I'm building my ultimate Corvette but I need your help getting some basic questions answered before I can start this venture. I have been looking but can't seem to find the information I'm looking for. I will start a seperate build thread as soon as I get the ground work laid out.

A little about myself: I currently own a 2000 SS Camaro with a built, turbo'd LS2 making 810rwhp/830rwtq. I've owned the car since 2001 and have built it 5 different times. It's been all motor, nitrous, single turbo, twin turbo and now back to a larger single turbo. It's had an LS1, a bored out 5.3 iron block and now an LS2. It has been a fun car and I have loved it for 11 years but when the new Camaro showed up, it immediately felt outdated- although I don't really like the new Camaro's.

So... I'm building a C6 Vette that I hope to have completed by the Summer. I have the money (my budget is $55k) and the know-how so I don't really plan on wasting any time. In order to stay under budget I'm planning on getting a salvage Vette. Exterior body damage only, no structural damage- blown engine OK as it will only be cheaper and I can build a stronger fresh motor with the savings. Yes, I know it sounds insane to invest $55k and end up with a salvage vehicle that isn't worth anything but I don't plan on selling the car anytime soon. By the time I sell it, probably 10 years from now, I'd probably only ask $20k for it anyway. So without further procrastination, here are the planned mods:
-New Black paint. Imperfect paint drives me crazy and I hate factory orange peel so I'm repainting it Black no matter what color it is to start with- so original color doesn't matter.
-Extreme ZR1 Body kit:
-Front fenders +1.5
-Rear fenders +1.5
-Front Clip
-Front Splitter
-Side Skirts
-Rear Spoiler
-No rear diffuser- looks like something you'd see on Gran Turismo the video game.
-Big Brake kit front and rear
-19" Matte Black concave rims w/19x12 rears on 345 wide drag radials
-Custom twin-turbo system. I doubt I will be okay with half the power (or less if I don't get a ZO6.) If I do get the ZO6, I will see how I like it first and then turbo it if I feel the need for more power, which I can only assume I will.
-Custom Stereo, gotta have my music
-Custom Suede interior on Seats, Door Panels, Steering wheel and dash.
-Will probably get a flat-bottom steering wheel too

What I don't know is what I should start with. I kind of want a ZO6 but it seems kind of pointless since I'm replacing all the body panels that make it a ZO6. I was considering it because of the 427, the dry-sump oiling system, the bigger brakes and I can sell the body panels. But I still don't think I would be happy with a 500rwhp car after having what I have now. 800rwhp doesn't even feel that fast to me anymore. Also, I've been reading that LS7's aren't as reliable as an LS2 or LS3 when modded, the dry sump isn't all it's cracked up to be, and the LS7 doesn't respond well to boost at all. I know that a stock bottom-end LS3 will survive at 700rwhp all day long while I've read that the LS7 will blow up at that power level, even though the LS7 will require half the boost to get to 700rwhp. Is most of that information accurate? Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. btw, I did forge my LS2 but there are guys in my city running 800rwhp on boosted stock-block LS2's for 20,000 miles now. The trick is running E-85 to fight detonation since that is the #1 killer of boosted LS motors, and the right tune of course. If I got the 08 with the LS3, I would probably keep it stock bottom end, convert it to Ethanol and run 700-750rwhp to stay on the safe side. That power level would probably be faster than my Camaro with the weight difference. That leads me to my first question:

1. What does a normal optioned C6 weigh? A ZO6?

2. Is the Magnesium engine cradle in the ZO6 the only weight savings over the non-ZO6, besides the front fenders and rear quarters that I am going to replace anyway?

3. I know very little about the drivetrain in any Vette, although I am very concerned with it. This is where the ZO6 might be a worthy investment if I don't have to build the drivetrain as much. What I do know is the 2008 non-ZO6 got the LS3, which has an improved cooling system as well as improved heads that flow better (and might have a meatier deck?- better for boost). It also got the all-new T6060 manual which I've heard is beefier stock than a stage 5 built T56!

So assumming the 06/07 C6 has a plain T56, and the 08/09 C6 has the new T6060, what is the transmission in the:
4. 06/07 ZO6 -Built T56 but still not better than a stock T6060?
5. 08/09 ZO6 -Built T6060 or same T6060 found in non-ZO6? Didn't know if they built it more or not seeing it has so much higher power handling capabilities.

6. I would think the diff is built in the ZO6 over the non-ZO6, correct?
7. Is the 08/09 ZO6 Diff improved over the 06/07?
8. Would it handle 700-750rwhp in any year configuration?
9. Could I build the C6 diff to be as strong or stronger than the ZO6 Diff
10. I read that the ZR1 Diff is strong as hell. Would a stock ZR1 Diff handle 700-750rwhp reliably?

That's all I can think of for now. I hope to get some good feedback soon so I can get the right starter car in my garage ASAP. This should be a fun project. I'm very much looking forward to it!

Oh, question 11: Any word on quality and/or fitment of the Extreme ZR1 body kit? Any problems or issues I should be aware of or concerned about?

THANKS!

 

You know how to build a twin turbo 800rwhpcar but you are here asking the weight of a z06????????Just google and see what transmission comes in which year and either way if you are buiding a 1000 h.p car you wont be keeping the stock transmission or drivetrain anyway.And about an 800whp car not feeling that fast???????Please any car that runs in the 9s will feel fast when you hit the throttle ,even to a top fuel driver.I am not too sure about the stuff you choose to say on this forum,maybe you are jsut looking for attention.Could i possibly be right?A guy that is so handy would have the answers to most if not all the points you bring up.Sorry dude your story just doesnt add up!

 

Z06 frame is aluminum, base corvette is steel. I suspect you have some research ahead of you before getting started. Good luck with the project

 

I doubt (and I could be wrong) that you'll find a salvage title vette that only has exterior damage, but not frame damage (flood or fire cars aren't even an option, IMO).

If I were you, I'd find a very high mileage early model C6 for as cheap as possible, then build it from there. You might also find a Z06 being parted out, and you can get the HD drivetrain parts from that. The rest of what you want you're replacing anyway.

 

You can find a used mid-high mileage Z in the high $30K's and rebuild the engine, Less of a total overhaul than starting out with a base C6.

 

No, I'm asking the weight of a normally optioned C6 and ZO6, not base weights that can vary more than 200lbs in some cars.

How about this, why don't YOU Google it and see what comes back. All you get back is '6-speed'. It doesn't give you names like Tremec TR6060 let alone details like additional power handling modifications that a ZO6 might have.

You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. I've been driving a 650-800rwhp car for the past 7 years so no, it doesn't feel fast to me anymore. Talk to some of the guys on LS1tech and they will tell you the same thing. You get used to the power.

I could care less if you believe me or not. But I doubt anyone would take the time that I did to write that long first thread and think of the questions that I did. I had many more questions that I did research, like the mods I intend to do but after a couple hours of looking, I still couldn't find the specific information I was looking for on the drivetrain. I was hoping that a dedicated support group such as CorvetteForum would jump at the chance to help someone start a project. Maybe I am used to the larger community on LS1tech. I was warned that there would be people like you in this community. Do me a favor and stay out of my thread. If you don't have any of the answers to my questions or anything to say that will move this project forward, then you're just wasting my time.

 

btw, I found a 2008 ZO6 with 23k miles with a blown motor that is a theft recovery with NO body damage. $18,500. Car looks perfect from pics. What I am worried about with a LS7 is if the motor is blown because the piston broke off at the ringland and it scarred up the block, it might not be salvagable or economically repaired due to having to have it resleeved. With the LS3, if part of the piston broke off and was bouncing around in the cylinder, chances are I could simply bore it out and make it a 402. Anyway, still not sold on a ZO6.

 

The fact that you didn't know the Z06 has an aluminum frame versus the base coupe having steel frame speaks volumes for the fact that you have a ton more research to do.

Just to touch on a few of your questions--here we go...

No, the base C6 diff can't be built strong enough to handle that kind of power--the problem is the not the internals, it's the case. The webbing and structural strengths are VASTLY different between the base, Z06, and Z51 diff housing. Again, do a search and you'll find more info.

If you want the strongest, most reliable setup, you'll need the drivetrain from a ZR1 and then take it to have it upgraded by RPM or another reputable shop.

Fast, cheap, reliable--you can only pick two.

Don't forget you'll need strong axles too and those are $2200 for the pair.

Supervettes kits look great and from the little info that is available on their fitment etc, I think they are one of the best.

Again..ALL this info is available if you just search for it.

I'll even post a couple links for you to get started.

Oh, and you'll need a lot more budget than $55k to get to your goals reliably unless you can get all the parts at wholesale and build everything yourself.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ok-inside.html

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-f...ld-thread.html

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...51extreme.html

 

Those are the things to look in to in your task. You really need to rebuild engine $5000-12000k, fuel system $ 2000-3500, Transmission (except TR6060) $ 2500-5000, clutch $ 1500-3500, driveshaft $ 800-1500, diff $ 2000-4000 ,and axels $ 2200.Turbo kit $10000-15000,Braks if not Z06 $ 2000-4500, Meth system $1000, Ebost2 + Fuel gauge $ 1000. Then you need to get ZR1 parts. This adds up quickly and $55.000 might not take you where you want to go.

If I was to do this to day then I would look for already build C6 TT or Z06 TT. I think you can find son think nice from $50-80.000 depending on what has been done to the car. Then you might need to work on something in the drive train only. This is Corvette you are planning to build and not Camaro ( not that I do not like Camaro just everything is $$$$$ in Corvette LOL)

 

$55k.

For that money, you can have a built, pretty, ready roller but with no drivetrain at all. Or you can have a dream drivetrain with no car to put it in.

Think about nearly doubling your budget if you want a complete, reliable, correctly built car that is full-custom body, full-custom interior, fully built motor, fully built drivetrain, fully built fuel system, fully built induction system, and built suspension.

Hell, that full suede custom interior is typically a $15-20k endeavor alone. You might be a little out of your league if this isn't something you've done before. That or it's going to take you a LOT longer than you planned.

 

Yea, the best bet to stay in budget with less headache would be to try and find an already highly modded car that is close to your goal, b/c you can buy pre-modded a lot cheaper than you can mod.