I'm thinking about getting a C5 Z06 as a track day car. How reliable are they? What do I have to look out for or pay special attention too? What are some of the weak points?
Also what is your typical setup for HPDE events? I'm not looking to mod too crazy (not yet anyway ). Just some minor bolt on stuff.
First, welcome to the forum! You would learn a lot from doing some searches and I'm sure others will add info. Do a search for 99Cobra as he has a dedicated '03 Z06 track car and has posted some good stuff. The car is awesome for the track, but you need to prep it with brakes and the proper fluids, and you will find a whole list of stuff already posted. Good luck on finding the right Z06 for your track needs!
Just wanted to say welcome to first.
Out of the box the Z is closest to track ready of any Vette, and the only thing you really have to address early on is heat ... starting with brake fluid.
No time rite now, but there are bunches of threads on HPDE prep ...
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^VIR Turn 3 '08^-MungoZ06-'03 QS/ModRed - NCCC, NASA NCM Member - Z06 Fest IV,V,VI,VII
I think I've found the right Z06. It's just a matter of pulling the trigger on it. There are other cars I'm considering as well. An Evo IX and 911 SC are the other main two contenders. The Z06 and Evo would be street/track cars while the 911 would be a dedicated track car.
As for the brakes, can you just upgrade to SS lines, track pads, and DOT 4 fluid, or should you really get a Big Brake Kit?
What about overheating the engine and tranny? I've heard those are possible problems? Is that something to be concerned about? How easy is it to address those?
Overheating is the only real reliability issue you'll have to handle. That said, a stock Z06 can take a lot of abuse before sustaining any physical damage. If you're looking for a car that you can take to the track once a month you theorhetically dont need to do anything aside from going to a better brake fluid and adding some oil (potentially going to one with higher viscousity, for the trans and diff too). But if you want a car that won't experience brake fade, and will be able to sustain this abuse for dozens of HARD laps, every month, for years, you might find yourself spending a bit more.
Start out with pads, something simple that you dont have to change every time you hit the track, like Hawk HPS... I use Carbotech XP8/PP and they're great pads, but the noise tends to be a bit excessive. Get a dot 4 fluid (it doesnt have to be super expensive: you're not a racer; I use Wilwood 570, which I bought from Summit). If you really want to keep your brakes cool, get some cooling ducts; though I must admit, they aren't the nicest things to install as you have to cut through the inner fender. When I did mine I mauled up the inner fender pretty bad and once I was done had to make a patch panel and rivet it in (turned out beautiful but wasn't what I'd call "bolt on", though it wasn't very hard either). They don't offer the wheels much clearance either (no matter what you do) and they will rub at full lock, so I leave the spindle duct holders off until track days. You don't need big brakes unless you're really looking to turn in better times rather than just have fun, unless you want the bling factor.
When you feel up to it, I hear oil, trannie, and diff coolers are the way to go, but can be rather pricey.
If you want to go faster thats another thing all together.
Good luck,
Bryan
Last edited by weirdpanda : 09-28-2006 at 11:07 PM.
Ditto on what panda said. I go to the track once every 2-3months and was there this past Tuesday. Oil temp and tranny temp where the only items I really keep my eye one. I have gotten the hot tranny temp alarm a couple of times. I also drive this car everyday. So I it is an awesome all around car that nothing car compare to for the $$$.
I agree with WeirdPanda and Electron Blue. My car is mostly stock and is holding up well after 50+ track days in two-years. I have done vastly similar things as WeirdPanda and I manage to beat-up on most everything else on the track.
I have learned to respect selected drivers in Evo's, S2000 and Porsches though. Evo's can be made to go really fast as can the S2000s although reliability always seems to be an issue for those with modded engines. So those cars are good choices, too.
This is my 3rd season with my 02 Z06. I can't afford much in the way of mods, so my set-up is pretty simple. More negative camber and zero toe in the front. Royal Purple in the trans and diff. Probably any brand name synthetic would work as well. Carbotech brake pads and Valvoline Syntec, Castrol LMA or ATE Super Blue brake fluid (fresh is most important quality here). Used DOT R compound road race tires that I buy from other racers. Carry spare front and rear rotors ($25 "NAPA" type), because they crack when cooling down if you are driving fast enough (it's a C5 thing).
I run competitive times with this relatively stock set-up. You can do a lot more depending on your budget, but seat time is the real equalizer.
OK, I have a few minutes now. I prolly line up with Electron Blue above, in that I have 12 HPDE days and am in my third year. I am not hard on my car ... not hard on brakes, but I do run it hard enough to see oil temps approaching 280 on hot days. Never had trans temp warning lite go on.
DOT 4 brake fluid
Speedbleeders
SS BL
Currently Hawk HP+ pads (will prolly go to Carbotech as a track-specific pad next year)
Titanium backing plates on pads.
DRM Brake Ducts
Phoenix Spindle Mounts (LGM mounts are more effective, but more involved install)
home made heat shields on lower tie rod ends (rotor heat)
Lowered on stock bolts
Spare set of NAPA rotors in the basement, will go on with next set of pads.
Amsoil synthetic in Tranny and Diff
This summer I ran 10x40 Amsoil & filter
Now I'm on 5x30 Mobil 1 & filter
Next fill will either be Amsoil 0w30 or Amsoil 10w40, depending on when and what's ahead.
All running on stock F1SC's ... I will not go to track tires until I have enough seat time and skill to get the max out of the stockers ... since I don't trailer, I might get a set of Nitto 555 RII's that I can drive on to Summit Pt (about 40 miles).
Looking hard at an integrated radiator/oil cooler next. ... I run the AC until I get on track, and immediately on pit in.
Saw an article in a recent vette mag with a modified FRC vs a 06 Z06 at road atlanta (both on GY Street rubber) @ 1:35 range.
What's a good lap time for a C5 Z06 on race rubber at Road Atlanta, mostly stock?
I am not sure I buy that time; that is flying, esp on street tires. The Speed World Challenge GT cars run in the mid-to-low 1:20s. The SWC Touring cars run about 1:33-plus at best.
If you get into the 1:40s on DOT R street rubber, like a V700, with a stock C5-Z06, I think you are doing pretty well.
How reliable? I know of 14 that have seen track time, either HPDE or racing. Of those 14, 5 have blown engines, 3 having done so twice. I know of 2 others who have had failed clutches and one with a failed tranny.
Overheating the oil in the engine and/or tranny is relatively common. Almost everyone has experienced that, including myself (both when stock). The water temp can also rise but isn't quite as common.
The stock brakes are junk for the track. At the least you need to replace the pads and brake fluid. The more cooling air you can get to them, the better. It's best to use separate pads and rotors. Aftermarket brake systems are vastly superior in this regard, plain and simple.
If you run race rubber, an Accusump is a wise investment. Even without it's still a good idea. Engine Oil and differential coolers are also a very good idea and are OEM on the C6 Z for this reason.
It's a lot of fun and they are good performers but they do need some work to be more reliable, although no track car is totally reliable.
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). Just some minor bolt on stuff. 
You would learn a lot from doing some searches and I'm sure others will add info. Do a search for 99Cobra as he has a dedicated '03 Z06 track car and has posted some good stuff. The car is awesome for the track, but you need to prep it with brakes and the proper fluids, and you will find a whole list of stuff already posted. Good luck on finding the right Z06 for your track needs! 
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