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C6 Z06 rear in a C5

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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 11:32 AM
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Default C6 Z06 rear in a C5

Are any of you guys running the new C6 Z06 rears in your C5's? I have been looking into what it would take to do it. It looks to me like you need the rear suspension support, rear diff, rear trans extension housing, and the trans output shaft is bigger. Has anyone done this and if so did you change the trans or just the shaft and extention housing?
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 12:33 PM
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y would u want to do that for??? i assume u r talking about the whole rear diff set up. SO Y?
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 01:01 PM
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Get in touch with RPM. They are doing it now.
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 05:13 PM
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Why ???

It's a completely different case than the C5/6 Getrags.

That and the C6Z rears aren't bulletproof either.
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 06:58 PM
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Like stated above, RPM Transmissions are doing the conversions..

Its nice to have a ring/pinion the same size as a Ford 9 under your C5...
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 10:29 PM
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I am looking for a better setup. Anyone that drag races with good '60 times in a six speed eventually breaks something. So far I haven't but I know with low 1.50s it will happen. I would rather go to a better setup and avoid a tow home. Plus like the other guys stated the ring and pinion, case, and mounting the the C6 Z06 rear is much better. GM saw the weaknesses and improved on them for the more powerful cars coming into production. I will call RPM and see what they have to say.
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 11:26 PM
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Damn unless your are planning a 500-800 RWHP car dont think u really have to worry.... its a waste of cash just my opinion. I launch my car hard at 3000 to 4000 rpm, full slick on my H/C set up..... i have broken one diff and destroyed one tranny. after my re-build havent had any problems....
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Old Sep 26, 2008 | 04:52 PM
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i dont see the point in this...I have yet to hear of a gear failing in a C5...and C6Z06 guys are using C5 shafts....C6 isnt hardened like C5's are....

1.5 is easy with a C5 rear. I know plenty that do it. Just get hardened shafts for inside the pumpkin and use a DTE brace.....good to go.
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Old Sep 26, 2008 | 06:32 PM
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Further augmenting my statement:

By the time you factor the costs, a conventional C5/6 getrag case will turn out to be cheaper when modified than a C6Z's.

It's been a while, but I don' think that there are full built-to-the-hilt C6Z rear ends.

But what do I know... I've just been running a Stage 5 rear with a Quaife tossed in for nearly 2 years now.


p.s. anyone that drag races with an IRS setup KNOWS that their rear is a tricky situation. Go live axle if you want to live your life a 1/4 mi. at a time.
But if you want to keep IRS; don't abuse, and plan properly.
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Old Sep 26, 2008 | 07:37 PM
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You guys have plenty of valid points. To answer some of your questions. The car is making 560rwhp and I am planning upgraded to a 408. I have done the normal C5 hardened output shaft and dte brace and changed the clutch packs and springs to the C6 Z06 set. I happened to get a C6 Z06 rear and extension housing when I bought some C5 parts really cheap. I took the rear apart and saw how much beefier it was and thought maybe I could make it work in my car. The cost of buying the parts new would be very expensive but since I already have the rear I thought I get it in the car for less than a grand. I am just throwing the idea out there to see if it is possible.
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Old Sep 26, 2008 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Z06PSI
Get in touch with RPM. They are doing it now.


After you talk to RPM the picture will be clear.

He will do you right with the price

He has always had the best drivtrain work and the best price

John Sr.

Last edited by Blktie8; Sep 27, 2008 at 12:07 PM.
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Old Sep 27, 2008 | 02:31 AM
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Originally Posted by DLong
Are any of you guys running the new C6 Z06 rears in your C5's? I have been looking into what it would take to do it. It looks to me like you need the rear suspension support, rear diff, rear trans extension housing, and the trans output shaft is bigger. Has anyone done this and if so did you change the trans or just the shaft and extention housing?

I am doing this right now, the best way to go about it is too buy a whole setup out of a Z06 that maybe was wrecked or something like that. I purchased the T-56 with he whole Getrag Diff and even a Torque Tube for 2200.00 shipped. I then purchased the rear cradle from a regular Z51 C6 which is the same for 300 shipped and it included everything I would need to swap and a really nice sway bar and rear shocks. Going this route all you will need it the trans and diff, rear cradle and the lower control arms (they are different for the C6 cradle) Keep in mind that you can not use the C6 torque tube as it is a little shorter than a C5 piece. The C6 Z06 rear is a far superior case design than the C5 and has a larger ring gear.
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Old Sep 27, 2008 | 11:31 AM
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As stated above the ring and pinion are never an issue. It is the output shaft from the tranny that ussually breaks and destroys the case. The gears are strong enough.
I have the stronger-harder output shaft and hardened short shafts with the DTE brace and I figure it is plenty.
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Old Sep 27, 2008 | 01:35 PM
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Ahhh, I either glossed over or didn't know that you were going to reuse some parts you already had. In that case, power to ya.
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Old Sep 27, 2008 | 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by David Gordon
As stated above the ring and pinion are never an issue. It is the output shaft from the tranny that ussually breaks and destroys the case. The gears are strong enough.
I have the stronger-harder output shaft and hardened short shafts with the DTE brace and I figure it is plenty.

I have seen at lest 5 times where the ring gear was sheared off on a hard launch, this was more prone to some of the earlier aftermarket gears but I have seen the OE stuff do it as well.

The output shafts you have and the DTE brace are more than enough for most people, as you stated the next thing to break would be the trans output shaft which is upgraded to a viper spec unit (32 spline) in the C6 Z06 T-56.
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Old Sep 29, 2008 | 04:16 AM
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a buddy of mine just killed his ring and pinion on his 5k stage 5 DTE rearend...because they didn't put the better shotpeened/micro/cyro gears in it, when he told them he was going to be dragging it...

Then he had to pay a lot of money to buy new gears...So he's got about 6k in his rearend now...
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Old Sep 29, 2008 | 04:12 PM
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Thanks for the info Eric. I was wanting to know what I will need. I am putting in a roll bar this winter and hopefully building my 408. Then I will move to the driveline as I break it.
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Old Sep 30, 2008 | 02:00 PM
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Dlong - I usually am on the Corvette Forum. I saw your thread and can tell you there is a lot of info. over there on this subject! Last year after Finish Line Performance pushed my HP up to about 1,000 I broke 3 C5 rear ends at major dragrace events, including Hot Rod Magazines Pump Gas Drags. Rodney from RPM Transmission saved my butt by building a C5 Getrag unit with a 3.42 gear in it to test while he finalized the C6 Z06 into a C5 with an A4 setup. NOBODY in the country had ANYTHING that would hold up to 800+ RWHP. A C5 unit has a 7 7/8" ring gear while a C6 Z06 unit has an 8 7/8" ring gear. Forget Motive Gears for Vettes because they can not handle the higher HP. All that is needed is the GM C6 crossmember with lower control arms, an adapter plate for the tranny, and an output shaft for the 4L60E. Rodney came up with that stuff and I am living proof that it works. I have over 45 9 second runs on this setup with no problems so far. RPM builds by far the toughest rear ends for C5's & C6's and I don't think anyone in the USA is running consistent mid 9's like I am on anybody elses rear end. Don't forget that when you step up to that kind of HP you MUST beef up the rest of your drivetrain also!!

Best: 9.44 E.T., 1.32 60', 148 MPH so far this year all in DA weather over 2200.

JR
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Old Oct 4, 2008 | 10:52 PM
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Sounds like this is the way to go for the higher HP C5s !
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Old Oct 6, 2008 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by JR-CRUZN-C5
Dlong - I usually am on the Corvette Forum. I saw your thread and can tell you there is a lot of info. over there on this subject! Last year after Finish Line Performance pushed my HP up to about 1,000 I broke 3 C5 rear ends at major dragrace events, including Hot Rod Magazines Pump Gas Drags. Rodney from RPM Transmission saved my butt by building a C5 Getrag unit with a 3.42 gear in it to test while he finalized the C6 Z06 into a C5 with an A4 setup. NOBODY in the country had ANYTHING that would hold up to 800+ RWHP. A C5 unit has a 7 7/8" ring gear while a C6 Z06 unit has an 8 7/8" ring gear. Forget Motive Gears for Vettes because they can not handle the higher HP. All that is needed is the GM C6 crossmember with lower control arms, an adapter plate for the tranny, and an output shaft for the 4L60E. Rodney came up with that stuff and I am living proof that it works. I have over 45 9 second runs on this setup with no problems so far. RPM builds by far the toughest rear ends for C5's & C6's and I don't think anyone in the USA is running consistent mid 9's like I am on anybody elses rear end. Don't forget that when you step up to that kind of HP you MUST beef up the rest of your drivetrain also!!

Best: 9.44 E.T., 1.32 60', 148 MPH so far this year all in DA weather over 2200.

JR

Nice info
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