Belloc

I’m torn between a C3 and C5

I love the early big block C3s but a friend of mine said they handle like crapola. Does anyone here track race with a Big Block C3? How does it handle compared to a C5? Are suspension and brake upgrades expensive?

I'm looking to buy either a 68-71 or a C5

Chuck Harmon

Belloc,

I've got both. In brief, if the suspension and steering components on a C3 are up to "as new" specs, and you are running modern tires, the handling of a C3 can be very good, especially if you are running stiffer springs and heavy duty shocks.

That said, I can't imagine a C3 out handling my ZO6, it really is in another league. But a talented C3 driver can still serve up a "wanna be" Speed Racer in a C5 for lunch. The more I drive, the more I come to appreciate driver talent as the most important ingredient to quick lap times.

Chuck

Scott78

I'm not sure you can describe there handling as "crapola" but the C5 does have 20 more years of development in the suspension. I believe there are several C3's here that'll give a C5 a run for their money.
Now if you want something that'll send women and children running when you start it, the BB is the answer :D

Scott

Ray z

Buy the C5, I have a '71 BB and it will not be anything more than a toy. You are talking 30 years of improvements. The C5 is so far advanced they are not in the same league.

Belloc

Thanks for your honesty. I just love the way those early C3's look.

Chuck Harmon

Full agreement on that! :cheers:

Chuck

JB

If I wanted to drive it every day and drive the hell out of it, I'd have a C5. But the shark just looks a helluva lot cooler IMHO.

JB

JoeC427

Well said my brother!!! C3's are the bomb!!! We have a C4 which is nice driver but my father raised my to like older muscle cars and back then the C3 was the bad boy, and still is today. Just my own personal B.S., but its in my blood...
I like all corvettes but for me the C3 is the best from stock original to blown or turbo'd wild.
Joe

Belloc

JB You have the C3 of my dreams. Big Block Convert. :cool: :smash:

I was just thinking if you had a punched up Big Block let say 600hp or so. It would surly keep up with a C5? But I guess if you can't get traction around a corner all the power in the world doesn't help.

73 LS-4

Just as horsepower is often a question of how fast do you want to spend, I think the same can be said for handling. In stock form with stock tires and suspension a BB vette is a boat, it rolls and pushes in the corners pretty bad especially when compared to an 86 Z-51. Mine has come a very long way in a short time with what I have done (see sig.) It's still not as good as the 86 but it's not way off of it either. If your wanting a well balanced car a big block vette is normally way more go then woe or turn, plus the fact they tend to be nose heavy but you just have to set up the suspension to compensate for that. The old LT-1's were the best balanced of the old C3's.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

ScubaJKD

I had a 99 C5 and sold it to get a C3 1969. They are completely different cars in every respect. But with enough time and money you can make a C3 competitive. There an abundance of goodies from Vette Brakes. Everything from completely adjustable front and rear fiberglass springs to poly conversion kits, to upgraded swaybars, and bilstien shocks. Not to mention 16plus inch wheels and tires with new Z rated tread. But before you go off the deep end ask yourself what you want to do with the car. Race it, drive it everyday, or wish you had a C5 when it acts up. An honest upfront assessment of your desired outcome could save you lots of money and time.

:cheers:

467-Ratman

IMO, the C5 is one super car, styling and handling are first rate, however when I start my 467 rat motor in my 71 red coupe people listen!!!! The new vette may handle better at the race track but on the street in the real world I will keep my BB anytime!! Good luck with your choice :cheers:

Belloc

Another newbie question... Why do you call your motor a rat motor? Is that the nickname for Corvette BBs?
:confused:

Corey_68

Rat = Any big block Chevy motor

Mouse = Any small block Chevy motor

FWI= BB Mopars, the Hemi in particular, is called an Elephant motor.

Glenn454

The thing about the C3 BB corvette's, is they are going to go up in value, and you still can work on them if you break something. I own a 71 4 speed BB roadster with nitrous :yesnod: It would take a Z06 with nitrous and a very good driver to keep up with my car at the track. For the same money that you would spend on a C5 you could build a awesome C3 BB car and probably get most of your money back if you sold it. :)

Chuck Harmon

I just took my Buddy Larry for his first ride in the L88 tonight. He has a beautiful silver coupe with mildly modified 350, T400 and 3.70 gears. Absolutely gorgeous paint! I had taken him for a ride in the Z a little while ago for lunch. I mentioned to him after we got back tonight that many new Vette owners, especially ZO6 owners, are more than PO'd when told that the ZO6 is NOT the most powerful Vette ever sold to the public by Chevrolet, the L88/ZL1's were. Larry said that the Z was incredibly fast/quick. Faster than anything car he had ever ridden in. But the L88 was in his word, "Scare the @#$% out of me, let me out and kiss the ground fast!" The car tracked straight and true from a rolling 2nd gear start through 3rd gear (100mph), but it really took his breath away and left somewhat of a ring in his ears that should pass in about a week :yesnod:

Man, but I love them both!

Chuck

Glenn454

Chuck, You should throw some slicks on your 69 and make some runs at the drag strip.
I would love to have that 69 L88 SCCA A Production race car on Ebay. :yesnod: If I was only rich! :)

GDaina

Two different animals, two different breeds. Each has his place. C3...pure unadulterated brute power, an animal on the prowl, while the C5 is like a sophisticated woman, sleek and smooth.

Tell ya, nothin like hitting the 100 mark then stompin yer foot down and burning the hell out of the tires....

MassVette

You can see my opinion here. The 502/502 in my '79 makes DOGMEAT out of all the factory C-5/s. Plus. it LOOKS like a Corvette.
:yesnod: :chevy :chevy

Darkness

Every body is calling them both great cars!!! of course that's why they're called corvettes :D

The C3 just has that killer look, its just beautiful, I just love to sit and look at it. And the C5 INHO has a "fat butt" nonetheless its a great performer and the comfort levels are better and much more practical.

C3 to show off :cool: and C5 for every day grocery go getter :D

Paul :cheers: