2014-2018 Corvettes
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,980
Likes: 12,383
From: NE South Carolina
Don't see that anyone mentioned and easy way to tell! Just ride in your son's car and if it is a less stiff more comfortable ride-it's NOT a Z51, Grand Sport, or Z06!
Recall in 2013 when asked about ride stiffness the Corvette Chief Engineer said:
1) The least stiff is the base suspension. It has softer springs, small front sway bar and no sway bar in the rear. It has 36 mm conventional shocks.
2) The next stiffest is the Z51 with mag shocks set at Touring. It has stiffer springs, front and rear sway bar and the mag shocks set to have a softer ride.
3) The next stiffest is the Z51 without mag shocks. It has the HD srpings, front and rear sway bars and more aggressive 45 mm conventional shocks. That is what I had for 3 1/2 years.
4) The next was the Z51 was mag shocks set at Sport .
5) The stiffest was the Z51 with mag shocks set at Track. One forum member said you could feel if you road over a dime!
I now have a Grand Sport and can validate the above. It's similar to the Z51 with mag shocks and perhaps a bit stiffer depending on the road as the front sway bar looks like a solid front axle! If one wheel goes over a bump, you'll feel it!
When set at Sport it is a stiffer ride that my 2014 Z51 without mag shocks. Set at Track I can feel if going over a dime!
Posted this for folks who are looking for a Sunday cruiser and who will never push the car near the limit. Suggest you buy a base car and if you want to spend extra money, "to have the best," get a 3LT! 2LT, 2LT and 3LT have nothing to do with ride! Just add interior features for lots more money!
For those buying the Grand Sport because you "like the looks" be prepared for a stiffer ride, lots of brake dust (or change to ceramic pads) and read the Owner's Manual carefully to learn how to check the oil level in a dry sump! Same issues with brake dust etc with Z51 and Z06! Note I do push the car near the limit from time to time and would not consider anything but stiffer springs etc! All 5 of my Vettes have had HD suspension. However I could not tolerate cleaning my Z51 wheels every ~100 miles to keep them clean of brake dust that was also pitting my black wheels! I installed Carbotech 1521 ceramic pads on my Z51 and also installed them on my Grand Sport. As long as you are not tracking the car it's a great brake pad with ~85% less dust and what is there does NOT pit the wheels. I now wash the wheels only when I wash the car!
Just Sayn'!
PS: Wish they would offer a Grand Sport "look alike" model as they did a Z51 "look alike!" Then there would not be posters who bought a Grand Sport for looks asking if they can change the suspension in their Grand Sport to the base car (not viable!) It would have the base suspension, base car brakes that have lower dusting pads and no issues with a dry sump! Could be a higher margin offering for GM! Would not have to reduce the price proportional to eliminating the dry sump, eLSD, extra brake costs and added trans/dif coolers.
Recall in 2013 when asked about ride stiffness the Corvette Chief Engineer said:
1) The least stiff is the base suspension. It has softer springs, small front sway bar and no sway bar in the rear. It has 36 mm conventional shocks.
2) The next stiffest is the Z51 with mag shocks set at Touring. It has stiffer springs, front and rear sway bar and the mag shocks set to have a softer ride.
3) The next stiffest is the Z51 without mag shocks. It has the HD srpings, front and rear sway bars and more aggressive 45 mm conventional shocks. That is what I had for 3 1/2 years.
4) The next was the Z51 was mag shocks set at Sport .
5) The stiffest was the Z51 with mag shocks set at Track. One forum member said you could feel if you road over a dime!
I now have a Grand Sport and can validate the above. It's similar to the Z51 with mag shocks and perhaps a bit stiffer depending on the road as the front sway bar looks like a solid front axle! If one wheel goes over a bump, you'll feel it!
When set at Sport it is a stiffer ride that my 2014 Z51 without mag shocks. Set at Track I can feel if going over a dime!
Posted this for folks who are looking for a Sunday cruiser and who will never push the car near the limit. Suggest you buy a base car and if you want to spend extra money, "to have the best," get a 3LT! 2LT, 2LT and 3LT have nothing to do with ride! Just add interior features for lots more money!
For those buying the Grand Sport because you "like the looks" be prepared for a stiffer ride, lots of brake dust (or change to ceramic pads) and read the Owner's Manual carefully to learn how to check the oil level in a dry sump! Same issues with brake dust etc with Z51 and Z06! Note I do push the car near the limit from time to time and would not consider anything but stiffer springs etc! All 5 of my Vettes have had HD suspension. However I could not tolerate cleaning my Z51 wheels every ~100 miles to keep them clean of brake dust that was also pitting my black wheels! I installed Carbotech 1521 ceramic pads on my Z51 and also installed them on my Grand Sport. As long as you are not tracking the car it's a great brake pad with ~85% less dust and what is there does NOT pit the wheels. I now wash the wheels only when I wash the car!
Just Sayn'!
PS: Wish they would offer a Grand Sport "look alike" model as they did a Z51 "look alike!" Then there would not be posters who bought a Grand Sport for looks asking if they can change the suspension in their Grand Sport to the base car (not viable!) It would have the base suspension, base car brakes that have lower dusting pads and no issues with a dry sump! Could be a higher margin offering for GM! Would not have to reduce the price proportional to eliminating the dry sump, eLSD, extra brake costs and added trans/dif coolers.
Last edited by JerryU; Jan 13, 2018 at 01:50 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 529
Likes: 199
From: Clarksville Tennessee
Lifetime Supporting Gold
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 107
From: Katy TX
I get the point, btw what if a new Z51 3LT was at a dealer at a very good price, would it still be overkill for a summer season car?
A few posts mentioned still street rideable...just double checking.
I kind of think overkill also.
It makes me wonder because there is one at a dealer which seems priced to low and we all know if it sounds to good to be true etc
A few posts mentioned still street rideable...just double checking.
I kind of think overkill also.
It makes me wonder because there is one at a dealer which seems priced to low and we all know if it sounds to good to be true etc
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 500
How are the tires different (other than 19" fronts and 20" rears)? My 14 Z51 vert has Michelin Pilot Super Sport runflats.
Last edited by F4 Phantom; Jan 13, 2018 at 01:22 PM.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,980
Likes: 12,383
From: NE South Carolina
^^^
Same name. In 2014 the info on the 19/20 mentioned a difference in construction and it appeared to me from forum posts that the 18/19 had less Chatter. However could have been the marketing copywriter hyping rather than a difference. The lower profile could also account for more 19/20 Chatter, with a slightly lower slip angle.
Same name. In 2014 the info on the 19/20 mentioned a difference in construction and it appeared to me from forum posts that the 18/19 had less Chatter. However could have been the marketing copywriter hyping rather than a difference. The lower profile could also account for more 19/20 Chatter, with a slightly lower slip angle.
Last edited by JerryU; Jan 14, 2018 at 01:21 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 937
Likes: 70
From: Ponte Vedra Florida
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5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
With the engine cold, pull the oil dip stick. No oil on the stick, the car has a dry sump and is a Z51, Oil on the stick at the normal level, it is a wet sump and not a Z51.
You can also check the oil pan. Two drain plugs and it is a dry sump Z51. One drain plug and it is a wet sump non Z51.
Also, the oil fill points are at different locations.
You can also check the oil pan. Two drain plugs and it is a dry sump Z51. One drain plug and it is a wet sump non Z51.
Also, the oil fill points are at different locations.