Looking at buying 05 z51 need buying advice.
12-04-2018, 06:18 PM
#1
Looking at buying 05 z51 need buying advice.
Hi a local guy is selling a manual 05 z51 corvette for 10k, any ways engine suffered a bad harmonic balancer that went out. Any ways car will come with a new engine with a 404ci ls2 with my choice of Mahle pistons, forged rods and crank, all arp hardware, and engine is being built by a very reputable shop by me . Anyways is this a good deal? Car has 150k but is in mint condition and has clean title with clean car fax. Is there any thing wrong with these cars that will prevent me from making serious power? I have a d1sc procharger on shelf and was curious as to what these chassis can take. Any significant improvements on later years besides tr6060?
12-04-2018, 08:31 PM
#2
Race Director
Any c6 fir 10k ia a steal. If you're willing to invest more in making it right and fixing anything else on it, then buy it. I'd just be prepared for it to turn into a 17k car when all is said and done.
12-04-2018, 10:46 PM
#3
Appreciate the response, like I said I have a complete bullet proof short block, I have a l92 cnc ported heads to convert car to ls3 intake as well. If. I do get it I will pull trans and check it over and put billet keys in trans. Btw what’s your preference on steel frame vs aluminum?
12-05-2018, 08:54 AM
#4
Retired & lovin' it!
Hi a local guy is selling a manual 05 z51 corvette for 10k, any ways engine suffered a bad harmonic balancer that went out. Any ways car will come with a new engine with a 404ci ls2 with my choice of Mahle pistons, forged rods and crank, all arp hardware, and engine is being built by a very reputable shop by me . Anyways is this a good deal? Car has 150k but is in mint condition and has clean title with clean car fax. Is there any thing wrong with these cars that will prevent me from making serious power? I have a d1sc procharger on shelf and was curious as to what these chassis can take. Any significant improvements on later years besides tr6060?
12-05-2018, 09:22 AM
#5
Race Director
Appreciate the response, like I said I have a complete bullet proof short block, I have a l92 cnc ported heads to convert car to ls3 intake as well. If. I do get it I will pull trans and check it over and put billet keys in trans. Btw what’s your preference on steel frame vs aluminum?
12-05-2018, 09:47 AM
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: May 2000
Location: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
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U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I have 05, with 69,000 miles with no major repairs, just normal service, runs strong, fun to drive.
If you want to read the owners manual start now.
http://www.c6registry.com/Technical/manuals/2005OM.pdf
If you want to read the owners manual start now.
http://www.c6registry.com/Technical/manuals/2005OM.pdf
12-05-2018, 10:06 AM
#10
Race Director
Some members drag racing experienced a catastrophic failure, rear exploded.
'05s driven 'normally' failure wasn't an issue, just extra stressed cars.
For that reason from '06+ rear end casting was beefed-up w/ a few more ribs making it much stronger, resistant to shock.
For HD use, an '05's rear end really needs to be upgraded.
Sounds like a great price, otherwise.
12-05-2018, 12:51 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
The '05 has a weaker differential case. There are a bunch of '05-only details like a 24-tooth reluctor crank, different ECU, shift lock solenoid, shift-to-reverse shutdown, different airbag setup, etc. which can complicate parts swapping with later years.
12-05-2018, 03:56 PM
#12
Instructor
Sounds like a good deal. I have an ‘05 Z51 Vert with 215K on it and it’s still fast and awesome with no smoke, rattles and tracks like it’s on rails. I have read on here that the ‘05 differentials are too weak for big horsepower, so that might be a consideration for you. Car is plenty fast for me as stock, but the higher ratio differential option makes my car feel like it accelerates faster than the others I’ve been in even with LS3s, slightly lower top end is something I’ll never experience.
12-08-2018, 10:58 AM
#16
Le Mans Master
Hi a local guy is selling a manual 05 z51 corvette for 10k, any ways engine suffered a bad harmonic balancer that went out. Any ways car will come with a new engine with a 404ci ls2 with my choice of Mahle pistons, forged rods and crank, all arp hardware, and engine is being built by a very reputable shop by me . Anyways is this a good deal? Car has 150k but is in mint condition and has clean title with clean car fax. Is there any thing wrong with these cars that will prevent me from making serious power? I have a d1sc procharger on shelf and was curious as to what these chassis can take. Any significant improvements on later years besides tr6060?
Since the car cannot be driven at this time, you don't know what else is wrong with it, right? A bad harmonic balancer is not the death of an engine. Just curious if the trans and rear end are also shot. $10K is a steal, if you don't mind taking the risk that other items will likely need work, too.
12-08-2018, 05:17 PM
#17
For 10K. clean title, and the car running , your either getting a great deal, or there is something wrong your not seeing instead.
Carfax and GM service history reports are only as good as the data they receiver to list on the reports, and could be something major wrong with the car that is not showing up on the reports to check for such that way isntead.
If your really want to buy the car, then find an independent shop that you can trust to do a full pre-purchase inspection on the car. Hence at 150K, going to take a few grand in parts to tighten the suspension back up, but its really the drive line and other parts that need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb on what needs to be fixed sooner or not as well.
Truth is, with the price of the car so low with even a rebuilt motor, makes me think that there are other problems with the car, such as wreck or water damage not reported/correct correctly, or the car is a title salvage car isntead.
Carfax and GM service history reports are only as good as the data they receiver to list on the reports, and could be something major wrong with the car that is not showing up on the reports to check for such that way isntead.
If your really want to buy the car, then find an independent shop that you can trust to do a full pre-purchase inspection on the car. Hence at 150K, going to take a few grand in parts to tighten the suspension back up, but its really the drive line and other parts that need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb on what needs to be fixed sooner or not as well.
Truth is, with the price of the car so low with even a rebuilt motor, makes me think that there are other problems with the car, such as wreck or water damage not reported/correct correctly, or the car is a title salvage car isntead.
Last edited by Dano523; 12-08-2018 at 05:19 PM.
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fireparamed (12-09-2018)
12-09-2018, 04:48 AM
#18
For 10K. clean title, and the car running , your either getting a great deal, or there is something wrong your not seeing instead.
Carfax and GM service history reports are only as good as the data they receiver to list on the reports, and could be something major wrong with the car that is not showing up on the reports to check for such that way isntead.
If your really want to buy the car, then find an independent shop that you can trust to do a full pre-purchase inspection on the car. Hence at 150K, going to take a few grand in parts to tighten the suspension back up, but its really the drive line and other parts that need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb on what needs to be fixed sooner or not as well.
Truth is, with the price of the car so low with even a rebuilt motor, makes me think that there are other problems with the car, such as wreck or water damage not reported/correct correctly, or the car is a title salvage car isntead.
Carfax and GM service history reports are only as good as the data they receiver to list on the reports, and could be something major wrong with the car that is not showing up on the reports to check for such that way isntead.
If your really want to buy the car, then find an independent shop that you can trust to do a full pre-purchase inspection on the car. Hence at 150K, going to take a few grand in parts to tighten the suspension back up, but its really the drive line and other parts that need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb on what needs to be fixed sooner or not as well.
Truth is, with the price of the car so low with even a rebuilt motor, makes me think that there are other problems with the car, such as wreck or water damage not reported/correct correctly, or the car is a title salvage car isntead.
12-09-2018, 04:58 AM
#19
Since the car cannot be driven at this time, you don't know what else is wrong with it, right? A bad harmonic balancer is not the death of an engine. Just curious if the trans and rear end are also shot. $10K is a steal, if you don't mind taking the risk that other items will likely need work, too.
