Hi, my name is Victor.

I’m a huge gear head, sports car enthusiast, shad tree mechanic and a want-to-be racer. I’m in my late 20s and I’m in the military . I’m about to buy a used corvette this weekend. I wanted to ask the vette community if an LS3 Coupe is going to suits my needs. Sorry about this being long.

I’m trading in a 2012 Evo X GSR which I thought I was going to love, modify, track and have for years… I can’t stand the car. It has an identity crises and is really cheap feeling for an almost 40K car. As for modifying a small displacement insanely high boost engine is risky to say the least. I’m a military pilot and I don’t have time to risk a blown motor. As for tracking, I was only able to autocross it a few times, but I’m planning on competing in at least a dozen events this season. I’m very inexperienced as I've only ever done half a dozen HPDE, but I do have a little talent and with practice I believe I could be competitive. The Evo X is a great track car that is extremely tight and precise but it was a fling that I’m over now.

I grew up with a corvette in my parent’s garage and lucky for me (not my dad) my parents worked a schedule that allowed me to sneak the Vette out frequently. So from the age of 8 through my High school days the Vette was always something I loved. I’m looking into a 2012 6spd 2LT Coupe. I really wanted the Z51 but I don’t want to get an older car without warranty (otherwise Id just get a C5z) and I don’t want to get a GS as I can’t afford the 6-12 grand over a coupe. Basically I can get into a low low mile 2012 for the same payments as my Evo. Oddly my insurance premium is lower and annual fuel cost will go down.

Before buying the EVO X the community warned me about cars about quality issues and just how generally difficult ownership was. The EVO is fragile cosmetically. I had a hell of a time keeping this car pristine. The paint is extremely thin and easy to chip, the doors dent easy, the leather steering wheel crack in cold temps and Mitsubishi warranty is a JOKE! Mechanically, oil changes every 3000 miles and the factory clutch is extremely weak. A lot of new owners who launched their new car destroyed their factory clutch in less than a few launches. I just want an enthusiast car that in stock form I could run hard and no worry about. I also want a car that’s cosmetically robust.

So will the LS3 coupe have power, handling and precision to be competitive in the SS class in autocross and will it holdup to some occasional track days? Will the car take a licking and keep on ticking?

OR

Am I just setting my expectations too high for a C6 Coupe?

 

Some food for thought...

If you are indeed planning to have organized racing... throw out the idea of being kept in pristine condition. Corvettes end up getting painter's tape all over it.... since fiberglass is softer than metal body panels. If you are planning to finance the car - you will need to increase the budget regardless the make... due to unforeseen breakage during stressing moments.

The LS3 is a strong base motor - with plenty of bolt-on options... however as you noticed, a Grand Sport is better equipped with a better suspension, tires, and an oil sump pump.

 

I understand it wont stay pristine. I'm excited that its a used car and I wont obsesses over the car as much. I thought that having a soft fiber glass body would be nice because you cant dent it. I understand that the paint can only flex so much before it breaks thou.

I really really wish I had the extra income to just get a GrandSport and honestly in a few years when I have more disposable income Ill probably wish I had bought a GS. Yet since I plan on tracking the car the consumable will be cheaper as the Coupes tires are smaller (still not cheap) and the brakes are rather basic.

I can always put on a sway bar and some Koni Reds and remain in the Stock class for SCCA.

 

if what you say is even close to what you are going to do w. the car, there are many things to suggest but bandit has a good start on it. while the engine and trans are very strong, you will necessarily HAVE to harden a lot of other things like halfshafts, brakes, etc. and of course, the frequent (if not every trip to an HPDE, road course or autoX), change of fluids, maybe pads, too. and there are other fluids that you will want to change more frequently than in the owner's manual (diff, clutch, maybe even trans come to mind).

for that reason(s), I suggest you ask and post in the autocross section of CF. and read up on it there as well. as to getting the car before you do this homework, that's your decision altho it wouldn't be what I do.

 

You can add a wide rear for larger tires, and you can add the larger brakes with the right offset wheels to accommodate them.
I think the LS3 will be a great track car for you. I tracked my base 06 LS2 and ended up putting the widebody, bigger brakes and engine mods, tranny cooler, etc. I have the Z51 option too.
The Vettes are easy to work on, parts are easy to come by, and it is a great base to build up as you grow into the sport. You can easily add as finances allow.
David

 

Sadly after 2009 the Z51 was no longer an option and I cant really find any info on the base suspension and if it changed. Personally I find .92 G on the skid pad not impressive as my EVO can pull 1G and is heavier and has narrower tires. I'm guessing the factory run flats are the issue and betting with a set of sticky summer tires she will be closer to 1g. What I love about the coupe is its .286 drag coef. she's slippery and the I like her light 3225 lbs of weight. Sounds like she will be fuel efficient

I've added a picture of the exhaust which doesn't look stock and I was wondering if someone could educate me on it.

 

That appears to be the stock exhaust. Can't tell if it has the NPP option.

 

I've been looking at other coupes online and the tips look smaller and further apart.

 

From 2010 on, the Grand Sport was the Z51 option. I mean the GS comes with the Z51 suspension along with the wide body panels, bigger brakes and wider tires.
If you are going to track the car, I also suggest the GS. It's already got what you need.
Other forum members quote 30+ MPG, I get around 25 on the highway running around 80mph. The cars seem durable and many have well over 100K miles on them.
The C6 does have a few quirks including a clutch that needs regular attention (fluid swaps).
Good luck and thank you for your service!

 

I don't think those tips look stock. Stock are significantly smaller. I would get underneath the car with a flashlight and do some looking. Nice vette btw. Have a good time with it.

 

If youre gonna track her and run her hard.... Id look into a salvaged vette. Theres a ton out there that need a little work here and there for CHEAP! Buy the car for a few G's, toss a few more G's at it to get her pumped up... then when you smash her into something no hard feelings!

Ill see if I can dig up the link where I found them.

 

I have a 07 ZO6 that was setup for track events with everything being built toward reliability, the motor was also built with that in mind.
Here is a list of what has been done and what's on the car.
2007 Corvette Z06
Silver, Ebony interior

Engine:
New custom track built 427 LS7
Built by RPM Motors in So California
Motor was built with a focus on reliability on the track
Forged pistons, coated – includes wrist pins Mahle
LS7 ti rods with upgraded ARP 2000 Bolts
King “race Series”bearings
Akerly & Childs rings (steel Moly inlaid top, Napier second, LT oil)
LS7 Block (HIPPED)
LS7 Forged crankshaft
New LS7 Heads – mildly cleaned up and ported
ZZ-017 Camshaft & LS7 lifters
Intake duration @.50 lift – 230deg
Exhaust duration @.50 lift = 236 deg
LSA – 112
Intake valve lift = .628
Exhaust valave lift - .625
Compression ratio = 11.1:1
Cloyes “hex Adjust timing set
Patriot gold extreme valve springs & retainers
Stainless Steel one piece exhaust valves
Ti intake valves
New GM 2009 internal oil pump
Aviad stage III dry sump and pan upgrade – no oil starvation issues!
Includes pan baffles, additional scavenge pump, additional pick up, new internal 2009 pump
Professionally machined
Torque plate honed – Plateau finished
Decked – perpendicular & Parallel
Digitally balance – tolerance within 1 gram
Serdi multi angle valve seats
Combustion chambers within .25cc
Remote clutch bleeder
Ported throttle body
Motor has approx. 5k on it since rebuild

Suspension:
Suspension was completely reassembled and tuned by Pheonix performance
LG bilstein coilovers
Pfadt comp sway bars – have both front and rear. Current set up has Phadt swaybar in front and c5 sway bar in rear
Corner balance for 220lb driver
Delerin bushings installed – gives car great driver feedback

Brakes:
DBA rotors, multiple sets of one piece pads

[IMG][/IMG]

 

A reliable car is really the priority. I need a good car. Sounds like a LS3 Coupe is a great starter vette and maybe in 3 year I can trade it on a used C7 with Z51.

My dad has a C7 Z51, Mag shocks, NNP and 3LT. It's the blue premium car that is limited. It's sick.

 

Those exhaust tips look just like my NPP Performance Exhaust (factory option). When you drive the car let the revs get above 3500 and see if the exhaust tone changes. If it does, you have NPP.

BobD

 

Can some give me the build sheet for the car Im looking at?

VIN: 1G1YB2DW8C5108812

Thank.

 

mcandrew just about sums up my thoughts. I track my '07 Z51 coupe and do lots of mods both performance and appearance... I do about 6-8 DE days per year and I attend many car shows and club events. It's truly a dual use car that I get as much seat time in as possible. I think the LS3 is THE BEST track base engine in these cars. (yes, I have an LS2 which is also great, but why not take a few more ponies).... You can go the bolt on/tune route and just keep up on fluids, pads and incremental improvements to brakes, seats, etc as you gain seat time.. The car has way more power than you can use on most tracks or any autoX.. it's all about the driver!... lower lap time= seat time and bigger ba_ls.... Oh yeah.. some R compound rubber after a few DE days will make a HUGE difference as well!... Buy the car and enjoy!!.. and let the moding begin. (It never ends)...

 

The 3 digit RPO codes (glove box) will reveal all the aspects of your build.

 

Im like 2 hours from the dealership and I cant go till the weekend and when I go im going to buy if everything is good. I just know some people on here can get build info based on VIN. I tried a website but I couldnt pull any info up.

 

I have both cars in my garage...

IMO the Vette is the better car in every department other than the handling. That might change next week I have a new Bilstein setup going in on the Vette.

The Evo X has a custom turbo putting out around 500awhp. It's a beast but you really have to put it in the power band to keep the turbo spooling.

Vette is easier to daily drive, gets better fuel economy, and overall is my go-to car.

Happy hunting let us know if you have any further questions...

 

Sweet... that puts me at ease. I love the EVOs on rails feel and insane grip but it was too easy to drive.