STANG KILLA SS

owned 3 Camaros. Gotten REALLY into HDPE, PDS, AutoX etc.
Moded my car to the point its really quick around the track as well and training myself as a driver, passing F458s, 911 GT3s, F430s, M3s, C5Zs, C7s etc, but its still a 3800lbs solid axle car.

looking to make the jump to a vette to shave some weight, gain possibly even more performance.

Looking at C5Z, C6 Base, and C6 GS

im a huge GM guy all my life, but know little about the corvette architecture, suspension, weaknesses etc.

Car will not remain stock. will be getting brakes, tires, coilovers, motor work etc.

also no plans to go racing. will most likely always be a track day car.
wont see much street time. current car sees street 1-2 times a month.

looking for some advice of which model to go with and weaknesses of each.

Cory

STANG KILLA SS

C5Z
Pros
Cheapest
quickest
Lightest
Cons
Dont care for the dated interior and exterior
Only a couple years newer than current car
OE replacement and aftermarket parts support is/will slowly die off. struggling with this with my current car. kept it for 15 years and plan to do the same with next car.
did i mention i dont care for the dated rounded exterior? although i do like there looks alot more in race trim, splitters etc.
less parts available

C6 Base
Pros
Same price as C5Z
newer body style/suspension/brakes
Cons
exterior still kind of blah to me

C6 GS
Pros
Dead sexy
has the widebody, tires, brakes, suspension of the Z i want
larger cube LS3
Cons
TOP of my budget, stretching it.
3300lbs 200 lbs heavier than C5Z
its a nice car, and track time isnt easy on cars paint, bodywork etc. might make me drive more timid.
Longest WB
Trouble running square setup?
Cant change rear gear?

C6Z
Pros
3100lbs
widebody, brakes, wheels

Cons
cost
motor replacement cost
aftermarket parts availability/choices/costs
Head issue

Ludeaem

If you're going to mod it then most of your points are moot. Aftermarket parts for C5's won't die off....well, probably ever. Does any Corvette for that matter?

My suggestions: Build whichever for safety first. Brakes, suspension, seats with harness, etc.

dizzy8085

The dry sump and extra coolers are nice on the grand sport. My track car is a grand sport.

STANG KILLA SS

does anyone know the transmission and rear end ratios for the C5Z and C6 GS?

edit:

C5Z
2.97
2.07
1.43
1.00
.84
.56
Rear 3.42

C6 GS (MZ6?)
2.966
2.066
1.426
1.000
.71
.562
Rear 3.42

Ludeaem

All of this info has been covered and can be easily found by googling or searching the site. I believe the c5z is a 3.91

There is a good stick in this sub forum that had a lot of questions to my answers.

UstaB-GS549

LS3 is going to need a real dry sump

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...the-track.html

dizzy8085

Plenty of guys running slicks/Hoosiers on 2009 up factory Gm dry sump with no problems.

dbratten

Don't know where you are located but mine maybe perfect for you as it is a proven DD, HPDE, Autox set up with all you need to include OEM stock parts. Don't be put off by the A6. With the 3.15 gears and O.S. Giken rear end it will beat most C5s and C6s plus many C6Zs.

I haven't been pushing a sale as I expect to put it back to stock pretty soon if it doesn't sell as is. Price is firm.

http://www.bratten.org/C6-Sale/C6Sale.html

--Dan

mountainbiker2

C5Z has a 3.42 dif.

Soloontario

I was in the same boat. Had a 2002 Camaro that had a suspension set up the way I wanted it. Got pretty fast and confident in the car despite the bad brakes. Then got bored doing the same thing.

Bought a C5Z as it is light and supposedly the most reliable. Totally different vehicle. Ĺots to learn about driving it vs just setup but I am learning,although not as fast as I would like. Trail braking was much easier in my Camaro.

FASTFATBOY

When you buy a stick Vette, take the cap off the clutch fluid reservoir. If the fluid is black, prepare to put a clutch in the car because the slave is on it's way to failing.

C5 Z06 is a totally different animal, even stock the brakes are over the top better than an Fbody, I would say better than my old car with Wilwood's on it. The pads last so much longer it's amazing.

It's hard to get your brain wrapped around the Corvette's capabilities coming from an Fbody.

STANG KILLA SS

im running 14" brembos on the Camaro so the braking on the C5Z at least will be a down grade i think?,(C6GS about the same) but its lighter so maybe its a wash. but they will be getting upgraded too so its a mute point.

is the longer wheelbase noticable? i also AutoX a little.

was hoping youd chime in FatBoy, i remember you.

i just cant figure out question #1 C5Z or C6 GS.

how much harder is working on the vette? underneith. the fbody is a traditional layout. on the vette things like exhaust, tranny (in rear?), rear end, suspension (leafs?) etc. how much harder is it to work on those? what about pulling them? ive seen some sort of craddle a freind made to pull the driveline out of the car.

FASTFATBOY

C5Z is overall much cheaper to own and fix. Track weekend insurance policy is $170 based on a $25,000 agreed value.

C5Z06

C5 Brake rotors=cheap

C5 Brake pads=Cheap

You can run a 18x10.5 square tire setup=cheap

Engine parts=cheap, it's all base LS stuff. If you blew the engine you can replicate it with a LS1 block and LS6 top end for about $4500 with forged pistons, good bolts, Katech chain etc.

Used parts falling from trees for the C5.

Almost all Base C5 stuff bolts right on the Z06 if needed.

If you are at the track and need parts from Vatozone you can get them and keep running.

C5 Z06 is a pretty simple car, no electronic wizardy to contend with, all the real problems and fixes are known, IE ABS control module, column lock etc.


I don't see the need for a brake upgrade right off the bat, the rear brakes on these cars actually do work and you can really feel it when you get on the brakes as compared to an Fbody. I haven't really explored the limits of the brakes yet as I am easing up on it. I can tell you with Raybestos ST47/ST43, stainless lines and NO cooling they are outstanding.

Watch the passenger seat braking for turn 1, I was trying to teach myself heel/toe this particular weekend so I am really over slowing the car as I my timing is all screwy. The car will bump 140 mph before I brake it into turn 1.



I have a shop and a rack, so working on it isn't bad, I put a clutch in it when I got it. I's all in what you're used to.

You won't notice any wheelbase difference, what you will notice is weight bias and center of gravity in the Vette as compared to the Fbody.

STANG KILLA SS

the weight bias is one thing im curious about. never driven a 50/50 car. what feels different? how do you have to drive different?
are they tail happy like a 911?

FASTFATBOY

50/50 weight bias takes the *** happy out of the car.

Grip level is much higher, you can carry more entry speed and can get on the gas sooner which is hard for my brain to accept. I am over slowing the car for corner entry because of it.

In the Camaro you had to wait to get on the gas, once you turned in you bought what you had based on that. In the Z06 you can keep feeding it input and keep the grip, you try that in the Camaro and the *** is coming around on you.

meldog21

Unless there's something that I'm missing in the ad, I can't believe this hasn't already been sold.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-florida.html


Sounds like something like this should be perfect for your track only use. Cheap and fast.


Dog

P.S. I have no affiliation with the seller. Don't even know who he is. Just a suggestion.

hamburgerman

I went from a fully prepped ESP car to a C5Z and have zero regrets about doing it.

stuiephoto

The market for people willing to buy a car with no title is pretty small.