I have 2 options, one not touch my 04' 350 and in 1 or 2 years turn it in and buy a factory stock car for 45-55K (i.e. vette possible even Z06) OR start tuning my 350 right now and I'll have the ability to spend $3000 every 4-6months. My main goal is to be down to low 12's in 1/4 and break 4 seconds 0-60 are those numbers possible to do with a modded z with less than 15k invested?

Thank You in advance

 

this debate will never end...

who can really say is the "best" way

The Z platform is getting better and better every month

If you like the corvette then that's not a bad option though. I sometimes wish I liked it, but certain things about it I don't like with how it feels

 

What modifications have you completed to date?

 

I know a couple of people that have spent less (11K-13K) and have 450-500 wheel HP monsters...What car is putting that kind of power down for 45-55 grand? I dont know of any Granted you could get a 02 z06 right now for around 30-35 K, and spend the same amount and get the same or more HP, but then you're not in a Z anymore...

You should be well into the low 12's high 11's on street tires, but traction is going to be an issue. BigBri and I, and possibly some other Z's are going to the track tomorrow, he is putting down 505 whp and he has some 19 inch volks with 275/35 tires out back, so his car should be a good indication of what at least 15K invested can do.

You can make any car fast, but really what do you want? That is the REAL question

 

traction is always going to be a huge issue on the Z. Even with some sorta traction boost controller thing, the Z has a finite amount of traction it's capable on with street tires because of it's weight distribution. Most FI Z's run the 1/4 mile with no spare tire and aftermarket exhaust, add 100 lbs of FI to the front, and the weight distribution is going to be closer to more like 55/45 which just isn't so great for traction. Someone needs to come out with some sorta different gearing for the Z to be able to make use of all that huge power in the 1/4 mile

 

does anyone have 1/4 times with the 3.9 gears yet?????

 

Thank you for the responses, to reiterate my objective:
My main goal is to be down to low 12's in 1/4 and break 4 seconds 0-60 are those numbers possible to do with a modded z with less than 15k invested?

If yes, what parts do you suggest?

I could go after the APS TT kit for big hp although I've heard that you can not use that with the 3.9 final drive, true? and if the 3.9fd shaves off .3 to .5 seconds on 1/4 mile runs would I be better off getting the 3.9fd and a vortech sc?

 

in response to davidv I do not have any mods yet. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of speed i can expect from which mods and if that is at a comparable value to just buying a factory stock car at that same speed.

 

With the APS kit, exhaust, and tuning I think you would be VERY close. The 5k extra could go into a clutch/flywheel, Kenitx SSV, and more rubber, or better rear, that would probably do it...

Now I'm not sure how far the stock block will go... There are people here who are up to 500whp on the stock block... You'll have to be real close to that to beat a 4.0 0-60.

With a Crap tune, and only 358 whp, and an open diff I'm @ 4.7 0-60. I should be @ 4.3. 425hp should be enough to get you there, and MOSTLY safe (depending on tune and octane of pump gas)

I think it could be done for 15k...

7.5k APS
1.2 Exhaust
.8 Intake
.5 Tuning
2k Uber Clutch
1.5k New rear (Quaife or other... would be less)
---
13k with a bit of change for install etc...

 

you're forgetting TIRES, wheels, APS TT INSTALL, and GAUGES
so add another $4-6k

TT is not cheap

the 3.9 will work with the APS TT, but you don't want it with it. It'll slow you down in the 1/4 with adding an extra shift and making traction 10% worse in 1st-3rd gear. The 3.3 rear end will give you faster trap speed and eliminate a possible shift at the end


really though, people do low 12's with vortechs and ATI procharger kits. As glamorous as the APS kit is and all it's torque is, it won't help you much if you can't put the gas pedal all the way down cause of the loss of traction. If you don't have traction, you don't GO, you coast/skid.

If you run race tires though, it's a different ball game. The APS kit will be the better choice

 

If you're content with the Z stock, them leave it alone (which you have). Most performance enthusiasts do modifications one by one a little at a time. You work on 14.0 seconds, 13.9 seconds, 13.8 seconds...not all of a sudden try to break 13.0 seconds. That's the only reason that I questioned your initial post.

 

Low 12s in the quarter is done routinely on Turbo'd stock block Zs, mostly with DRs.
4s 0-60 is nearly impossible on street rubber in the Z,def requires DRs or ETs.

 

Yeah, I did... If you're serious about drag... Tires are almost a givin... I took those for granted...

I also did the TT install myself... it isn't that complex, just tedious and painful. (Looks at scar on right arm.)

BTW I dont' run any gagues... =D


But the gague setup I'm invisioning will cost about 1.5k or more...

(I'm thinking HUD with boost/egt/AF/Speed/+more)

 

BTW to run 13.0 seconds you need about 297 whp.

 

the 2003-2004 cobras...

 

Having owned a Ford Lightning i used to keep with the cobras too. Just with a new blower, pullies, and other little things like injectors and you have a 700bhp car. Even buying a new car with the mods youll probly stay under $45k if you are smart about it.

 

Why do you want to spend so much money to go in a straight line? The Z is a great all around car in that it can do everything: track, auto-x, togue, and drag. But drag is not it's strong suit, just get a mustang and be done with it. Just realize no matter how much money you spend someone will always be faster, and not because they are a better driver but because the car is better.

 

If you want a fast car i saw this car on topspeed...called teh atom.. its a street legal F1 body car w/ a supercharged honda engine..300bhp.. 0-60 in 2.3 seconds if u can shift fast enough, and it can match a ferrari enzo on any track... its about 50k shipped to the US from britain. That thing is INSANE (weighs 1100 ish lbs) It was built by the same designer of cars made by lotus and such.

 

wait and buy a Z06 corvette...

 

or you can spend like 20k and get pretty much the same thing but a track only car