[Z06] Z06 Newbie
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Z06 Newbie
undefinedHello All!
This is my first post as new member to the forum. I have always wanted a Vette and the day before Thanksgiving I took delivery of an Electron Blue '02 Z with barely 12K miles on it.
It's bone stock amd I'm excited about adding some bolt-on improvements but I'm not so sure where to start...intake vs. exhaust. I welcome all opinions.
I'd post a picture but I havn't figured that out yet.
Thanks!
This is my first post as new member to the forum. I have always wanted a Vette and the day before Thanksgiving I took delivery of an Electron Blue '02 Z with barely 12K miles on it.
It's bone stock amd I'm excited about adding some bolt-on improvements but I'm not so sure where to start...intake vs. exhaust. I welcome all opinions.
I'd post a picture but I havn't figured that out yet.
Thanks!
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Welcome. 
Get used to the car first. I kept mine stock for a year and then got a cold air intake and a tune. I will do long tube headers next! You will not need to much more unless you are a serious power junkie! I still smile every time I drive my car! 
Get used to the car first. I kept mine stock for a year and then got a cold air intake and a tune. I will do long tube headers next! You will not need to much more unless you are a serious power junkie! I still smile every time I drive my car!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
I've been "learning" how to drive the Vette and there's power-a-plenty to be sure. Although I probably won't race it, I would like to drive in on track days (I live in Charlotte, NC) and possibly learn to autocross.
I'm 43 and roadraced motorcycles until my daughter was born 12 years ago and I let my wife guilt me into putting racing aside. I love power and speed. It's only a metter of time before the urge to hop up the Vette becomes too much to bear.
I'm 43 and roadraced motorcycles until my daughter was born 12 years ago and I let my wife guilt me into putting racing aside. I love power and speed. It's only a metter of time before the urge to hop up the Vette becomes too much to bear.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 23,337
Likes: 379
From: Marietta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
Congratulations
Enjoy your new Vette!
Enjoy your new Vette!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,788
Likes: 6
From: Winchester TN
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
Hi Jay's Z -
Welcome aboard!
Nice color choice!
I have a cold air intake - that's a good starting point (as long as you have already disabled the CAGS....)
I did buy a top-quality CAI unit - a carbon fiber Halltech TRAP system - very good setup.
That said - I think I would have been a lot of $ ahead if i had just stuck with the zip tie mod - do a search on google for zip tie mod c5 and you''ll find pictures etc.
Save your mod money for some good headers and a dyno tune.
The stock Ti catback is a peice of art and you would really have to work to find a better overall system IMO.
So - zip tie mod, and then have the car tuned to get the most out of it. If you can afford it, new headers and a tune.
best regards -
mqqn
Welcome aboard!
Nice color choice!
I have a cold air intake - that's a good starting point (as long as you have already disabled the CAGS....)
I did buy a top-quality CAI unit - a carbon fiber Halltech TRAP system - very good setup.
That said - I think I would have been a lot of $ ahead if i had just stuck with the zip tie mod - do a search on google for zip tie mod c5 and you''ll find pictures etc.
Save your mod money for some good headers and a dyno tune.
The stock Ti catback is a peice of art and you would really have to work to find a better overall system IMO.
So - zip tie mod, and then have the car tuned to get the most out of it. If you can afford it, new headers and a tune.
best regards -
mqqn
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 31
From: Allentown PA & Elk Twp NJ HPDE Addict
Welcome aboard. Before I drop a dime on modding the car, I'm making the investment in me. Taking the 3 day Spring Mountain Motorsports course to learn to utilize what the car already has. If after that I feel the need for more, then I'll go for it. Enjoy your new ride
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,610
Likes: 12
From: Philly Burbs PA
Originally Posted by spdislife
Welcome aboard. Before I drop a dime on modding the car, I'm making the investment in me. Taking the 3 day Spring Mountain Motorsports course to learn to utilize what the car already has. If after that I feel the need for more, then I'll go for it. Enjoy your new ride
Congrats and enjoy it
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
welcome....i agree with mqqn. I wish my Z would have come with the Ti catback, but i bought the car used and it already came with a borla catback. If you are looking for a louder exhaust note. Get some headers, x-pipe and hi flo cats. This setup compliments the Ti catback very nicely. Just be patient on the mods and do as mch research as you can. Like said above. Stick with stock and just hang around here and topics will come up over and over again. Also check out your regional forum section and see if there are guys in your area and you can see and hear what kind of setups they have. Seeing it in person is the easiest way to make a choice. Good luck,Welcome and hopefully the mod bug hasnt hit you yet.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Welcome, & congrats. A stock Z has awsome power to begin with. I've had my 02 over a year now, and I am still learning how to drive it correctly. I'm going to Spring Mountain in April, to learn more. Have fun, but be safe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
Before you do a bunch of mods it's generally a good idea to figure out what you want to do with the car overall... A little bit of planning can save a bunch of money and time and heartache later.
If you are thinking about autocross I would suggest that you keep it stock for a while, and lower and put on a performance alignment. That will sharpen the car up and you won't get bumped up into a street prepared (SCCA) or Group II in NCCC.... Lots of folks hang a bunch of intakes and other mods on their cars and find out that when they go to an autocross they are stuck "between classes". That is they don't have enough done to the car to be competitive in the street prepared or Group II classes that allow mods, but they are knocked out of stock classes. It gets very frustrating trying to compete with cars that are built to the limit of the rules with a car with only a few mods...
After doing the lowering and alignment, wheels and tires are by far the best mod that you can make to improve the handling, again keeping an eye on what class you want to eventually be in....
If you are thinking about autocross I would suggest that you keep it stock for a while, and lower and put on a performance alignment. That will sharpen the car up and you won't get bumped up into a street prepared (SCCA) or Group II in NCCC.... Lots of folks hang a bunch of intakes and other mods on their cars and find out that when they go to an autocross they are stuck "between classes". That is they don't have enough done to the car to be competitive in the street prepared or Group II classes that allow mods, but they are knocked out of stock classes. It gets very frustrating trying to compete with cars that are built to the limit of the rules with a car with only a few mods...
After doing the lowering and alignment, wheels and tires are by far the best mod that you can make to improve the handling, again keeping an eye on what class you want to eventually be in....
Last edited by Solofast; Feb 7, 2006 at 05:42 PM.
