too old to modify ?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,404
Likes: 55
From: Glastonbury CT.
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'20, '21,'22, '23
too old to modify ?
If a C-6 ZR-1, 2005, has 49,000 miles on it.....is it too old/has too many miles on it to modify up to 550 RWHP.......by a highly respectible, nationally known speed shop.......the question becomes do you drop 15k into an older car or buy a newer car with the power you want already on it..........but the over-riding question is the original one.
777
777
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 121
Don't think it is a 2005 ZR-1 as the Z06 didn't arrive until 06 and the C6 ZR-1 later.. The year may be wrong. There is nothing wrong with building an older car versus a newer one. If the older one has the options/color that you want that would be plus. I didn't think much about getting a vette until they did away with the pop up headlights. and then the 427 got my attention. lol
thing knower
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,404
Likes: 942
From: wpb
nah, motors don't know age, so long as they've been cared for....
now, talking about soft parts (mounts, wiring, hoses, fluid) you going to have to spend to make sure that's all okay....
brake lines right off the bat, no questions...
get it and put that power down!!
now, talking about soft parts (mounts, wiring, hoses, fluid) you going to have to spend to make sure that's all okay....
brake lines right off the bat, no questions...
get it and put that power down!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
The 05 has a few one year wonders that may you want to consider before purchasing or modifying, The ECU is different & one year only, easily tuned, just different. Rear diff is one year only & had some issue's when the power was turned up.
My pet pev is the 3 spoke steering wheel Ha!
My 2006 Z51 is home to an LS3 stroker, I'm chasing 600rw NA......hope to hit that this season.
My pet pev is the 3 spoke steering wheel Ha!
My 2006 Z51 is home to an LS3 stroker, I'm chasing 600rw NA......hope to hit that this season.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 967
Likes: 234
From: Whitesburg Kentucky
If you haven’t already bought the car? I would move up to ls 3 car 08 + corvette/ stronger transmission and differential and better heads bigger displacement.better yet already modified.you will save money in the long run.
Last edited by Last 1; May 3, 2021 at 09:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,404
Likes: 55
From: Glastonbury CT.
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'20, '21,'22, '23
I have been told by others, as you say, to move up from an LS 2 to an LS 3 motor..........this seems to be the prevailing thinking.....I just don't know why it would make that big a difference.......I mean, are there real good reasons for this thinking ?.......I have to defer as my knowledge is not as strong in this area.....but the reasoning must be sound.
Thanks for the responses.
777
Thanks for the responses.
777
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
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From: Saint Albans, WV
I have been told by others, as you say, to move up from an LS 2 to an LS 3 motor..........this seems to be the prevailing thinking.....I just don't know why it would make that big a difference.......I mean, are there real good reasons for this thinking ?.......I have to defer as my knowledge is not as strong in this area.....but the reasoning must be sound.
Thanks for the responses.
777
Thanks for the responses.
777
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 967
Likes: 234
From: Whitesburg Kentucky
Not trying to start a fight but with a ls 3 and a cam swap you can get to 500rwhp /with a ls 2 your going to need head work and a fast intake and cam to get you there (manual shift c6)to me it just cheaper to buy a ls3 in the long run.my ls2 make 509 to rear wheels but it had ls3 cnc chevy preformance heads.hope this helps
Last edited by Last 1; May 3, 2021 at 05:35 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,404
Likes: 55
From: Glastonbury CT.
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'20, '21,'22, '23
it sounds like to get to the same place...one requires much more work than the other............the question becomes keep my car ( ls-2 ) and put more money into it.....or sell my car and buy an ls-3 car and put a little less money into it........decisions...decisions........o r do nothing ,,,,,,****.
777
777
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 967
Likes: 234
From: Whitesburg Kentucky
it sounds like to get to the same place...one requires much more work than the other............the question becomes keep my car ( ls-2 ) and put more money into it.....or sell my car and buy an ls-3 car and put a little less money into it........decisions...decisions........o r do nothing ,,,,,,****.
Nothing wrong with a ls2 it just cost more money to get to 500rwhp/NA but if you already own the car it would be probably be cheaper to kept the car ? my only issue is the differential with 05 from what I’ve read they’re weak.matter of fact I had to move up to a Z06 differential due to my power level in my 07 base model to try to keep from breaking things .
777
Nothing wrong with a ls2 it just cost more money to get to 500rwhp/NA but if you already own the car it would be probably be cheaper to kept the car ? my only issue is the differential with 05 from what I’ve read they’re weak.matter of fact I had to move up to a Z06 differential due to my power level in my 07 base model to try to keep from breaking things .
777
Last edited by Last 1; May 3, 2021 at 05:57 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Not trying to start a fight but with a ls 3 and a cam swap you can get to 500rwhp /with a ls 2 your going to need head work and a fast intake and cam to get you there (manual shift c6)to me it just cheaper to buy a ls3 in the long run.my ls2 make 509 to rear wheels but it had ls3 cnc chevy preformance heads.hope this helps
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,404
Likes: 55
From: Glastonbury CT.
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'20, '21,'22, '23
I think all the needles are pointing toward getting an LS-3 car, as for sure it will be moded and it sounds like that is the best starting point, if you were picking between those 2 engines........thank you for your comments.
777
777
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 967
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From: Whitesburg Kentucky
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
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Down side to the 2005, is the weaker diff case.
So stock 2005 with LS2 will have around 350rhp/350ft torque on a M6, while slightly lower on a A4.
550rwhp is not hard with a LS2 via super charger, but your back to square one with trying to put that down and not blow the 2005 diff case apart.
On the later vet cases, the cases were beefed up to help keep them from cracking apart.
And the problem, long output shaft on the trans that seconds as the pinnion gear shaft.
So when you throw a lot of power at the diff (wheel hop is the worst), the trans output shaft starts to flex as the pinion gear is tracking/trying to walk out of the ring gear, which flexes the case to crack it. On a full melt down of the diff, you end up snapping the trans output shaft that the pinion gear is riding on as well from the lateral flex of the shaft.
So stock 2005 with LS2 will have around 350rhp/350ft torque on a M6, while slightly lower on a A4.
550rwhp is not hard with a LS2 via super charger, but your back to square one with trying to put that down and not blow the 2005 diff case apart.
On the later vet cases, the cases were beefed up to help keep them from cracking apart.
And the problem, long output shaft on the trans that seconds as the pinnion gear shaft.
So when you throw a lot of power at the diff (wheel hop is the worst), the trans output shaft starts to flex as the pinion gear is tracking/trying to walk out of the ring gear, which flexes the case to crack it. On a full melt down of the diff, you end up snapping the trans output shaft that the pinion gear is riding on as well from the lateral flex of the shaft.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,404
Likes: 55
From: Glastonbury CT.
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'20, '21,'22, '23
Holy Moly Dano523....if you were a lawyer you make a darn good case about going to 550 or so on an ls2 is not too good an idea because you have a very good chance to break stuff ( expensive stuff)
I like my car very much but if I want more HP it looks like, no doubt, it would be wise to go to let the car go and go to ls3 motor ( verses staying with an ls2).....I was thinking of a 2008..2009 or 2010 convertible...( probably not much difference)
Now the question becomes, do you get an already modded car ( I want a minimum of 550 to 600 at the rear wheels ) or do you get a stock car and sent it to Kateck for the mods......There is probably no black and white, straight answer,
777
I like my car very much but if I want more HP it looks like, no doubt, it would be wise to go to let the car go and go to ls3 motor ( verses staying with an ls2).....I was thinking of a 2008..2009 or 2010 convertible...( probably not much difference)
Now the question becomes, do you get an already modded car ( I want a minimum of 550 to 600 at the rear wheels ) or do you get a stock car and sent it to Kateck for the mods......There is probably no black and white, straight answer,
777
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 700
Likes: 75
From: SW Missouri
Go for it! Getting ready to turn 60k on my 05. Last summer I installed a Cam, LT, FAST/NW 102 and a tune. This fall I will be adding TFS 225 heads, 1.8 HS RRockers, and porting FAST intake. Really hoping to hit 500 whp.
Last edited by rc51racer; May 6, 2021 at 12:43 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
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From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
This concern is laughable, 50 or 60K miles is barely broken in these days.
Mine is at over 200K miles.. I didn't even put the supercharger on until 150K miles. No engine issues, original bottom end and heads. I put head studs/gaskets in at some point and did a cam swap but, overall, no mileage related issues.
Mine is at over 200K miles.. I didn't even put the supercharger on until 150K miles. No engine issues, original bottom end and heads. I put head studs/gaskets in at some point and did a cam swap but, overall, no mileage related issues.
Last edited by schpenxel; May 6, 2021 at 01:49 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Holy Moly Dano523....if you were a lawyer you make a darn good case about going to 550 or so on an ls2 is not too good an idea because you have a very good chance to break stuff ( expensive stuff)
I like my car very much but if I want more HP it looks like, no doubt, it would be wise to go to let the car go and go to ls3 motor ( verses staying with an ls2).....I was thinking of a 2008..2009 or 2010 convertible...( probably not much difference)
Now the question becomes, do you get an already modded car ( I want a minimum of 550 to 600 at the rear wheels ) or do you get a stock car and sent it to Kateck for the mods......There is probably no black and white, straight answer,
777
I like my car very much but if I want more HP it looks like, no doubt, it would be wise to go to let the car go and go to ls3 motor ( verses staying with an ls2).....I was thinking of a 2008..2009 or 2010 convertible...( probably not much difference)
Now the question becomes, do you get an already modded car ( I want a minimum of 550 to 600 at the rear wheels ) or do you get a stock car and sent it to Kateck for the mods......There is probably no black and white, straight answer,
777
If your smart, you just buy a C6 ZR1, since the LS9 is already putting out 620HP (crank) in stock form, and the drive line parts are beefed up for that that kind of power as well. Plus the suspension is already upgraded to put that kind of power to use on a high speed road course, including upgraded brakes as well.