Z51 and autocrossing.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 4
From: Dorr MI
Z51 and autocrossing.
I'm going to be buying a C5 in the next couple of months. The car will be basically a driver, but I'd like to buy a set of tires and rims and autocross it occasionally, so I'm wondering should I make sure the car has Z51 or will the base suspension work alright if I upgrade the sway bars and shocks? Is changing the springs a pain?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 793
Likes: 2
From: Milwaukee & Long Beach WI & CA
I'd say you don't have to limit yourself to Z51 equipped cars. You're buying used, so there are a lot of other things to look for, like condition and price.
Being used, you'd probably want to replace the shocks anyway. There's a group buy going on from DRM (Doug Rippie Motorsports) for specially valved Bilstein shocks that would work great and are reasonably priced. Frequently you'll see people who have upgraded to coilovers selling Z51 or Z06 suspensions, so that's a good way to get those parts cheap.
I have a Z51 car and later I upgrade to the Bilstein sport shocks. Not a huge difference between the two, but the Bilsteins are a little firmer ride around town and give much better control with high speed bumps and turns on track. Before I bought my car I test drove a base suspension model, and that seemed way too soft for me and I have too think would not autocross nearly as well as a Z51 car.
Of course, if you find a good Z51 car, then by all means go for it. It will save you the hassle of upgrading the spring and bars. I'd still get new shocks though, as they are a wear item.
You might also want to ask how well the base springs work for autocross in the autocross & road race section under general corvette
Being used, you'd probably want to replace the shocks anyway. There's a group buy going on from DRM (Doug Rippie Motorsports) for specially valved Bilstein shocks that would work great and are reasonably priced. Frequently you'll see people who have upgraded to coilovers selling Z51 or Z06 suspensions, so that's a good way to get those parts cheap.
I have a Z51 car and later I upgrade to the Bilstein sport shocks. Not a huge difference between the two, but the Bilsteins are a little firmer ride around town and give much better control with high speed bumps and turns on track. Before I bought my car I test drove a base suspension model, and that seemed way too soft for me and I have too think would not autocross nearly as well as a Z51 car.
Of course, if you find a good Z51 car, then by all means go for it. It will save you the hassle of upgrading the spring and bars. I'd still get new shocks though, as they are a wear item.
You might also want to ask how well the base springs work for autocross in the autocross & road race section under general corvette
Last edited by mathia; Jan 20, 2011 at 06:41 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
I'm going to be buying a C5 in the next couple of months. The car will be basically a driver, but I'd like to buy a set of tires and rims and autocross it occasionally, so I'm wondering should I make sure the car has Z51 or will the base suspension work alright if I upgrade the sway bars and shocks? Is changing the springs a pain?
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
The nice thing about the Z51 is that it has the Z06 rear spring and the PS cooler and if the shocks aren't bad, you don't really need to do anyhting to it.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
My wife and I autocross our totally stock (well, has a Corsa exhaust) 2002 convert. It even has run-flats on it. I'm going to upgrade to Z51 sway bars and metal end links, and eventually new tires and brakes when it needs them, but that's it. Of course it depends on how serious you are, and the level of your competition. 2010-11 SCCA classes put the unmodified (sway bars and tires are OK) C5 in A Stock, and the C6 and C5ZR1 in Super Stock. Also, be careful of doing cold air intake, super sticky tires, wider rims, spoiler, etc, or you'll be in the A Street Prepared Class. You can also run in the AS Novice class for up to 2 years if you are just beginning.
Here's the SCCA Rules.
http://scca.org/documents/Solo_Rules...solo_rules.pdf
Here's the SCCA Rules.
http://scca.org/documents/Solo_Rules...solo_rules.pdf
Last edited by GeneT; Jan 21, 2011 at 01:24 PM. Reason: add
