I didnt say c6z, i said c6 ;)

I know, but Sean isn't interested in a C6 and specifically referred to a C6Z, hence the call for clarification.

Its a close enough comparison, drop a few grand into the engine and you essentially have a z06. Good enough for me to save 20k and not have to pay the extra insurance

Probably more than a few to get real close, the dry sump a lone is a major cost. BADDASSC6 is well beyond a stock C6Z, but he's got the receipts to show what it takes.

Sure, but we're talking in the neighborhood of power, figure a few hundred in head work, cam, and intake and you'd be knocking on ls7 power easily.

Not a chance. Almost no one has access to an engine builder like yours, nor can they do that work themselves. So that's well over $1k right there. Ported heads and bigger (still legal) cam on an LS3 could get you over 500BHP. But you wouldn't have the same torque curve (power under the curve). You wouldn't have the dry sump or other higher end engine goodies.

Chevy takes great care to differentiate the base and the Z. It would be a disaster for them if it just a matter of whacking a base with a hammer to make it equal to the Z. It just isn't. But if you're going to go bat shit crazy to make a track car, switching out bunches of stuff for Gucci versions, starting from the C6 is fine, and because it has the metal insteal of Aluminum frame, is arguably a little better for welding in a cage, etc. That's not what we're talking about here though. So yeah, get a base C6, throw a little money at it and you can have a poor man's Z while saving yourself maybe something like $10k . . . maybe. (Though people aren't disciplined and will typically spend themselves right back up into the same range.)

Sean buys stock and does standard easy stuff. For him, the C6Z is a great choice. Also the stance of the C6Z is pretty awesome.

Anyone on this board has access to my builder ;)

And Sean has access to me :D

BTW, my buddies ls3 vette put down 412rwhp from the factory with a tuner, thats far under rated if you ask me, and his could have been an oddball case. But thats how i would do it. I'm not knocking the Z in any way other than the price. And if i could afford a Z i would get rid of all my POS mustangs, but i cant so i'll do my best to get around it. Dry sump isnt a deal breaker either, cars has been racing for years without them, something tells me that it wont change either

You still won't have the quick rev and higher torque from the larger displacement combined with titanium rods. You may match hp, but you won't match peak torque or overall amount of torque under the torque curve without a large increase in displacement or going with forced induction. You will always have a handicap of more curb weight too.

Bob

All true, just the way i would go about it, 427 is still attainable with a ls3. Im not saying you'll match it 100% but it'll be pretty damn close and for quite a bit less, there is also a HUGE difference in insurance costs

Put a blower on your LS3 and call it a day. You'll have more Go than the LS7, and unless you're actually road racing where temp control is a major issue, it'll be plenty reliable, etc. But there's more to it than even engine performance, the C6Z has a different look/stance. That's why you can pick them out on the road fairly easily from the base. They have more swagger.