[Z06] Why not change gears?
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Why not change gears?
I am a converted superbike racer and just picked up my first vette. Like everyone other new owner, the first thing I did is look up perfermance parts. ~ 20hp looks like the most you can gain from bolting on a full exhaust system.
My guess is a 20hp gain is peanuts compared to a 3.73 or 4.10 gear swap. How often are you going to run 186mph vs. hammering the low to mid range off the line?
$200 for gears vs. $2000 for exhaust seems like a no-brainer. Is there a reason for keeping the stock ratio?
BTW - great forum you have here.
My guess is a 20hp gain is peanuts compared to a 3.73 or 4.10 gear swap. How often are you going to run 186mph vs. hammering the low to mid range off the line?
$200 for gears vs. $2000 for exhaust seems like a no-brainer. Is there a reason for keeping the stock ratio?
BTW - great forum you have here.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 0
From: Near Philly PA
Originally Posted by john_sblendorio
I am a converted superbike racer and just picked up my first vette.
$200 for gears vs. $2000 for exhaust seems like a no-brainer. Is there a reason for keeping the stock ratio?
$200 for gears vs. $2000 for exhaust seems like a no-brainer. Is there a reason for keeping the stock ratio?
Congrats on your first Vette!
As a new Vette-owner, you might not know this yet, hence your statement/question -- but this car is NOT like a Mustang, and you can't swap in gears for $200.
The rear housing on the C5s are not your standard "pumpkin" like on many other cars. The housing can't be opened up, the gears removed, and new ones swapped in. Instead, the whole member has to be replaced, and the part, alone, is quite expensive. Add labor on top of that, and you're probably well above the $2000 [exhaust] cost you mentioned.
I came from a '93 Cobra to my Z06, and I figured that gears would be the first thing I'd do in the Z (like I had done in the Cobra). After four years of owning the Z (and swapping out the exhaust, shifter, intake, etc.), I'm still not willing to go through the expense of gears. I'd do a blower before I did gears.
You have the right idea about gears and their benefit -- it's just not that easy/economical to mess with them on a C5.
Good luck!
-Kirk
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I also came from a Cobra to the Z06... gears were great in the stang, but the Z is allready geared very low. The car goes just over 60 in 2nd and a bit over 100 in 3rd which is what you want. If you drag race then I guess adding gears is ok, but you'll need slicks and a quick hand to shift.
If you do any DE's you'll hate 4.10's. For example VIR is a 3rd and 4th gear track, but a guy was out there w/ 4.10's and he was using 2nd -5th the whole time. His oil temps got up in the 300's very quickly and his tranny overheat warning was going crazy.
Personally I think the stock gearing is perfect. Oh yeah I got 35 rwhp from my full exaust swap... plus it sounds so damn good.
If you do any DE's you'll hate 4.10's. For example VIR is a 3rd and 4th gear track, but a guy was out there w/ 4.10's and he was using 2nd -5th the whole time. His oil temps got up in the 300's very quickly and his tranny overheat warning was going crazy.
Personally I think the stock gearing is perfect. Oh yeah I got 35 rwhp from my full exaust swap... plus it sounds so damn good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
I also came from a Cobra to the Z06... gears were great in the stang, but the Z is allready geared very low. The car goes just over 60 in 2nd and a bit over 100 in 3rd which is what you want. If you drag race then I guess adding gears is ok, but you'll need slicks and a quick hand to shift.
If you do any DE's you'll hate 4.10's. For example VIR is a 3rd and 4th gear track, but a guy was out there w/ 4.10's and he was using 2nd -5th the whole time. His oil temps got up in the 300's very quickly and his tranny overheat warning was going crazy.
Personally I think the stock gearing is perfect. Oh yeah I got 35 rwhp from my full exaust swap... plus it sounds so damn good.
If you do any DE's you'll hate 4.10's. For example VIR is a 3rd and 4th gear track, but a guy was out there w/ 4.10's and he was using 2nd -5th the whole time. His oil temps got up in the 300's very quickly and his tranny overheat warning was going crazy.
Personally I think the stock gearing is perfect. Oh yeah I got 35 rwhp from my full exaust swap... plus it sounds so damn good.
well put
I'm also an ex-superbiker. It's a lot easier to go through the gears on a bike than it is to take your hands off the steering wheel to shift and heel/toe shift etc. You will probably be more interested in roadracing so I'd stick with the stock gear unless, like mentioned above, you plan on drag racing. That's a different story. Then the gear is a must.
Last edited by robvuk; Nov 22, 2004 at 05:58 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 0
From: I'm not quite middle aged and I only own one gold chain! San Jose CA
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
I also came from a Cobra to the Z06... gears were great in the stang, but the Z is allready geared very low. The car goes just over 60 in 2nd and a bit over 100 in 3rd which is what you want. If you drag race then I guess adding gears is ok, but you'll need slicks and a quick hand to shift.
If you do any DE's you'll hate 4.10's. For example VIR is a 3rd and 4th gear track, but a guy was out there w/ 4.10's and he was using 2nd -5th the whole time. His oil temps got up in the 300's very quickly and his tranny overheat warning was going crazy.
Personally I think the stock gearing is perfect. Oh yeah I got 35 rwhp from my full exaust swap... plus it sounds so damn good.
If you do any DE's you'll hate 4.10's. For example VIR is a 3rd and 4th gear track, but a guy was out there w/ 4.10's and he was using 2nd -5th the whole time. His oil temps got up in the 300's very quickly and his tranny overheat warning was going crazy.
Personally I think the stock gearing is perfect. Oh yeah I got 35 rwhp from my full exaust swap... plus it sounds so damn good.
I agree. I had a 98 Cobra until the Z06 and the gears did make a much bigger difference in that car. One of the many things I like about the way that they Z06 is engineered is the way that the rear end and tranny gearing are so well matched. I don't think you could improve it enough to warrant the expense, especially if you are going to use the car in a multi purpose role. The only reason I would consider changing the gears out for a more agressive ration is if it were used solely for drag racing. Otherwise, don't mess with perfection!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
The gearing is fine the way it is... Gear swaps work well on the other models.. but the Z is a great balance of acceleration, MPG and everyday cruising. If you just want a drag car, go for a Mustang or Camaro... The Z is a track car that just happens to do the 1320 fairly well also...
I used to drag race several years ago... Mainly Camaros.. The live axle setup is great for the drags... The vettes setup is not.. those half shafts don't like drag tires... but on the twisties, the vette flat out blasts away!
Just consider the Z too sophisticated for just drag racing... Sign up for some track time on the twisties.... with a couple of long straights.. now thats serious fun.. IMHO...
mike
I used to drag race several years ago... Mainly Camaros.. The live axle setup is great for the drags... The vettes setup is not.. those half shafts don't like drag tires... but on the twisties, the vette flat out blasts away!
Just consider the Z too sophisticated for just drag racing... Sign up for some track time on the twisties.... with a couple of long straights.. now thats serious fun.. IMHO...
mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,661
Likes: 1
Congrats on the new Z06! Are you an ex-superbike racer or just into sport bikes? I have had a couple of sport bikes myself. Never took one to the track though unfortunately.
I too thought about a gear change, but I can hardly get traction in first gear as it is. I can't imagine having a shorter first gear. No way I'd go with 4.10's if I did. The most for me would be 3.90's. Since I'm into DE's, I don't think it's a very good mod as mentioned above. Maybe for a drag racer, but not me.
X
I too thought about a gear change, but I can hardly get traction in first gear as it is. I can't imagine having a shorter first gear. No way I'd go with 4.10's if I did. The most for me would be 3.90's. Since I'm into DE's, I don't think it's a very good mod as mentioned above. Maybe for a drag racer, but not me.
X
Guest
Posts: n/a
WOW - I guess I should have looked under the car before I spoke. Shoot - What will give me the best bang for buck without going into the engine?
I can't wait to get this car on the track some time. I road raced with the CMRA (club level) for four years. I sold all of my bikes and needed a winter hobby - four other friends that I boat with have c5's so it seemed like the next logical step.
This summer we did a dozen or so poker runs on the water and I would like to do the same in cars. Perhaps some hill country rides?
I can't wait to get this car on the track some time. I road raced with the CMRA (club level) for four years. I sold all of my bikes and needed a winter hobby - four other friends that I boat with have c5's so it seemed like the next logical step.
This summer we did a dozen or so poker runs on the water and I would like to do the same in cars. Perhaps some hill country rides?
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Take the plastic cover off of the air box and zip tie the filter in place "zip tie mod". It's free and is proven to be basically as good as a new intake (non-cold air) or get a cold air intake. Then do Some long tube headers w/ a tune. Catback is for better sound, but not a ton of power.
