After being a Ford man...for as long as i can remember... Im coming to the dark side I know a 4.6 DOHC like nobodys business... but i like to think i am fairly up on the GM side of things too....however... i have some questions for the experts.

Im looking at picking up an 01 QS Z.... and its a VERY good deal. Ive been wanting an 02-04...but the deal is too good to pass up (or so I think).

what exactly am I missing out on by going with the 01? Obviously... 385 not 405... but Im going to full exhaust and Cam the car... so not an issue. No HUD.... ok... I gotta keep looking at the speedo like I have in every other car ive ever owned....


what am i forgetting?

Not much. If it is that good a deal just take it. Look down this section. This question has been asked about once a week for months... Someone wrote a nice long dissertation on all the differences. Since you are modding the motor don't worry about it.

lulz... Im a moderator at LS2 so you would think that the FIRST thing I would do is use the search...

How long can I use the "Im new here" excuse?

the 01s are great cars too. Id take it in a hearbeat if the $ is right. Especially if your going to mod it anyway.

I have owned both. The ride on the 01 was a little stiffer. Other than that and the HUD I couldn't tell the difference between the two. If it is a good deal by all means take it. And welcome to the dark side.

Ive loved the C5Z since they came out and always been a fan of the GM engine platform....
im leaving Iraq in 60-ish days... and i have a year of deployment money burning a hole in my pocket

are the 01 rims any different? the stock ones have got to go....

01s were slighter darker grey, also they were forged(stronger).01 wheels also weighed like 1.3 pounds more then the 02-04 wheels.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-z...tions-faq.html
Everything you ever wanted to know about Z06s ^

Yes the 01 was the pinnacle of the Z 06. The first year of the C 5 Z 06 and of course perfection was difficult to duplicate so they took a step down and changed the wheels and the badges and added HUD. And the 405 HP only gives you broken valve springs and the HUD...yawn...just makes the dash look ugly and besides who needs it anyway it adds weight and we all know weight is bad.

Go with the 01 for sure. This is just my totally unbiased opinion. Ok so I have an 01...but still.

What he said, wait no i own an 02 that is by far the best year. 01s go through a quart every 50miles.

Well actually it is 100 miles. 50 miles if you are tracking it. One little known advantage on the track is that the fine oil mist causes cars behind you to lose traction and clouds their windshields. So if you can get out front you are almost always guaranteed a win!

Gentlemen please...

We all know 03 was the best year

I have an '01 and love that car. I'm attached to it.

If someone offered an even trade of an '02+ with the same color and miles I would keep my '01. It's not worth trading.

I've probably driven hundreds of c5's and countless c5Zo6's..... The performance difference is very hard to tell among Z cars.. I've driven stock '01s that felt a lot stronger than 02+

It's a crap shoot. Get one based on condition and enjoy the mods.

I have three (3) hardtops , two red (2) 2000 FRCs and an '01 QS Z06. Couldn't be happier. Love the hardtop design first off, though I suppose that's obvious.

The '02-'04 have the advantage of the lighter valve train, .05 lift cam, and the newer design dual brick CATs which eliminate the 'Kalifornia' LEV pup early light-off CATs for a 2 inches of mercury reduction of back pressure. Both give the 405HP LS6 better breathing at top end and aid in addition horse power mods. But some simple mods to the '01 LS6 will easily put it in contention with its later model brothers.

I like the idea of the forged Alcoa rims on the '01 Z but has Speedline had any problems ? None that i know of.

Personally I went looking for the '01 Z. I wanted one of the first Z06 M/Y. I found one three (3) years ago March that is a one owner , southern Kalifornia car with 24,000 miles and a Vin number that could possibly be the last Z06 of the '01 M/Y ( June 18th '01).

Oil consumption can be an issue.http://www.rjsmith.com/gm-894549.html Do some homework with GM service history report and ask the present or previous owner(s) about the issue. I haven't any problems ( a few ounces )with any of my cars between the 3,000 mile oil changes. But with any LSX engine its prudent to install an oil catch can. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...questions.html If you want more specific answers to the LS6 PM or Email me.


The OEM rear shocks aren't the best of the Z06es. Many advocate the '04s , but I have installed the late '2007 C6 Z06 shocks (much less $$$) with very satisfactory results ( my cars are not lowered).

For the $21,000 I paid , its the best bang for the buck.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/corvet...ater-z06s.html <-- A sticky from LS1tech.com.

I've got an 01 Z06 and drive it pretty hard. I take it to the tracks and push it to the limits.

Previously I had an 02 Vert and I must admit I do miss the HUD at the track as you don't have to look down as far to see how fast you are going.

The HP difference will go away as soon as you mod.

The oil problem joked about above is very real. It's called Ring Flutter and there is a real tech bulletin out on it. If you are going to track your car, that would be one reason to avoid the 01 model. It's embarrassing when fellow drivers tell you your smoking. You get warned by the track workers about it. Technically they say there is no performance hit. However, I've been tuning my car with EFILive and am questioning what that oil getting past the scraper rings up into the combustion area is doing to the AFR. The computer is expecting air and gas, not oil in the equation. Still a great car and with mods will keep up with the C6.

2001's are the best of all years!! I have my second one now and have had an 02, 03, 04, 05 all at once. Thought about getting one for each day of the week but my wife says....that aint happenin. Anyway, I have found that the 2001 is much more "spry" than all the rest. More dependable, quicker, faster and being it was the first year back for the Z06 I have heard that they did some things to it that know one even knows about. That's what makes it a lil more "spry" I would guess. Don't get sucked in to the extra "20" HP crap cause it don't mean squat.

Exactly how is it faster!? Essentially the same car, yes. But even though the car put on a little bit more weight, the added power more than made up for it. I'm a tad lost here.

Were talkin very small differences between them all but I feel the difference having owned them all at once. Go with the 01 an you have made the right choice.

Just trying to figure out the "quicker, faster" claim. I'm not saying you're right or wrong. I understand saying you like 1 year more than another, but sometimes it's just non-sense to say things that numbers and results clearly say otherwise.

I've never owned an 01, so I can't say if I like the 01 or 02 better. What I do like is the HUD. Although, during the day when I wear polarized glasses, I can hardly see the HUD.

Some of the 01 models burned oil, that would be my main concern.. Also, the clutch is 7% stronger on the 02-04 models due to the extra hp and torque.. GM initially tried to use the 01 clutch in the 02 and it failed prematurely. So plan on a clutch swap when doing your mods.