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Good morning
For the peeps tracking their C8 Z51, what are the must do mods for competitive lap times?
With prices coming down on the C8s it makes it for an interesting proposition for a dual purpose vehicle, HPDE days and mountain roads carving. With the occasional weekend cars and coffee.
There are 2 very good build threads that you can look up. kinda depends on how fast you are trying to go and your budget. I would probably start with the Vo9 mod and alignment with some good rims and tires and track alignment. That is about the bare minimum to get started.
Track prep per the GM guide except I do zero toe front and back. I tracked two seasons without the V09 mod and it was ok for the most part except on hot days with long sessions. I've recently added the V09 radiator in prep for this year's track season. The Brembo brakes are ok on the tracks I run. Moving to XP12's in the front this season. I also installed Girodisc rotors front and back which made the OEM pads last a bit longer. The best mod I did was to go 18in rims front and back with 295s in the front and 345s in the back. The 295s dramatically reduced the understeer and helped make up for my bad corning speeds.... 200TW tires.
Track prep per the GM guide except I do zero toe front and back. I tracked two seasons without the V09 mod and it was ok for the most part except on hot days with long sessions. I've recently added the V09 radiator in prep for this year's track season. The Brembo brakes are ok on the tracks I run. Moving to XP12's in the front this season. I also installed Girodisc rotors front and back which made the OEM pads last a bit longer. The best mod I did was to go 18in rims front and back with 295s in the front and 345s in the back. The 295s dramatically reduced the understeer and helped make up for my bad corning speeds.... 200TW tires.
Great info, thank you for sharing
What tracks do you run?
Most welcome. I run Palmer, Thompson and Lime Rock. Haven’t made it to Watkins Glen or the tracks up north yet. Mainly run with Mass Tuning. Sometimes with SCCA for track nights. Mass Tuning offers a lot more seat time and a laid back environment.
How do you like the C8 platform?…..I have a 24 GT3…(my 4th GT3)….I'm looking to sell it (it’s too nice to get abused on track) plus consumables are getting too pricey - amazing performance though - I’ve always felt that if I couldn’t have a GT3 then a Corvette would be the car I would own and track….my home tracks are Sebring and Daytona. Both awesome to drive on.
OP, which region are you in? Depending on where you are it might warrant the addition of the "VO9" cooling package.
I have found after over a season and about 27 track days that the platform is very capable in all regards.
Upgraded rotors, pads and an alignment are imperative. I use the Apex Wheels recommended package with Nankang CRS rubber.
The other big component to getting the car to work for me was finding the right setting in PTM. I started with most of the nannies on and WOW did the car use brakes. Now it depends on the track and how I'm feeling. Very little intervention is used now if any.
You'll find the experience quite different from your GT3 of course. The Corvette isn't as raw. Although I don't have as much experience in the 911 GT chassis, I have much more in the 718 GT4. You'll feel the weight but you might find the C8 more docile. Of course this is a subjective POV. I'm also very cautious when driving someone else's $250,000+ car.
Track mods for C8 Z51
