I am not beating this guy down but helping him not set himself up for a huge let down. Yes, the perfectly set-up C5 Z06 h/c packages with all the right components put together by top tuners like ECS, Vengenance Racing, etc., are now just starting to see 500rwhp with some consistency and also maintaining streetablility.

This is a very hard number to hit obviously (500rwhp) on a stock bottom end n/a Z06 and you need the perfect set-up (all components R&Ded, picked out, installed and tuned by a pro like ECS/LGM/FLP/Cartek/Vengenacne Racing, etc., with all the go fast parts working together in unison). For instance, ECS is just starting to see 500rwhp out of their stock LS6 motors by using the trickflow heads and their new cam that they had R&D the crap out of, and therefore will not even release the cam specs. Vengenacne Racing is also starting now to hit that magic 500rwhp number also with trickflow heads.

Those are the type of power levels this dude is going to need to have a 10 sec Z06. YOu just can't slap together parts that you have and expect to get there. Instead, you need to order the exact head and cam that is making those numbers in the real world like ECS set-up referenced above, then you need an EXPERT to install it and tune it perfectly (like ECS or VENGENANCE RACING CAN) to accomplish that lofty goal. YOu will also have to go with the other componenets that ECS is using to reach 500rwhp such as their new Amer. Racing 1 7/8 headers, etc.

Also, again, to see 10s on a n/a h/c car he is also going to need 4.10 gears b/c to date, nobody on this forum has seen 10s in a C5 Z06, with a stock cubed h/c motor and they all have 4.10 gears (including ROB Z). REDGAR who Crazee Z has referenced has an AUTO TRANNY C5 and also had 4.10s if I am not mistaken or 3.90 at the least, when he ran into the 10s on his h/c Auto Tranny C5 (and that is after about 1000 passes at the dragstrip out east and he is one of the most hardcore drag racers here). Then when you have the power you need to get it to the ground (et streets and skinnines) and you need the driving skills and you need to fortify your drivetrain a bit with a DTE strut Brace at least and a hardened output shaft would be good also and of couse he will NEED A NEW CLUTCH.

Not beating him down, but just educating him b/c if he just buys any heads and uses his existing cam that he already has he will not COME CLOSE to reaching his goals and this equates to MAJOR DISSAPOINTMENTS and waste of $, b/c my experience has shown just do it right the first time and be done with it and go with what is proven and BATTLE TESTED already (don't experiment) with a bunch of go fast parts that you are mixing together, etc.

 

I agree with much of what you said, except the needing an Expert part. I'm not saying every "shade tree" out there has the skills to even come close, but I have met my share that have stumbled into success. Personally, this is one thing I have noticed when recently joining the corvette world. I come from a performance Mustang, F-body, and Sportbike background where many turn there own wrenchs to get performance. Finally I'm in a financial sitution in my life where I can move up to a Corvette. I then join the Corvette forums, and am AMAZED at the big difference in attitude when it comes to turning your own wrenchs to get performance. It's like most think only a "professional" knows how to make a car go fast and if you even dare touch one nut or bolt on your vehicle yourself a collosal cataclysim of raining terror will befall upon you.

Now I know there are folks on here that do their own work. It's just that the numbers are no where proportionate to what you see with the F-body and Mustang types. That so seems the reason this "Expert only" mentality exists around the corvette world. Let me say something else. You might be surprised how fast some of the country boy "redneck engineers" around the neck of the woods near where I live can make any car go fast. You never read on the internet or in the magazines about the blazing fast "bucket of bolts" that busted everybody's butt down some obscure track and took everybody's money. It's always the ones that look pretty or have some big name behind them that you hear about.

But anyway, I personally would like to see more people get hands on with their vettes. It would only improve the knowledge base around here and decrease the "expert only" mentality.

Hammer

 

just want to add that everything BLWN has said about hitting 10s is true but it is also true for any car trying to go 10s, supercharged, turboed, or not.

 

And I might add, if an ET in the 10's is your goal, there's lots better platforms than a C5.

 

i think it will all be proven this coming summer. I will go ahead and go with the setup get a good tune and run the car. If I dont achieve my goal than I guess I learned the hard way.

 

There is no doubt that you can run 10's in a H/C car with 3.42's. The gears give you a nice edge on the launch mainly so most people make the switch who race alot.
It will take some seat time for sure. I believe a 500rwhp c5Z with 3.42's is capable of 10.7x's and better in good air with the right driver and seat time. I've seen 10.5x's with 4.10's, but less than 470rwhp too, and alot of track time of course.
Several bolt on c6Z's around 500rwhp have run 10's with 3.42's and an M6, granted it's a 427.
A c5Z has an m12 and 3.42's which is a pretty stout combo. This setup with anywhere near 500rwhp should be good for 1.5x 60' times all day with some seat time.(and the occasional 1.4x). That should easily put you in the 10's. But, you have to drive the car hard and launch hard and deal with your share of breakage.
It can be done, it will take time, and you will beat on the car.
My car has seen several 10's cam only with 3.90's.
Obviously, the launch is crucial and gears make it easier and probably less stress on the car.
I've also seen some 1.4x's with 3.73 gears. It takes alot of time/money/ and energy to get to the bottom end of performance in these cars. I'm not sure if it's always worth it....
But, there seems to be a resurgence of H/C cars making big power and wanted to run at the drags. I think this is great. If you don't mind breaking parts once in a while then I can tell you it's a great hobby and running a 10 is a great goal and a blast.
I would like to see some 10's from Crazy Zee(you drove my car remember), Brad, Kamil, mike69, Taylordog,etc..
Make sure you get some video so we can enjoy and give feedback. I have some cool video's floating around if anyone want to see also.

 

Now ROB Z is certainly a man wh knows what he is talking about and is a hardcore dragracer and can row the gears in a C5 Z06 with the best of them. As you can see ROB Z also agrees that especially if you keep your 3.42 gears you are going to NEED to be making around 500rwhp and with the set-up your proposing with that stealth cam you have you will not even come close to making 500rwhp and more likely with the heads your planning on might see 440rwhp TOPS running maybe 11.3s/11.2s at best (after mega seat time and practice) on the tracks here in Norhtern, IL!! Perfect example is that Larry, sales manager at SPeed, Inc, an another EXPERT 1/4 mile DRIVER with a ton of driving experience down the 1320 has not run faster than 11.39 at Byron dragway, with the same type of stealth cam your running and he is the #2 guy at Speed, Inc, and who can drive the **** out of a 6 speed!!

Not trying to break your spirit/nuts, but just trying to help you by educating you that it takes a perfectly matched combo with a decent sized cam and 1 7/8 headers, to make 500rwhp on a stock cubed LS6 power C5 Z, and you are simply setting yourself up for disappointment if you plan on running into the 10s with that your proposed stealth cam on your set-up on a Norther Illinois track like Byron, Rt 66 or Union Grove, ESPECIALLY if your not upgrading to at least 3.90 gears (like ROB Z had) when he ran his cammed up Z into the 10s on fast New Jersey tracks with expert driving skills!!

At any rate, I wish you the best of luck on reaching all your goals and don't set your expectation too high as that is how people get disappointed easiest on these types of matters!!