C6 Street/ Strip Solid Axle Swap
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
C6 Street/ Strip Solid Axle Swap
Just wondering if anyone has done this swap in a less than full race set-up. I have no intentions of going to an autoX event or even pretending that I will use the car for any sort of "handing" condition. I am just looking for people who have done it and what they have to say about the car after it is done.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 497
Likes: 21
From: Garner NC
If you're thinking of going this route, you are much better off getting a Camaro, Nova, Chevelle, or some other solid axle vehicle and saving a whole lot of time and money. If you wanna drag the corvette, get some good drag radials/slicks, and focus on setting up the suspension and working on your launch techniques. Its your choice of course, but what you're suggesting sounds like you're trying to cram a square peg in a round hole.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 61
From: Nantucket MA
Unless you want to hack the firewall/tunnel out of it don't even entertain the thought. If you move to a solid axle you'll have to mount the tranny back upfront where its NOT DESIGNED TO BE in these cars. The only "solid axle" C6's out there are full tube chassis cars...
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
Well, there are some solid axle kits out there for C5s that are almost 'bolt in' type installs so I'm sure one of those can be easily adapted to a C6 if need be...but I do agree with the others in that it's not the best route to take.
Fortunately there have been a lot of great developments over the last few years for late model Corvettes and one can strengthen the independent rear of a C5 or C6 to withstand A LOT, especially in an automatic car. Though it's certainly not cheap.
There are IRS C5s and C6s running well into the 8s with one even in the high 7s.
That's 1/4 mile by the way, not 1/8th mile.
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the rear axle.
Fortunately there have been a lot of great developments over the last few years for late model Corvettes and one can strengthen the independent rear of a C5 or C6 to withstand A LOT, especially in an automatic car. Though it's certainly not cheap.
There are IRS C5s and C6s running well into the 8s with one even in the high 7s.
That's 1/4 mile by the way, not 1/8th mile.
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the rear axle.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Guys, I appreciate your input. I am talking about a live rear axle instead of the transaxle irs set-up. As for why, I already have the car and don't want another cookie cutter Camaro/Mustang etc. What I am looking for here is feedback from people who have already put a 9" in their car or have direct experience with the process.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
Have you hit the limit of the IRS?
It's very easy to go very fast with the stock suspension. 9s shouldn't be a problem at all. Heads/Cam build with a 175 shot of gas and you have a 9 second car on the stock suspension.
Pulling tire is fun, but not necessary
It's very easy to go very fast with the stock suspension. 9s shouldn't be a problem at all. Heads/Cam build with a 175 shot of gas and you have a 9 second car on the stock suspension.
Pulling tire is fun, but not necessary
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
Guys, I appreciate your input. I am talking about a live rear axle instead of the transaxle irs set-up. As for why, I already have the car and don't want another cookie cutter Camaro/Mustang etc. What I am looking for here is feedback from people who have already put a 9" in their car or have direct experience with the process.
At least one supplier makes an IRS Ford 9".
A rear live axle on a C6 would require replacing everything in the drivetrain from the bellhousing back. New bellhousing, transmission, driveshaft and differential and all new rear suspension.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,403
From: Bethesda MD
IIRC, V-series Tech put a 9" in his C5.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/member.php?u=37379
Might try contacting him.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/member.php?u=37379
Might try contacting him.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
True, the new trans must be moved to the front requiring major fabrication to the tunnel/underside of the car requiring a new shifter assembly/possibly some interior console work. The torque tube gets replaced by a traditional drive shaft, all new rear suspension links and even parts of the rear hatch area might have to be cut/altered.Bobby Carrol (and the late/great Leo Barnaby of Neverlift Racing before him) is the one that most of the Corvette guys that I race with turned to for chassis work and solid axle conversions, they've done quite a few C5s/C4s:
http://www.rodandracecraft.com/index.htm
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Thanks again guys. I know that this will require fabrication and is pretty far from what most Vette owners would do. I do not expect everyone to understand why I would want to do it; but I just figured that this would be a good place to possibly find someone who already has this combo. It won't be the first Vette that I have put a solid axle in (I have a 70 with a 4llink back half); but it would be the first C6. As for the transaxle deal I think everyone knows what I mean. I still call it a trans axle as the axle and diffy are one unit until you unbolt them or break them into separate units.
I talked to the guy on tech and he gave me some input on his combo. The guy in the link below is really who I would like to talk to.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/texas-memb...aves-hard.html
I talked to the guy on tech and he gave me some input on his combo. The guy in the link below is really who I would like to talk to.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/texas-memb...aves-hard.html
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Here's a kit. It's for a c5 but I'm quite sure you can adapt it to a C6 as the rear cradles more or less interchange.
http://www.moserengineering.com/comp...e-package.html
http://www.moserengineering.com/comp...e-package.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
IIRC, V-series Tech put a 9" in his C5.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/member.php?u=37379
Might try contacting him.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/member.php?u=37379
Might try contacting him.
Great Caddy/LS tech in South Florida
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Just wanted to give an update. I have not went this route yet. The fuel tank re-location would be my main reason not to. I don't want to invade the interior with a fuel cell. The design of the Moser kit is pretty much what I would be looking at except I would make a similar kit myself. The general design works very well and is used by several Stock Eliminator guys as well as Paul Major's Vette. I know it is not for everyone; but for those not afraid to cut, weld, and bond it appears to be a more than viable solution. While I would not narrow the rear beyond stock, it would also allow for a mean SCCA Trans Am series look. Those road race only Corvettes also run solid axles.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
My friend Shawn Fink quite literally has 1/2 million into this sport and its not his livlihood. He runs 6 sec passes at an altitude of 6000 feet. He runs a hill climb car for the Pikes Peak race each year, a full drag car, a street legal 7 sec car at 2200hp, and several other projects because he likes it. We all have our hobbies and some may think your hobby is silly, dumb or a waste of money/time.
To the OP, Vette Docs in NY did the conversion you are looking for.
