Yes Purchase the Z51 you will not regret the decision. I believe the top speed quoted by GM is in the Z51 MN6 Coupe. Haven't had a chance to verify that for myself though

 

Of course. Besides what has been mentioned, you can get Z51 badges that have been dyno proven to add 5.723 hp per badge.

 

Another post spoke about the "closer" gear ratios of the Z51. Actually, it is the other way around, the non Z51 trans has the closer ratios and a taller (.50 vs .57) 6th gear. One would be better off getting the base trans and changing the rear gears to 4.10 (or 3.90). This would give greater acceleration in all gears and also the closer gear ratios. The Z51 trans is a negative.

The cross drilled rotors are just for show. They do not add anything on the track or on the road. Dave Hill admitted this is the case. The only thing the cross drilled rotors offer is cracking at the holes. The brakes also squeak. The brakes, therefore, are also a negative.

The coolers for the power steering, transmission and differential are dead weight for most. They are only good for the very few who track their cars. They are a handicap in street driving in that they don't do anything except add weight and become a maintenance problem. They are a negative.

The technologically advanced MSRC package (electronics and dampers that react to the road in an instant) is the superior suspension. This system is light years ahead of the traditional shocks. The Z51 shocks are a very inexpensive item for GM. These shocks will need replacement several times before the MSRC dampers need replacement. By the time the MSRC dampers do need replacement the cost will have dropped substantially. The fact is that GM makes a great profit on the Z51 option as it costs them very little.

Thicker sway bars, if desired, can be bought for about $155.

The softer compound tires are stickier and provide better traction while cornering. The question one must ask is whether this is worth the cost of replacing the tires much more often than the base tires, at a cost of about $1600 per set, and whether the additional grip is important enough to you to offset the increased price. If driven solely on the street then the answer most likely is no. Even if the answer is yes, one can get aftermarket tires (better tires for less money) without having to pay for the other inferior and/or useless stuff that comes with the burden of the Z51 option.

To answer your question; Z51 is mostly hype, not real substance.

 

I think you need to recheck your information. I'm pretty sure that 5th gear is shorter on the Z51, not taller.

 

Ok. At 75mph, a non-Z51 car has more "fake" horsepower than a Z51 car. The base can be in 2nd gear, while a Z51 has to be in 3rd.

That's what I'm saying. Gearing doesn't equal acceleration - area under the curve, times gearing, does. It's a wash in something like the quarter mile, but helps in 0-60. The 1/4 times are due, in my opinion, entirely to the stickier tires and stiffer suspension, which results in a better launch.

 

Nope. For whatever reason, it's taller.

 

Yes, the non-Z51 car should win if they are racing from 75 mph to 80 mph.

 

Perhaps also they added the shorter gears to the Z51 to help offset some of the added weight from the other components in the package, such as the extra coolers and associated cooling.

 

Sorry, I stand corrected. That really doesn't make sense given that sixth gear is shorter. Learn something new every day!

 

I think you get a more "sports car" ride with the suspension of the Z51
Just my $.02



Where is this "Badge" I keep hearing about?? is this the one that was an aftermarket job that we can no longer get our hands on? If someone out there knows about a "Stock" Z51 badge...please let me know, ok, even a high quality aftermarket will do

Les

 

They're aftermarket. Try a search on this site.

 

Its due to the gearing. Changing a base model to the same tires and stiffening up the suspension won't make up for the discrepancy in acceleration in the quarter mile. The Z51 would still run a quicker 1/4 mile.

It is a fact that traction, power, driver ability, vehicle weight, power to weight ratio, equal a car with lower gearing (higher number) will out accelerate one with higher gears (lower number).

This is the reason for the superiority in the quarter mile for the Z51 vs the base model.

Put lower gears in a base model C6 and run it against a stock C6 and traction equal, which do you think would win a quarter mile race?

However changing the rear gears of a brand new car still in warranty is a questionable approach at best. If one is not interested in doing this major modification to your brand new, still in warranty car, then no one can blame you.

Since the cars reach their top speed in 5th gear as opposed to 6th, the .74 vs .71 gearing of the Z51 car allows for a higher top speed.
"With the Z51, the Tremec is tailored with numerically higher gears to improve acceleration.

In automotive vernaclar a higher numerical ratio is referred to as a LOWER gear. That's why first gear in the transmission is called LOW gear.

Also, in automotive vernacular gear ratios are expressed as input/output ratio, but in most industrial applications the ratio is expressed as output/input. This is probably because the average customer can relate more easily to a gear ratio expressed as a number greater than one rather than a number less than one.

Lower gears - higher numerical ratio - are also referred to as "short" gears as opposed to lower numerical ratios that are sometimes referred to as "long" or "tall" gears.


The rotors are not just cross drilled, they are a larger diameter rotor which minimize brake fade. Source:

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/spec...05/final3.html

The Z51 package is an option for people who drive their cars competitively. Its not for everybody. The coolers are an advantage if you drive your car in this manner.

Z51 is a winner and the best stock, from the factory performance bargain out there if you drive your car competitively. The gearing for base model vs Z51

First: 2.66 vs 2.97
Second :1.7 vs 2.07
Third: 1.30 vs 1.43
Fourth: 1.00 vs 1.00
Fifth: - 0.74 vs 0.71
Sixth: - 0.50 vs 0.57

 

Ricer!

 

It's really interesting how the Z51 package stirs up so much debate compared to other packages such as 3LT vs. 2LT. Really, you get so many more actual car-guy goodies with the Z51 at roughly half the price of the 3LT package. I don't really understand where all the anti-Z51 sentiment is coming from. If you don't want it, don't buy it. I don't think you can add gears, stickier tires, and better swaybars to a non-Z51 car for the price of the Z51 package.

It says right in the package description it's for the track enthusiast. It's great because you get these extras and can stay in a stock class. Once you start adding non-factory gears to your car you will be in the same class as Corvettes with fully built and/or forced induction motors. Good luck with that.

 

Do any of you actually put your $55,000 car on the track and chance being banged up?

 

Yes. Plenty of us do. And sometimes the results are unfavorable.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1233722

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=264570

 

Why else would I have bought a $55,000 sports car?

To cruise at 50mph in the left lane and let it be banged up by potholes and truck debris?

 

Yikes!. That's why I keep mine on the street.

 

You can catch me at the 1/4 mile. But I don't do roundy roundy. But as for what your asking, yes I would rather be on the street, but I can avoid the junk.