TheStef

Hi guys, I'm a bit confused about my vette.

I have an 88 Convertible with the 17 inch wheel. I've read that the Z51 package only came on Coupes wile you could have the Z52 package on all models. The 17 inch wheels comes with these two packages.

This means I have the Z52 handling package.
I've read that the Z51 handling package has stiffer strings, larger front brakes and rotors/calipers.. but I can't find anything about the Z52 handling package ???

What I'm wondering is what exactly came with the Z52 package witch I have on my convertible.
Heres the link I read up on this stuff.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...88/88prod.html

65Z01

The Z52 package contained the 17"x9.5" '89 style wheels with 275/40ZR17 tires.

I believe it also included the quicker steering ratio, though it's not mentioned in my "Corvette Black Book".

VQT88Vette

The sticker inside your console should tell you if it a Z51 or Z52. On mine it read Z52 and I have a coupe with 17" wheel.

TheStef

I have no sticker, but I read that only the coupes have the Z51, so since I have a convert I must have the Z52.

I guess it just means I have 17 inch wheels.

Does any one else know something we don't? are the rear end gears different? brakes? springs? compared to another 88.

VQT88Vette

Z52 is call Sport Suppension with Bilstein shock and close ratio steering. I think they might even have the 3.07 gear ratio. I know mine has 3.07

okinawa86vette

The reason there wasn't much mentioned in tbe black book about the '88 Z52 was because not much was changed from the '87 Z52 package. Z52 cars got the 17"x9.5" wheels as mentioned, the quick ratio steering rack, oil cooler, the hvy duty radiator, radiator boost fan, bilstein shocks and it's not real clear whether the z52 cars got all the structural enhancements as the z51 cars got. It was mentioned in several places that the '87 z52 cars got frame braces similar to those in the convertibles, but I don't know if they carried over to the '88 model year. I know Z52 cars didn't get the beg X-brace that convertibles got, but I don't know what else was done.

As a convertible, though, you'd have gotten all the bracing regardless.

The only items the Z51 cars got that the Z52's didn't, according to the Vette Spec book was a pwr steering cooler, stiffer springs and larger swaybars.

Hope this helps a bit.

Chris

Z-07 freak

:iagree:
Z-52 was pretty much the same as the Z-51, but without the p/s cooler, stiffer springs, thicker sway bars and 13" HD brakes.
Z-51 coupes only (`87-`90 manual only) - (`84-`86 & `96 manual or auto)
Z-52 auto or manual, coupe or conv.

* most `87 Z-52's had a thicker front sway bar.
* `96 Z-51 auto required the performance axle



[Modified by Z-07 freak, 9:31 PM 1/29/2004]

vader86

its basically the same thing as Z51 but with springs that are not as harsh

although small things are always changed thru the years, I'm thinking there were no Z51 verts ever

65Z01

The Z51 came with heavy duty front brakes (larger rotors & calipers) brakes.

Your Z52 has, as does mine, std size front brakes as well as std springs and std Bilstein shocks (those on the Z51 are stiffer).

Z-07 freak

Yep! All C4 Z-51s were restricted to coupes.

But C5 Z51s were available in coupes and convertibles, (and all `99-00 hardtops).

okinawa86vette

I don't really count C5 Z51's as "real" Z51's. They still aren't nearly the no-compromise suspension the early C4 had. But then, the emphasis these days isn't on showroom racing like it was in the mid-eighties. Remember, the whole reason Chevy started the Corvette Challenge series in '88 was because the '85-'87 cars were dominating so much in the SCCA showroom stock racing that the C4's were banned.

Chris

Z-07 freak

:iagree:

vader86

Not in all years, the early Z51 was available in Automatic.

SurfnSun

:withstupid: :cheers:

TheStef

I guess all it comes down to are :

the 17 inch wheels
thicker front sway bar
quicker stearing ratio
possible 3.01 gears (but I think I have the 2.73)
possible oil cooler, I guess this means the stearing flued

It still leave a bit of few blank spots.

Does any one know a good web site with all this information?

okinawa86vette

www.corvetteactioncenter.com

It's a pretty good wealth of info and photos.

okinawa86vette

BTW, the Z52 cars did not get the pwr steering cooler, but did get an oil cooler, as in the engine oil. As far as sway bars go, the Z52's got the same size as the base. Spring rates were also same as base.

All Z52's also had 17" wheels, bilsteins, quick ratio steering and "structural enhancements."

With the gears, less than 5000 cars got the 3.07 option(mine was actually one of them). With 16,000 Z52's or so, this meant the perf gear option was not standard on the Z52's.

Chris

vader86

No it means the OIL, theres a small cooler above the oil filter that cools/warms the engine oil. It was deleted for LT1s because they went to Mobil 1 synthetic.

You have 2.73 gears. 3.07s were not standard G92 for convertibles in the L98 run. I do not know if the 3.07 was an optional for verts, but I highly doubt it.
The Z52 and Z51 usually triggered a gear option and other options, but again they changed things just about every year so you need something specific to 88. The Black Book would have most of it.

The Search feature would have all this, if they could get the damn thing to work. Z52 vs Z51 comes up very often.

SurfnSun

I dont know about the L98 cars, but in the LT1s you could get the performance axel on a Vert. :cheers: