Lt4 vs C5 Z06
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Naples FL
St. Jude Donor '12
Lt4 vs C5 Z06
Still trying to decide which one to buy here, thanks for the patience.
Looking at performance reviews the published 1/4 times for the LT4 are around 13.7 while the C5 Z06 is about a full second quicker. On paper this makes no sense. It seems the LT4 should at least be a low 13 sec car?
Am I missing something? The published times were listed as old R&T and C&D reviews
Thanks
Looking at performance reviews the published 1/4 times for the LT4 are around 13.7 while the C5 Z06 is about a full second quicker. On paper this makes no sense. It seems the LT4 should at least be a low 13 sec car?
Am I missing something? The published times were listed as old R&T and C&D reviews
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
All other things being as they are, the LS6 is a few ticks above LT4 powered Corvettes. Owners here will claim a driver's race between the LS1 and LT4, that doesn't really hold against the Z06. The LT4's claim to fame is more nostalgic by comparison: one year only and offered in the limited production GS for that generation.
Price for a decent Z06 would net you a nice GS. Depends on what your priority would be: speed/looks/specialty/exclusivity. The LT4 isn't a slug but it doesn't go like an LS6 Vette.
Price for a decent Z06 would net you a nice GS. Depends on what your priority would be: speed/looks/specialty/exclusivity. The LT4 isn't a slug but it doesn't go like an LS6 Vette.
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Still trying to decide which one to buy here, thanks for the patience.
Looking at performance reviews the published 1/4 times for the LT4 are around 13.7 while the C5 Z06 is about a full second quicker. On paper this makes no sense. It seems the LT4 should at least be a low 13 sec car?
Am I missing something? The published times were listed as old R&T and C&D reviews
Thanks
Looking at performance reviews the published 1/4 times for the LT4 are around 13.7 while the C5 Z06 is about a full second quicker. On paper this makes no sense. It seems the LT4 should at least be a low 13 sec car?
Am I missing something? The published times were listed as old R&T and C&D reviews
Thanks
Also the heads up display is just cool. I wasn't even looking for one with a HUD, it just happened to come with the car. Now it's weird driving other cars without it lol
Just make sure to change the valve springs after you get it
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Stock LT4s...from air intake to muffler tips, on street tires will run low 13s all day long with a decent driver. Several people have gotten them into the high 12s. My best...and keep in mind I'm a road racer...when my car was stock from nose to tail was 13.001 at 109mph.
All these other times people quote for the two cars...11s this, low 12 that, mine is bigger than yours, yada, yada, yada...are with great driver's using drag radials, or other "non engine" mods that make comparisons useless. It's as pointless as putting a stock LT4 in a tube chassis 2200 lb "Corvette" and then saying a stock LT4 engine Corvette ran XXs.
It's not what the data says, it's how you spin it
Bottom line is that unless you want something rough around the edges, a stock Z06 will run circles around a stock LT4 at every venue. It will also ride better, handle better, and get better fuel mileage. In addition, the LS6 will respond better to equivalent mods.
That's just the way it is.
All these other times people quote for the two cars...11s this, low 12 that, mine is bigger than yours, yada, yada, yada...are with great driver's using drag radials, or other "non engine" mods that make comparisons useless. It's as pointless as putting a stock LT4 in a tube chassis 2200 lb "Corvette" and then saying a stock LT4 engine Corvette ran XXs.
It's not what the data says, it's how you spin it Bottom line is that unless you want something rough around the edges, a stock Z06 will run circles around a stock LT4 at every venue. It will also ride better, handle better, and get better fuel mileage. In addition, the LS6 will respond better to equivalent mods.
That's just the way it is.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 5
From: Greensburg PA
The C5 Z06 is without a doubt one of the best cars for the money. Fantastic right out of the box. You're going to get better power, with a MUCH better suspension/chassis.
It'd be hard for me to choose between a C4/C5, but I'd take a C5Z over damn near any C4
It'd be hard for me to choose between a C4/C5, but I'd take a C5Z over damn near any C4
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
After having either driven most every yr C4 I too would get the C5Z.
If any C5 has the darty light in the pants feel that one is it.
Has a little character and soul too it unlike the base C5 imo.
Light quick cool roofline, fast and reliable.
If any C5 has the darty light in the pants feel that one is it.
Has a little character and soul too it unlike the base C5 imo.
Light quick cool roofline, fast and reliable.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Naples FL
St. Jude Donor '12
Alright, alright - You all convinced me LOL....
Thanks, as usual a wealth of info here.
Still not sure how 50 HP makes it a full second + quicker. I'm guessing the torque curve must be a lot better.
Thanks, as usual a wealth of info here.
Still not sure how 50 HP makes it a full second + quicker. I'm guessing the torque curve must be a lot better.
Last edited by Coach62; Jun 26, 2012 at 09:15 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
1. 75 hp actually.
2. 65 ft-lbs tq (plus the LS6 has a much broader platform of tq)
3. Lower weight; The C5 Z06 weighs about 300 lbs less than a late, loaded C4
That all adds up to a spankin'. The Z06 will eat a C4 LT4 alive.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Naples FL
St. Jude Donor '12
It's my understanding that the LT4 actually put out 350 HP. It was under rated by about 20 HP. There are dyno results on the net that do seem to confirm this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
[QUOTE=Coach62;1581171745]It's my understanding that the LT4 actually put out 350 HP. It was under rated by about 20 HP. There are dyno results on the net that do seem to confirm this.[/QUOTE]
truth be told, most motors are underrated. The manufactures get in trouble if they advertise hp higher then the output actually is. Do a search on mazda rx8 and you will see what im saying. But as stated 75hp and 300lbs weight savings makes for a faster car. I can tell you from being at the dragraces, a c5zo6 can run into the 11's with just drag radials. Several years ago, I raced one and he was about 1 tenth slower then my heads, cam, header car in my signature.
But you need to drive them both to decide which one you want.
truth be told, most motors are underrated. The manufactures get in trouble if they advertise hp higher then the output actually is. Do a search on mazda rx8 and you will see what im saying. But as stated 75hp and 300lbs weight savings makes for a faster car. I can tell you from being at the dragraces, a c5zo6 can run into the 11's with just drag radials. Several years ago, I raced one and he was about 1 tenth slower then my heads, cam, header car in my signature.
But you need to drive them both to decide which one you want.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
You asked how the c 5 Z06 can be so much faster. I just told you clearly. Now you're making a claim about the LT4 being underrated. The track track numbers tell a story. One car can run low thirteens or high 12's. The other can run low 12 or high 11's. Those are the facts. The Z06 has more hp, more tq, and it weighs less. That all adds up to make it about 1 second faster in tbe 1/4
I just wanted to add in order for me to be running 1tenth or so faster then a stock c5zo6 with drag radials, I was running a automatic with a 3000 stall, 4.09 gears, draglite wheels with skinnys on the front and bias ply et street drag tires on the back. FWIW my hp was about 360 at the rear wheels, and again, im very little faster.