Here's the deal guys, Had to sell my 04 Z06 because I'm trying to set a large amt of cash aside for a near future investment. Well...I sincerely didn't think that I'd miss her that much; I was wrong! Soooo now I'm thinking of something a little expensive, and I really prefer the FRC bodylines, so that leaves me with the older FRC's. Are the two night and day different in handling and power? How much would I need to do in mods to be quicker than a near stock C5Z06?

Thanks for your input!

RT

 

Well Braking and Suspension is basicly the same. The difference is going to be the motor. If you got a FRC and did LS6 intake, LS6 cam, exhaust, and intake you would be about the same. When installing a cam, you can throw in a ASP pully and maybe a set of headers and be faster.

 

What about the rearends? Are they the same?

 

The M6 tranny ratios are different. The FRC has a wider seperation and the ZO6 has a close ratio setup.

 

the springs are stiffer and the sway bars are bigger on a z06..... same rear end/tranny housing strenth but the z06 has the m12 tranny w/ better synchro's and slightly different gearing... the block is better in the z06 along w/the heads and exhaust.... if you put a set of ported and polished stock ls6heads, a cam, and exhaust system on an FRC you will be above the power output of a stock z06, and I really do like the higher 1st gear in the M6, once you start putting alot of power down that z06 first gear will just be pure tire spin... though stock for stock you will be sick you got rid of the best year C5 z06...

 

Thanks Assassin....BTW, I'm already sick I got rid of her...who knows, I may even get another one

 

Unless I'm wrong the Z06 and Z51 rear sway bars are the same. The front Z06 is a little bigger. All FRC's have the Z51 package.

 

This link will tell you everything you ever need to know about the Z06. http://corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/z06/index.html

I don't think there is much info on the 99-00 FRC but I do believe that the suspension is different. Regardless, I do believe you would be disappointed with it out of the box since you did own a Z. Just get another one. Prices are pretty damn good for the 02's.

 

yep, o2 z06. Aren't they going for 27-28k? But its cool to get the frc and make-your-beast

 

With a vararam, cam,Ls6 intake..and tune... on my old car, i'd walk the Z06's I came in contact with(i'm guessing they were stock).

So, you CAN do it cheaply.

If you buy a FRC... i've got a stock set of LS2/LS6 heads...i'll give you for cheap.

They're untouched.

You can buy the cam...long tubes, intake, catback.
As far as Z06 suspension...I think we might have that laying around as well.

The Z06 brake ducts, and front screens, you can pick up cheap. I bought my front screens for 87 bucks.

 

the suspension as stated is very close(the 2000 FRC actually uses the same rear sway bar), for a $1000 investement(cam/springs/ud), an FRC will beat any Z, both on the strip and dyno

 

I agree. Everyone here is giving you good advice. I went nuts on my FRC and have killed just about everything. Ran even with a C6 ZO6 all the way to 170 and began pulling him after that. I am sure he let off though. Killed the vipers I have run against. Blew the doors off a KB blown Cobra. He was with me to 130 then very slowly faded, and No he didn't let off. Mod your next car the FRC you are talking about getting and you'll forget about the ZO6. It will cost a lot to forget, but having a fuzzy memory is affordable. Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the input! The blocks are the same between the LS1 and LS6, right?

 

Yes and No. From what I have been told, there is more machining done to the LS6.

 

In 01 they went to a newer casting which is condered the "LS6" block. It breathes better internally. But thats the difference and pretty much every LS1 used it since it became the new casting.

There's no difference in machining between an ls1 and ls6

 

Definitely go for the FRC. I picked mine up with 28k miles for $20k. It was bone stock and I went right to work on it. I can tell you that I've never been envious of a Z06. If fact it's usually the other way around. They look at mine and most of them are wondering what it is. They're somewhat rare, so that makes it all the better.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

There are differences between the LS1 block and the LS6 block that show up in respect to breathing at higher rpms. I caution against some of the advice here about one being badder than the other what not. Everyone agrees that GMHTP mag gets some pretty respectable numbers and use Evan Smith to do the driving. I know that in '99 they got 12.6sec with the FRC. I also know that they got 11.9sec with the '04 Z06. I guess it really comes down to which one you want and how much you want to spend. I do road courses with my car and have yet to run across a FRC. I know in the SCCA T1 series that the FRC there do not fair well against the Z's and Vipers. There is a reason for this if you wanted to dig deeper. As for a modded car walking a stock one who knows. Bad driver, out matched, a combo of both to make it even worse? Who cares. They are both vettes and damn good ones at that. How can you go wrong with either so long as you are honest about which you prefer.

 

Here is some more info: http://corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/index.html

 

and heres a picture of that

 

Thanks again guys! I really appreciate the input. BTW, thanks for the cool visual 2muchricemakesmesick!!