Hope this is the right forum. Hello all, my name is Andy and I think I will be snagging a corvette soon.

I recently had my 2000 SS camaro stolen and thought it my be a good time to upgrade. I should get between $10,000 and $12,000 from the insurance company, and I have already been approved for $20,000 by my CU. While it increases my purchase options, its not as if I can buy the cheapest car and use the remainder of the loan for more mods.

My initial thoughts were that I wanted a 6 speed C5 vette with around 500-550whp and very little perceptible changes with idle quality and normal driving. The two paths I had chosen for reaching these goals were either a forged 346 with a supercharger or a big block 427 motor. I really don't have the facilities here to do any of the work myself, so I am at the mercy of local speed shops. As usual, this project seems like its going to cost more than I had anticipated, with turn key prices for both setups going north of $12k. I'm using $12k for an arbitrary mod budget because that is about what I can get for my stolen vehicle. I can spend more, but if I have learned anything in 30 years, its that as soon as you put yourself in a financially vulnerable position, the other shoe drops. I like my cash reserves, so I am going to try and keep a conservative build budget if I can. I am faced with several strategical dilemmas and I thought of a couple ways to keep costs down.

The first is: high mileage car or low mileage car? Since the purchase fund is effectively separate from the mod fund, I don't know if just getting a high mileage car for a lower price is the best idea. I don't want to buy a 150k mile car , replace the engine, and then have to completely go through the suspension as well. If I buy a lower mileage car, I could probably just put a SC kit on it (5-6lbs + new valve springs, timing chain, oil pump) and run for a few months at around 450whp while saving additional money for a forged rebuild. I wouldn't feel very safe doing that with a 100k+ motor. Alternatively, I could get a higher mileage car and completely rebuild the engine H/C/I for ~450whp, and then add the supercharger later. If I go that route, should I upgrade to an LS2? Or maybe a stroker? These would be marginal expenses if I'm already doing a total rebuild.

As far as the 427 goes, I am at a loss. I could save a few dollars using an L92 block. Ideally I would just get an LS7 take out engine and add a baby cam and headers, but with all the finishing and conversion expenses the price still creeps up. An all aluminum 427 has its own appeal to me regardless of functionality.

I also have to think about whether I would be better off buying a Z06 or a reg C5. It would be cool to have a real Z06, just like it was cool to have a real SS, but all the associated performance can be bought (it just can't be financed as cheaply as it can with an auto loan. Ha!). I guess the engine advantages are negligible for what I have planned. As I understand it the Z06 transmission is geared more aggressively and the differential is stronger. More aggressive transmission gearing saves me a ring and pinion swap and its hard to knock a stronger diff. I would love the race car feel of the ZO6 suspension (how does that compare to z51, BTW?), but With mainly higher milage Z cars in my price range, I'm afraid the nice suspension parts might be worn out already.

That's kind of where I'm sitting with it. I'm new to this platform so I hope you guys can help me out.

 

Well, your way over my head, but I think a Vette is a move in the right direction, Welcome to the forum and good luck!

 

Check the C5 for sale section. It's far cheaper to buy one already modified than to do it yourself. TRUST ME!!!!! Most are pretty close to your price range

 

Just buy a Z06. Wait to add mods until you understand the car and how it handles.

I will tell you from experience you add a turbo or supercharger to the stock engine:
- expect to replace the clutch very soon $1k+ parts/labor

With the new clutch it will hook but you won't have traction:
- drag radials $600+

Now it hooks....but you have wheel hop:
- diff brace/trans brace/etc. $600

Now it hooks and no wheel hop:
- broken diff $1200

New 390 gears in the diff:
- broken main shaft $2000

it goes on and on.....

Just enjoy a fairly stock Z06 for what it is and plan your strategy to minimize weak links that will break and make your Corvette ownership a nightmare...

 

That is soooo true!

 

Speed cost money how fast do you want to go?

 

Man just get a z06 and drive it and enjoy it. If you go down the dark side you better double the amount of money you say you have for sure.. And dont ask how I know that.. Robert

 

I should have mentioned before that planned mods included a clutch and headers. I understand the rest of what you're saying, but That's the same with every car -- replacing the next weakest link, rinse and repeat. With my Camaro I ensured that the tires were the weakest link, because I can modulate that with my driving. And I still ran it to 12.4 on real street tires (no drag radials). I want to put together a car with enough power for 10's so I can run 11's with it on street tires without too much drama.

 

I'm eying that 427 99 coupe.

 

 

Which one is the dark side again? If its the blower, I don't see how we're talking about $24,000 to get a streetable forged 346 with a centrifugal making 500-550rwhp. This is not a max effort type deal.

 

Come on, there has to be more information on this forum than "Buy a Z and leave it stock!"

 

Okay Andy....here goes..


I once owned an f-body and thought it was on par with the Vette as you think your 2000 SS was. The "perceived" performance level you are looking for (500+rwhp) is there with a stock Z06.

Your 2000 SS:
300 lbs heavier
85 less horsepower
2.66 1st gear vs. 2.97 in the Z06.
Reline at 6000 and 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.

The 2000 SS is a "pig".... Once you actually drive or ride in a Z06 you will completely understand what all of us already know. The acceleration in a Z06 is something you have to experience.

Here's a video for you to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cWT4kZkYb8

 

The acceleration of an 11.5 quarter mile is something I have experienced, as is riding in and driving a z06. Also, 3/4 of your guesses about my car are incorrect. I guess you got the weight about right.

11.5 in the quarter isn't much to brag about these days, especially considering the fact that your video might indicate the potential of the machine, but it is a fairly unusual result. Take a look at the stats for z06 cars just on this site. Most of the bolt on and internal mod cars don't even match that time.

 

Sounds like this is what you want: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/perf...at-134mph.html

 

Hmm

 

Well... you're halfway there. You've set a budget and it sounds like you're planning on sticking pretty close to it. Always a good idea when it comes to significant mods as you can start throwing money into a bottomless hole very quickly.

Now the other half; you need a plan. You've listed a ton of possible directions to go; you need to pick one. There are upsides and downsides to both FI and motor swaps. Building your current motor and putting a blower on it is probably going to be cheaper than doing a swap; but the potential of the motor to make more power in the future will be significantly less with an LS1/LS6. Honesly, I'm not sure 12K is enough of a budget for a good LS7 swap as you mentioned in your OP (especially if you're not doing the work) so you might want to go ahead and rule that out.

What are your short term goals? Long term? How much power do you want to make? Will this be a DD, weekend only, track only car? Road racing or drag strip? Will this be your only vehicle?

Also, where are you located? You should fill out your profile so we know a little more about you and, after you purchase one, your car. There might be a good vette shop close to you that you could call and discuss your needs with. There are a ton of excellent speed shops on this board: England Green and ECS would be good places to start. Call them and give them your budget and see what they can do for you.

You need to decide which direction you're going to go before you decide whether the Z06 is worth the extra money or not. I would always go for a lower mileage car over a higher mileage one if cost wasn't a limiting factor. Don't be afraid of 60 - 70K miles as these cars are really just getting broken in at that point. There are members on this board with over 300K on the original motor... READ THIS: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...z06-specs.html

Also; not all years of the C5 are the same. 2001+ models came with an LS6 intake (same as Z06), gen 2 active handling and a few other upgrades. Also, in 01+ C5's the LS1 and LS6 are the SAME BLOCK. Something to consider if you're going to build your current motor. Another thing to consider is parts availability. A lot of the items on the C5's in general are becoming scarce but the early models seem to be feeling this pain a little more than others. Run a search on EBCM and you'll see what I mean.

Read this: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/3498026-post3.html

Also, read this before you buy any C5 so you know what to look for: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...l?forum_id=103

 

Well, as far as power goes, I think 500-550whp would be more than enough to satisfy me for quite a while. Even if/when I do look for more, I can't imagine what I would do with more than 600 hp in a car this light. At that point I would probably rather buy an additional car than spend the money on a new engine. I think from an efficiency standpoint, I can get more power for less money while sacrificing less idle quality with a small blower motor than with a big block. But like I said, the aluminum 427 chevy is an icon.

Short term goals are that I want a fun car to drive that will run mid 11s with ease on street tires, stockish idle quality. It will mostly be used for tooling around when I''m not working. Ideally I would like 500-550 hp, but as I said if I need to make it a two phase project I can settle for starting out with 450hp. I would like to build it as a well rounded sports car. I understand that means sacrificing excellency in some areas for proficiency in most areas. Track, strip, cruiser, this will be the go to car. Not my only car and not my DD, but it will be my only fun car for now.

I currently live in New Orleans. The primary shops I'm working with are Vengeance Racing and Futral Motorsports, because they are run by people whom I know and trust from my Fbody days. I've been discussing it with them for about 3 weeks. Raging Racing has recently come to my attention as well. I made my post here because with broader information I can make a better decision.

If I was looking for a devoted drag car, then I would probably dismiss the Zs out of hand, but I want the whole package. Like the 427, the z06 holds its own iconic appeal to me. I guess a good question to ask would be: Can I build a C5 to Z06 spec for less money than I can buy a Z06 (excluding vehicle weight)?

Good info on model year differences and parts availability. I hadn't considered that.

 

You might be surprized by the weight of these cars. They are not as light as you might think. Forced induction on even a stock LS1 will get you plenty of go power for the street.

 

Given what your goals are, if it were my money, I'd get an 01 - 04 coupe 6MT with under 40K miles (open air when you want it; hard-top when you don't and with your budget for mods your going to blow away the Z's anyway). Then I'd get:

This: http://www.tickperformance.com/a-a-c...e-z06-ls1-ls6/

and talk to England Green about a cam (and valvetrain upgrade pushrods springs etc.): http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-new-cams.html

and talk to Rick about beefing up your differential and swapping in 3.73 gears: http://rkt56.com/

Pick up a good set of LT Headers and pair that with a used Z06 Ti cat-back (very light and excellent sound with headers. You can buy these in the FS section on this forum; there's almost always some for sale.). Stage 3 or better clutch with a tick adjustable master cylinder and a remote bleeder line and an MGW shifter.

Then let your favorite shop put everything in for you and dyno-tune it then smile and

Lots of ways you could go with this. Also, not sure how set you are on having your local shop do the install, but England Green and Tick Performance are both offering specials on A&A supercharger installations at the moment...