[Z06] Non Z items installed?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 4
From: Indianapolis Indiana
St. Jude Donor '13, '15, ‘18, '21
Non Z items installed?
After finally getting around to working on my Z some I found that the previous owner had installed MSD wires on the car.
Once under the car I found that it appears to have a standard corvette catback and not the Ti system so I figure he either sold it or traded it to someone. The system on it is spray painted black (flaking) and has different tips then my 98 with the Ti system installed. Might explain why it always sounded a little quiet to me.
Another thing I saw when underneath is the shocks are all black and say something like NGK on them. Shouldn't they be bilsteins? and yellow? I think the fronts said NGJ or something similar. The car does not handle as tight as I would have thought it should so I am thinking he may have stripped that off as well.
Once under the car I found that it appears to have a standard corvette catback and not the Ti system so I figure he either sold it or traded it to someone. The system on it is spray painted black (flaking) and has different tips then my 98 with the Ti system installed. Might explain why it always sounded a little quiet to me.
Another thing I saw when underneath is the shocks are all black and say something like NGK on them. Shouldn't they be bilsteins? and yellow? I think the fronts said NGJ or something similar. The car does not handle as tight as I would have thought it should so I am thinking he may have stripped that off as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Stock shock absorbers are black, and made by Sachs. Most German cars use them for OEM. You might be seeing part of the part number or something on them.
If they're stock units, they're probably due for a replacement. Worn out suspension bushings or an improper wheel alignment can both greatly effect how the car feels.
Also, while it's possible that the catback is a stock non-z unit, both the Hooker and Flowmaster catbacks for C5s are painted black. A stock piece should have a GM part number stamped in it. And the stock C5 tips are pretty easy to spot (tiny ovals).
If they're stock units, they're probably due for a replacement. Worn out suspension bushings or an improper wheel alignment can both greatly effect how the car feels.
Also, while it's possible that the catback is a stock non-z unit, both the Hooker and Flowmaster catbacks for C5s are painted black. A stock piece should have a GM part number stamped in it. And the stock C5 tips are pretty easy to spot (tiny ovals).
Last edited by onspeed; Sep 6, 2012 at 11:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 4
From: Indianapolis Indiana
St. Jude Donor '13, '15, ‘18, '21
Yes these tips are oval and looks like some of the tip covers were tack welded at the top. No idea why i did not notice before. I will see if i can read the numbers on the mufflers but there was a series written there.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 4
From: Indianapolis Indiana
St. Jude Donor '13, '15, ‘18, '21
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I looked at a black 02 Z06 one time setting on a dealers lot. Of course they were asking top dollar for it. It did have long tube headers but, it too had stock C5 corvette cat back exhaust on it. It also had non-Z06 seats in it. Chrome Z06 wheels that were peeling pretty bad. The last thing I noticed about it was it had a regular C5 intake on it. The car ran and drove very nicely. I wound up passing on that black Z. They would not budge on the car but did call me later asking if I was still interested.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 4
From: Indianapolis Indiana
St. Jude Donor '13, '15, ‘18, '21
I looked at a black 02 Z06 one time setting on a dealers lot. Of course they were asking top dollar for it. It did have long tube headers but, it too had stock C5 corvette cat back exhaust on it. It also had non-Z06 seats in it. Chrome Z06 wheels that were peeling pretty bad. The last thing I noticed about it was it had a regular C5 intake on it. The car ran and drove very nicely. I wound up passing on that black Z. They would not budge on the car but did call me later asking if I was still interested.
