Found a salvaged Corvette thinking about buying as a donor

[Nappy]

I have come across a salvaged 06 C6 Corvette with a manual trans and has about 60k miles with a pretty substantial collision to the right front. I have been searching for a LS6 (also considering an LQ9 or an LS3 and always open to an LS7 or LS9) and T-56 combo. Finding this Vette is tempting as I think I could get it for around 6,500 and have a complete LS6 engine / T-56 trans and computer package plus seats and if I wanted to get crazy maybe I could put the Vette interior in the Camaro. But once using the driveline I could part out the rest of the car and receive a fair amount of money for whats left.

The reason Im posting is just to get some feedback from anyone who has done this or maybe any pros and cons you can think of as to going this route. Maybe you can save me some headaches or a bad decision.

Also considered the idea of using the rear suspension from the Vette for the Camaro but I have already ordered a deep dish wheel so spacing will be off and I think the 9" would be a better route since I already have the DSE 4 link.

BTW my newgen 3pc wheels should be in by the end of next week... cant f**** wait!!

[ehummelman]

Considering what I see from Cleveland Pull a Part (not knocking them) that's a good deal I think as long as the engine wasn't damaged from the hit.

[CarlC]

The C6 is a transaxle car. The transmission is not an easy swap.

C6's did not come with an LS6. It's likely an LS2.

[Nessumsar]

The C6 is a transaxle car. The transmission is not an easy swap.

C6's did not come with an LS6. It's likely an LS2.

Yep.

Although theres no reason you couldn't sell the Corvette trans and buy another...

[Vicinity]

Yep.

Although theres no reason you couldn't sell the Corvette trans and buy another...

But then that basically means the engine is the only part of the drivetrain that's useful. Probably more of a pain in the arse than a wrecked F-body/something with a engine mated trans.

If you get get it for the price of the engine, go for it. Otherwise, I couldn't recommend it unless you enjoy parting out cars.

[Nappy]

So you guys gave me some great info and I have spent the last two days gathering data and researching.

Call us crazy or call me full of **** but we are seriously debating the idea of pulling the entire engine / drive line / trans axle / gear box / differential / control arms / half shafts and shock and since we are back halfing and mini tubbing the 69 anyway there is no reason we could not fabricate frame rails and differential cradle that could make this work.

We have pulled lots of measurements and done some drawing and there doesnt seem to be any huge issues yet although one thing does present itself heavily and that is I have already ordered the wheels in anticipation of doing a 4 link with a ford 9". So the wheels I ordered are like 5.5" offset while Vette wheels are full postiive offset. This affects the half shafts greatly and changes the location of the control arms. So we will be taking more measurements today now that we know the wheel dimensions and see if we can get the idea onto paper before rushing into any decisions.

I am running out of time here but just though I would drop my idea on you guys and see what yall thought or maybe someone knows of a car done this way or has done it themselves. I dont know if this has been done before, which makes me want to do it more. BUT if it hasnt been done before there might be a reason for that.

[Nappy]

By the way our neighbor has an 06 C6 so its been great being able to pull measurements from his car and cross reference to the 69.

[dhutton]

Here you go:

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=27585

[andrewb70]

So you guys gave me some great info and I have spent the last two days gathering data and researching.

Call us crazy or call me full of **** but we are seriously debating the idea of pulling the entire engine / drive line / trans axle / gear box / differential / control arms / half shafts and shock and since we are back halfing and mini tubbing the 69 anyway there is no reason we could not fabricate frame rails and differential cradle that could make this work.

We have pulled lots of measurements and done some drawing and there doesnt seem to be any huge issues yet although one thing does present itself heavily and that is I have already ordered the wheels in anticipation of doing a 4 link with a ford 9". So the wheels I ordered are like 5.5" offset while Vette wheels are full postiive offset. This affects the half shafts greatly and changes the location of the control arms. So we will be taking more measurements today now that we know the wheel dimensions and see if we can get the idea onto paper before rushing into any decisions.

I am running out of time here but just though I would drop my idea on you guys and see what yall thought or maybe someone knows of a car done this way or has done it themselves. I dont know if this has been done before, which makes me want to do it more. BUT if it hasnt been done before there might be a reason for that.

Sounds simple, but it isn't. I suggest you find another donor car and stick to your original plan. You will have a much higher chance of finishing the car.

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?50030-ATS-Project-50-50&highlight=project+50

Andrew

[Nappy]

If only you guys could have gotten a check for how much money yall save people by helping them use the search method.

Thanks for the links they helped a lot and proved that the frame work required to support that drive train was not in the direction of our original plan and would prolong the project as well as increase expense. Sooo we decided against the swap.

BUT the project is still moving onward! The new floor pan and trunk pan is stitched into place and theres a little bit more rust to fix in the firewall and rear valence. And after that its time for the rear frame rails, tubs and to get the axle mocked up to the new wheels.

I have a crate 350 with an iron block and alum heads sitting in the shop I could put in the car but I am craving some LS power for the car and looking for a sweet deal on something used. Also looking for a T-56 trans

[andrewb70]

If only you guys could have gotten a check for how much money yall save people by helping them use the search method.

......

Feel free to send donations via PayPal: andrewb at speakeasy dot org

Andrew

[JEFFTATE]

There's a lot more to swapping a C5 or C6 powertrain / torque tube / transaxle into an older musclecar .
The track wiidth , wheelbase , ride height , packaging of the fuel tank / system , trunk space , floor pan height , transmission / powertrain tunnel is all different ..
It's a lot more complicated than you think .
If you change the mounting height or width of the control arms from the C6 , you've un-optimized the suspension geometry ..

Don't get me wrong , I'd love to graft all the powertrain , chassis , and suspension pieces from a C6R( Corvette Racing Team GT Car ) under a '69 Camaro body ( preferrebly in Carbon Fiber ) , but the cost of fabrication and R&D would far outwiegh the performance gains over a good 9" solid axle and a 4 link ( or 3 link )
I'm saying it's probabaly not worth the performance gain for all that money and work , just to be a few milliseconds faster ..