base suspension vs z51 suspension

**cujo** · 03-15-2006, 08:29 AM

i just checked my glovebox and it is a fe1 (base) and not a fe3 (z51). approximately would it cost to have the z51 installed and is it worth the money for the performance?

**NBVette2001** · 03-22-2006, 04:22 PM

You need heavy duty springs, shocks and sway bars. Also missing power steering cooler.

Set of Springs $850, Shocks $300 and sways $400. Cooler you might find from junk yard for a few bucks.

**5LtrBtr** · 03-23-2006, 08:33 AM

I'm sure about the newer ones, but my 85 also had different steering. The steering wheel would only turn 2 full turns lock to lock, compared to the base models 2 3/4 turns. IMO it handled way better than my bosses 95. It took a freaking 6 lane highway to get that thing to do a u-turn though

**502ci** · 03-25-2006, 04:18 AM

How long have you had the car? If it took looking in the glove box to tell you that the suspension isn`t a Z51 what were you missing while driving it? Are you going to road course it? Your ride will be so much stiffer if you upgrade. Although someone your age can probably tolerate the ride knowing they have the ability to corner like a go kart.

**Vette4LIFE** · 03-25-2006, 08:06 AM

mine has fe1, but I doubt I will ever fully utilize (except in emergency situ) all the grip just the reg. susp. has.

502ci, is there a link that can tell you all the specifics of your car by vin or the glove box, and would ya help me post up pics of my ride.

She's beoootiful

**502ci** · 03-25-2006, 12:29 PM

I don`t know of a link, and as far as posting pictures I have never done it except in my profile and it tells you how to do that. I`m going to attempt posting a picture here...

**502ci** · 03-25-2006, 01:03 PM

Vette4LIFE... Wow that was easy, do you have your car on the cardomain site or any other web site that is on-line?
If not this won`t work,
this is the only way I know how so listen up...with the arrow from the mouse on the picture you want to use, right click the mouse, go to the bottom of that list and left click on "properties", go to the (URL) address and left click the mouse holding it down dragging it across the whole address till its all "blue", sometimes with a long address it takes several attempts to get it all "blue", now let go of the button and right click the mouse with the arrow still in the blue, left click on copy.
You now have that picture, nothing noticeable happens , like bells or whistles.
Go to a thread or start a new post and click on it. Now when your ready to post the picture right click the mouse and then left click on paste. The (URL) address will appear, now left click ahead of it and and put...[img]....then left click after it and put...[/img]
Still with me?

The picture will look like this...[img]address numbers in here[/img]
Sounds complicated but you will be able to the above in seconds with practice.

**predator** · 03-27-2006, 06:48 AM

how do you find out if its z-51... ive been wondering on mine...

**predator** · 03-27-2006, 06:53 AM

FE3 bitches!!!!! WOOOOOOOT

-me

**cujo** · 03-28-2006, 04:43 PM

all frcs have the z51 suspension. i baught the car because the car is showroom condition, never having seen rain and was a 6-speed coupe which was what it had to be and the price was good. living in buffalo, i really couldnt drive it bc i didnt want to expose such a pristine car through the salt. so i dunno how it really handles compared to a z51. is the z51 suspension that much better?

**predator** · 03-28-2006, 05:34 PM

really?

a site i checked out... said 18% of them did...

BRB gotta do some research...

EDIT:

http://www.idavette.net/facts/2000endpro.htm

**predator** · 03-28-2006, 06:11 PM

wait im confused... it says that 98% were fe3... but 18% were z51... WTF?

**502ci** · 03-29-2006, 05:23 PM

The Z51 suspension was standard on the fixed roof but the "JL4 active handling" was an option. The "F45 selective real time damping" was not available to the fixed roof model.