cam or gears?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 929
Likes: 45
From: Wayne NJ
cam or gears?
I have c5 vert 6sp headers, cia,tuned ,357 rwhp.Looking for a nice power boost but undecided,either way i will need a new clutch. Opinions needed on a cam or gears.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,458
Likes: 105
From: Northville Michigan
From my 8 years of experience in modifying a C5, the very best performance improvement for the $ is a 4.10 ring and pinion gear set!
It instantly adds 20% more rear wheel torque, improves driveability across the entire driving range, and doesn't adversely affect the engine's idle quality.
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Supporting Vendor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,332
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Pro
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 537
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria California
With stock Z06 gears being 3.42 is it really worth the time and money to go with the 3.73's..... I guess Im trying to figure out if the gains are worth the pain.....
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 99
From: Arlington Texas
Not gears. The more power you start making the more you are going to spin. Unless you are going to run some kind of more than normal sticky tire you are going to spin. I am making 500 rwhp, on drag radials and 342's and I spin. It would only be more spinning with a steeper ratio
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
or SC it and no gears...lol.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Cams the car will make more power and be faster, on the down side, it is fairly big labor, cause steering rack comes out, and idle and drivability issues may come up. On the other hands, gears 4.10, the car will make the same power just delivered differently. It will feel faster and maybe pick up .3-.5 at the track with tires. But everything else is like stock. I went with the gears and they feel great.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 23,220
Likes: 3
From: HOUSTON
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '15, '19
Driveabilty is all in the tune, I have the MayhemII cam, its pretty big. I am making 435 RWHP with stock heads on my 04 Coupe. It's my DD and drives great, I like the shake and told Englandgreen to tune it that way.I Have about 20000 miles on the cam, and I absolutely love it. Though England has tried to talk me into gears as my next mod, which sounds good to me. 
