Not too far apart!
The hardtops and the Z06's, as far as seconds are concerned, are not that far apart, so be proud of your hardtop, since there is no need to put a Z06 badge. If you had a C4 coupe, opposed to a ZR1, there is a VERY big difference. A wider rear body, an engine subcontracted out of GM plant, dual overhead cam, the first of its kind in a Vette ever. I would say that's a very big difference. Remember, GM has to come out with something a little different every year to create sales. Your hardtop is up there with the Z06's. It's funny, in '63 they had the 327 up until '68, and then bored it out to a 350. Still the same block, just let's call it some mods. The 327 could do just what the 350 could do. But, if you take the 327 and compare it to the 396 big block, or the L88 427, then that's what you call a difference. I think that owning a Z06 is great, if you want to pay extra for the badge, a German transmission, a little different suspension and cluster. Its a hardtop, just more fine tuned for about $10,000 more.
Basically, the mods today are not different then the aftermarket mods they used 20 years ago, but more costly. Granted the technology has changed, but we are really talking marketing here. So if you have a '99-'00 Hardtop, and you are a second or two behind the Z06, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
As far as modding your '99-'00 Hardtop, the rule of thumb with Corvettes, especially with two low production years, is try to keep it as stock as possible for resale and collectibility. Remember, guys and girls, your the one that has the DIFFERENT car and lower production.
Remember, Hardtops Are Different
