C5 rear swap
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
C5 rear swap
Im having trouble finding exactly what I want in a C5 and may have to compromise....
What sort of headache is swapping the rear ratio to a more performance set ? Can it truly be as easy as sliding in the new set and recalibration of the speedo ? Or does the whole rear need to be pulled out at great expense ?
Also, is adding the HUD feature worth it ? I assume it would cost at least 2k ???
What sort of headache is swapping the rear ratio to a more performance set ? Can it truly be as easy as sliding in the new set and recalibration of the speedo ? Or does the whole rear need to be pulled out at great expense ?
Also, is adding the HUD feature worth it ? I assume it would cost at least 2k ???
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Swapping in a new diff with a lower ratio is easy if you are used to doing your own oil changes, brakes, etc. No speedo recal is necessary on the C5 since the sensor takeoff is on the top of the diff over the right output shaft.
I have seen HUD kits go for less than $1K and the swap itself is also something very doable by a diy'er. I love the HUD on my C5 but it's a matter of personal preference. I'd get it on all my cars if I could.
There are several how-to's floating around on both these jobs that take the mystery out of the mods.
Here's one of mine on the gears, etc.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...mega-pics.html
A HUD how-to
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...l?ref=esp-link
I have seen HUD kits go for less than $1K and the swap itself is also something very doable by a diy'er. I love the HUD on my C5 but it's a matter of personal preference. I'd get it on all my cars if I could.
There are several how-to's floating around on both these jobs that take the mystery out of the mods.
Here's one of mine on the gears, etc.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...mega-pics.html
A HUD how-to
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...l?ref=esp-link
Last edited by Patches; Jul 3, 2012 at 10:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Patches knows what he's talking about.
But to answer your first question more in-depth, you'll have to remove the entire rear diff. That involves removing the entire rear cradle, tilting the driveline and removing the diff.
Once that's done, then the next question. What kind of car did you get? If you bought an auto, that came in 2.73 and 3.15 varieties. All manuals came in 3.42. You can't do anything with the 2.73 case (not even thick gears), so you'll be SOL and need a new carrier. The 3.15 and manual cars can be upgraded with different gears, but it's a little more involved than your standard 10 or 12 bolt gear upgrades. While at it, I'd recommend doing hardend shaft upgrades. No sense of tearing it apart a few times if you go big power later.
Many auto guys just choose to just buy 3.42 Z06 carriers and make the swap. I'll disagree that if you can do brakes then you can swap the diff. Sure, anything can be done, but that's a lot of work. If you're set up for it, have the tools and comfortable, then go for it.
Manual cars don't need any speedo recalibration. As Patches stated, the sensors are on the output side of the diff. Auto cars don't need speedo recalibration, but do need to get programmed for the tranny shift points. Otherwise at WOT, you'll bounce off the rev limiter and never make the shift into the next gear.
But to answer your first question more in-depth, you'll have to remove the entire rear diff. That involves removing the entire rear cradle, tilting the driveline and removing the diff.
Once that's done, then the next question. What kind of car did you get? If you bought an auto, that came in 2.73 and 3.15 varieties. All manuals came in 3.42. You can't do anything with the 2.73 case (not even thick gears), so you'll be SOL and need a new carrier. The 3.15 and manual cars can be upgraded with different gears, but it's a little more involved than your standard 10 or 12 bolt gear upgrades. While at it, I'd recommend doing hardend shaft upgrades. No sense of tearing it apart a few times if you go big power later.
Many auto guys just choose to just buy 3.42 Z06 carriers and make the swap. I'll disagree that if you can do brakes then you can swap the diff. Sure, anything can be done, but that's a lot of work. If you're set up for it, have the tools and comfortable, then go for it.
Manual cars don't need any speedo recalibration. As Patches stated, the sensors are on the output side of the diff. Auto cars don't need speedo recalibration, but do need to get programmed for the tranny shift points. Otherwise at WOT, you'll bounce off the rev limiter and never make the shift into the next gear.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
The HUD is OK but Its nicer in the C6 if you use navigation. I would not use the digital bar tach or gauges as much as the digital speed display. Check gauges feature comes in handy. Most of all when the cruise control is on is when my attention is there. Funny how its right there yet poses no distraction. Not for me anyway.
I'm a 315 rear. The whole pumpkin has to come out which is quite doable providing you have a hoist. I wish I had an ecomomy 273 just for taking long trips which is a different casing. Wouldn't it be nice if you could pop them in and out like the old Chrysler "hams", but on second thought, those rears really sucked
I'm a 315 rear. The whole pumpkin has to come out which is quite doable providing you have a hoist. I wish I had an ecomomy 273 just for taking long trips which is a different casing. Wouldn't it be nice if you could pop them in and out like the old Chrysler "hams", but on second thought, those rears really sucked
