Aftermarket Support/Product Needs
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
Aftermarket Support/Product Needs
I am an experienced mechanical engineer in a position to fill a void in C5 corvettes aftermarket support or product needs. I have just purchased a 1999 FRC, which will be used as a R&D vehicle. I would love to create something useful since these cars are such great platforms to build on.
What do you all think is missing in the aftermarket?
What do you wish you could buy?
What do you wish there were more options for?
What products seem to disappoint you?
What problems aggrivate you with the C5?
Some things that come to my mind are issues with bottoming out/scraping everywhere, and the lack of "low-rise" or "sleepy-eye" headlight options. I've only seen the radioflyer luminator kit.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
What do you all think is missing in the aftermarket?
What do you wish you could buy?
What do you wish there were more options for?
What products seem to disappoint you?
What problems aggrivate you with the C5?
Some things that come to my mind are issues with bottoming out/scraping everywhere, and the lack of "low-rise" or "sleepy-eye" headlight options. I've only seen the radioflyer luminator kit.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 50
From: Clayton, NC north carolina
more carbon fiber... roof.. decklid, front facial and doors... there is a company in italy that is staring to do them.. but the car still could use a weight loss program without compromising quality. I'm looking to make them myself at this point....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
That is true. I haven't seen much for weight reduction without compromising functionality, like remove certain options. Could possibly make a c/f component that both reduces weight, and adds rigidity to the car. Thanks for the input!
Pro
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 740
Likes: 83
From: MN
Start producing these: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-pictures.html
Design a better version of this: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...iff-mount.html
Design a better version of this: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...iff-mount.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
Great links. I was amazed in the slop of the factory shifter & assembly in my car. I found that an aftermarket short throw improved the feel by a ton, but I can see why a tight linkage would improve it even further.
Coming from solid axle rear cars, wheel hop was tough to eliminate. It seems like driveline vibration/deflection is the major issue with the c5. Obviously worth exploring. Try to save a trans or diff maybe.
Coming from solid axle rear cars, wheel hop was tough to eliminate. It seems like driveline vibration/deflection is the major issue with the c5. Obviously worth exploring. Try to save a trans or diff maybe.
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Pro
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 740
Likes: 83
From: MN
Everyone has to replace/upgrade a clutch, torque tube couplers, or some other drivetrain part eventually. Definitely not worth pulling the drivetrain to upgrade the shift linkage alone, but as a "while you're in there" improvement, it's a no-brainer.
Because it's America's (affordable, mass-produced) super car...and it's also from the '90s.
Because it's America's (affordable, mass-produced) super car...and it's also from the '90s.
Pro
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 740
Likes: 83
From: MN
How about an adapter bracket for the cheap Cadillac ATS 4-piston Brembo front calipers? Subaru guys get them: http://www.ctsvbrakeswap.com/subaru-...er-bracket-kit
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
Put me on the list of clutch upgrade and other preventative maintanence items "while I am in there", so I definitely agree with you. Seems like an inexpensive enough part to make. I like it.
Which brings me to a point... doesn't it suck that we have to pull the entire rear cradle out just to change the clutch? Would it be worth it to build a splined 2-piece driveshaft/torque tube and somehow make the whole thing collapsable so we can just remove the torque tube assembly and not the whole rear to do a clutch?
What else is a pita to work on or get to?
Which brings me to a point... doesn't it suck that we have to pull the entire rear cradle out just to change the clutch? Would it be worth it to build a splined 2-piece driveshaft/torque tube and somehow make the whole thing collapsable so we can just remove the torque tube assembly and not the whole rear to do a clutch?
What else is a pita to work on or get to?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
How about an adapter bracket for the cheap Cadillac ATS 4-piston Brembo front calipers? Subaru guys get them: http://www.ctsvbrakeswap.com/subaru-...er-bracket-kit
Pro
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 740
Likes: 83
From: MN
Which brings me to a point... doesn't it suck that we have to pull the entire rear cradle out just to change the clutch? Would it be worth it to build a splined 2-piece driveshaft/torque tube and somehow make the whole thing collapsable so we can just remove the torque tube assembly and not the whole rear to do a clutch?
C5 and base C6 calipers and rotors are interchangeable, yeah. Anything designed for one will work on the other.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 837
Likes: 98
From: Philo IL