New buyer questions.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 148
Likes: 3
New buyer questions.
I am looking to geting into a Vett and don't know where to start. I was lucky enough to grow up at the track with a good friend who let me run one of his bracket cars and fell in love with it. But being young and haveing other expensive hobbies kept me from ever getting a fast car. Now that things have settled out I am able to do what I always wanted to do as a teen. I have been looking at C5 Frc cars with the a4. I want a car for short road trips and street night at the track as well as a street car to run in the foot break classes on trophy nights hence the auo trans. I am mechanically inclined enough to do most mods myself and some fab work. What I would like to know is what Options I should be looking for in a c5. I know the deeper gears are more desirable, is there an upgraded suspension as well? What are average stock times I could expect to run with this platform? I want to keep driveability and not crack the motor for internal mods untill I blow it up. What would be a reasonable est. 1/4 mile with full boltons ie.( longtubes back, all intake work, pullys, moderate stall and a set of drag tires for the track days and a 150 shot? Any input is greatly appreciated.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Welcome to the club!I have a C5 02 MN12 ZO6. With headers, vararam, heads, cam, ported FAST 90 & 90mm ported Throttle Body and tune, Im in the 450 RWHP range.
Its very doable! You will have to upgrade the stuff BEHIND the engine!
Transmission, rearend, torque tube and TIRES to reliably put that much HP to the track! Dont let any one fool you about that! When you make more than 400 RWHP,, other things start to need upgrading! Like the torque converter and rearend.Suspension mods can go from mild to very wild! C6 ZO6 part up grades will help on a budget!
BC
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 20
From: Knoxville TN
I assume by frc you mean a fixed roof coupe. The predecessor to the ZO6 available only in 99-00. I am thinking the frc cars were not available with auto transmissions. You may have to get a regular coupe if you want an auto trans. or if you get a frc you will have to swap the trans to an auto.
I have an 01 coupe with headers and air intake. I have ran 12.9@110mph at Bristol dragway. This was on street tires with a poor 2.2 60' time.
I have an 01 coupe with headers and air intake. I have ran 12.9@110mph at Bristol dragway. This was on street tires with a poor 2.2 60' time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
Remember that the quicker the car is the harder it is to be consistent - and usually being consistent is more improtant than being quick in drag racing if you're trying to run a certain dial-in.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 148
Likes: 3
I feel a little dumb that I didn't realize the FRC was a manual only. Oh well, so a coupe it is. Thanks for the input, I definatly understand the things behind the motor. I have had several offroad trucks and jeeps and have had to replace my fair share of driveline parts. For the bracket raceing I don't need crazy fast but I would like to be in the mid 12 sec range on drag radials. I live about 5 miles from Hrp or royal purple raceway as it is now called so I migh even get a set of slicks, put them on at the house and just drive to the track. Of course I will want to put a little spray on for street nights. 
. Am I crazy to think 11's are possible with bolt ons spray and slicks?
. Am I crazy to think 11's are possible with bolt ons spray and slicks?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I feel a little dumb that I didn't realize the FRC was a manual only. Oh well, so a coupe it is. Thanks for the input, I definatly understand the things behind the motor. I have had several offroad trucks and jeeps and have had to replace my fair share of driveline parts. For the bracket raceing I don't need crazy fast but I would like to be in the mid 12 sec range on drag radials. I live about 5 miles from Hrp or royal purple raceway as it is now called so I migh even get a set of slicks, put them on at the house and just drive to the track. Of course I will want to put a little spray on for street nights. . Am I crazy to think 11's are possible with bolt ons spray and slicks?
. Am I crazy to think 11's are possible with bolt ons spray and slicks?"For the bracket raceing I don't need crazy fast but I would like to be in the mid 12 sec range on drag radials"
&
"I will want to put a little spray on for street nights."
&
"Am I crazy to think 11's are possible with bolt ons spray and slicks?"
Dude...... You don't even own a vette and the MOD bug is gripped on TIGHT!
Your learning curve driving for driving a STOCK C5 will be pretty intense!
If it were me,, I would learn to drive a stick and get the Factory Race Car (FRC). If you do any mods to an Automatic C5, you will need mods to your trans so it will survive!
You mentioned "SLICKS"
You better be reading theses post and installing some hardened parts or that wont work!!!!- C5, Its Go Time, Output Shaft Install - Left and Right : http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1573404441
- C5 RAGTOPWS6, Differential UP-Grade; http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-z06-guts.html
As you can see, I'm Partial to hardtops!!
What ever C5 you get,,, I positive that you will enjoy it!
Better be saving for all those MODS NOW!
BC
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 148
Likes: 3
@ Bill. I see where my post makes me sound a little crazy. That's just kind of the way I have done most of my projects in the past. Put it together all in my head first then buy the car and have all the parts ready as soon as I get home. I am a supply boat captain and am on the water 300 days a year so in my short time home I like o have everything laid out and ready. The worst part of the job is having so many days to plot how to spend money lol.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,470
Likes: 1,170
From: Dyer, IN
I am looking to geting into a Vett and don't know where to start. I was lucky enough to grow up at the track with a good friend who let me run one of his bracket cars and fell in love with it. But being young and haveing other expensive hobbies kept me from ever getting a fast car. Now that things have settled out I am able to do what I always wanted to do as a teen. I have been looking at C5 Frc cars with the a4. I want a car for short road trips and street night at the track as well as a street car to run in the foot break classes on trophy nights hence the auo trans. I am mechanically inclined enough to do most mods myself and some fab work. What I would like to know is what Options I should be looking for in a c5. I know the deeper gears are more desirable, is there an upgraded suspension as well? What are average stock times I could expect to run with this platform? I want to keep driveability and not crack the motor for internal mods untill I blow it up. What would be a reasonable est. 1/4 mile with full boltons ie.( longtubes back, all intake work, pullys, moderate stall and a set of drag tires for the track days and a 150 shot? Any input is greatly appreciated.
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