stano

My '07 Z has 73,000 miles on it and in today's market the value is pretty low. So, I'm thinking of making it a fun dedicated track car but have also been giving some thought of finding a salvaged C6 and making it a dedicated track car. I already have the Z of course and thought I'd put a roll cage in it, 18x11 and 18x12 or 13 racing wheels, racing seats both sides, upgrade the suspension and brakes and leave the motor stock except for headers. Upgrade the cooling of the tranny and motor. Finally, reduce as much weight as possible.

I understand the trailer and tow vehicle situation that comes with all of this.

What say ye

bowmanized

What are your long term goals. To race in say SU?

I think it would make a sick TTU/SU car with a cage and nobody can match the aluminum frame. Lightweight wins after rubber and downforce.

On the other hand if you want to go wheel to wheel all the time what's poplular in SoCal. If you wanted to do T1 runoffs, maybe a C6 would be better.

I personally wouldn't look back, by the time you start over it'll end up costing you more probably. Plus you're facing more depreciation and taxes etc etc etc. Keep going I say, go unlimited and beat everyone.

First thing I'd do is upgrade the dry sump.

Hope this helps,

Mike

AU N EGL

C5Z T1 car. Has the roll cage already inand race ready, relatively easy to maintain. and darn fast.

shifter77

I was contemplating the same idea with my z. Ive been told that the aluminium frame would be a safety concern & most fabricators i met prefer welding a cage to the frame which is not possible with aluminium frame. What to do?

LS3FORME

Most c6 race cars are c6 not z06 based due to the steel v alum. , look at the callaways for example. I think you should get a high milage c6 and make it a t1 car for overall value, use in scca, nasa, etc. By the way a well know sponsor is coming out with a very cost effective roll cage install kit soon,which is half the battle.

spazegun2213

We had a guy out here race his c6z and LOVED it. Had a cage specially fabbed, and the car was insane fast!!!

Honestly do what you love. 73K on that car is "a lot" but if you still love driving it on the street do that! If you want to turn it into a track car, do all the upgrades as you get more into track and then throw a cage if before you go racing. As for buying a totaled car, eh, I'd say buy a c5 race car (like mine) before you do that.

ghoffman

I have not seen anyone do a cage correctly yet on a C6Z. Every one I have seen is massively unsafe, you cannot just bolt on a plate on top of the frame. It certainly can be done correctly, I just have not seen a proper example yet.

AU N EGL

It would be less expensive to buy a used C5T1 car.

only cage in a c6Z that is worth any thing are the ones from Phoenix Performance.

the other advantage of the C5, it has been tested and improved upon for years, especially the computer plus NO TPS

BrianCunningham

take a look at retired World Challenge cars.

Lots of $$$ thrown into them.

All the safety equipment and upgrades done already.

Some can be had for a song.

stano

Right now the goal is just to have fun and see how well I progress and where that takes me. I want to be safe as I can.

The frame issue has been brought up and I'm wondering if that is a concern. I've been told that it's easier to weld a full cage to the steel frame which of course makes sense. The C5Z has been an option but are guys moving up to the C6's yet with good results? Why is the C5 still popular other than cost? Are the C6's not competitive enough or aren't that many guys racing them yet?

I've also been thinking about other car models to race, Evo, Nissan Z etc., but I do love the vette

Either way my budget is around 30-35K for just the car.

Thanks a bunch guys

drivinhard

I've seen some that have plates on both sides of the rail, with fasteners that go through both sides.

either way it's weird to think your cage is still basically bolted to the chassis.

some pretty amazing deals on storted race cars out there now during this garage sale economy. You could probably sell yours outright and buy something already ready to go and be way farther down the road, vs sinking $30k in yours.

stano

I thought of that too.

Any good sites for used race cars...? Racing junk didn't have much the last time I looked.

I want to do it right the first time

bosco022

Or.....here's another idea.

Pick up an ex ASA Delco series National Tour stock car.

Many are now racing in SCCA GTA & V8 Stockcar, very nice race ready examples can be bought for 20-25k and sometimes less. I sold my racewinning, track record holding example last fall in excellent condition with T101 4 speed minus engine for 13k.

They are:
Perimeter tube frame built for speeds of NASCAR 1.5 mile tracks and more
powered by LS1 usually fi but a few are carbed
about 2600# minus driver
about 500 hp at the flywheel
Jerico, Tex T101, etc 4 speeds, built to handle 800 plus hp
quick change rear ends usually with detroit lockers
ATL or Fuelsafe Cells
Big 6 piston or 4 piston brakes, AP, Wilwood, Brembo etc

Very affordable to race, we spent about 1200 per weekend at Sebring, Daytona, etc using new tires most weekends. tires 600 per set mounted
easy to work on and repair
cheap readily available parts from Howe, Port City and others
cheap body parts from Fivestar

FAST......

Best lap times:
Road Atlanta 1.29 Bob Stretch
Daytona 1.58 Phil Tapia
Sebring Long 2.15.768 Kurt Roehrig, 2.16 Jay Marshall
VIR 1.57.xxx Kurt Roehrig (GTA running as a GT-1 at a national)
Roebling 1.14 Tony Amico

They are tough, a hoot to drive and are faster than many regional type GT-1's

To find some for sale check out the message board at v8stockcar.com

Bosco

95jersey

It all comes down to money. What are you looking to spend and any of these guys can tell you where you will best fit.

I read from your post you are looking dedicated track car (as in dedicated HPDE car not wheel to wheel). If that is the case, the Z is perfect. I use my 06Z on the track and love it (just get a race seat, harness and HANS). It is such a faster and funner car to drive than a C5Z. BUT, just forget about any kind of cage in a C6Z06. Even as Gary said, if you could do it right, it would just be cost prohibitive. I have heard in excess of $12k for a cage in a C6Z...talk about a complete WASTE of money.

If you are TRULY looking at gutting the car and turning it into a REAL dedicated race car...don't waste your money building ANYTHING. It will take the cost of the Z itself to even come close, and by the time you are done spending your money, you could have a bought a perfect mint ex-world challenge Corvette with tons of spare parts.

If it were me and I had a $75k to spend on a DEDICATED race car, I'd buy one already built by Lou or some other reputable world challenge type car...never build. Especially in this economy, you might be able to get a car for 1/2 it's asking price. If I had $40k or less to spend, I'd get a T1. This way you could always do wheel to wheel if ever so inclined.

drivinhard

Pfadt was selling their C5 car last time I checked.

drivinhard

not to hijack the thread, but curious, anybody know what a Cup car turns at Road Atlanta? they test there all the time, but I've never been able to find any test times.

bosco022

Gene Felton, the former IMSA champion, has run 1.27 in a few year old ex Reed Sorenson Dodge Charger. Scott Murphy I think has run similar times. Gene is still incredibly fast.

0Randy@DRM

Humm,
Full time track car, that the owner wants to be safe in. STEEL Chassis is the only way to go. Easier to cage, easier to fix if wacked, 100 pounds more(no big deal). It's not just the cage, it's the little bracket here and there that would **** my off the most. Steel, anybody can weld on steel, Alumium is a bit trick at times.

I wouldn't buy a crashed car, there is too many high mileage, car out there to be doing that. Unless it was a little hit and you can steal the car.

You have seen the DRM RTR, we maybe out of the price range. But it would be just about prefect for you. Steel chassis, but with the body and heart of a Z.

If you need anything let me know

Randy

0Randy@DRM

I raced against a few of these this weekend. Banging gears and hauling the mail. They look like fun to drive, but they sure aren't a vette. Down 100 horsepower, I was hanging with them.

Check out my thread about it

Randy

ghoffman

And that is exacly how not to do it.