HI guys,
I have had a lot of fun with my '77 Restomod but I have been feeling the itch for something different. So last Thursday my car went up on CL, FB, and Ebay and already someone has made a tempting offer. I should be able to get around $20K for it and that will be my budget for the new car. Most C6s are in the high $20K range so I'm looking at C5s. One that caught my eye on CL has 77K miles and here is a photo of the console, does this car have the mag suspension? The description in the ad does not mention that. If so what are the prevailing thoughts on buying a used Vette with 77K miles and mag suspension, an expensive risk?
Jim

 

It has the adjustable suspension, note the dial near the E-brake lever. Normal, Touring, and Sport. The button to the left of the dial is for traction control. Ask them if they still function and are the original ones. My ‘98 still has the original shocks, aren’t leaking, and still work.

 

Long story short. There are 2 systems. F45 is selective ride (selective shock valving) F55 is magnetic (magnetic shock fluid). F45 has 3 settings, F55 has only 2. The change over was for 2003. Both work well, but the F55 shocks will seep fluid and it's normal. A lot of owners have replaced F55 shocks for seeps and not leaks and I think it's been given a bad reputation. I would be buying all of the seeping F55 shocks I could right now.

Worst case you buy new C6Z06 shocks and disable the system.

​​​​​​I have F45 and also have 77k miles on my car. Still working like new.

F45 3 settings for reference:

 

I'd recommend a 02-04

 

Thanks guys, very helpful. I have never educated myself on all the different packages, now I'm Googling like crazy. Lots of good threads on CF.

 

Major pitfalls, in my opinion?

If you buy a 2001-04 coupe or convertible your EBCM is likely repairable if you ever have such a problem, and you can still buy new steering wheel position sensors. You also get lots of other updates and an LS6 intake. 1997-00 you're stuck searching for used parts.

If you buy a Z06 same applies, but the 2002-04 cars have 405hp.

Late 2003-04 build cars have an entirely different fuel system (C6 style) and can have leaky gas tanks. You're searching through more used parts to fix this.

 

[QUOTE=MillennialSnowflake;1605110147]Major pitfalls, in my opinion?

If you buy a 2001-04 coupe or convertible your EBCM is likely repairable if you ever have such a problem, and you can still buy new steering wheel position sensors. You also get lots of other updates and an LS6 intake. 1997-00 you're stuck searching for used parts.

Do you know if problems with these will show as fault codes when read by an OBDII scanner?

 

[quote=Jim__H;1605110278]You should read all DTC's for all modules through the DIC.

Hold options, press fuel 4 times.

 

Oh wow, that is good to know...thanks.

 

It's the only car that I know of in existence where you can do this.

 

The leaking fuel line issue in 2003/2004 is with VIN #'s 45110258 to 45125500. To fix will cost about $2500. If the VIN falls within, make sure it has been previously repaired by GM recall or previous owner.

 

There is also a 2003 AE that has caught my eye, More money but my wife really likes the color

 

i wanteda1982 nbut wife wanted 1998 pace car
guess what i got need to keep wife happy so i can get more toys

 

01-04 the electronics are very close with EBCMs which are more rebuildable. As stated above the 03.5 and 04 have the later fuel system. You have to drop the tank to swap the pump which requires disconnecting the cross over tube between the tanks. It is a PITA. I am doing that job with a friend now. We don't have to worry if the cross over tube is in the vin range as we broke a tab disconnecting it and replaced it. Fuel pumps 97-03.5 can be replaced without dropping the tanks. It isn't a terrible job, I've helped on replacing 1.

97/98 electronics are more less the same, 99/00 more less the same and then 01-04, so the C5 has 3 to 4 generations inside the production run.

01 C5Zs have pup cats, a milder cam, and do not have the light weight valves the later cars have. 01 also did not have HUD which I very much prefer. My '00 FRC had HUD, I didn't like it. I had to look down to see it anyways and with sunglasses I may not be able to read it. Wasted weight and another thing to fail IMO. If you're that concerned about the horsepower you'll likely modify it and the advantages of the later cars are replaced. 01s did have an oil burning problem due to low tension rings. Many were reringed and 20 years on my bet is if it was problem it is fixed.

97-00 M6s have a smaller diameter prop shaft coupler in the torque tube than the 01-04, the later version is a bolt in swap.

F45/F55 suspension, I'd do some searches to see if it is something you want, if parts are available and what is required to delete it if you have to fix something but can't get or don't want to spend the $$$ for the parts.

I picked up an 01 Z06 and used to have a 00 FRC, a good friend which I wrench on the cars with has a 00 FRC, and a late 03 50th vert. If I were looking for another, the sweet spot is 01 to 03.5 before the fuel system changes.

 

Good info, thanks. None of that scares me too much since I work on my cars and have some resources as well. I did almost all of the work on my '77, including replacing the right front fender. Here is the Ebay listing if anyone is interested.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20394047606...cAAOSw2ylidGEv

I am wondering though, the fuel problem sounds like it could be a bit of an issue but didn't someone say there was a recall on that? If so then isn't GM still obligated to fix it?

 

FWIW: My 2001 has heads up display from the factory.

 

Just to clarify HUD was an option in '01 but wasn't available on 01 Z06s, which isn't to say many haven't been retrofitted. A couple of old forum members had a nice little side business adding HUD to various C5s.

02-04 HUD came on all Z06s