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Is there any truth in the C5 drivetrain robbing power?

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Old Sep 6, 2004 | 03:32 PM
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Default Is there any truth in the C5 drivetrain robbing power?

I have heard many C5 owners saying that the C5 drivetrain robs more power the the F-bodies. Is this true?
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Old Sep 6, 2004 | 03:42 PM
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Yes it is true...the rear axle in the f Body cars uses less horse power the IRS...
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Old Sep 6, 2004 | 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by slt200mph
Yes it is true...the rear axle in the f Body cars uses less horse power the IRS...
Then that explains it.. Someone said like 18 percent for the M6?
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Old Sep 7, 2004 | 08:07 AM
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When the 2002 Z06 come out our corvette club had a GM engineer from the LS1 platform talk about the changes, improvements, etc. He mentioned that the drive train loss was about 12-13%, as I recall. This would equate to 350-360 RWHP.

Last edited by Gordy M; Sep 13, 2004 at 04:00 PM.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 02:16 PM
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There is no proof.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 66ImpalaLT1
There is no proof.
Look at the dyno numbers. C5's always dyno lower than the mullets because of the IRS.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 03:48 PM
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I'm not so sure, they seem to rob power but then they seem to put the power to the ground better......... hmmmmm
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 04:27 PM
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They do not put it down any better.... especially if they have the Badyear run flat tires on them....they weigh less than the f body...end of story... if you check the dyno numbers the f body does better time after time..the IRS is the difference...
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by slt200mph
They do not put it down any better.... especially if they have the Badyear run flat tires on them....they weigh less than the f body...end of story... if you check the dyno numbers the f body does better time after time..the IRS is the difference...

I was getting better 60fts at the track this weekend compared to the automatic f-bodies there. My best of the day was 1.98 on the runcraps.

And the Colonel has cut 1.8 60fts on his runcrap tires in his C5. The C5 definitely puts it's power to the ground better.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Patman
I was getting better 60fts at the track this weekend compared to the automatic f-bodies there. My best of the day was 1.98 on the runcraps.

And the Colonel has cut 1.8 60fts on his runcrap tires in his C5. The C5 definitely puts it's power to the ground better.
Would you say it's putting power to the ground better meaning it's making hp numbers to the ground better or it's getting better traction? I'll choose the latter...
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 09:35 PM
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How is that proof? I've never seen the same motor dynoed in both chassis. A few people have had the opportunity but didnt post before/after numbers. Thats what it would really take to compare them.

Even assuming the C5 has more drivetrain loss, I'll bet they are equal once you put a rear end in an f-body that can handle any amount of power.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 10:39 PM
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I have proof from the race cars back to back, same motor from chassis dyno to engine dyno and the loss is less than 15%. Obviously, you all would love to know what it makes, but I cant say


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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 04:43 AM
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Originally Posted by DMNSPD
Would you say it's putting power to the ground better meaning it's making hp numbers to the ground better or it's getting better traction? I'll choose the latter...
I mean it's hooking up better. The suspension on the C5 is definitely better.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 07:09 AM
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My test results were with swapping a 408ci from a F-body to a Y-body and the #'s were lower, but several things were different, i.e., headers, bigger cam, no shortbelt this time, less aggressive tune. We were hoping for around the same numbers as before and I think I got them, but my supporting hardware was not there. I will need some custom Kooks with longer primaries for one and a more aggressive tune.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 09:59 AM
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It's something like 8% for 6 speeds and 13% for autos.It's not just the IRS,but the torque tube,and tranny also.The torque tube is way bigger than a drive shaft.And 2001 c5s have more hp than 97-99s.So dynos are all over the place with different years.But you all know how it goes,dynos don't win races.And run-craps suck like mentioned above.I weighed my rear Y2Ks with run flats before i tossed them,62 lbs for one rear tire/rim and wheel sensor.
Also C5 autos have 2:73 or 3:15 gears compaired to the f-body autos with 3:23s
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 11:22 AM
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The spinning shaft inside the torque tube is a lot smaller and lighter than an f-body's driveshaft.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Patman
I mean it's hooking up better. The suspension on the C5 is definitely better.
That's what I figured. I just wanted to clear it up for someone that didn't understand.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 66ImpalaLT1
The spinning shaft inside the torque tube is a lot smaller and lighter than an f-body's driveshaft.
True,but it's my opinion (oh..no) that with the bearings etc,it creates more friction/drag than a regular spinning drive shaft.Of coarse,it would be hard to compair.But it sure looks like a decent power robber,and then compounded with the transaxle.
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by 66ImpalaLT1
How is that proof? I've never seen the same motor dynoed in both chassis. A few people have had the opportunity but didnt post before/after numbers. Thats what it would really take to compare them.

Even assuming the C5 has more drivetrain loss, I'll bet they are equal once you put a rear end in an f-body that can handle any amount of power.
And the extra U-joints from an IRS car are more efficient than straight axles? NOT!
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 04:11 PM
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I would say that it is between 12% to 15% for a standard. The f-body is 12% (6-speed), so if there is a difference, it is minimal. Let's say for arguement the difference is 3%, that would equate to 10.5 rwhp for a stock 350 hp LS1 motor. The Corvette weighs around 400 - 500 lbs less than an f-body! That more than makes up for 10 or 11 rwhp.
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