/dif are in the right end tank. This works ok, but when pushed very hard the temps still go up.

The '08 C6 has an external oil cooler like the Z06. You may want to look into a Dewitts/Ron Davis etc. radiator w/ upgraded coolers. I'm running a Dewitts w/ left side EOC. Works great for my application. Oil gets warm in winter street driving and stays cool in mid summer track events.

I'd get a harness bar and 6-pt now... you can do the sharkbar or the Brey-Krause. The BK is more expensibe and the install is fairly involved. I helped my buddy Rich (DoingOK) install one on his C6Z. You have to remove some trim panels and cut them... once back together it looks oem.

A few pics of the install:








If you want to go a setp further you can install a real racing seat. I run an Ultrashield pro roadrace w/ Hardbar seat rails. It's the first race seat that fits me and fits in the vette. I'm 6'4" 240.





As for brakes... C6 z-51 rotors will crack as they're drilled. C5 rotors are cheap and you can get them at NAPA for $25ish each. They still crack, but last longer than the drilled C6 rotors and cost less. You can use the C6 calipers you have, but just need to get the C5 caliper bracket.

I hope this has been a more helpful post

KMK454

Ok we get it Captain F1.

I've done 1 track event, yes 1, and my first time out I was passed by a 16 year old girl in a Miata. She had 3 years of go-cart experience. I didn't care, I was still having a blast.

For me, driving is a passion, as is working with and caring for the automobile itself. I've since done some performance mods to my car, and more are in the works. I love it.

And yes, I plan on tracking again. I'm fully aware of my lack of experience, so I'll probably be that guy out there driving at 7 or 8 tenths in my modded C6, but you better believe I'll be having the time of my life.

Oyishdog

stock c6 z51 is all you need for a while...seriously. Even tires/wheels, the new goodyear F1's have amazing grip and "talk" alot to help you learn limits of the car. Order of mods would be seat/harness/harness bar...then brakes. Of course new brake fluid with a high wet boiling point...and seat time. The more you mod, the more crap breaks and the faster parts wear out. Now days, I go through rotors every weekend, front pads every 2-3 (H's), and tires last about 18-20 heat cycles MAX. Start slow and enjoy the learning curve...a stock car has LOTS of potential that most will never tap into.

Cobra4B

^ Exactly what he said... Ryan and I are out there w/ rotors cracking, wearing out expensive race pads, and chewing up expensive tires.

Where my father is running street tires and oem Z06 pads... he only has a harness bar and 6-pt harnesses. I guarantee he's having just as much fun, going plenty fast, and doesn't have to continually maintain the car.

It's a fine line between going a little faster and exponentially increasing your expenses.

elh0102

I think this topic of mods for track use really depends on the owner's driving goals, and, comfort levels with expense and risk. But I am sure of this, most current high performance cars, certainly including the C6 Vette, are very competent cars, capable of track performance that would rival their predecessors' race cars of not too long ago. Having owned a C6 Z51, I suggest doing nothing but brake fluid and pads. If you reach the point where you are consistently driving near the car's limit, I would recommend safety equipment, or, a track car.

robvuk

This is what made me think, like everybody else, that he was a novice.