I have a 2004 Z06 and would like to know what the most common first modification that most do to increase power and performance?

I'm sort of new at this so please feel free to comment.

Bob

 

Most go with an Air intake system or a catback exhaust, both are good for a few ponies, if your looking for a little more, take a look at long tube headers, and if your really serious take a look at a power adder, like a supercharger or a turbo kit. but as these go, hp is directly proportional to $$ its all up to you, the posibilitys are almost eldless! Good luck!

 

Air intake.
The exhaust on a C5 is not as restrictive as on prior generations of Corvettes.

Here is a cut and paste from Dave68 in a previous post by Cloudstrife911 asking about the popular intakes and their differencces

Note there is a special on Vararam B2 ( what i have) for $299 in the C5 parts section...

Vararam: Brings cold air in through the fog light panel area to a panel-type filter. Owners have had good luck with system on the dragstrip, but plan on spending hours to install and a bit more to get everything lined up well. Downside: Eliminates engine bay-cooling air that would've come in from the fog light panels (Z06 or coupe/vert with opened-up panels), so the engine bay may end up being toastier, especially if you add headers later. $350-$400

Vortech Rammer: Brings cold air up from in front of the radiator and into an enclosed box. Its filter is quite a bit smaller than the Halltech Warhead or Blackwing unit. $250

Callaway Honker intake system: This one relocates the MAF so that it is just in front of the throttlebody. It directs cold air from underneath and costs about $500. I believe this unit is 50 states legal (smogwise).

K&N FIPK: This is more of a semi-cold air system, as the cold air intake opening is more of a slit. Its filter endcaps are carbon fiber. However, it is configured similarly to the Halltech Stinger-R and is 50-states legal. $350

Warm air systems: (Easy installation)

Halltech Stinger-R: Not only contains the massive Warhead filter, but also includes a larger-than-stock airbridge and smooth throttlebody coupler. For $239.00 or less, this system represents one of the best bangs for the buck. Fortunately, for about $40, you can add cold air induction. See my procedure at http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/corvette_c5_corner.htm

Halltech Stinger SSM – 2001-2004 C5 only (new!): This intake system features an even larger filter than that of the Stinger-R, TRAP, and Blackwing. $400

Blackwing: Includes just a large filter, but an excellent one at that. Its cost is close to that of the Stinger.

Volant Twin Cone: This system gives you more open filter surface area than any stock box does and is well suited to an engine bay that gets cold air in from the fog light panels, as the filters are more or less in the air flow path. $265

2002+ Z06 airbox cover: A larger opening allows more air to be drawn in through the filter. Expect up to a 5 RWHP gain from this simple swap. $50

Zip-tie: An easy and inexpensive mod (eliminates the OEM box’s upper lid), but its sealing ability is questionable at best.

How good are they? My experience has shown that most will bump up RWHP by at least 10. The advantage of having cold air is that power will not be "dialed down" under normally hot underhood (and intake air) conditions. You could easily lose 10 HP with a warm air system after engine bay temps rise during slow-moving conditions. Cold air prevents this from happening.

 

vararam and long tubes.
your ti exhaust is ok but you can always get better

 

Biggest gains without getting into head/cam packages or FI are cold air intake and long tube or try Y headers with 3" high flow cats and a good PCM tune.

Personally I like the Vortex Rammer, Vararam and Honker intakes, but there are other good ones out there.

Headers, my first choice LG Pro Longtubes, Dynathchs are cheaper with slightly less power gains. For the Try Y's Quick Time Performance (QTP) make good power.

Bottom line, almost any quality cold air intake and LT headers/high flow cats will get you 35 - 40 rwhp.

 

If you decide to change exhaust, DO NOT cut your Ti's when removing. They are worth $400-500 uncut in good shape but nothing if cut (Ti welding issue). See C5 parts - the Ti's go quickly.

DBD

 

nobody mentioned the short shifter? i thought that was the first mod for most people. that stock shifter is ****.

 

Longtubes and cold air system will help you out!

 

Intake and a performance exhaust!

 

In a nutshell.

 

Get a good intake and some LT headers.

 

most often the first mod to increase power and performance is

Air Intake...
...next: Exhaust

or the reverse...

 

 

The Z06 is a great performer out of the box. There is not much to improve on the stock car. Your lucky to gain 15 RWHP from a different intake, LT headers and exhaust. Get used to the car at first, it's a real performer.
If you really want to increase HP and TQ you will have to go with a cam change and tune but you will change the characteristics of the car. All depends on what you want.

 

 

I'll tell you the order I modded my Z:
1-B&B Bullets
2-Chrome Rims
3-Nitrous
4-Halltech TRIC-(WOW)
5-Cut the stock shifter

PM me if you have any questions about anything. I have modded mine to death other than a set of headers and thats next.

 

Bob....what kind fo crap advice r u givin on here?!? lol, j/k. if u want hp on your Z cat back exhuast is not the way to go for a first mod. I've got the B&B bullets but they're mainly for sound. an intake is bar none the best bang for your buck. I've got the vararam which is a lil on the high end of the intake spectrum and love it. after that LT headers will get you another 30hp and about the same tourque to the wheels after a tune. If you really need hp get on the bottle. Cost you about the same as headers but you'll get an isntant extra 100hp to the wheels. good luck with the Z!!!

Jim

 

I.M.O. Since you all ready have a Z06 you might consider one of the cold air intakes mentioned above. If you put an exhaust on since you have the Ti's it will do more for sound than seat of the pants. Your car should be breathing pretty well on its own as the stock airbox for the Z is opened up all ready. Your biggest gains should come from having a set of long tube headers installed.

Paul

 

First mod is usually a small one, K&N airfilter and cutting the air box opening a little bit to let in more air. The latter can be done with a dremel and done in a way so that you don't ruin the appearance of the box.

Suggest you find a reputable tunner near you to do a dyno tune to optimize your stock performance and get a base line on rwhp and rwtq. Then work your way into other mods. It's addictive so take care!


Enjoy your ride!

 

Guys,

As I thought, you guys are once again awesome!

I thought this would boil down to breathing. I remember back in the late 60's and early 70's the biggest bang for the buck and the easiest modification was to add a set of tuned headers and open up the exhaust. A cam intake and head-work was next on the list. Even back then I found that porting and polishing the heads to eliminate restrictions in air flow also made a big difference, bigger valves was part of the gains also.


I've bookmarked this thread

Thanks again,

Bob