Top 10 Inexpensive Mods?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Originally Posted by masksqueeze
Whats CLB?
and wasnt there some recall, oh yah the colum would lock up and you could not move the steering wheel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 5
From: Fredericksburg VA
You know guys, reading this makes me remember the stuff I've done and forgotten, and just taken advantage of... 
CLB, Ti Muffler, CAGS, drilling holes in the light brackets for more airflow... All this stuff should have come stock on C5s!
Good stuff for sure!
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,104
Likes: 0
From: Boise Idaho
Originally Posted by Mikelly
I call 
on the hood seal. Mine does nothing for performance. It fills a small gap (Not to well either) in the front fascia to hood lip and that migh help with aerodynamics a small amount... 10-15HP claim is just absurd.
on the hood seal. Mine does nothing for performance. It fills a small gap (Not to well either) in the front fascia to hood lip and that migh help with aerodynamics a small amount... 10-15HP claim is just absurd. 
. After all, everyone knows that the hood seal provides 40 RWHP. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 5
From: Fredericksburg VA
You guys will have to forgive me... In my household I'm surrounded by ricer stepchildren who think that stickers, a fart pipe and a cold air filter are good for minimum of 80WHP! 
Mike
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by FiberglassFan
Paint the lower part of the rear fascia black. Will cost a roll of super flexible masking tape to outline the curves exactly, some regular masking tape and paper to extend the masking, a few ounces of cleaning solvent to de-wax the area and a spray can of satin black vinyl based color, usually used on leather and naugahyde seat upholostery. Don't use regular spray paint because it dries to a brittle film, and the bumper cover is flexible so the paint on it needs to also be flexible. I spent under 10 bucks to to do my C5 power fascia, almost the very first thing I did to it. See my avatar for the look...lots of us here on the forum have this mod.
Jennie's got one of the best looking C5 azzes on this forum. Love that C5 rear bumper paint scheme. 
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 23,340
Likes: 379
From: Marietta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
My C5 Tail Light seals of course
Only $24.99
Jim
Only $24.99
Jim
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,788
Likes: 6
From: Winchester TN
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
hi yechi -
Performance cheapie mods -
1 - zip tie mod - for the cost of four large zip ties and 10 minutes of labor, you can have a very free flowing air intake system. I recommend a hood seal if you do the zip-tie mod. Total cost .50 cents.
2 - muffle-ectomy. I had the mufflers cut off of the catback system on our 99 coupe and then had straight pipes and resonator tips welded in place. The car has 4 cats (two on each side) so it is not excessively loud - but it is much louder than stock and it almost has to flow better than stock. Total cost - ~150 depending on the cost of your tips and how much your muffler shop charges.
3 - Performance tune (LS1 Edit - by a competent tuner). this will give a lot of benefits such as cooler engine temps, CAGS elimination (MN6/12) shift point massage (A4), better A/F ratios, higher fuel shut-off. this will cost ~$400, but worth it.
That would be my top performance mods, I am putting a aftermarket shifter in my Z06, you could do that for around $200 or less if you could find a used one....
Appearance mods :
lower to stock limits (free)
paint hoodliner / FRC's (cost of paint an tape an labor)
Console cushion with Active handling panel welt cord ($110)
front/rear lettering kits - I prefer the red polyurethane lettering - $29 from forum vendors.
Paint brake calipers (cost of paint and cleaning supplies and labor)
Zinc coated rotors (~$250) from sportbrakes.com (search ebay). I like the drilled/slotted - but not for a track car.
best regards -
mqqn
Performance cheapie mods -
1 - zip tie mod - for the cost of four large zip ties and 10 minutes of labor, you can have a very free flowing air intake system. I recommend a hood seal if you do the zip-tie mod. Total cost .50 cents.
2 - muffle-ectomy. I had the mufflers cut off of the catback system on our 99 coupe and then had straight pipes and resonator tips welded in place. The car has 4 cats (two on each side) so it is not excessively loud - but it is much louder than stock and it almost has to flow better than stock. Total cost - ~150 depending on the cost of your tips and how much your muffler shop charges.
3 - Performance tune (LS1 Edit - by a competent tuner). this will give a lot of benefits such as cooler engine temps, CAGS elimination (MN6/12) shift point massage (A4), better A/F ratios, higher fuel shut-off. this will cost ~$400, but worth it.
That would be my top performance mods, I am putting a aftermarket shifter in my Z06, you could do that for around $200 or less if you could find a used one....
Appearance mods :
lower to stock limits (free)
paint hoodliner / FRC's (cost of paint an tape an labor)
Console cushion with Active handling panel welt cord ($110)
front/rear lettering kits - I prefer the red polyurethane lettering - $29 from forum vendors.
Paint brake calipers (cost of paint and cleaning supplies and labor)
Zinc coated rotors (~$250) from sportbrakes.com (search ebay). I like the drilled/slotted - but not for a track car.
best regards -
mqqn
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
From: Waddell Arizona
Originally Posted by Stickman81
Lots of great suggestions in the post above.
Depending on what you want and what amount of money you consider to be inexpensive leaves some open room for discussion.
A few I have done that I like -
Sequential tail light mod.
I got mine used, but new is about $100 from here: http://www.webelectricproducts.com/
Here is a link to my video of the sequential flashers: HERE
Center Console Cushion (Modified version) from Mid America for about $100: http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=2.50.509
This was probably the best money I spent as I use it every time I get in the car. Makes it so much nicer to rest your elbow.
Also, the Vette Essentials shift boot and ****. I hope to do the brake boot and handle soon. http://www.vetteessentials.com/inter...ucts/shift.htm
Here is a picture of mine:
Interior Shot Here
Paint or Powder Coat your calipers. Forum member Corvette Pilot is a supporting vendor and does great work. I painted mine prior to knowing about his business. Not sure on the cost of powder coating. I painted mine for about $30.00 or less using three different colors of "VHT" spray paint from Autozone.
Before - Cross drilled and slotted rotors are fairly new.
Pic Here
After -
Pic Here
Fronts -
Pic of Front Here
Replace your head light bubls with Silver Star bulbs. About $70 for both sets of high and low beams. It makes a difference.
Replace the fog lights with PIAA driving lights. Under $200.00. Makes a HUGE difference.
Paint your hood liner. Depending on how you do it, I'm guessing $10 to $30.
Hood Liner Pic Here
New Exhaust Sytem. Make some noise
Price depending on condition if used.
My Borla Quad Tips
Tint your windows. Standard benifits. Under $200.
Add some neon to the gills. After all, a little rice is nice.
About $50.00
That's about all I can think of right now.
Have fun with what ever you plan to do.
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,184
Likes: 1
From: CT
Here's my list. I plan to do it all.
1. C6/C6 Z06 shifter
2. LED interior lighting
3. LED tail lights
4. Clear front turns
5. CAGS defeat
6. Shorty antenna
7. Door sill protectors
8. Headunit/vrum vrum faceplate
9. Replace mid/tweeters in front and speakers in back
10. Lower on stock bolts.
My more expensive mods:
- Leather Corbeau C4's
- Vette-HID lights
That's it! I can't imagine modding the car anymore. It's just so capable from the factory. MAYBE an intake, but it sounds and performs so good, I have no immediate desire to do anything. That's a first!
1. C6/C6 Z06 shifter
2. LED interior lighting
3. LED tail lights
4. Clear front turns
5. CAGS defeat
6. Shorty antenna
7. Door sill protectors
8. Headunit/vrum vrum faceplate
9. Replace mid/tweeters in front and speakers in back
10. Lower on stock bolts.
My more expensive mods:
- Leather Corbeau C4's
- Vette-HID lights
That's it! I can't imagine modding the car anymore. It's just so capable from the factory. MAYBE an intake, but it sounds and performs so good, I have no immediate desire to do anything. That's a first!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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Painting brake calipers - Less than $50
Performance Hood Seal - $12 or so
Steering wheel/airbag/door sill decals - about $30 for the kit
Brakelight red letters for the Corvette script on rear fascia - $50
CAGS eliminator - $18
Column Lock Bypass - $60 (don't consider it a mod - more of a necessity)
Performance Hood Seal - $12 or so
Steering wheel/airbag/door sill decals - about $30 for the kit
Brakelight red letters for the Corvette script on rear fascia - $50
CAGS eliminator - $18
Column Lock Bypass - $60 (don't consider it a mod - more of a necessity)
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Keep it stock. That way it looks exactly like 200,000 other C5 Corvettes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: North Miami Beach FL
Originally Posted by cbx1047cc
So it's not mods you are against, just spending money?
However, I'm not inflexible & I would consider mods which are practical and/or inexpensive (& don't detract, like many do).
Re: "spending money" - got to deal with the wife, you know. It was enough of a battle to get the Vette in the first place. I don't want to mess with an OK situation too much.
David
Last edited by yechi7; Feb 7, 2006 at 04:28 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: North Miami Beach FL
Originally Posted by Stangkiller
Don't forget LOWERING the car is free!!!
David
Last edited by yechi7; Feb 7, 2006 at 04:28 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Huber84
what about the body side moldings? BSM right? take those off...I dont know how to do it but I think i remember reading about someone using a hair dryer and then some adhesive remover.