Author Topic: posted on 1-1-1970 at 10:00 (Read 14405 times)

johnny86convert · « **on:** February 10, 2003, 10:27:19 PM »

anybody got any ideas on how to check if mu 88 convertable has a Z51 or ( special ) suspension oftion fitted????????? would appreciate any input...........

Adam · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2003, 10:38:56 PM »

Yea, look under the car...:22

Adam

johnny86convert · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2003, 08:16:42 AM »

hey rider thats as funny as a stow away on a columbia space mission, lol, but to an untechnical vettester like me, i don,t know suspensions like the difference between exhaust tips on a 71 as to a 73

77CVT · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2003, 09:37:31 AM »

Sorry JH, you're outta luck. Apparently no verts had the Z51.

Check these threads out.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=288070
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=307736

:(

rebel · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2003, 10:40:18 AM »

Nice one 77cvt .... also try this chart fyi ...

http://www.zr1.net/ZR1_suspension.html

77CVT · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2003, 11:29:22 AM »

Hey! That's what I was looking for in the 1st place. I couldn't find it in my archive.

Vette Obsessed · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2003, 12:45:26 PM »

Check under your centre console door JH.

If you have the original console door lid on the car there will be a sticker there with a whole bunch of numbers on it.

From memory, the closest thing to a heavy duty suspension option fitted by the factory on an 88 convertible would be a Z52 suspension. Check the codes for 88 in the suspension chart link provided by rebel and have a look for a corresponding number under your centre console door (ie: Z51, Z52, etc).

Hope this helps.

johnny86convert · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2003, 02:12:23 PM »

thank you all for the input and that great vette site thats gone in my favourites, seems like the Z51 sus is for man/trans and the Z52 is for maybe any others, now down to finding if mines Z52 or just plain old norm vettester........................appreciate your help gang

rebel · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2003, 06:06:52 PM »

.... that's why we're here mate ;laugh

johnny86convert · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2003, 08:02:58 PM »

REBEL & WHITE KNIGHT nice to have friends around to help with the vettester problemo's, hope you are going to canberra, my shout first ok

johnny86convert · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2003, 08:10:30 AM »

still looking for what is actually the difference between Z51 and Z52, pretty sure mine is 52?????????????????in 88 over 16,000 vettes had this option fitted.those corvette specification sites are really informative

Vette Obsessed · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2003, 05:44:23 PM »

From memory, for 88 Z52's most of the differences were suspension related (ie: sway bar types & diameters, spring rates & possibly steering rack ratio (which most likely goes out the window once you get it converted anyway)).

Z52 should also give you:
* An extra radiator fan
* 17" wheels with 245/40ZR17 tyres all round
* An extra oil cooler (definitely an engine oil cooler but I don't think a power steering cooler was in there on Z52's).

When I get home tonight and have a chance I will check and post here if nobody beats me to it. :22

An 88 tidbit to keep you going...
* With all 88's you get the first year without the seperate handbrake assembly inside your rear brake assembly (easier to adjust, less parts, etc). All 88+ handbrakes work off the main caliper and disc - not off an internal assembly like previous years.

johnny86convert · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2003, 05:50:13 PM »

v.o. thanks mate for the info, further into vette mania mine is no 22363 of the year built so hopefully they started getting it right, also if you buy those great looking door sill crome cover thingamejiggies ( lol ) is there much trouble putting them on on the side where the hand brake has moved to?????. just ordered a build sheet from the museum

johnny86convert · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2003, 05:52:32 PM »

VO do you know much about performance chips and price and headaches??? ask a lot of questions don't I B>S>

rebel · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2003, 08:51:48 PM »

Quote

ask a lot of questions don't I

JH, I wouldn't worry about that, VO loves that he has another C4'er to play with ... :22:22

Vette Obsessed · « **Reply #15 on:** February 13, 2003, 12:28:32 AM »

Better to ask alot of questions than to not ask any in my opinion.

I haven't tried to put the sill cover plates on my car so I can't comment about how they fit on a converted car.

RPO Z52 included RPO's V01, B4P, KC4, FG3, fast steering ratio, and 17x9.5-inch wheels. RPOZ52 was available with coupes or convertibles. It was also available with manual or automatic transmission.

V01 - heavy duty radiator
B4P - Radiator boost fan
KC4 - Engine oil cooler
FG3 - Delco Bilstein shock absorbers

Here are some other letters & numbers that you might find on the underside of that console door:
UU8 - Delco-Bose AM-FM Stereo system with casette
NN5 - California emission requirements
MM4 - 4-speed manual transmission
G92 - performance axle ratio (3.07:1)
D74 - Illuminated driver vanity mirror
DL8 - twin remote heated mirrors (convertible only)
C68 - Electronic Air Conditioning control
AR9 - Base seats, leather
AQ9 - Sports seats, leather
AC3 - Power driver seat

I think the paint code for black in 88 is 41.
and the grey interior codes are:
902 - leather, gray (US spelling - not mine)
same code applies to base leather & sport leather

Note for any lurkers out there: some of these codes are year specific, some are not.

Vette Obsessed · « **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2003, 12:46:12 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by johnnyholmes.86 convert
v.o. thanks mate for the info, further into vette mania mine is no 22363 of the year built so hopefully they started getting it right,

Sorry buddy but I heard they only started to get things right from 22364. I understand 22363 was built on a Friday afternoon before a long weekend when they were having union problems...(j/k);laugh

My opinion on chips is to not bother with getting one unless your car is highly modified. The GM chip has a pretty good scope for "learning" and adjusting accordingly for alot of the common bolt-on mods. You may optimise what you have now by a few hp by just doing a chip but in my opinion it isn't very economical on a horsepower per dollar ratio. Personally, I would only do a chip if I knew I was done with any modifications to the car mechanically or if it was so heavily modified it needed a chip to run properly.

Most generic chips are designed for a specific combination. If you don't happen to have that exact combination on your car you may not gain anything - you may even lose power. If you have to get a chip I would have a custom prom burned locally by someone who will run your car on a dyno and tune the chip accordingly. Last time I heard you would be looking at paying between $800-$1600 to get this done. (Subject to who does the work, how long it takes and what their costs/proft margin is...)

Just my opinion.

You can tell I don't have a chip yet, can't you? ;)

If anyone feels differently, lets hear it. I know there are different opinions out there.

77CVT · « **Reply #17 on:** January 01, 1970, 10:00:00 AM »

"My opinion on chips is to not bother with getting one unless your car is highly modified. The GM chip has a pretty good scope for "learning" and adjusting accordingly for alot of the common bolt-on mods. You may optimise what you have now by a few hp by just doing a chip but in my opinion it isn't very economical on a horsepower per dollar ratio. Personally, I would only do a chip if I knew I was done with any modifications to the car mechanically or if it was so heavily modified it needed a chip to run properly.

Most generic chips are designed for a specific combination. If you don't happen to have that exact combination on your car you may not gain anything - you may even lose power. If you have to get a chip I would have a custom prom burned locally by someone who will run your car on a dyno and tune the chip accordingly. Last time I heard you would be looking at paying between $800-$1600 to get this done. (Subject to who does the work, how long it takes and what their costs/proft margin is...)

c5d · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2003, 02:15:28 AM »

For all of you '81 & ups who would like to know what options your car was built with, check out

https://www.corvettemuseum.com/library-archives/build_sheets/index.shtml

for ordering a copy of the build sheet.

C'ya
D

Stingraynut · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2003, 06:54:49 PM »

If the fillings have fallen out of your teeth, you have Z51.

If the fillings have started falling out you have Z52

What I would like to know is if there is a ‘standard’ spring ie a Z53 or is Z52 standard ? In which case, on that scale, I wouldn’t mind finding a Z57.

I’ve been reading about some shock absorbers that sense a sudden jarring, around 1.5g and release fluid for 15 milliseconds or whatever to make the suspension smoother – anyone know about this ?

Those tyre sizes from Vette Obsessed – it should be 275 (x 40 x 17) not 245

S’nut