2002 C5 Z06 *noob*

Harvey wrote: I agree, I like the front end on JohnnyT's car better than the one on the black car and I don't like the hood on the black car either, but that rear end on the black car looks pretty nice from this angle, would need more pics from the rear to be sure though. All in all I prefer JT's car over the black one. I keep bouncing around whether I want to dump my turbo Miata and get into a C5 Z06, but I always look at how cheap it is to go fast in the Miata and I end up leaving the Vette for the future.

Wow, thanks for the kind words! I really appreciate it. I'll get some better pics up soon so you guys can get a better idea and I'll include some rear shots too.

C5Z's have REALLY come down in price, and although I can't compare the driving style to a Miata as I've never driven one, I have to imagine the Miata's way more fun to fling around. Maybe get the best of both worlds and LSx the otter?

If I had real project skills I would do the LSx Miata, but I have none, which means I would end up paying someone the price of a Z06 Vette to make one.

The Miata is much more flingable than a Vette, just judging by my time in a friend's C6 Vette. The Vette overall feels more planted, heavier steering, heavier car, wider track with much larger wheels. Not sure there is much equivalence between the two at all. Both are nice to drive, but different.

I won't troll this thread up here, since it's easier for me to drive to JT's house and troll him in person. Or on MNMazda.

Welp, I had some time on my hands this weekend and installed the ported FAST 92/90. Everything was pretty straightforward, just needed a new air bridge to put the MAF back at the stock location so I could re-route the vacuum line for the PCV system on the passenger side head.

I still have to shave the FRCs to clear the new mani too.

Got a tune scheduled on Monday so things are coming along!

Oh, and I need to pick up my sway bars from the powder coating shop...

JohnnyT wrote:

This one makes it look Rx-7-ish to me. It looks great, it sounds great, and it makes great power. Good job.

My sway bars are done too!

Fuel rail covers trimmed, everything all buttoned up!

Dropping the car off today to get tuned too!

Took a few new pictures yesterday. I was early to a car show with my neighbor's TT Viper (it's NASTY) and took a few pics:

Both cars look really good. The bad thing about Vipers is that they are so expensive.

Got me a photoshoot done and made a video!

This all spawned from Forza (the video game). I was asked to be featured in an article they're doing so I desperately needed to get some better pictures. My buddy was kind enough to spend a night taking some incredible photos so here they are. I'm not sure when the Forza article will be done but I'll be sure to post here when it's published.

Credit: CP Fraudtography - 'Like' his page here: https://www.facebook.com/CPFraudtography

Flickr set if any of you are interested in downloading: http://www.flickr.com/photos/88802130@N07/sets/72157635087516237/with/9522199858/

I also made a little 'compilation' video including idle/rev/dyno and some build and recent pics. I'm no video editor but thought I'd share:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0-5LSjbktY

Hope you all enjoy and comments are certainly appreciated (good or bad)!

Looks nice man.

Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated this thread. Well, not a whole lot new until this weekend really. Ordered parts a month ago and finally had some time to get them installed.

I focused my attention this year on suspension, handling and brakes. My biggest goal was to eliminate some of the brake-wheel gap in the rear as the OEM brakes are way too tiny for a 19" open wheel design. Luckily, C6 Z51 sized rotors swap right in with new caliper relocation brackets so it's a great 'budget' bigger brake kit. I gained 1.2" diameter in the rear and 0.8" in the front.

Parts list:

• C6 Z51 sized DBA T3 4000 series front and rear slotted rotors
• Hawk Ceramic pads
• Relocation brackets
• Doug Rippie's SS brake lines
• Doug Rippie's re-valved Bilstein shocks
• GM T1 sway bars and poly bushings (BEEFCAKE!)

And, here's how everything turned out:

I haven't had much time to drive it yet, but got the pads seated yesterday and all seems great so far. Ride quality is definitely improved with the Bilstein's. Need to get new tires and an alignment then I'll really be able to test those bars...

Got some new pics on my lunch break.

This one's just for reference on the rear. Here's an older pic I found that'll give everyone a good comparsion of the stock brake-wheel gap:

New set-up: