Ok, here's my situation. I own a 2002 Z06. I bought a 2005 Z51 M6 and did not care for it. It felt a bit heavier, and plowed a great deal more than my Z06 and in the end, I just didn't see what I was getting for my money so I kept the 02 Z06 and unloaded the 05 at breakeven.

I've been away from the forums because GM abandoned me when the made the new Z06. I am not going to pay $70k+ for a car - I'm just too cheap I guess.

I've even been looking for other options but until now, my plan was to find a low mileage 04 Z06 in the near future.

Last night a friend sent me an e-mail and mentioned how he was enjoying the new higher hp of the 2008 coupe. Having been frustrated with the way things were going with the Corvettes, I hadn't heard anything about this and so I came here.

I'm now thinking that I might be happy with a 2008 coupe with Z51 and the exhaust with 436hp.

However, I wasn't thrilled with the handling of the 2005 Z51. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't my 2002 Z06 either.

Now you know where I'm coming from, here's my question. What would it take in mild aftermarket work to get a 2008 Z51 M6 in the same ballpark as my 2002 Z06 in ride and handling?

Sway bars and shocks? Springs? Has anyone done any mild bolt-on improvements to the handling of a Z51 C6 that they recommend? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have a 2006 Z51 but I changed out the shocks to Koni FSDs and the swaybars to Pfadt street swaybars (so the Z51 springs are the only Z51 suspension piece I have left on the car). Total cost was $1500 and I installed everything myself. I have never driven a C5Z extensively so I can't compare the two but I don't think you'd be dissapointed with a C6 with these two mods. They make the stock Z51 seem woefully spongy and vague. If you want to go to the extreme, get some coilovers and swaybars instead. That should definitely be adequate.

Are you thinking of getting the Z51 option because of the MZ6 (similar gearing to your C5Z)? If not, it might be better to get the base suspension and apply the money saved towards swaybars and shocks or coilovers.

 

The Z51 also includes the larger brake rotors and oil cooler.

Tom, the C6 is a much more refined car than the C5. It may FEEL heavier and smoother but that just comes with the refinement in the ride that it has over the more raw feel of the C5Z. Also, there are already other threads you can search pertaining to the big gains in hp from minor mods on the LS3. These new changes to the current Z51 should finally put the C5Z out to pasture. You can easily prove it by taking it to the track.

Of course, stiffer sways and shocks can make things even better.

 

I have a 2007 z51 and I installed the pfadt coilovers.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1753692

Now its handling is superb, and you can customize your setup.

 

Rob,

I agree that the new LS3 makes all the difference. It is the sole reason I am considering anything but a used car (C5 or C6 Z06) at all.

My 2005 Z51 sure felt more likely to understeer and I felt more body roll. I am betting that it wouldn't take much more than a sway bar and maybe shocks to fix what I didn't like about the handling. I'm willing to take a little more stiffness in ride than most folks probably are - and with the 436 hp I think that it will hold its own, or even better the C5Z06 performance.

I realize that I am being greedy, but I wish the Z51 package was more like the Z06 package from the C5 era - with about 40-50hp over the base C5, and less creature comforts vs the coupe and verts. Then the Z06 could pick up another 40-50hp to differentiate itself from the Z51.

Then they could price the Z06 at 75k, the Z51 at 58k and I'd have the same type of "higher performance" car without the extreme price tag of the Z06. I was quite alienated when the Z06 turned out to be what it did.

I've beat this dead horse before, and I realize GM does what GM does based on what they believe is best for them - but for those of us who couldn't justify spending a fortune for a performance car, but were willing to make sacrifices in other areas (limited options, hardtop, seats, etc) the C5 Z06 allowed us to have a serious performance sports car, without breaking the bank. The new Z06 is an incredible car and an incredible bargain, but if you can't, or won't, spend that much money on a car then it doesn't really matter.

I was ok with that, except GM left a gap in the lineup. Even ignoring the "exclusivity" or "mystique" of being willing to give up some of the luxury in order to get the performance that the C5 Z06 had - the new C6's didn't quite measure up. Close, but you were taking a step backwards in my not so humble (but informed - I bought a C6 Z51 and tried it!) opinion.

The new 436hp (and the dyno tests look very promising already!) with Z51 and perhaps the simplest of bolt-on mods could fill this gap for me.

I will also consider some low-mileage used Z06's that are starting to come down to the high 50's/low 60's. But the 2008 Z51 narrows the gap a bit and makes for a nice, reasonably priced (I think that I could get a 3LT, nicely equipped for under $50k) upgrade path from a C5 Z06.

I'm seeing some 1LZ Z06's in that 60k price range, while the 2LZ's seem to be closer to 65k.

I'll keep driving the C5 Z06 for now, and watch closely to see what happens - but the 2008 Z51 seems to be a reasonable option for me to consider owning a new Corvette again.

 

Everybody talks about how much more grip the C5Z06 has but forgets it has 1" wider front wheels and tires and 1/2" wider in back.
Hotchkis sway bars on the C6Z51 coupled with wider aftermarket tires wheels of comparable size to the
C5Z06. I have found most of the reason for the lack of handling performance when comparing the C5Z06 to the C6 is due to the Z06 larger front tires and wheels. Get some CCW 18X10 with a 275/35/18 on front and 19X11 on the back and I think you will be very happy.

 

Good point. C6Z wheels and tires along with a swaybar would put it right up there with the C6Z and definitely out run the C5Z in the cornering dept.

 

Didn't the C-5 Z06 have non runflats? Better tires on a C-6 would really improve things.

 

The C6 Is lighter and base model is ten times the car that the previous years z06 everwere,{must be the "wondering if he was going to make it around the curve alive" that made him think it handles better

 

I owned a 03 Z06 and now a C6 coupe. The Z was a better performer all the way around IMO.Not by a whole lot but better none the less. If I wasn't so keen on the C6's appearence I would go back to the C5Z, like Tom i can't justify the $$ of the C6Z. If I could I would have gotten one.

 

Guess my view is different. Had the 02 Z06 and now a 2005 Z51. Basically the C5Z is one of the best Corvettes ever produced because it is naturally balanced. It is just a born butt kicker that makes the driver feel good blasting around. I even prefer it to the C6Z. So unless you need a removable roof, stick with it.

Honestly it sounds like you are trying to convince yourself an 08 is the ticket on the basis of 36 more HP. The truth is that you will probably not notice the extra 9% power if you had a 05-07 car, because the increase is minimal and the 08 is a bit heavier. And it won't be any faster than your Z. It also won't handle any better than the 05 did. Is that a result you want after shelling out another 30K for the new car?

I guess what I am saying is that you are setting yourself up for another disappointment.

That said, there are many things you can do to a C6 to get it to Z06 levels. Some have done Pfadt stuff. I have changed to Nitto R tires (which I also ran on the Z) and the C6 is right there with the Z. I also am at 400RW and did 4.10 gears, so the car is way quicker than my stock Z ever was. I've got about $8K in the C6 and I said I would never do that when I was trying to decide between a C6 and the C5. If you are going to stay stock, there is no question the C5Z is the better handling and performing car. The C6, however, is the nicer car.

 

I guess I'm not exactly sure what you're asking for: in your first post you talk about an improvement in ride and handling. Improving to what level? At or exceeding your Z06? I'm not sure the "ride" is better, but the handling very well may be.

And, while I haven't read it yet, OregonC6 highlighted this evening an article in C&D Aug. re the C6 Z51 and the Z06. Maybe your seat of the pants impressions won't match up with the numbers in this article, but it could be very entertaining and illuminating for you.

As you no doubt have seen from the list of changes first noted at Bowling Green expo by some of our more intrepid and journalistic types, there've been many improvements to the Z51/'08. Sufficient to make it more like your Z06? Maybe not.

While you don't state if your Z51 was tuned, aligned, etc., I'll just assume you had it maxed for what it was and yet it didn't make the grade for your requirements. If that's not the case, even remaining with all stock parts, then that might've been the first avenue for you.

While I wouldn't argue with anyone on this forum re how to make it (a new Z51) better "in ride and handling", another beauty of the forum is that there are "tuners" who regularly contribute. And who regularly advertise their wares and their abilities.

May I suggest you send similar info/questions to them and see what they recommend? Such as, to Pfadt. And to LGMotorsports. I don't think Rippie, Callaway or LPE are out of the realm of interest either.

By now, I'm sure you've read of the newer Bilsteins and Konis, etc., so that may not be in your viewscreen.

Good luck.

 

Well to me it sounds like you need a power increase for your C5 Z06. You don't like the feel of the newer cars, you are not alone.

Randy
Where does the key go???

 

If you want to change the handling of the C6-Z51 toward oversteer, put the Z06 REAR anti-sway bar on it. Change the shocks for Koni or Bilstein. And then play with the alignment, looking at
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c5/toom...6alignment.htm
for some data on more aggressive NON-OEM specifications.

And the wheel and tire suggestions above are worth trying, also.

 

No it's actually heavier than a C5Z.