What is Z51?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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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
doesnt depend on the transmission in 86
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
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.
It does show different mufflers based on rear end ratio though, starting in 87.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
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From: Boston, MA
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. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Why are there squished peanut butter cups in my underware?
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.)
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.)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Last edited by CentralCoaster; May 4, 2007 at 11:56 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Boston, MA
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. 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
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.