Frc
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 419
Likes: 3
From: North Lauderdale FL
Nah, the FRC is the poor man's wrencher car! You can get one for close to $7K less than a Z06 if you buy it right. $7K will yield you hours of fun in the garage wrenching on the parts you choose to modify the car to meet your specific needs (a streetable open track car, in my case).
That's how I look at it. I bought mine for $17K. At the time Z06's were going from $23 if you stole it to $25 for a clean driver. For the $7K I saved I've done heads, cam, headers, mufflers, intake, CAI, shocks, shifter, clutch, torque tube, etc and have bought two sets of tires and I'm still where I would be cost wise if I'd have bought a Z06. And, I've got a very streetable 415 WHP and 490 CHP.
Just my .02.
Kurt
That's how I look at it. I bought mine for $17K. At the time Z06's were going from $23 if you stole it to $25 for a clean driver. For the $7K I saved I've done heads, cam, headers, mufflers, intake, CAI, shocks, shifter, clutch, torque tube, etc and have bought two sets of tires and I'm still where I would be cost wise if I'd have bought a Z06. And, I've got a very streetable 415 WHP and 490 CHP.
Just my .02.
Kurt
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
The car may be a bit 'stiffer' due to the body, but it's got nohing to do with the frame (chassis).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
it was your intent. saying the frames are all the same implies they are all identical. beings there is a stiffness difference that's worth noting
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 348
From: My interests are mobile
It's correct, that GM engineers planned the C5 frame to be used as a convertible first and foremost, in order to avoid adding bracing as they did in the C4 verts (thus adding weight). The hydroformed frame of the C5 is really what gave it the huge increase in stiffness over the C4.
The FRC is simply stiffer than all because it eliminates the removable roof panel (coupe), and actually adds a roof (vs vert), then drops all the weight from the removal of the rear glass.
The FRC is simply stiffer than all because it eliminates the removable roof panel (coupe), and actually adds a roof (vs vert), then drops all the weight from the removal of the rear glass.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 79
From: pueblo co
Nah, the FRC is the poor man's wrencher car! You can get one for close to $7K less than a Z06 if you buy it right. $7K will yield you hours of fun in the garage wrenching on the parts you choose to modify the car to meet your specific needs (a streetable open track car, in my case).
That's how I look at it. I bought mine for $17K. At the time Z06's were going from $23 if you stole it to $25 for a clean driver. For the $7K I saved I've done heads, cam, headers, mufflers, intake, CAI, shocks, shifter, clutch, torque tube, etc and have bought two sets of tires and I'm still where I would be cost wise if I'd have bought a Z06. And, I've got a very streetable 415 WHP and 490 CHP.
Just my .02.
Kurt
That's how I look at it. I bought mine for $17K. At the time Z06's were going from $23 if you stole it to $25 for a clean driver. For the $7K I saved I've done heads, cam, headers, mufflers, intake, CAI, shocks, shifter, clutch, torque tube, etc and have bought two sets of tires and I'm still where I would be cost wise if I'd have bought a Z06. And, I've got a very streetable 415 WHP and 490 CHP.
Just my .02.
Kurt
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 79
From: pueblo co
he is correct on his statement..only 04 Z06 got the carbon fiber hood..the coupe or vert did not get them
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Nah, the FRC is the poor man's wrencher car! You can get one for close to $7K less than a Z06 if you buy it right. $7K will yield you hours of fun in the garage wrenching on the parts you choose to modify the car to meet your specific needs (a streetable open track car, in my case).
That's how I look at it. I bought mine for $17K. At the time Z06's were going from $23 if you stole it to $25 for a clean driver. For the $7K I saved I've done heads, cam, headers, mufflers, intake, CAI, shocks, shifter, clutch, torque tube, etc and have bought two sets of tires and I'm still where I would be cost wise if I'd have bought a Z06. And, I've got a very streetable 415 WHP and 490 CHP.
Just my .02.
Kurt
That's how I look at it. I bought mine for $17K. At the time Z06's were going from $23 if you stole it to $25 for a clean driver. For the $7K I saved I've done heads, cam, headers, mufflers, intake, CAI, shocks, shifter, clutch, torque tube, etc and have bought two sets of tires and I'm still where I would be cost wise if I'd have bought a Z06. And, I've got a very streetable 415 WHP and 490 CHP.
Just my .02.
Kurt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 305
Likes: 3
From: Newbury Park CA
I think GM internally referred to them as the Billy Bob or something like that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 64
From: Gulf Coast Mississippi
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
I bought my FRC instead of a Z because I knew I would be upgrading or changing a lot of things to get the car I really wanted, I could have bought any car I wanted but I chose the FRC because I love the look of this body style, and now that she's slamming 630+ horses to the pavement I would not have done anything any different 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 200
From: Atlanta GA
As other have stated, FRC was an entry level Vette until 2001. At that time, the only FRCs were Z06s.
The FRCs before 2001 came with Z51 suspension and manual trans. After 2001, the weight was reduced, an LS6 replace the LS1, which meant higher HP and torque, bigger swaybars, beefed up suspension, different wheel camber, stiffer shocks with F41 suspension (Z06 only).
The FRCs before 2001 came with Z51 suspension and manual trans. After 2001, the weight was reduced, an LS6 replace the LS1, which meant higher HP and torque, bigger swaybars, beefed up suspension, different wheel camber, stiffer shocks with F41 suspension (Z06 only).
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 8
From: South Bend IN
Didn't you read my original post? My budget was $23 to $24K. I chose to spend $17K on the car and $7K on mods and ended up with the car I wanted for my needs rather than $24K on a bone stock Z06. And I have another 85HP over stock. Either way I spent $24K. Isn't that apples and apples?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 8
From: South Bend IN
BTW, no lightweight carbon hood on Z06's until '04, which was WAY out of my budget. Thinner glass windshield, yea, I'll give you that.
As far as my time, wrenching is my hobbie. I have a job, wife, two kids, a mortgage, 3 sailboats, a kayak and a Corvette. I don't have a lot of free time, but when I do, wrenching is my choice. Hell, I don't even watch TV anymore.
To each his own, but for the same $24K I had a lot of FUN wrenching and have the car I want for my needs. If you just want to get in it and drive it, then get the Z06....GM's done everything for you already.
Kurt
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
Really?
You knew my intent when I said, " The C-5 chassis is identical for all models. There is no 'extra' bracing for any of the models. "
damn.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 64
From: Gulf Coast Mississippi
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15