[Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the October 2018 Issue of Grassroots Motorsports. Some information may be different today.]
Meet Our Expert:
Sam Strano
Strano Performance Parts
stranoparts.com
(814) 849-3450
I just picked up a 2017 1LT with a Z07 that happens to be an automatic. I have a whopping 795 miles on mine. A lot of what needs to …
Read the rest of the story
No offense to Sam, but the big takeaway from this Tech Tips article seems to be "It's Complicated"
Shaun
Dork
6/5/20 7:07 p.m.
A C6 sounds like a more pleasant virtual owning experience!
Seems like a modded C5 is still the best for motorsport all these years later. C6 and C7 may be faster stock and better road cars but are hard to develop and have a lot of issues that pop up when driven hard for a season.
GCrites80s said:
Seems like a modded C5 is still the best for motorsport all these years later. C6 and C7 may be faster stock and better road cars but are hard to develop and have a lot of issues that pop up when driven hard for a season.
Haven spent some time in a c5 and a c7, I cant IMAGINE why that would be the case. The c7 Grand Sport absolutely rockets around the track and has SERIOUS factory improvements that are not included on any c5. Dry sump. Extra radiators. Extra brake cooling. Aero. Fixed brake calipers.
The thing is also a great place to be when driving to the track as well whereas the c5 has the interior of a 90s blazer.
The reason they are harder to develop is because they are SO FAST from the factory. You could easily tear out the magnaride shocks instead of getting a dsc module and go back 30 years with standard shock and spring setups. The traction control makes you feel like a hero in all conditions. The ABS is MUCH better. I cant believe anyone would pick a c5 over a c7 grand sport.
10 events so far on my brothers and he drops it off at the dealership for oil changes and warranty issues (minor navigation issue fixed with brand new navigation system). Try that with a c5.
Have you had a chance to compare a heavily modded C5 with a lightly modded C7 (since that's basically all that people who aren't pro race teams can do) in as intense as environment as the top modern Corvette people such as Strano and Danny Popp have? I haven't but I have seen them write on the subject. Yes stock for stock the C7 blows away the best stock C5 on a road course during track days/HDPE. It's when you really push that the driver aids become cumbersome on the C7 and the inability to improve the car with mods besides tires and forced induction start catching up with it in relation to the older cars.
Thought the Patreon was closed a couple weeks ago?
There was basically nothing of use in that article. No suggestions on alignments, for street and track, shocks, etc.
Sounds like those things are really dependent on which model/variant you have. A list for every different setup could be exhaustive.
10 events so far on my brothers and he drops it off at the dealership for oil changes and warranty issues (minor navigation issue fixed with brand new navigation system). Try that with a c5.
That's the grassroots answer right there.
Olemiss540 said:
10 events so far on my brothers and he drops it off at the dealership for oil changes and warranty issues (minor navigation issue fixed with brand new navigation system). Try that with a c5.
The dealership has told me I'm welcome to drop my C5 off for an oil change anytime. They've got the parts in stock and everything! :P
GCrites80s said:
Sounds like those things are really dependent on which model/variant you have. A list for every different setup could be exhaustive.
True, but if the answer to everything is "it depends," I don't really see the point of the article.
Even broad suggestions would be helpful.
I can confirm burning up the AFM valves in one 20-minute track session. I was trying to see if drive mode could get a better lap time than paddle shifting, negative on that. Dealer replaced the AFM under warranty. Then I removed exhaust and replaced with after market AWE touring, no valves and installed Range device, problems solved. ;-)
Z51 model here stock bars work great, LG coil overs & AP brakes, Dewitts Racing radiator . Not as fast because of power, MSD intake, AFE headers & tune. Auto is spot on (road course)
Yes you will melt the AFM controllers , sets a code so won't pass emisson test with out a tune to shut that off
BillD64
New Reader
10/9/24 6:26 p.m.
Jim Mero the development engineer/test driver says the rear caster adjustment is available to ensure rear caster stays at or close to zero. On the C5/C6 rear caster changed as rear camber was altered. The added lower control arm adjustment allows the setup to be adjusted to provide zero caster.
Jim also recommends setting more negative camber in the rear than in the front. For a track setting he indicates rear negative camber should be adjusted to the maximum obtainable with front negative camber camber being about 0.5 degrees more positive. See his setup recommendations below:
Since Jim set lap time records at tracks such as VIR with a stock Z06 it may be worth considering his setup recommendations for a starting point.
Bill