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Why didn't you just order a Z51? A good coilover kit will be $3500 to $5K out of the gate. The entire Z51 option was $5K. It'll be a little before you can order Chinese garbage coilovers for $1,500.
I did the same thing - I figured an aftermarket exhaust would outperform the Z51 unit, so why pay for something I'd throw in the trash. Also figured aftermarket coilovers would be widely available so why pay for Z51 units. I wasn't really interested in the eLSD (one more electronic thing to worry about breaking) though the bigger brakes would have been nice. And I hate the rear wing.
Looks like i've still got 6 months to see if those decisions will pan out, but at 3000 status I'm locked in to those choices. We'll see.
It wasnt so much that I went cheap on my order, but, like you just stated, $5000.00 seemed like alot for the bigger brakes being the only thing I would keep... At the time, I did not consider the extra cooling or the warranty fron GM for track days...,, but I still will be happy when I do get my 2020 Covid C8, I'll just have to spend a little more on the backend to personalize it to by MY C8!
Last edited by StickerDick; Jun 17, 2020 at 10:25 AM.
Honestly on my C5, the thing I most enjoy is the sound of the Corsa exhaust. It gives me a big sh*t-eating-grin every time I get to an on-ramp. I knew that I'd be swapping the exhaust on the C8 no matter what. I get my track fix on motorcycles rather than cars, so the extra cooling and eLSD weren't important to me. And the rear spoiler/wing was a deal-breaker, i just absolutely hate it. I confess that I did think exhausts would be a fair bit cheaper than they've been so far, based on prices of previous gen products, but overall I'm still fairly sure it'll work out.
I did the same thing - I figured an aftermarket exhaust would outperform the Z51 unit, so why pay for something I'd throw in the trash. Also figured aftermarket coilovers would be widely available so why pay for Z51 units. I wasn't really interested in the eLSD (one more electronic thing to worry about breaking) though the bigger brakes would have been nice. And I hate the rear wing.
Looks like i've still got 6 months to see if those decisions will pan out, but at 3000 status I'm locked in to those choices. We'll see.
1. No gains from catback... if you look at the cut-open OEM exhaust it's a straight pipe with the valve open. No baffling at all.
2. OEM magnetic shocks are superior to everything available in the aftermarket other than DSC mag shocks, but to use them you need the OEM mag system as the foundation.
3. eLSD is excellent if you track the car in any manner; a truly superior technology.
If you want to slam it and straight pipe it and get all the likes on IG then sure... order a base car, and have at it. If you want the better driver's car, the better track car, the better touring car all in one package then the Z51 with mag ride is the ticket.
1. No gains from catback... if you look at the cut-open OEM exhaust it's a straight pipe with the valve open. No baffling at all.
2. OEM magnetic shocks are superior to everything available in the aftermarket other than DSC mag shocks, but to use them you need the OEM mag system as the foundation.
3. eLSD is excellent if you track the car in any manner; a truly superior technology.
If you want to slam it and straight pipe it and get all the likes on IG then sure... order a base car, and have at it. If you want the better driver's car, the better track car, the better touring car all in one package then the Z51 with mag ride is the ticket.
I'm happy for you and I'm sure you will enjoy your Z51 add on option, and I will enjoy my "obviously" inferior C8 compared to everyone else who has a Z51 option and I'll be sure to hang my head in shame everytime I pass you on the roadway... oh wait, I won't be able to do that without the Z51 package, so nevermind... I'll just sit in my corner and cry a silent cry of shame!
If you want to slam it and straight pipe it and get all the likes on IG then sure... order a base car, and have at it. If you want the better driver's car, the better track car, the better touring car all in one package then the Z51 with mag ride is the ticket.
You take a pretty combative tone where I don't think i've earned it, but in any case it looks like I may have a chance to change my mind anyway. My order went 3000 on 3/17 so I suspect it won't get built as a 2020 after all. It'd be nice to get a definitive answer on that question from GM.
I for one am happy with my non-Z51 Vert (when it comes). No tracking for me, just street driving. I should have also saved money and not have ordered NPP because as well as lowering, It needs a better exhaust note for me.
My FE3 shocks should be at my dealers desk on Tuesday, the 29th. I'll post pictures, my car got built on the 19th (nonZ51), but it's in shipping purgatory right now along with another 700+ C8's .... hopefully that changes, I was told by the dealership that if it ships on Monday, they usually get their shipments on Thursday, so if it ships next week, I might get it before the 4th?! I'd be one Happy ****... bolting my shocks up on the Fourth!
Yes... if you have front lift, then you can use the Cicio drop kit for the front, then go to your prefered GM supplier and purchase the parts you will need to convert your FE1 rear shocks into FE3 shocks, then you can lower the rear end.
So I have non-Z51 with front end lift. What do I need to get to convert my FE1 to FE3?
So I have non-Z51 with front end lift. What do I need to get to convert my FE1 to FE3?
I think it was answered with the quote you posted... the FE3 shock for the front of a C8 with front end lift is the FE1 shock body, and you have to use the Cico drop kit to get the drop... if you truly want a FE3 front shock and keep your front lift, I'd say you are going to have to check with somebody who already owns a Z51 car with the front lift... Because I am not sure if it's just the spring and the different shock absorber that you need to change, because it will not be adjustable with the front lift. There is a difference in the ride of a FE1 shock set-up and the FE3 set-up. The FE1 is a softer ride, the FE3 is stiffer and more performance oriented from what I've been told and read.
Last edited by StickerDick; Jun 25, 2020 at 07:10 AM.
Front FE3 shock body, fully height adjustable Rear FE3 shock body, fully adjustable everything you need to convert the stock FE1 shocks to adjustable FE3 shocks on your C8 Aaron is an example of a GM dealership parts guy who is also a Car Guy. Thank You.
I am so happy to prove to allot of nay-sayers on this forum that you can buy stock FE3 shock setup... you just have to have some basic mechanical skills and tools and you can convert the stock FE1 shocks to FE3 shocks, so for less that $900.00, I'll be able to lower my car and have a factory style, GM warranty suspension! And my "Rona" C8 is due here next week, so I'll post a seperate "How-TO" with plenty of pics!!
I messed with the adjustment collars on the front and rear shock bodies and I felt like if I left 4 or 5 turns on the threads like I use to do on my QA1 shocks, there was enough bite to be safe under most driving conditions, and with that setup, it seems to me you can gain at least 1+" of drop in the front and the rear. Fronts rears shock adjustment wrenches I bought from Summitt back 6 years ago, fit like money!
Got my springs back from the powder coater and next week we will establish our baseline on all 4 corners and then we will swap out the FE1 shocks for the FE3 shocks, lower the car, reset weight at all four corners and re-align the car... photos and videos to follow! just remove the three trim pieces in the "frunk", and easy access to the front shocks... and what do you know, a battery too Got the new FE3 spring powdercoated to match the calipers.... most likely nobody will ever see them, but I know they are there.
Did you manage to get them on the car yet? The powder coating looks great!
Work and life have intervened, but we will set our 4 corner weights today at stock ride height with the new wheels and tires, then we will do the shock conversion in the next day or so, then redo the 4 corner weights to bring back to close to where it started, but just at the lowered stance. I'll make sure to make pics and video. I found a local wheel alignment shop with a in-ground alignment machine... that will help since we will be too low to go on the above ground machines that are standard in most tire shops.
So you got the FE3 coils as well as the FE3 shock bodies. In another forum a guy just got the FE3 shock bodies and is reusing his FE1 coils on them. He's gonna report back on what kind of difference it makes and if its not right he says he'll get the FE3 coils or wait for aftermarket lowering coils.
So you got the FE3 coils as well as the FE3 shock bodies. In another forum a guy just got the FE3 shock bodies and is reusing his FE1 coils on them. He's gonna report back on what kind of difference it makes and if its not right he says he'll get the FE3 coils or wait for aftermarket lowering coils.
I got both... i wanted the correct setup for FE3 shocks.
