C6 Corvette General Discussion General C6 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Feral Industries

05 Diff swap question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 01:54 PM
  #1  
c.pina's Avatar
c.pina
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
Default 05 Diff swap question

Ok so I have a 05 M6 C6 and I came across this great deal on a 07 c6 differential and I was just wondering what would it take to swap mine out? Is it a direct replace? Or is there some type of conversion I would have to do. Looking to beef up my rear end as I hear 05's have the weakest rear ends of all C6's. Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 03:16 PM
  #2  
EuroRod's Avatar
EuroRod
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
Default

Originally Posted by c.pina
Ok so I have a 05 M6 C6 and I came across this great deal on a 07 c6 differential and I was just wondering what would it take to swap mine out? Is it a direct replace? Or is there some type of conversion I would have to do. Looking to beef up my rear end as I hear 05's have the weakest rear ends of all C6's. Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance!
I also have an 05 and just completed a swap to a 2007 Z06 transmission and differential. It was bolt in. Easy.
But, if you want to retain your transmission, I believe you will have to change out the back half transmission case to mate up with the later model differential, at least that's what I was told by a GM tech. Might be just a few bucks more to find a used transmission?
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 03:46 PM
  #3  
c.pina's Avatar
c.pina
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by EuroRod
I also have an 05 and just completed a swap to a 2007 Z06 transmission and differential. It was bolt in. Easy.
But, if you want to retain your transmission, I believe you will have to change out the back half transmission case to mate up with the later model differential, at least that's what I was told by a GM tech. Might be just a few bucks more to find a used transmission?
So you got an 07 Z06 tranny and differential and just bolted right in and no tricks just basic "plug and play"?
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 05:10 PM
  #4  
c.pina's Avatar
c.pina
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by WW7
Really, Not what I was told. He may have an auto trans not a M6...I believe you need a $700.00 adapter for the M6 and rear if I'm not mistaken .. The 05 rear and the 07 rear don't even have the same bolting points, so how is it a direct fit?..The rear on the left is a 05, the rear on the right is for the 06-13 , they're not even close..The 05 rear is the weakest, but still holds up pretty well unless you get excessive wheel hop, or run slicks at the track. This is when you have problems..I would wait till the rear goes ( if it even does), then worry about replacing it....WW
I think what he meant was that he swapped the tranny and the diff together. He said he put a 07 Z06 transmission and Differential and it was a direct "bolt on". I was asking if this was true. But thank you for the included pictures and info. Your help is appreciated!
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 08:18 PM
  #5  
EuroRod's Avatar
EuroRod
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
Default

Originally Posted by c.pina
So you got an 07 Z06 tranny and differential and just bolted right in and no tricks just basic "plug and play"?
Yep !
The only modification are the sensors. Your 05 manual has two sensors on the passenger side. The top one activates when you select reverse and turns on the back up lights. The lower one also activates upon selecting reverse. And puts the car to sleep. From 06 forward, the stupid mandatory select reverse was omitted and transmissions after that have only one sensor. My Z06 transmission has only the single sensor, so I simply spliced the wires together and it works fine.
It all bolts in with no adapters. Even the half shafts are the same. The transmission cooler can be blocked off with a simple plate, and the differential cooler is fine. Even my Corsa exhaust cleared it all.

Last edited by EuroRod; Oct 10, 2016 at 08:28 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 09:19 PM
  #6  
LMB-Z's Avatar
LMB-Z
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
Default

What kind of horsepower are you running or wanting to run?
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 10:47 PM
  #7  
c.pina's Avatar
c.pina
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by LMB-Z
What kind of horsepower are you running or wanting to run?
Currently I'm at 417 rwhp cam only. Still waiting on headers and exhaust to come in along with a throttle body and Fast 102. Eventually I would like to be at around 700 rwhp. Not anytime soon though. Just exploring my options for the future.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 10:48 PM
  #8  
c.pina's Avatar
c.pina
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by EuroRod
Yep !
The only modification are the sensors. Your 05 manual has two sensors on the passenger side. The top one activates when you select reverse and turns on the back up lights. The lower one also activates upon selecting reverse. And puts the car to sleep. From 06 forward, the stupid mandatory select reverse was omitted and transmissions after that have only one sensor. My Z06 transmission has only the single sensor, so I simply spliced the wires together and it works fine.
It all bolts in with no adapters. Even the half shafts are the same. The transmission cooler can be blocked off with a simple plate, and the differential cooler is fine. Even my Corsa exhaust cleared it all.
Did you do all the work yourself?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 11, 2016 | 07:45 AM
  #9  
EuroRod's Avatar
EuroRod
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
Default

Originally Posted by c.pina
Did you do all the work yourself?
Actually, .... no.

In Nov 2014 I cracked a piston. Pulled the engine, solo, in my garage, had a stroker engine built, then re-installed the engine. Got the car on the road and it would not tune and was diagnosed as a spun reluctor wheel. The engine was again pulled, found the reluctor wheel was fine (arghhhh) and the culprit was incorrect pushrod length. Engine back in with correct pushrods, tuned, ran fine and two days later broke a halfshaft.

I was done ! Ha!

I already had a Z06 transmission in my garage, so purchased a Z06 differential and had it all installed by a local performance garage. The old trans/diff was removed and the new installed in a matter of 8 hours.

Easy greasy.

Reply
Old Oct 11, 2016 | 09:33 AM
  #10  
c.pina's Avatar
c.pina
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by EuroRod
Actually, .... no.

In Nov 2014 I cracked a piston. Pulled the engine, solo, in my garage, had a stroker engine built, then re-installed the engine. Got the car on the road and it would not tune and was diagnosed as a spun reluctor wheel. The engine was again pulled, found the reluctor wheel was fine (arghhhh) and the culprit was incorrect pushrod length. Engine back in with correct pushrods, tuned, ran fine and two days later broke a halfshaft.

I was done ! Ha!

I already had a Z06 transmission in my garage, so purchased a Z06 differential and had it all installed by a local performance garage. The old trans/diff was removed and the new installed in a matter of 8 hours.

Easy greasy.

Thats awesome man. At least now I know it's doable. Thanks for all the info and help. This will probably be the route I go in the long run.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 05 Diff swap question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:20 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE