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C5 vs C6 chassis/suspension differences?
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,850
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
C5 vs C6 chassis/suspension differences?
Can someone enlighten a C3/C4 guy about what the differences (other than styling) are between a C5 and a C6? At casual glance it resembles a C2/C3 thing where it's pretty much the same underneath other than slight detail differences.
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for any help.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 3
From: Redwood City CA
Hopefully somebody will correct me, but the biggest difference that I know of it the rear sub-frame, control arms, and spring mounting are different on the C6. That's how they lengthened the wheelbase. The rear leaf spring on a C6 mounts the same as the front, as opposed to the method the C5 used.
The styling differences actually have a bigger effect on things, IMO. The C6 is much less willing to accept large wheels and tires due to the shape of the wheelhouse and how tight the fenders hug the stock wheel/tire combo.
Hopefully somebody truly in-the-know will pipe up.
The styling differences actually have a bigger effect on things, IMO. The C6 is much less willing to accept large wheels and tires due to the shape of the wheelhouse and how tight the fenders hug the stock wheel/tire combo.
Hopefully somebody truly in-the-know will pipe up.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,897
Likes: 45
From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,435
Likes: 918
From: CONCORD NC
To me they are identical. Hydroformed frames are almost identical, subframes mount in virtually the same way. The change in wheel-base is in the rear control-arm mounting locations, not the frame itself. The channeling around the door jams is different, and the frame IN FRONT of the front wheels is short, but the frame itself and subframes are pretty much the same.
I'm sure they tweaked the trans tunnel, maybe b-pillars etc some from the C5 to the C6, but I personally consider them mechanically the same care. Just a re-skin!
I'm sure they tweaked the trans tunnel, maybe b-pillars etc some from the C5 to the C6, but I personally consider them mechanically the same care. Just a re-skin!
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 412
From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
front pick up points are all the same. Same control arms and darn near same cross member. Same point and C5/C6 front cross members are interchangable. Steering racks are different and mounts are in a different location.
You can bolt a C6 rear cross member in a C5 chassis and use all C6 control arms and make the car the same wheel base as a C6. Diff mounts are different as well.
Torque tubes are different lengths, bellhousings are different lengths
Door stills are different, and so are the rocker panels and inner door frames. Not only fiberglass but the steel on the frame as well. The B pillar is completely different above the beltline.
Always cut the nose and tail off for the race cars so not sure what changed there.
Depends on how detailed you want to get with it. For us, we cut enough off and the frames are pretty much the same for what we do with the race cars.
You can bolt a C6 rear cross member in a C5 chassis and use all C6 control arms and make the car the same wheel base as a C6. Diff mounts are different as well.
Torque tubes are different lengths, bellhousings are different lengths
Door stills are different, and so are the rocker panels and inner door frames. Not only fiberglass but the steel on the frame as well. The B pillar is completely different above the beltline.
Always cut the nose and tail off for the race cars so not sure what changed there.
Depends on how detailed you want to get with it. For us, we cut enough off and the frames are pretty much the same for what we do with the race cars.
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Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,850
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
front pick up points are all the same. Same control arms and darn near same cross member. Same point and C5/C6 front cross members are interchangable. Steering racks are different and mounts are in a different location.
You can bolt a C6 rear cross member in a C5 chassis and use all C6 control arms and make the car the same wheel base as a C6. Diff mounts are different as well.
Torque tubes are different lengths, bellhousings are different lengths
Door stills are different, and so are the rocker panels and inner door frames. Not only fiberglass but the steel on the frame as well. The B pillar is completely different above the beltline.
Always cut the nose and tail off for the race cars so not sure what changed there.
Depends on how detailed you want to get with it. For us, we cut enough off and the frames are pretty much the same for what we do with the race cars.
You can bolt a C6 rear cross member in a C5 chassis and use all C6 control arms and make the car the same wheel base as a C6. Diff mounts are different as well.
Torque tubes are different lengths, bellhousings are different lengths
Door stills are different, and so are the rocker panels and inner door frames. Not only fiberglass but the steel on the frame as well. The B pillar is completely different above the beltline.
Always cut the nose and tail off for the race cars so not sure what changed there.
Depends on how detailed you want to get with it. For us, we cut enough off and the frames are pretty much the same for what we do with the race cars.
Last edited by 69427; Feb 1, 2011 at 03:29 PM. Reason: Reworded for clarity.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,850
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Any specific reason for the wheelbase change? Packaging issues, or an attempt to get more of the weight inside the wheelbase, or ????
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
Probably for a better ride. What's median age of a C6 buyer....65??? I like that C6 has narrower tracks and shorter overhangs, for autocrossing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
The wheelbase change was so that they could fit the 6 speed automatic. The 6 speed auto is longer and it couldn't be pushed forward any more in the chassis, so the wheelbase had to shift aft to fit it all in.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 1
From: Lakewood Co
This is not a chassis/suspension difference, but is still a significant improvement.
2004 C5 - 345 HP (LS1)
2005 C6 - 400 HP (LS2) It goes up to 436 HP for the LS3 in 2008.
2004 C5 Z06 - 405 HP (LS6) The first LS6 had only 380 HP in 2001, I think.
2005 C6 Z06 - 505 HP (LS7)
They also went to larger wheels and tires from C5 to C6. Then the suspension tuning was designed to work with the increased HP and increased footprint.
So the big difference in the C6 that makes it handle much better than a C5, is in the better tires and the suspension tuning.
2004 C5 - 345 HP (LS1)
2005 C6 - 400 HP (LS2) It goes up to 436 HP for the LS3 in 2008.
2004 C5 Z06 - 405 HP (LS6) The first LS6 had only 380 HP in 2001, I think.
2005 C6 Z06 - 505 HP (LS7)
They also went to larger wheels and tires from C5 to C6. Then the suspension tuning was designed to work with the increased HP and increased footprint.
So the big difference in the C6 that makes it handle much better than a C5, is in the better tires and the suspension tuning.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 360
Likes: 2
From: DFW Texas
I believe around GM's test track, the c5z was 1 second faster than a c6 z51 car. I don't know what the t1 cars allow, but stock vs stock the c5z seems to be the faster car. Slightly lighter, more tire, etc..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 91
From: Between Tally and Gatorville ,Florida
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,629
Likes: 19
From: Chesapeake VA
Put the same tires on them and they handle the same. As David said they're basically the same car mechanically.
It wasn't until the LS3 was introduced in 2008 that the base C6 with the Z51 package could outrun a C5Z06 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
It's also worth mentioning a couple Steel Frame vs. Aluminum frame nuances as well.
Different radiator shroud from steel frame C5/C6 makes a straight front sway bar possible for the C6Z and ZR1.
Rear upper control arm mounting points move from a 2 ear and through bolt style to a dogbone pin bolted directly to the frame.
Different radiator shroud from steel frame C5/C6 makes a straight front sway bar possible for the C6Z and ZR1.
Rear upper control arm mounting points move from a 2 ear and through bolt style to a dogbone pin bolted directly to the frame.