#Corvette #Z06 #FCMElite #Bilstein #DRM

"The car rides nice and at the track it's definitely better ... At first I thought it was a quite a bit (to spend) but it's money well-spent. I wanted that stock reliability - I don't want to be working on the call all the time, I want to enjoy it. I definitely like the Fat Cat approach, I like working with you. You listen to how I need the car."

NOTE: In the interest of full transparency, I decided to share Glendon's actual dyno graphs as well as the DRM dampers. I'm not 'slamming' any product, unless I see some gross error. I simply love to see if I can improve upon what's out there and in this case, I clearly did. Our FCM Elite services cost more because I've spent years optimizing this approach, because every Elite setup is built-to-order, not taken off-the-shelf. So you pay more and you get more. Makes sense, right?

I'd love to work with more Corvette owners who would like a superior, better-optimized set of Bilstein dampers (that are also serviceable and a 'final answer' as the last dampers you'll likely ever need for your Vette!

Glendon's impressions are that the track performance was improved and ride was also better with the FCM Elite setup vs. DRM. "My wife doesn't complain about the ride.

A prior C5 Z06 review from Sean in Canada is here (also a Stage 2 FCM Elite setup):
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FCM_...

Glendon's '09 Corvette Z06 sees a good amount of track time and is also street driven. He has tracked a variety of cars and as he says, this is the highest-horsepower car he's ever tracked. After some conversations and a test ride in 'Christina' (our FCM Elite Stage 3 E46 BMW) he decided he wanted to upgrade his Z06 suspension from the DRM (Doug Rippie Motorsports) Bilsteins he had previously installed. As a few people have noted, the DRM Bilsteins improved the handling but at the expense of degraded ride quality.

My goal with Glendon's Z06 FCM Elite Stage 2 build was use a set of new Bilstein HD and integrate our Ripple Reducer technology plus do a better job of balancing compression and rebound forces. Incidentally, the DRM Bilsteins are crimped and not easily serviceable while a Bilstein HD or Sport are (at least currently) made to be taken apart if/as needed.

The Ripple Reducer was inspired by my research into off-road racing and managing axle tramp on solid-axle rear suspension. I also found from working on other Corvettes (C5 and C7) that we could still give the driven the control they needed, without undue harshness from excessive force build-up which is so common in most aftermarket (and some factory) dampers.

For your own FCM Elite setup, send us an inquiry here:

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/cont...