I'm looking to get a weekend car, and my choices are either an FRC vette or a 98+ Z28/TA. Will a head/cam F-body w/ suspension mods(springs, shocks, wheels, swaybars) handle just as good as an FRC w/ head and cams? I'd get the FRC hands down if I could find one for as cheap as an F-body. So can I make the F-body just as good w/ the appropriate suspension mods?
Also I will be doing all of the mod work myself so labor should not be accounted in my budget.
I realize I am on a corvette board so please do not respond with "get the FRC" unless you have had both.
I have had both. An 83 camaro, 86 z28, and a 2000 camaro SS. Now I have an 03 z06. An F-body can be made as fast in a straight line (with a lot of money). However, it would take something special to come close handling wise. I always thought the SS "felt" heavy. Thats the only way to describe it. While cornering it just felt too damn heavy. Not to say it didnt hold the corner, but it was disconcerting. When going to the Z06, it feels light and corners like a motha fu... I still cant get used to cornering that hard and not losing control. Thats why I bought the G-tech pro comp. I can set the lights to flash at 0.85 g's. Then i know i'm starting to get close to the limit even though it feels like i'll slide out.
Bottom line... get the corvette (although i've never driven a non-z06). You will not regret it, guaranteed. It may cost a good chunk more, but you'll be happy you did.
On paper, the two cars may be similar, but I have driven both and can tell you... if you can afford it, do it. Even if it means you cant mod the vette.
I have a 2002 Camaro SS
Suspension mods are: Koni SA's front, Bilsteins rear, stock springs, ST solid front bar.
I autoX and it's a pig compared to a C4 vette.
A C5 frc would totally kick it's butt. (Which is why as of yesterday I own a 04 Z06)
Now granted I have a t-top Camaro which makes it not as stiff as a frc f-body. Also modifications allowed in the non-stock class (torque arm, lowering springs, and 17x11's with 315's will bring it up to par with a stock class C4)
There are some unwanted "features" in the f-bodies:
1. power steering pumps whine when worked had (and boil over)
2. in heavy braking the ABS kicks on and the back of the car axle hops like mad. This can be fixed somewhat with a stronger torque arm orsqueezing the brake pedal smoothly instead of slamming it down in a panic stop.
Also, if you do get an f-body, don't lift it where GM tells you to, it'll cause the front fender to bow out (you'll see lots of f-bodies like that - so look for it when you are looking to buy one) The place to lift it is either under the k-member or the sub-frames in the front and under the rear end.
If you want more information on f-bodies:
www.frrax.com (F-Body Road Racing & AutoX forum) There are many national level competitors there.
And if you want parts, the current ESP Solo2 champion Sammy Strano can help you out at http://www.stranoparts.com
Sam (Jr) will help you get the right parts depending on what your intended use of the car is. He saved me a lot of money on useless parts.
So if you can't find a 98+ frc cheap enough, look at the C4's, they still offer excellent performance.
I had a non t-top Z-28 with eibach springs Billstein shociks, and hellwig sporttech swaybars. then i got a Z06, as far as suspension, there was no comparison. the Z is WAY better. I know you are looking at an FRC so I will just say Go with the independant rear everytime. (meaning the vette) there is no way you can cheaply make a car with a solid rear axle compete with a car with IRS. just my .02 and i have been wrong before
NO i was talking about MY z06 was way better than a Z-28
there is no comparing a vette to anything else. if i were u i would get the FRC vette and not look back. you wil be strarting with more power and IRS. once you mod from there the sky is the limit. if you go wiht a Z-28 you will always be limited
the FRC is lighter and has better suspension from the word GO
i have seen mustangs and camaros at our open practice autoX day, and they could not compete
you would spend too much time and money making it comparable
__________________
2000 Arctic White Hardtop - mods include: K&N sticker = 400 RWHP http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84181
My mind is a constant battlefield between good and evil . . . . . .
one side is winning
I had a 01 Z28, hard top, and just like everyone has said it just feels heavy. I sold it and got a 99 FRC, so obviously my opinion is going to be go with the vet over the Z28 becuase thats what I did. Good luck, you won't regret getting the vette.
No doubt the vette is going to be much better than the camaro. The problem I'm having is that I can get a 98-00 Z w/ 50k miles for around ~$12000. I can get a 99-00 FRC w/ 50k miles for around ~$22k(even harder to find in white). I guess I'm just trying to decide if waiting another 10-12 months for an FRC is worth it rather than buying a camaro now and dropping 2 grand in suspension mods. Thanks for all your posts!
wait the year and get the vette.
there is a buddy of mine who is trying to hook up IRS to a camaro, but I keep telling him you can't turn it into a vette.
And as far as mustangs go, take a look at SCCA nationals results for the past how many years? somehow a mustang won FS this year, but that was a fluke. camaros own mustangs, but neither of them can keep up with a C4 or C5 vette.
I also have owned both. I previously had a 97 Anniversary Edition Z28 6spd. I had it lowered (eibach), welded subframes, adjustable panhard rod, tubular LCA's, LCA relocation brackets, 17x11 rear wheels with 315's.
I now own a 99 FRC corvette. The camaro does not even come close to handling like the corvette. Infact, after owning both I could never see myself driving another f-body. yuck:-)
Seriously wait and get the vette. If you dont you will be kicking yourself in the ass someday.
Hope this helps.
I currently own both, and readily agree with everyone above. Can you throw enough money at the Z-28 to get it close to the FRC? Sure, and, btw, you probably won't be able to drive it on the street.
My FRC is lighter, stiffer, lower, and is at least the same power-wise compared to LS-1 F-bodies.
In my Z-28 I have much more body roll, nose dive, wheel hop, etc., and the sucker just plows in the corners. Could I fix all that? Sure, and that's part of the fun of road racing. But, in my FRC, all I have to do is drive, and that's the most fun!
Have a good one,
Mike
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1 of 189 2000 Nassau Blue Metallic FRCs, born on December 1, 1999, adopted June 14, 2002 :thumb
HUD, AH, 120,000+ miles, CLB, !CAGS, home made air box, AS&M harness bar, shortened stock shifter, A&A x-pipe
I'm fortunate enough to currently own both. My 02 Camaro SS was my baby. I always wondered why anyone would pay all that extra money for a Vette.
I just bought my 01 Z06. NO comparison. My SS will never match it. I'm keeping it so I can still drive something fun when I need to put more than 1 kid in the car. The 01 is 20HP less than 02+ and it still is so far above the SS, that it's not even worth discussing.
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