I know, it's sounds like a really dumb question. However, I am not a Vette guy (sorry!) but I am trying to sell one for my father-in-law. He bought it from a gearhead he knew who allegedly put a Z06 engine in a '00 coupe. Before I try to pass it off as having that engine, I'd like proof. So, how do I determine the specs of the engine. Is there an ID number somewhere on it? What do I look for? Please excuse my ignorance but I'm just trying to gather all the facts I can before attempting to sell this thing.

Also, the car has a number of other mods including a computer you can connect to change different performance characteristics. I'm guessing fuel/air mix, timing, etc. Does anyone know of any Vette gurus in central FL that could give the car a once-over and outline the mods for me?
Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

Step 1: lose the badges.

 

Umrswimr,
Thanks for the reply, but I don't get it. I guess this guy wanted to create a Z06 imposter by adding the badging. Please, just some helpful commentary if you don't mind. Thanks again.

 

To help you understand, the coupe (which is what you show in the picture) and convertibles came with the LS1 engine in them (Look at the VIN number on the dash - 8th position will show a G) while the Z06 came with the LS6 engine (8th VIN digit would be an S) ....

Externally there is virtually no way to tell them apart. The LS6 has red fuel rail covers (the LS1 covers are black), but a few dolllars and 3 minutes and you can put the red covers on an LS1 .... so that doesn't help.

The LS6 has a different camshaft, but you gotta tear the engine apart to see that. It also has different valve springs, but someone could just put LS6 springs in an LS1, and if they haven't changed the cam, then it isn't an LS6. One difference between the LS1 and LS6 is the redline ... the LS6 can rev to 6500 RPM, the LS1 to 6000 ... but again someone could raise the rev limiter on an LS1 and claim it is an LS6. Most likely the tachometer in the dash still shows a 6000 RPM redline as the car came equipped with the LS1.

Unless you have paperwork documenting what was done ... you're gonna have a hard time convincing a buyer that it is an LS6 unless they are totally clueless.

In addition, even if it is an "LS6" engine, the car is still not a Z06 .... that's why someone posted about taking the badges off. The Z06 is not just an engine, it is a car engineered for performance. Different suspension componenets (springs and sway bars), the vehicle is the lightest of the C5 family (even things like a thinner windshield were installed on the Z06, sound deadning material stripped out, and titanium used for part of the exhaust) to save weight, and the Z06 has a manual transmission (M12) with some of the gear ratios different from what is in your FiL's coupe (MM6). That car in the picture is NOT a Z06, it MIGHT have an LS6 engine in it.

In fact, if the engine itself has been changed out of the car, some potential buyers may see that as a deal breaker as the vehicle no longer has "matching" numbers for its main components.

Without documentation of an LS6, I'd probably offer the car (again, take the Z06 badges off) as a "regular" C5 coupe. Take a look at

http://www.kbb.com

to help you in establishing your asking price. Just treat it like a "regular" Corvette ... which means there are a lot of people who will be interested in it. From the picture it looks like a "clean" vehicle (Oh ... did I mention, take those Z06 badges off ...) so you should sell it pretty quickly ...... and get rid of those badges ....

 

What no comment on the Z06 side vents? Couldn’t resist.

 

You guys from Ohio ..... always causing trouble ....



Oh, and did I mention in my post to the original poster .... GET RID OF THOSE Z06 BADGES .....

 

Mods generally don't change what the car is worth from a sales perspective.

Even if it has a legit LS6 installed, it really shouldn't affect pricing and probably won't generate very much more interest. Sad, but true. If you find the golden buyer who is looking for a 2000 Coupe with an LS6 in it then it may be worth more to him but otherwise people will treat it like any other vette.

Same for the hand-held programmer, you are better off trying to get a few bucks for it on the side, or just give it away with the sale of the car. It won't affect pricing and is unlikey to affect the sale.

I guess what I am saying is just list as you would any other '00 coupe and offer the 'alleged' information to any serious inquirers so they are aware that there is at least a little question as to what engine is in it.

You know, you can easily see what cylinder heads are on the car right now. If they aren't 243's then you can rest assured that no one put an LS6 in it. However, if they are 243's that tells you nothing other than at least the heads have been swapped at one point.

 

You can check the casting number on the heads to see if they are ls1 or ls6 heads. That is easy enough. Is there not a casting number on the block somewhere?

 

To check if you have an LS6 block, grab a mirror and a flashlight. Open the hood and go to the driver's side. Look carefully at the back of the left-hand deck, above the transmission flange. A cast-in #12561168 denotes the LS6 block. Also, the LS1 block will most likely have a "bullseye" on the deck on the passenger's side right behind the water pump.

 

BlackZ06,
Thanks so much for your informative response. Also, your point about the badges is well taken.

Casem1, nickolbag,
Thank you as well for your input. I know that this is a forum for "those in the know" but I also saw it as a great resource for the less informed, like me.

Does $19,500 sound about right for a 2000 Coupe with 95k miles?

 

Without knowing more about the car ..... I tried a Tampa ZIP code on the Kelly Blue Book site I gave you above ..... and it shows $16,800.00 for a car in "excellent" condition, but you should try it for your ZIP and select the correct options to get a better idea. Off-hand I'd say asking 19,500.00 probably won't hurt, but I doubt you'll get that. Don't know your market though.

If you need help in figuring out what the car has in the way of options, here's a couple of places to call and ask what they'd charge to look at the car for you ......

http://www.revxtreme.com/ .... located in Tampa

http://www.englandgreen.com/ .... located in Vero Beach

If neither of those is convenient, email Stephen at EnglandGreen ( info@englandgreen.com ) and ask him for a recommendation of someone local to you.

 

What he's trying to tell you is that it cannot be a Z06, if for no other reason than it is a coupe. C5 came in three configurations: Coupe (your father inlaws car), Convertible, and FRC (fixed roof coupe) which is the only way the Z06 came. So it cannot be an "imposter" just be the nature that it's a coupe. I'm sure it's a nice car, just remember to advertise it as a coupe, not a Z06.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...tching+numbers

Check this thread. If you can get the VIN sequence from the block you might be able to verify the above mentioned "S" code of the donor car in the VIN. Don't have any knowledge of the casting numbers mentioned above, but if that is definitve, then that would be the easy way to tell.
Either way, you just need to be honest with buyers and you WILL find the person who thinks this car is "to die for" and you will both be happy. Good luck with the sale.