I currently have an '03 Cobra with basic bolt-ons. It runs 11.7@119 on DRs. I'm thinking about making it handle better, but realize that is a tough task to accomplish with my current car. It's really heavy, has an ancient chasis, and a bad F/R weight ratio.

So I'm looking at possibly buying an older C5 with some miles and putting some mods onto it. I'd want the vette to be at least as fast as my Cobra in the quarter, while maintaining good driveability (the cobra drives like stock).

From browsing around it seems like I would have to do at least Heads/Cam and all supporting mods on the 'vette, and depending on how aggressive I get I could have between 450-480 at the wheels - which would be plenty to take the cobra considering the C5's weight advantage.

So is it feasible to buy a C5 at around 13-15k, add the mods needed to keep up with the Cobra and stay under or around $20k? $23k would be the max I would want to spend total.

Thanks,
Zach

 

C5 + 150 Shot = 11's

 

It would be pretty easy with nitrous. I am not sure where you are located but I know around here you aren't going to find a C5 for 15K

 

I've seen several high mileage C5s for 15.. The mileage doesn't really scare me much since I'll be going into the engine anyway.

I would like to stay away from nitrous though.. One thing that appeals to me about the C5s is that they're N/A.

 

How Many Miles Are You Talking?

 

yeah i agree with the above poster it's gonna be tough to find one under or around 15k UNLESS you find one that has a prior salvage title or is still damaged. They hold their value really well, i mean come on, it's a Vette but i'm doing a budget build on my C5 as we speak(well getting the parts right now) Got an LS6 intake manifold w/ 80mm Throttle body for $150 shipped(got a GREAT deal) TSP Longtubes and Offroad X-pipe for $800 shipped, LS6 Z06 heads for $450 shipped, now i'm looking into getting a ported LS6 oil pump, gasket/bolt kit, , Underdrive pulley, and the TSP Magic Stick 4 cam and PRC Double spring kit. After all is said and done it's gonna get a dyno tuneand Doug Rippie Motorsports here in MN. i SHOULD be pushing between 450-500HP when all is said and done~Cole~

 

15k is not a realistic price for a vette

 

Here's a 97 Vette for 14K

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/486961247.html

 

Where did you see 14k in that posting >_>

 

In this listing

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/485640920.html

 

16.5k:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1868843

13k:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1864947

14k:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1856605

I think 15k is reasonable. The C5s seem to be dropping like rocks right now.

P.S. Those are all within 5 minutes of looking - and I only looked at that one forum.

 

Looks like it has the delete turn signal mod already done!!!

 

I think you should be able to get there with cam+supporting mods+ DR's. Probably wont even need heads

 

Can you get 450 to the wheels without heads?? Or did you mean that would get it as fast as my '03 Cobra?

 

Yeah I just meant high 11's. Never heard of a cam only getting 450 to the tire.

 

Here's a 447RWHP FRC for $21k... I'd rather buy a high mileage stock one though

 

97 C5 : 3127 Curb Weight
03 Terminator : 3665 Curb Weight


There's a 538 lb curb weight difference between the two. A cobra with 450rwhp would have a power to weight ratio of 8.14. That means the corvette would need 384rwhp to match your Cobra's Power to weight ratio.

Cobra : 3665 / 450 = 8.14
Corvette : 3127 / 384 = 8.14

Throw in the vette's better Aero and say goodbye over 100mph.

 

Well I just ate my words. Here's a 450rwhp cam car. I think the fact that it has a Fast 90/90 helps alot...

https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamometer-results-comparisons/739417-346-cam-only-made-449-8rwhp.html

But yeah, anyway, there are stockish c5 zo6's going high 11's so a decent cam car should do the same

 

Headers, catback, g5x3 cam, ported 90/90 combo, some decent tires, and you will have a 11 second car. Toss on some ported ls6 style heads/AFRs/TFS/ETP/DART heads and your looking at over 450 rwhp and easily an 11 second car with traction. FWIW a C5 Z06 bone stock can hit low 12's high 11's at 115 to 117 mph, so a lightened, bolt on and cammed C5 should hit the numbers your looking for.

 

15k vettes are common guys, give the guy a break.