at age 22, is not so hot now. The B&M shift kit in my trans sux as well.
Mods you regretted...
Thread Starter
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Mods you regretted...
We're always hearing about how this or that mod improved speed, handling, appearance or just enhanced the general Corvette experience. What I'd be curious to hear about are the mods that had the opposite effect or at least no effect (and thus were a waste of time and money). If you knew then what you know now, what wouldn't you have done to your Corvette? TIA...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
I don't know if I can say regret but I definitely had second thoughts about modding the car any further. I think it was a combination of a higher stall TC, getting rid of the FWO's, more power, and a really bad decision. The street was wet one night and I didn't realize it. It hadn't rained but there must have been too much moisture in the air. I was testing out something I had done to the car. I stomped it from a stop with the traction control off and the tires broke loose. It was a really close call with a car, then a pole, then a fireheidrant, than some other inanimate object. Fortunately I kept my cool and steered my way out of it. That was the longest 5 seconds I've had in a while. It was probably even less than that. If the streets are wet I never turn off ASR or drive aggressively but they did not appear to be. I don't know if I would do the TC again after that. It's good for the track but can be dangerous on the streets if your not careful.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Briefly, I regretted going with longtube headers and the highflow cats... I was having trouble passing CA SMOG, with high NO readings. I was certain it was the cats - my car passed with FLYING colors before the headers... I eventually got it worked out, though, with a can of Seafoam and a re-test being the only expense I incurred.
I guess it's safe to say that at some point or another, I regret (or at least 2nd guess) just about every "mod" or upgrade I've done. Even something as glorious as the RD Camber Brace I've regretted! The shop that did my Opti and WP removed it, and I opted to not have them re-install it to save myself the extra labor charge. When reinstalling it later that week, as my hands began to develop those inevitable small bleeders and scratches, I definitely regretted having to install it *again!*
Heck, even the hatch vent has made me go, "Now why did I...." when a rattle developed in the cargo area. Of course, it had absolutely nothing to do with the hatch vent, but it was easy to place blame there initially.
That's the way it goes, I guess.
I guess it's safe to say that at some point or another, I regret (or at least 2nd guess) just about every "mod" or upgrade I've done. Even something as glorious as the RD Camber Brace I've regretted! The shop that did my Opti and WP removed it, and I opted to not have them re-install it to save myself the extra labor charge. When reinstalling it later that week, as my hands began to develop those inevitable small bleeders and scratches, I definitely regretted having to install it *again!*
Heck, even the hatch vent has made me go, "Now why did I...." when a rattle developed in the cargo area. Of course, it had absolutely nothing to do with the hatch vent, but it was easy to place blame there initially.
That's the way it goes, I guess.
Thread Starter
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Andy, that's almost as bad as my "Winter Project":http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1629064
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 0
From: bakersfield cali
i wish i modded my car with all emissions legal mods. instead, every two years i pull my engine out and put the stock one back in, along with all the emisions equipment. i didn't mind doing this when i was younger and didn't have my son, but now it becomes a major drag every two years to do.
i regret not modding it the legal way. does that make sense?
i regret not modding it the legal way. does that make sense?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
Andy, that's almost as bad as my "Winter Project":http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1629064
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
We're always hearing about how this or that mod improved speed, handling, appearance or just enhanced the general Corvette experience. What I'd be curious to hear about are the mods that had the opposite effect or at least no effect (and thus were a waste of time and money). If you knew then what you know now, what wouldn't you have done to your Corvette? TIA...
The AutoVation Racing Pedals I bought on a forum group purchase.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=pedal
These pedals are too big and you often end up simultaneously apply brakes and throttle...
These pedals look great, but they are absolutely a safety hazard!!!
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING THIS ON A 6 SPEED!!!!
BTW I am a normal shoe size 10-1/2
Last edited by LT4BUD; Feb 26, 2007 at 07:45 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
From: Warren Ohio
The only mods I've regretted (temporarily) are the ones you get in the middle of and go "**** this is a lot of work!"...
...then you get 'em done and tell everyone else how easy they were!
Oh...and don't lie Brad (Hot Rod 90)...you MF'd that Fidanza for *years*!
...then you get 'em done and tell everyone else how easy they were!
Oh...and don't lie Brad (Hot Rod 90)...you MF'd that Fidanza for *years*!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,692
Likes: 5
From: Hayward CA
On my CE, I initially regretted getting 4.10 gears. The shop used Richmod gears, and they whined like crazy. For the first 1000 or so miles, I was hating myself for getting them......then that all changed. The wear patten settled in, and they became one of my best mods.
With my Z - I'm choosing every mod carefully. Do it once, do it right, and be done with it.....that my new motto
With my Z - I'm choosing every mod carefully. Do it once, do it right, and be done with it.....that my new motto
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 26,598
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
Cruise-In 8-9 Veteran
aka/Trunk Monkey/Banned For Life/Corvette For Life
None... its stock, for now
Im doing a 383 build on a second engine... but that will be going in a race prepped vette, no regrets there
Im doing a 383 build on a second engine... but that will be going in a race prepped vette, no regrets there
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
i wish i modded my car with all emissions legal mods. instead, every two years i pull my engine out and put the stock one back in, along with all the emisions equipment. i didn't mind doing this when i was younger and didn't have my son, but now it becomes a major drag every two years to do.
i regret not modding it the legal way. does that make sense?
i regret not modding it the legal way. does that make sense?
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Andy, that's almost as bad as my "Winter Project":http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1629064
You got some big ones, man! I don't know if I'm ready to tackle that yet or not! 
("We're not worthy, we're not worthy....")
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Worst decision was the Hypertech Thermo Master Chip. I installed it and fought engine ping for a couple of years. When I decided to have a custom chip done by Tom Wong up in Vancouver Washington for a close to stock car. Tom ran a base line using the above chip and found that it was advancing the timing to 43 and reducing fuel! PING
He burned a couple of chips and settled on the second to last chip burned after dyno testing. Now the advance is only about 34 degrees and we are not reducing fuel. No more ping. And the chip has handled my other mods without any problems.
Next would be the throttle body air foil for the stock TB. Wasted money.
All the other mods have been good. I built my own camber brace with bolts on the horizontal section from the drivers side to the passanger side. Remove the two bolts and you have full access to everything, you don't have to pull the whole unit. It only takes less than 5 minutes to unbolt. That was a good choice. And I built a large diameter pipe to bolt in to replace the Magniflow cat when at the track....VERY good move!
He burned a couple of chips and settled on the second to last chip burned after dyno testing. Now the advance is only about 34 degrees and we are not reducing fuel. No more ping. And the chip has handled my other mods without any problems.
Next would be the throttle body air foil for the stock TB. Wasted money.
All the other mods have been good. I built my own camber brace with bolts on the horizontal section from the drivers side to the passanger side. Remove the two bolts and you have full access to everything, you don't have to pull the whole unit. It only takes less than 5 minutes to unbolt. That was a good choice. And I built a large diameter pipe to bolt in to replace the Magniflow cat when at the track....VERY good move!
