Looking for a cheap a Z06. Options

[CrashTestDummy]

Sorry for the confusion, Yes the calipers on the c6 ZO6 are not the same as the Z51. The Z51 rotors are the larger dia, and also cross drilled. Sorry about the chassis information too, I may have heard it from a reference to extra bracing for the Convertibles that the ZO6 shares. But I don't know if it's accurate. Something I came accross while looking up info on the Corvette Forum. I just got the car, I havn't been under it yet to check it out (can get my wife out of it long enough!)

Sorry, My bad, trying to post and work at the same time. Brain's not working clearly right now. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

No worries, I was just trying to set the record straight. Any 'vette is a great AutoX/track car, that is for sure. A clean, totally stock, '02 Z06 in the low, low 20s HAS to be the best deal going for a sports car. You just can't beat it... nearly super-car performance with Honda Accord pricing.

-TJ

And gets nearly the same mileage!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

[Sam Strano]

I have to agree. I can't think of a better car bang for the buck wise than a used C5 Z06. What's more from an autox standpoint there isn't much to setting them up (though it's not easy and many screw it up). I'm guessing you drove the Marx's car, right Bill? That's basically my setup, or at least is was.

I have done or had input on the quickest C5's in Super Stock the last few years @ Nationals. In fact this year, Chris Shay (who's a member on this site) was 4th in his rookie outing in his Z06, which was last we talked running my parts and recommeneded alignment. And he did a hell of job driving @ Nationals, especially his first time there!!!! And the fastest C5 on day one was Paul Kozlak in a car he never drove before (and he only had 3 runs in a Z06 before). He was sitting 2nd going into day 2, but that East Course killed him (but not Chris).

If you can find a Z06 that suits you, I'd say grab it. Junior loves his in ASP trim once we got the suspension sorted out. And aside from some quibbles about the cheap GM seat, and that the transaxles can leak a little they really are a great, great car.

An f-body is fun, and fast. And in ESP trim can run pretty close time to a SS Z06. It costs more to set it up, but then again the car is cheaper (as you already own it) and the end costs are a lot less because of that. I love a Camaro in ESP, and you can have a very competitive regional/divisional car that can still trophy in Kansas (er.... I guess I mean Nebraska) for less than what I have in mine. It's mostly about suspension and limited slips. Power and that stuff helps (and that's were most of the money went) when every tenth counts Nationally.

[rpoz-29]

Yeah, it was the Marx's. I was genuinely taken off guard when Keath offered to me, and I really enjoyed driving it. My time was only slightly faster than Glen Estelle's with his 3rd gen in S/M. Keath put over 2 seconds on me, so I didn't "find myself" as a driver, but it was nice to plant my right foot and not start smoking a tire. I'm looking around for Corvettes but, for right now, that's about all.

[Lordvader]

Im confused after reading the theme.

I have driven a couple stock c5z06 and I find them more nervous and over responsive to drive than a good stock F-body, which to me feels more trustable, predictable, linear and obedient.

c6 non Z06 Ive driven are much better cars to me.

Should this be because my lack of driving skill? or may be that I don't understand the car?

By the way; a friend of mine on a c5Z06 stock, is able to duplicate the best times of cars like GT3RS and AudiR8 on our racetracks.

Thanks.

[patred]

Im confused after reading the theme.

I have driven a couple stock c5z06 and I find them more nervous and over responsive to drive than a good stock F-body, which to me feels more trustable, predictable, linear and obedient.

Could be the car setup? One that I drove was a handful on old and tired V710s, but was practically a different car with better tires. And then it was back to being a handful when we ran it at Heartland Park (questionable surface), but we added more rear toe in, and was back to being a great car.

The C5 Z06 I drove earlier this year at the Dixie National Tour was great right from the start.

Pat

[Sam Strano]

When they first came out I drove a lot of them, and HATED them all. Nobody knew what they were doing setting them up, and usually messing them up from stock. Still to this day there is great debate of how to set them up, and you just can't convince some folks. All I can say is the proof is in the pudding. And I went from hating them to loving them.

[BigEnos]

When they first came out I drove a lot of them, and HATED them all. Nobody knew what they were doing setting them up, and usually messing them up from stock. Still to this day there is great debate of how to set them up, and you just can't convince some folks. All I can say is the proof is in the pudding. And I went from hating them to loving them.

'01s had stiffer rear springs, too. That can't help things.

[rpoz-29]

I ran the car at Virginia Motorsports Park. The pavement there is really poor, especially where the pavement is seamed. Those seams have sent me spinning a couple of times. That's one reason I like the Z06 as much as I do. RRC is better, but I haven't driven the Corvette there.

[Sam Strano]

When they first came out I drove a lot of them, and HATED them all. Nobody knew what they were doing setting them up, and usually messing them up from stock. Still to this day there is great debate of how to set them up, and you just can't convince some folks. All I can say is the proof is in the pudding. And I went from hating them to loving them.

'01s had stiffer rear springs, too. That can't help things.

I've done '01's that were fine, you can easily tune around that with the range of adjustment and bars. The only thing that I hate about '01's is the throttle is a lot more touchy and top-loaded. It's hair-trigger, and the '02+ cars were recalibrated...

[Sam Strano]

I ran the car at Virginia Motorsports Park. The pavement there is really poor, especially where the pavement is seamed. Those seams have sent me spinning a couple of times. That's one reason I like the Z06 as much as I do. RRC is better, but I haven't driven the Corvette there.

Well in ESP a Camaro can be made a *LOT* better in those situations. A Watts link settles the car down an immense amount over not good (read smooth) pavement. But it's still a solid axle car, and carries less load on the rear than the Vette. Both things are going to make the Vette better.

[Lordvader]

I ran the car at Virginia Motorsports Park. The pavement there is really poor, especially where the pavement is seamed. Those seams have sent me spinning a couple of times. That's one reason I like the Z06 as much as I do. RRC is better, but I haven't driven the Corvette there.

Well in ESP a Camaro can be made a *LOT* better in those situations. A Watts link settles the car down an immense amount over not good (read smooth) pavement. But it's still a solid axle car, and carries less load on the rear than the Vette. Both things are going to make the Vette better.

That is what is to be expected, from the better weight distribution, better brakes, etc. So what would be a good initial set up? What is the car potential compared to an F-body?

[ledfoot2]

I can tell you that I raced a F-body for many years, then bought a FRC Corvette to keep up with my buddies and their Z-06's. The difference is pretty substantial. The Vette is much more percise. The difference to mee seems to be the amout of power that you can transfer to the ground coming out of turns and the stability under braking. These are both functions of the weight distribution and the suspension differences.

I am now running a F-body again. The reason is for the money, you can't beat them. If you are going to road race a Corvette with any modifications, you will be in one of the top classes. If your there, you better be ready to spend a lot of cash to run. This is a much bigger factor than the initial price. I ran 305/30/18 fronts and 335/30/18 rear Hoosiers. They lasteda weekend. Go price a set of those. In American Iron, I am running a set of 275/45/17 Toyo R888's. Check the price on these. I have heard that they should last at least two weekends. Check prices on cages, suspension pieces, wheels, anything.

Look at the cars that are in the class that you expect to run in and calculate how much you think it will be to build your car to that class. If it is a stock class, then you might be ok.

I loved my Corvette, and it was definately faster......but speed per dollar to run it was not even close to the F-body.

[CMC #37]

My R888s better last more than two weekends! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Most folks get more than 1/2 a season out of Toyos.

[Lordvader]

Ok friends..let me explain the kind of amateur road racing ( track days ) we do here, is no car rules. Our main competitors on our group are a few exotics, like Porsches GT3RS, some Modenas (only sometimes) and the rest of the field are a couple street modified SRT-4s and some more mundane and slower european and japanese machinery. We are a group of 4gen F-body drivers/fans with some modifications; usually, more engine, either NAs or superchargers, big wheels, tires, aftermarket brakes, GC/Koni coil overs, swaybars, bushings and so on.

There is a friend with good hands (natural talent) and nerves, who is running with the Porsches on a C5Z06 STOCK! ( Amazing, right?). So now we have some investment on our F-bodies already. Thinking to migrate to a C5Z06 would mean some stiff money now, especially because our mexican peso has lost 40% its dollar value the last weeks and everything we use we buy from USA. I know very well from past experiences ( I used to vintage race a 71 L48 with little modifications with excelent results ) the Camaro is the cheapest racing car you can have on earth and still go pretty fast and for a long time. But my concern is the next tough question: Would it make sense to go the Vette chassis and investment on parts, considering the related cost or better stay with our good, old, reliable, noble and still fast F-bodies?

This post has been edited by Lordvader: Nov 22 2008, 07:43 PM