SS or SK1?

[froggy47]

New (to me) 04 z06 is in the garage ready to be prepped for 2007. I'd appreciate comments from the old pros & really anyone on what class to run?

I'd like to accomplish driver improvement on a familiar, but newer more capable platform.

I'm not terribly concerned with costs (mainly talking tires/rims here) but a breather from the "do I need new tires" cycle would be ok with me.

I don't see a national (yet) happening so not concerned that the SK classes are not national classes.

I like competition as I think it makes us all work harder at being good.

So what think you and why?

:)

[81MakoJ]

You going to be using the '04 as a daily driver? If so I'd say just get a set of wheels and r-comps so you don't have to worry about tearing up your street tires too badly. If it's just going to be for fun and racing, try sk1 until you're bored with using street tires.

That's how I'd do it, at least.

[Bimota Guy]

Buy a shifter kart! ;)

Since you have quite a bit of time under your belt on the sticky tires, I would just stay with that route and go into SS. That is what I did jumping from the Mustang Cobra in FS to the Z06 in SS.

If not a daily driver, drop the car low on the adjustment bolts and get an alignment done. However, if you drive at all on the street, do not drive with the rear toed-in. I would run with zero toe on the rear and then when I got to the Q turn the rear adjusters one full turn in. I think that gave about 3/8" total toe-in. Adjust back before you leave. Make it a routine.

Congrats, Bob. And we need a picture! :D

[shakes]

How do you adjust toe? My understanding is (small to say the least) that its end links etc correct? What special tools would you need for that, alingment tools I assume?

<- never done an alignment on an automobile.

[Bimota Guy]

I had a shop do the initial setting. Then I asked them to set the rear toe in by 3/8" total and it was almost exactly one turn on the adjusters (a threaded horizontal rod on cars with independent rear suspension.) I had them set it bak to zero for street and adjusted when I got to auto-x venues. No rear toe adjustment on cars with a live axle.

It has nothing to do with the end links on the sway bars.

[lost won]

Answers to your questions depend on your priorities.

For instance, alignment is critical for autocross success. A lot of negative camber is ideal for autocross; but will quickly wear the inside of your tires if driven daily. Compromised alignment means less than ideal performance in an autocross. Lowering the car helps a lot in autocross, by making more negative camber available, but makes the car subject to bottoming out more on the street.

Likewise, autocross tires are essential for getting the Z06's power to the ground, and taking advantage of the turning and handling built into the car.
Street tires are quickly overpowered by the car. The down side is having to buy a separate set of rims and changing the tires out for each autocross; if you expect to drive it on the street much. Like alignment, there really isn't a good compromise tire for street and autocross for the Z06. Both the Kumho 710 and Hoosier A6 work well on a C5 Z06 and return reasonable tire life for autocross.

Still, given the structure of today's SK1 class, I think running SS would be more rewarding, even given the pain of the tire changing. SK1 is populated with AWD hi-horsepower cars like Evos and Stis which do well with street tires. In SS, the Lotus Elise is tough competition now, but a well driven Z06 is still competitive, at least at the local level. Then there's Porsche GT3s which are certainly effective. The new C6 Z06 is still a question mark for autocross; and will be legal in SS next year.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[froggy47]

Thanks guys for all the great comments. Not a daily driver, I have other vehicles for that. I do drive on race tires to events, been doing that 3 years now doesn't seem to bother 710's much, not sure on Hoosiers.

I hear you on the power of this car over coming rear grip, been there a few times with the LT4 on "no grip days" like last Sunday Fontana/cold/dead 710's - like ice racing.

Here's some file pics. Looks just like that, hope one of you camera guys will shoot some real ones for me.

:)

Actually mine has the bsm still on (body side molding) I kinda like it on a blue one. It's stock to the bone, 18k miles. Local one owner owner out of Bob Stall. We toasted the changing of the car's ownership with Corona's. It was his 1st new car, emotional event for us both.

[shakes]

Here's some file pics. Looks just like that, hope one of you camera guys will shoot some real ones for me.

I would be happy to. Email me at doug@shakes-place.com if you want to.

No pro but still. A couple examples

http://shakes-place.com/solana10_small.jpg

http://shakes-place.com/Train_cars.jpg

[froggy47]

Thanks,

I was actually just thinking of the "action" shots that guys take at events & post on the net. Not so much a "posed" session if that is what you meant.

:)

[Bimota Guy]

Oh, a Z16, very nice!

[froggy47]

Thanks, damn this car is pretty. I figured all my Vettes would be black, but I had to have this one.

Reminds me a lot of a Grand Sport on steroids.

The Eagle F1 Supercar's have pretty good grip. I was out tonight messing around a bit & thought it would be breaking loose a lot but no, heck of a tire.

What size sticky's can you put on z06 rims? Bigger than the stock 265/295 I assume?

[Bimota Guy]

Kumho 710s in 275/40 front and 315/35 rear (really) as seen below on stock size CCWs.

[shakes]

Thanks,

I was actually just thinking of the "action" shots that guys take at events & post on the net. Not so much a "posed" session if that is what you meant.

:)

Yeah, I was thinking posed shots. I think we ran the same group last time. I was in AS. Not sure what I will be in this coming year though. If I get a chance though I'd be happy to catch some action shots of her.

What is a Z16? chassis code for C5 Z06?

Congrats by the way :)

[barkingspyder]

Kumho 710s in 275/40 front and 315/35 rear (really) as seen below on stock size CCWs.

Sum bitch, those are bigger than my condo.

[Bimota Guy]

What is a Z16? chassis code for C5 Z06?

Z16 is the option code for the limited edition 2004 Z06 in LeMans Blue with a carbon fiber hood, stripes, and polished wheels.

BTW, the term "Z06" comes from a performance option code offered in 1963 (not sure if it was just that one year.) Fast forward to 2001 when it was first used as a model designation.

[81MakoJ]

Z16 is the option code for the limited edition 2004 Z06 in LeMans Blue with a carbon fiber hood, stripes, and polished wheels.

BTW, the term "Z06" comes from a performance option code offered in 1963 (not sure if it was just that one year.) Fast forward to 2001 when it was first used as a model designation.

GM re-used a lot of codes from older vette years. LT1 (although it was LT-1 before) and ZR-1 are just a couple of examples of reused corvette codes. The original LT-1 was made from '69 - '72 and the ZR1 code was used around the same time.

[froggy47]

Kumho 710s in 275/40 front and 315/35 rear (really) as seen below on stock size CCWs.


If I put the race tires on without buying multi sets of tire pressure sensors will everything still work ok, or will the car go nuts & think I have 4 flats & shut down?

:)

[Bimota Guy]

If I put the race tires on without buying multi sets of tire pressure sensors will everything still work ok, or will the car go nuts & think I have 4 flats & shut down?

:)
Hmm, the Z06 does not come with tire pressure sensors. Reason: they do not coem with run-flats. They came with a flat repair kit which included "goop" to put in the tires and that "goop" would ruin the sensors. The firmware for the sensors is still in the car, so it can be activated and presumably someone did that on your car(?) So I do not know what will happen if you run w/o sensors. Presumably a warning of some sort.

When you put the street wheels back on the car be sure you get each wheel back on its correct side so the readings are correctly displayed.

[ULLLOSE]

If I put the race tires on without buying multi sets of tire pressure sensors will everything still work ok, or will the car go nuts & think I have 4 flats & shut down?

:)

If it is showing up someone may have reflashed your stock ECU. I would go to the dealer and have the lastest stock program put in to make sure you are SS legal and take care of the TPMS light.

[Bimota Guy]

Out posts may have crossed, but the sensors can definitely be activated independent of any other changes.

[froggy47]

I don't have any codes or dic warnings. The valve stems look fairly normal.

Does not have runflats, has Eagle F1 Supercar. I assumed it had TPWS because my LT4 had it, it's bone stock so I will assume (for the second time) that is does not have sensors. I should be fine with any legal rims & tires & not cause the car to die.

All this car has had is oil changes 18k miles.

All these assumptions making me dizzy, but I guess we are ok here guys, right?

Sorry but I'm total noob to c5 & z06.

I guess all my 275/17/40 front tires work on the new car but need 18's for rear.

:)

[Bimota Guy]

Sounds like all is good. Can't wait to see the car.

[lost won]

All these assumptions making me dizzy, but I guess we are ok here guys, right?

Sorry but I'm total noob to c5 & z06.
:)

No problem, we're here for you. There's a lot of C5 experience here on the forum. Just ask us or Jst Fstr.

[froggy47]

Thanks.

:)