Home Brew z51?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Overland Park Kansas
Home Brew z51?
I feel like I'm getting too hung up on finding a used 08 with z51? I read a post here where someone made the comment that you could get better that z51 performance via aftermarket for the same or less? Any thoughts or experience would be appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
For the money the Z51 package cant be beat. Better brakes,additional cooling,better tires,gears,better handling shocks and sways cant be reproduced aftermarket for the price GM offers it.
Last edited by NYC6; Jul 21, 2008 at 11:55 AM. Reason: two additions
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 0
From: chazy ny
Gene Gully at gmpartswarhouse offers all the Z51 parts to change a base car to a Z51 or even better you could change a base to the ride of a z06 if you wanted to. The base and z51 have the same power train. Z51 has:
bigger cross drilled rotors
hevier front spring, little bit lighter rear spring and stiffer shocks
Bigger front and rear swaybars
Steering system cooler
So it is real easy to set up the base cars handling and braking to match a Z51, thats what i did to my car.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Overland Park Kansas
Ya, I just hate to be the guy that takes the new hit on a NEW car. Love to find a dealio on an 08 used if possible. To me it sure seemed like the z51 package was a good deal for what you got, but I had to ask.
My first venture into the sports car world (as far as owning) and if it's anything like the way I go through motorcycles it won't be the last. We have a saying when guys get into (or back into) riding dirt bikes...you buy a bike, you buy another bike, then you buy the RIGHT bike. Only these are about 6 times the money. Really can't afford to buy the WRONG car.
My first venture into the sports car world (as far as owning) and if it's anything like the way I go through motorcycles it won't be the last. We have a saying when guys get into (or back into) riding dirt bikes...you buy a bike, you buy another bike, then you buy the RIGHT bike. Only these are about 6 times the money. Really can't afford to buy the WRONG car.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
brackets- $200
sways- $160
end links - $200
poly bushings - $30
edelbrock shocks - $400
result- better d/d and probably long-term quality than Z51, but still no oil cooler
tires- debateable- you'll buy alot more S/C's than runflats
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
From: Lynchburg VA
Gene Gully at gmpartswarhouse offers all the Z51 parts to change a base car to a Z51 or even better you could change a base to the ride of a z06 if you wanted to. The base and z51 have the same power train. Z51 has:
bigger cross drilled rotors
hevier front spring, little bit lighter rear spring and stiffer shocks
Bigger front and rear swaybars
Steering system cooler
So it is real easy to set up the base cars handling and braking to match a Z51, thats what i did to my car.
drive both and you see the acceleration difference
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
Your at $1400 already not accounting additional coolers,gears and tires and labor. The Z51 package is about $1600. Not to mention the fact that a factory installed option package will be worth way more come resale time.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
it does, in the man trans. not the automatic which you can buy also with the Z51 option.
OP, keep looking and don't be afraid to travel some for a good car. in other words, don't limit yourself to 100 miles from hometown.
OP, keep looking and don't be afraid to travel some for a good car. in other words, don't limit yourself to 100 miles from hometown.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
it can definitely be argued both ways. I would probably get a Z51 package now, but I'd still do the shocks, bushings, and end links.you won't find this under a stock Z.
Last edited by Leprkon; Jul 21, 2008 at 09:54 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 4
From: Park City, UT
Alternately, the new ZR1 is using Magnetic Ride Control (albeit a likely much improved version from the F55).
Additionally, from the Corvette Quarterly article I just read the ZR1 version is a MUCH better suspension than the 2007 Z06 suspension.
I've got the F55 w/ Z51 sways installed and I LOVE it. That being said, I've never driven a stock Z51 to compare it to.
Lastly, I'd recommend staying away from drilled rotors as they tend to crack (or so the forum rumor has it), but slotted are very much improved over non-slotted.
Not sure if this helps or convolutes the issue, but there you have it.
Additionally, from the Corvette Quarterly article I just read the ZR1 version is a MUCH better suspension than the 2007 Z06 suspension.
I've got the F55 w/ Z51 sways installed and I LOVE it. That being said, I've never driven a stock Z51 to compare it to.
Lastly, I'd recommend staying away from drilled rotors as they tend to crack (or so the forum rumor has it), but slotted are very much improved over non-slotted.
Not sure if this helps or convolutes the issue, but there you have it.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Overland Park Kansas
Good stuff. Thanks for everyones input. Hadn't considered the gears...or should I say, I didn't realize there was a gearing difference.
I know I'll find one, just have to patient. Something I'm not very good at. Hell if I wait too long I won't want one anymore...and that's no fun at all!
I know I'll find one, just have to patient. Something I'm not very good at. Hell if I wait too long I won't want one anymore...and that's no fun at all!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 844
Likes: 21
From: W. Covina CA
Good stuff. Thanks for everyones input. Hadn't considered the gears...or should I say, I didn't realize there was a gearing difference.
I know I'll find one, just have to patient. Something I'm not very good at. Hell if I wait too long I won't want one anymore...and that's no fun at all!
I know I'll find one, just have to patient. Something I'm not very good at. Hell if I wait too long I won't want one anymore...and that's no fun at all!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Gene Gully at gmpartswarhouse offers all the Z51 parts to change a base car to a Z51 or even better you could change a base to the ride of a z06 if you wanted to. The base and z51 have the same power train. Z51 has:
bigger cross drilled rotors
hevier front spring, little bit lighter rear spring and stiffer shocks
Bigger front and rear swaybars
Steering system cooler
So it is real easy to set up the base cars handling and braking to match a Z51, thats what i did to my car.
Lower gears for faster acceleration
Transmission cooler
Better tires (softer compound for more grip)
Resulting in 0.1 seconds faster sprint to 60mph and 0.02 higher skidpad rating.
Good luck getting those two done to your car for less than what the Z51 package costs
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Alternately, the new ZR1 is using Magnetic Ride Control (albeit a likely much improved version from the F55).
Additionally, from the Corvette Quarterly article I just read the ZR1 version is a MUCH better suspension than the 2007 Z06 suspension.
I've got the F55 w/ Z51 sways installed and I LOVE it. That being said, I've never driven a stock Z51 to compare it to.
Lastly, I'd recommend staying away from drilled rotors as they tend to crack (or so the forum rumor has it), but slotted are very much improved over non-slotted.
Not sure if this helps or convolutes the issue, but there you have it.
Additionally, from the Corvette Quarterly article I just read the ZR1 version is a MUCH better suspension than the 2007 Z06 suspension.
I've got the F55 w/ Z51 sways installed and I LOVE it. That being said, I've never driven a stock Z51 to compare it to.
Lastly, I'd recommend staying away from drilled rotors as they tend to crack (or so the forum rumor has it), but slotted are very much improved over non-slotted.
Not sure if this helps or convolutes the issue, but there you have it.
The only time cross drilled rotors crack is when you take the car to the track and overheat them. I will agree that for extended race track usage non cross drilled rotors may be better but that represents perhaps 0.1% of what the typical Corvette owner does with his car. For the remainder 99.9% the cross drilled rotors look better and provide more swept area and heat capacity for increased stopping power.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I will have to disagree with that: I drive my car harder than ANYONE I know (repeated stops from high speeds, slowing down from 180MPH+, etc) and all 4 of my rotors are worn down to where you can see a lip on them from 20 feet away and yet they don't have a single crack.
The only time cross drilled rotors crack is when you take the car to the track and overheat them. I will agree that for extended race track usage non cross drilled rotors may be better but that represents perhaps 0.1% of what the typical Corvette owner does with his car. For the remainder 99.9% the cross drilled rotors look better and provide more swept area and heat capacity for increased stopping power.
The only time cross drilled rotors crack is when you take the car to the track and overheat them. I will agree that for extended race track usage non cross drilled rotors may be better but that represents perhaps 0.1% of what the typical Corvette owner does with his car. For the remainder 99.9% the cross drilled rotors look better and provide more swept area and heat capacity for increased stopping power.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
It's easy to get one or the other, but not both.The tires, however, remain to be debated as "better". They cost alot more, make alot more noise, and last alot less.
I think either set-up would be on aftermarket by the first change-out. One driver would be out that cost well before the other. <shrug>