C6 roadrace setup?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
C6 roadrace setup?
So I am buying a C6 and plan on doing alot of roadracing with it. Nothing professional, just alot of trackdays so to say.
I am new to the C6 so my question is what is the best set-up for these cars?
Headers, exhaust CAI and tune, or FI like a maggie or procharger? The car will have the stock bottom.
Suspension wise, what is needed there to make it handle like a pro? Shocks, swaybar, spring?
Please inform me!! If anybody has any good links to tech info I would appreciate that to
Thanks guys!
/Eric
I am new to the C6 so my question is what is the best set-up for these cars?
Headers, exhaust CAI and tune, or FI like a maggie or procharger? The car will have the stock bottom.
Suspension wise, what is needed there to make it handle like a pro? Shocks, swaybar, spring?
Please inform me!! If anybody has any good links to tech info I would appreciate that to
Thanks guys!
/Eric
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Get a copy of the rules for the class in which you are going to compete from the sanctioning body before spending any money. This will tell you what you can and can't do to the car. If you haven't raced before, odds are that the stock car is better than you are, so concentrate first on improving your own skills before modifying the car extensively.
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,475
Likes: 549
From: Jackson NJ
Get a copy of the rules for the class in which you are going to compete from the sanctioning body before spending any money. This will tell you what you can and can't do to the car. If you haven't raced before, odds are that the stock car is better than you are, so concentrate first on improving your own skills before modifying the car extensively.
Learn to drive the stock setup at it's limits & then you can start thinking of specific mods. You didn't say, but it would be worthwhile to get the Z51 option.....that would give you the additional coolers, closer ratios in the tranny, comp suspension, etc & the stock Goodyear Supertires are fine for novice track events.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Go look in the roadracing/autocross section. There's lots of great info there. I track mine stock except for SS brake lines, front brake cooling ducts, and an accurate alignment.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
I am new to the C6 so my question is what is the best set-up for these cars?
Headers, exhaust CAI and tune, or FI like a maggie or procharger? The car will have the stock bottom.
Headers, exhaust CAI and tune, or FI like a maggie or procharger? The car will have the stock bottom.
Suspension wise, what is needed there to make it handle like a pro? Shocks, swaybar, spring?
and more Seat time will make the car handle like a pro. Dont mod your car until you have learned to drive it, say ten weekends on the track first.
Please inform me!! If anybody has any good links to tech info I would appreciate that to
Thanks guys!
/Eric
Thanks guys!
/Eric
Under the Corvette General Autocross and Road racing forum is where to get all your track (road race & Auto-X ) questions answered.
Welcome to the corvette world.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Chuluota Fl
[QUOTE=Dave S;1558642877] Learn to drive the stock setup at it's limits & then you can start thinking of specific mods. [QUOTE]
1000% Learn to drive the car, spend your mod money on a driving school first. I would suggest brake pads and Motul though, extra confidence. Believe me.
Learn to drive the stock setup at it's limits & then you can start thinking of specific mods. [QUOTE] 1000% Learn to drive the car, spend your mod money on a driving school first. I would suggest brake pads and Motul though, extra confidence. Believe me.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
My two cents on mods would be:
1. Motul brake fluid - before first event and every event
2. Better brake shoes when you get a few events under your belt. I use and love Hawk HT10's. DO NOT EVER RUN CERAMIC PADS ON THE TRACK. YOUR SAFETY IS AT STAKE, DO NOT DOUBT ME ON THIS, VOICE OF LUCKY EXPERIENCE HERE, I DIDN'T KILL MYSELF BUT COULD HAVE.
3. After a few more events, get some R tires like Nitto 555 Rii's. I use a set of C5 Wagon Wheels for mine and they fit great. If you have Z51 front rotors you have to switch to C5 rotors ($25 ea) and C5 caliper mounts ($35 ea).
That will give you fun for years to come. Also, if you can swing it, get the Z51 option, the power steering, oil and tranny coolers work pretty darn well.
Last edited by Joe_G; Jan 23, 2007 at 08:39 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
Agree with others stating the LAST thing you need is power adders.
1. Buy the car and break it in.
2. Invest time and money in the driver to learn driving skills, which may cost you as much as some of the mods, but will make you+ the car way faster on a road circuit than adding 40HP ever will.
3. Invest in the suspension. Stickier tires, better shocks,and better sway bars wold come first. Concurrently with that will be race pads and dedicated rotors.
4. At this stage, you will need better seating / restraints.
5. If you have any money left, have any of your car left, or haven't totally fallen in and bought yourself a race car, then maybe you can think about some power adders. But then the upgrade cycle starts over as you replace failed / OEM parts to keep up with the additional speed.
FI is probably a bad idea for a track car.
1. Buy the car and break it in.
2. Invest time and money in the driver to learn driving skills, which may cost you as much as some of the mods, but will make you+ the car way faster on a road circuit than adding 40HP ever will.
3. Invest in the suspension. Stickier tires, better shocks,and better sway bars wold come first. Concurrently with that will be race pads and dedicated rotors.
4. At this stage, you will need better seating / restraints.
5. If you have any money left, have any of your car left, or haven't totally fallen in and bought yourself a race car, then maybe you can think about some power adders. But then the upgrade cycle starts over as you replace failed / OEM parts to keep up with the additional speed.
FI is probably a bad idea for a track car.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Thanks!
Thanks guys for all the tips, but just to clarify a little:
I am completely aware of the "driver mod", but if anything I have that!
I am only 25, but I have raced cars for many years, competing in different classes. Last race was the La Carrera PanAmerican rally in Mexico where my father and I drove our 1965 Corvette Stingray roadster and won our class, and came in 5th overall!
Past year or so I have been down to the Nurburgring in Germany driving various cars, among others my fathers C5 Z06 Comm. Edition with some extra goodies.
So for setting good times on the "Green Hell" alot of power is no disadvantage if it is usable. You need power to get up all those hills
I plan on buying the C6 Z06 brake kit, lighter wheels and sticky tires.
So would the Z51 suspension be enough to do some hardcore roadracing? Is it worth upgrading the shocks, spring, bushings etc or is it a waste of time and money?
Thanks again!
I am completely aware of the "driver mod", but if anything I have that!
I am only 25, but I have raced cars for many years, competing in different classes. Last race was the La Carrera PanAmerican rally in Mexico where my father and I drove our 1965 Corvette Stingray roadster and won our class, and came in 5th overall!
Past year or so I have been down to the Nurburgring in Germany driving various cars, among others my fathers C5 Z06 Comm. Edition with some extra goodies.
So for setting good times on the "Green Hell" alot of power is no disadvantage if it is usable. You need power to get up all those hills
I plan on buying the C6 Z06 brake kit, lighter wheels and sticky tires.
So would the Z51 suspension be enough to do some hardcore roadracing? Is it worth upgrading the shocks, spring, bushings etc or is it a waste of time and money?
Thanks again!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Well that tidbit of info would have saved a lot of wasted keystrokes~! 
I would check availablity of different brake pads on Z06 brakes before I bought them. Last I checked there weren't many different pads available but that might have changed. I've never heard of anyone complaining about the stock brakes on a C6 as being too weak and there are a ton of different pads available so I'm not sure if you would be doing yourself any favors changing out the brakes. The rotors for the base C6 or C6 are $25 and what are they, $200 for a Z06? As an expendible item I'd go with the cheaper non-drilled rotors but that's me.
You would likely want to change the suspension due to your experience. I think the T1 kits are out now. Of course you could try it first and see. It's great for me but I am a Sunday driver compared to you so I'm guessing you won't like it.
I would check availablity of different brake pads on Z06 brakes before I bought them. Last I checked there weren't many different pads available but that might have changed. I've never heard of anyone complaining about the stock brakes on a C6 as being too weak and there are a ton of different pads available so I'm not sure if you would be doing yourself any favors changing out the brakes. The rotors for the base C6 or C6 are $25 and what are they, $200 for a Z06? As an expendible item I'd go with the cheaper non-drilled rotors but that's me.
You would likely want to change the suspension due to your experience. I think the T1 kits are out now. Of course you could try it first and see. It's great for me but I am a Sunday driver compared to you so I'm guessing you won't like it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Well that tidbit of info would have saved a lot of wasted keystrokes~!
I would check availablity of different brake pads on Z06 brakes before I bought them. Last I checked there weren't many different pads available but that might have changed. I've never heard of anyone complaining about the stock brakes on a C6 as being too weak and there are a ton of different pads available so I'm not sure if you would be doing yourself any favors changing out the brakes. The rotors for the base C6 or C6 are $25 and what are they, $200 for a Z06? As an expendible item I'd go with the cheaper non-drilled rotors but that's me.
You would likely want to change the suspension due to your experience. I think the T1 kits are out now. Of course you could try it first and see. It's great for me but I am a Sunday driver compared to you so I'm guessing you won't like it.
I would check availablity of different brake pads on Z06 brakes before I bought them. Last I checked there weren't many different pads available but that might have changed. I've never heard of anyone complaining about the stock brakes on a C6 as being too weak and there are a ton of different pads available so I'm not sure if you would be doing yourself any favors changing out the brakes. The rotors for the base C6 or C6 are $25 and what are they, $200 for a Z06? As an expendible item I'd go with the cheaper non-drilled rotors but that's me.
You would likely want to change the suspension due to your experience. I think the T1 kits are out now. Of course you could try it first and see. It's great for me but I am a Sunday driver compared to you so I'm guessing you won't like it.
Thanks for your input on the brakes, i have to admit that i think that you are on the right track there. I have never heard of anybody complaining about there stock brakes either. I guess i wanted the Z06 brakes to ad a little more "bling" to the car, but it's kind of unnecessary since my main objective is to go fast
T1? The only T1 article i have found were swaybar kit. Maybe the LG guys have info on that?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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From: Miami FL
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Learn to drive the stock setup at it's limits & then you can start thinking of specific mods. You didn't say, but it would be worthwhile to get the Z51 option.....that would give you the additional coolers, closer ratios in the tranny, comp suspension, etc & the stock Goodyear Supertires are fine for novice track events.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
I'd stay way far away from the Z06 brakes for road race. They don't work that well and the six padlets/rotor on the front cost a fortune to replace. Stick to solid rotors and race pads. Glad to hear you have #2 covered.