C5 for drag racing or?...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 149
Likes: 6
From: North Carolina
C5 for drag racing or?...
Doe's anyone drag race there c5 and sometimes wish you had a 4th gen? Ive taken mine to the track as much as i could last year, and have decided that since im in the middle of a deployment to start collecting parts for when i get back. I haven't bought anything yet simply because part of me wants to get rid of my 2000 and get a 4th gen. Here's my reason's why, 4th gen is a cheaper car in most cases, same ls1 i have in my car, solid rear axle, a little heavier than a c5, the platform is just better i think for drag racing, and i like 4th gens. Don't get me wrong, i love my c5. I daily drive it, take it to the track when i can, just a absolutely fun car. So has anyone else ever thought like this? Or anyone have a 4th gen before? Now? Whats your thoughts? Thanks Brandon
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 79
From: pueblo co
depends on what year of C4 you have they had several different engine options. the ls1 was never offered in the C4 era of cars...the c5 is faster the your average c4 stock for stock, and for the most part the c5 is easier to work on, parts are easier to find compared to the c4...in my mind the c5 wins in every single cat. when compared to a c4
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 46
From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
4th gen camaros and firebirds have a very weak rearend, it won't last very long if you start hooking it. There are some aftermarket companys that make bolt in rears for them but they ain't cheap. Moser makes a 9" ford or a 12 bolt that will bolt in but they are some big bucks by the time you're done. I think 4th gens are harder to work on too. I have a 4th gen bird for a drag car and have done a lot of cutting on it to make it easier to work on and lighten it up. For sale too, but it ain't streetable anymore.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 1,850
From: NJ
2025 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I've raced both and to me they are similar (just the C5's nose is longer). I prefer the C5 for the faster ET's and it's aerodynamics. Plus, the overall fun factor in driving on the street is insane. People wave, pull up and give thumbs up and tailgate to check the Vette out. I don't get as much of that with the Camaro.. and that is a show car. I'd say the cost factor is similar in both cars other than the cost of the car, but you're getting a Vette.. GM's flagship car.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
I had a 4th gen a long time ago. I still like how they look but the interiors look ridiculously dated now and most are rattle traps. It will cost you more than your average C5 to get a clean one and set it up how you want it. I wouldn't go from a C5 to a 4th gen. With that said, you could always pick one up cheap as a second car and build it as you go along.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
I'm just building a turbo mustang for a drag toy. Honestly corvettes are horrible drag cars unless you have deep pockets. Very hard to work on, expensive parts etc. It's probably $6k to get the rear/diff/axles and clutch up to snuff and that's before you start making power.
I'll take a car that I can make just as light or lighter; an 8.8 that I can easily beef up and a Trans I can pull in 40 min without a lift. The block will be my only real limit and it's less for that than good heads for an LS car.
I should be in the 10s, turnkey for well under 6k in a car that I won't cry too hard if **** goes south.
I'll take a car that I can make just as light or lighter; an 8.8 that I can easily beef up and a Trans I can pull in 40 min without a lift. The block will be my only real limit and it's less for that than good heads for an LS car.
I should be in the 10s, turnkey for well under 6k in a car that I won't cry too hard if **** goes south.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 800
Likes: 12
From: Wichita Kansas
Time to put long tube headers on my friends 02 Trans Am- 16 hours with twice as many people to help.
wayyy more accessable in a C5 for just about everything and a lift was used on both.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
4th gen fbodies are pretty terrible cars to work on in general. They just kind of crammed everything in there, very poorly packaged. A plus is the balancer/cam etc can get swapped without dropping the steering; but too much is under the cowl. The trans however is way easier. Headers vary by brand on install time. The SLP ones are by far the worst. Installed TSPs in 2hrs if that. Back off to go turbo now though 
(brothers car).
I'd LS swap a mustang unless you want to strip one down to bare basics in the bay etc. Sure look good though and I like how they drive better etc., but Ford builds a better mousetrap for a drag car.
<< comes from an 88 formula, 95 LT1 T/A, and a 02 WS6
(brothers car).
I'd LS swap a mustang unless you want to strip one down to bare basics in the bay etc. Sure look good though and I like how they drive better etc., but Ford builds a better mousetrap for a drag car.
<< comes from an 88 formula, 95 LT1 T/A, and a 02 WS6
Racer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 330
Likes: 2
From: Visalia California
I went from a 2000 ss to a 2000 c5 and would never go back. It's just a better car everywhere. The c5 is great for drag, the rear end is quite a bit stronger. Don't be fooled that solid axle automatically is better than irs. There's a ton of really fast c5s on bone stock suspension cutting 1.5 60 ft and lower. F body's almost need suspension to run good and consistent LCAs, relocation brackets, torque arms etc... then you're just on borrowed time with the ten bolt. But the fbody is cheaper to fix.
