I am new to the forum but I have been reading and I have gotten great advice just by reading the questions and replys. Everyone here seems very nice and knowledgeable. A great little community. That being said I have a question regarding my 2005 F55 M6. I have had it only about 6 weeks or so and it has about 135 miles on it (Not a daily driver). My question is will the engine get stronger as I put more miles on it and it loosens up. I haven't really got on it but I have jumped on it slightly (1st gear around 4500 rpms). Thanks in advance as to any replys.

 

Man, you have to drive the car. Put some miles on it.

 

You don't say why you are asking, but it would seem you are a little dissapointed. This has been debated many times on the C6 forum. The C6 does not feel as fast as it is. I've had two C6's - first a Z51 coupe, then a F55 convertible (both six speeds) I had two C5's before these (and a C4 before that).

When I got my first one in October last year, I didn't think it felt all that fast to me. Then I took it to the dragstrip and turned a 12.499 at 114.9. I felt much better about the car after that. I have turned a 12.57 at 113.1 in my F55 car, and that was with only two clean runs.

Don't be deceived.

 

I'm not sure you could say the "engine will get stronger", but it certainly will "break in" and the rings and valves will seat causing better seals, better compression, etc. So yeah, it will get stronger in a sense.

And I agree with jschindler....I have a C5 and the C6, and the C5 automatic car actually feels faster, puts you back in the seat, more G's, etc. But side by side, the C6 will pull away. It is "sneaky fast" as they say. The beauty of both of these cars is the wide power band (torque) the motor produces. It just seems to pull out hard no matter what gear you're in, or what RPM you are at.

Hang in there, put some miles on that thing and then drive it like you stole it!

 

Those familiar with large displacement American V8s of yesteryear will appreciate the smooth broad and very strong torque output of the LS2 in the C6. However, if you are a fan of small peaky rice-burning engines that only make decent power at or near redline as they scream away, making a ton of noise and vibration, about to blow up, then the C6 experience will be new to you.

Learn to enjoy and utilize the nice smooth pull that occurs across the entire rpm band of the LS2. This is one of the greatest features of this car in my opinion, and the main reason why I bought it! For street use, there is nothing better. You can be cruising along leisurely in 4th gear at 1500 rpm, then put your foot down, and without any noise or fuss you'll be doing 90 mph in a snap. The speed really sneaks up on you... that says a lot about the power delivery... there is a lot of it, and it's oh so smooth! What a car!!!!! This is how a street car SHOULD be. Thank god they are still making these big V8s!!!!!! GM, please keep the big V8 alive... please!!!

 

[QUOTE=vette4db]I am new to the forum Everyone here seems very nice and knowledgeable. A great little community.

Are you sure you weren't checking out the Viper Forum?

 

yes

 

I agree that the power is sneaky quick - caught myself a few times getting up to speed faster than it felt - HUD saved me a couple of times.

 

I've noticed that my C6 always gets stronger and faster, after I drive some other car for a few days.

 

From my recent dyno plot from 2300rpms to 5900 torque is above 300. On my car, an A6 peak was 341. This means you have 88% at a minumum anywhere in this range. This is so much better than the engines of old with peaky torque curves. It just keeps pulling. And even though I miss in a way that neck snaping torque I'm really starting to like being pushed farther and father back in the seat as the speed builds. Much different feeling IMO.

 

When i get my 07 Z06 delivered i will put 1500 miles in the first six weeks just because i know i will not be able to stop driving that BEAST,just my opinion you need to drive that Vette and break it in.

 

IMO yes, it will get stronger. If the LS2 is anything like the LS1 then you (and as of last Saturday, myself as well ) are in for a nice surprise come 7k - 8k miles or so (if at this rate you ever get there that is LOL). My LS1 Z28 from 1k miles to 8k miles almost felt like it gained 30hp with nothing else done to it.

 

Every dreary Chicago winter day my car sits idle in my garage it is getting faster. Cannot imagine how fast it will be this spring when it comes back out!

 

I could tell a bit of difference after about 5K miles.. just a good break in point.... like Jim said it can be deceiving the power it has.... I was really enlightened after I went to a road racing school.... amazing car....

 

If you haven't really nailed it and run it through the gears, you don't have a clue as to how fast it is. Nail it and run it to 6500 rpm (after break in !!) and you will see what all the fuss is about. You'll be impressed, I assure you.

 

I am of the belief that you break 'em in like your gonna drive em. Now of course, that doesn't mean bumping the rev limiter in ever gear every time.

I got on my pretty good from 40 miles on and never had a problem ... it actually dyno'd real strong at 10k miles.

Also, I agree with the others' comments on its deceptiveness of speed. I had a C5 and countless F-bodies .... first time on highway (coming from dealership after purchase ) I was at first dissapointed that it didn't feel all that fast ratcheting up through the gears ... until I notice I was going over 100 mph awfully quick .... hehehehehe

 

Interesting... thanks. What was the torque curve like from 1,500 rpm or where ever the run started?

Imagine what a Z06 must be like in the low end torque department! Oh boy! But finally, there's only so much power you can put to the ground for street use. TOO much torque is actually not a good thing if all it's gonna do is spin the tires.

 

If you want greater acceleration you might consider changing the rear gears to 3.90 or even 4.10. This will give you a greater seat of the pants feeling. Excellent bang for the buck, I think.

The gearing is a bit tall, in my opinion, with a 2.66 first gear combined with a 3.42 rear. This yeilds an overall ratio of 9.10 in first gear. In comparison, the Mustang GT has an overall ratio of 12.00 (3.38 X 3.55) and the Chrysler Crossfire has an overall ratio of 11.35 (3.60 X 3.07).

With a 3.90 rear the final drive ratio will be 10.37 in first.

 

But you cannot compare gearing from a Mustang or Crossfire. The engines in those cars make way less low end torque. Those cars NEED that extra gearing / torque multiplication, where as the big LS2 does not.

Having an overall first gear ratio of 12.0:1 would be too much for an LS2... yes, you CAN overgear. I know this because I've done a lot of hands-on experimenting with transmissions, rear ends etc in various big V8 cars. One friend of mine tried a near 11.0:1 first gear overall ratio in a car with a strong 400 cube engine (set up for street use with manual tranny)... the car was nearly undrivable, had to start out in 2nd gear. We brought it back down to around 9:1 and it was good there.

I'd say my Z51's first gear is as low as it should ever be... a 2.97 first with 3.42 rear = 10.16:1 overall ratio. I personally would never recommend changing the rear gears in a Z51, the gearing is perfect. You'd only make it worse by swapping in a lower rear gear.

The base non-Z51 car... yes, 9.1:1 first overall ratio... hmmm... ok, well that's one good reason to get a Z51! But 9.1 is still fine for the LS2.

If one with a base car really needs to have more kick, I'd say maybe try a 3.73 or 3.90 rear MAX. A 4.10 would probably only hurt unless you swapped in a super big cam that made very poor low end torque compared to stock... that's when you really might NEED to upgrade gearing.

I've driven / ridden a lot of extremely fast vehicles. I am 100% happy with my C6 Z51 in bone stock form. I often cannot understand why anyone would have a strong desire to try to make it go "faster", especially after paying $50k+. The C6 gives you every bit of performance possible for the price, and it's damn powerful! Learn to appreciate what you have there. If you need to go so much faster, get a bike!

 

My 02 Camaro after intake/exhaust/and programming felt faster then my c6. It was percieved but not reality as the Camaro was a 13.2/13.3 car and the c6 is a 12.7/12.8 car. Have 8000 miles on it now and it does get stronger. But it is so damn stable and competent where as the Camaro was squirrely that you really have to keep an eye on your speedometer.