Are These Mods Worth It? (First Corvette!)
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Are These Mods Worth It? (First Corvette!)
I recently picked up a 1995 Corvette, base model to be my first performance vehicle. I'm a beginner modder but I'm really interested in getting the most out of the car without doing anything too invasive. Searching for opinions on performance headers. Obviously it depends on what type you get, but in the best case scenario, in your experience, do you find a performance header replacement to give any notable power gains or be worth it in any other ways?
As for a Cold air intake, if I wrapped the headers to keep the engine bay cool, do you think it would make the cold air intake noticeably more effective?
Thanks for any thoughts or opinions!
As for a Cold air intake, if I wrapped the headers to keep the engine bay cool, do you think it would make the cold air intake noticeably more effective?
Thanks for any thoughts or opinions!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,648
Likes: 750
From: NEwhere Ohio
You are going to need to dig into that bad boy.
save for the bigger stuff. Not small stuff.
first off. Start with a compression check. Make sure the bottom end is in good shape before investing your $$ and time into mods for it.
If ok...
id start with hotcam kit, (the hotcam, 1.6:1 rockers, stiffer springs) and a tune. Youll want to have the redline raised also. You may need a better timing chain/gear for higher redline. I cant remember ?!
also consider head work at this time . Porting. You probably would benefit from new valve stem seals, stuff like that.
Aftermarket heads if you have the $$ (like afr195 comp eliminators)
next up id do long tune headers, get them coated. The wraps can cause fire if oil gets on them. Its rare, but happens
from there, superchargers, nitrous, etc
but start with the cam if you want something you can feel.
save for the bigger stuff. Not small stuff.
first off. Start with a compression check. Make sure the bottom end is in good shape before investing your $$ and time into mods for it.
If ok...
id start with hotcam kit, (the hotcam, 1.6:1 rockers, stiffer springs) and a tune. Youll want to have the redline raised also. You may need a better timing chain/gear for higher redline. I cant remember ?!
also consider head work at this time . Porting. You probably would benefit from new valve stem seals, stuff like that.
Aftermarket heads if you have the $$ (like afr195 comp eliminators)
next up id do long tune headers, get them coated. The wraps can cause fire if oil gets on them. Its rare, but happens
from there, superchargers, nitrous, etc
but start with the cam if you want something you can feel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,546
Likes: 927
From: Communist Colorado
Long tube headers will make a noticeable difference... Wrapping wont hurt, but I dont think it will make much if any difference for the air intake because of its location being so far from the exhaust anyway. Other pluses might be a weight advantage for the headers being lighter than cast manifolds. If you need catalytic converters where you live, you will have an issue though. I dont need cats, but I use them anyway. Hp loss is very minimal and worth it. The unburnt fuel coming out of the tail pipes will make your eyes tear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,930
Likes: 1,487
From: New Jersey
LT1 car has no reason for headers. You'll pick up next to nothing for the price, the stock exhaust is damn good.
You can gut the air box some to get better flow I believe (may be mixing that up with a c5 though). There isn't a whole lot of low hanging fruit without tearing into it.
I agree on a compression test and then saving up for some of the bigger stuff. You can do gears stock but its more of a feel thing.. however they're there when you do other mods.
Personally I'd drive it and sort it out for a while before diving into serious mods. It could end up a POS.
You can gut the air box some to get better flow I believe (may be mixing that up with a c5 though). There isn't a whole lot of low hanging fruit without tearing into it.
I agree on a compression test and then saving up for some of the bigger stuff. You can do gears stock but its more of a feel thing.. however they're there when you do other mods.
Personally I'd drive it and sort it out for a while before diving into serious mods. It could end up a POS.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,260
Likes: 6,461
From: Melbourne, FL
I'd disagree, long tube headers will always make a difference if combined with a tune. A cat back exhaust will add nothing, a cold air intake will add nothing. Headers and the heads and cam are the two best upgrades to make more power. The next best upgrade for an automatic is to upgrade to a manual Trans car...
Last edited by FAUEE; Jul 24, 2020 at 12:01 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,930
Likes: 1,487
From: New Jersey
I'd disagree, long tube headers will always make a difference if combined with a tune. A cat back exhaust will add nothing, a cold air intake will add nothing. Headers and the heads and cam are the two best upgrades to make more power. The next best upgrade for an automatic is to upgrade to a manual Trans car...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Well one thing to note on your 95 is that if you do swap in some long tube headers you will not require a tune for just the headers. The ECM will adjust for this.
I had Stainless Works LT headers & RT cats installed on my 95 back in 2006. Retained the stock dual exhaust and very happy with the sound.
A year later when I had saved up some more $$$ I had the Hot Cam Kit and HD timing chain & sprocket Kit installed, ignition components replaced and a dyno tune. I picked up approx 40 RWHP. The next step would have been some work done on the heads & intake but I didn't go that route.
Several years after that I had a built auto trans along with a Yank 3200 ss TC installed.
Your 95 C4 was a rather highly engineered car when it was built. There is very little INEXPENSIVE additional RWHP to be had.
I had Stainless Works LT headers & RT cats installed on my 95 back in 2006. Retained the stock dual exhaust and very happy with the sound.
A year later when I had saved up some more $$$ I had the Hot Cam Kit and HD timing chain & sprocket Kit installed, ignition components replaced and a dyno tune. I picked up approx 40 RWHP. The next step would have been some work done on the heads & intake but I didn't go that route.
Several years after that I had a built auto trans along with a Yank 3200 ss TC installed.
Your 95 C4 was a rather highly engineered car when it was built. There is very little INEXPENSIVE additional RWHP to be had.
Last edited by Mr. Peabody; Jul 24, 2020 at 01:57 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
With a LT1 minor mods " foil, non accordion air duct, fuel pressure bump, 1.6 rockers or headers aren't going to give you a big seat of the.pants "wow". Standard A4 rear gear is 2.59 which is terrible the optional G92 performance axle is better. Gear change to 3.54-3.73 makes a world of difference. The biggest bang for the buck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Rockers
When i replaced the rockers with 1.6’s, the cam came in around 1850 rpm
with the 1.6’s installed, it was 2100 rpm
80 mph= 1900 rpm
be careful what u wish for.
with my setup, i am going from 2.56 to 3.07 To just get it into the cam on the highway, and maintain some decent gas mileage.
with the 1.6’s installed, it was 2100 rpm
80 mph= 1900 rpm
be careful what u wish for.
with my setup, i am going from 2.56 to 3.07 To just get it into the cam on the highway, and maintain some decent gas mileage.