[Z06] Top 5 Mods New owner
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 0
From: Belton Texas
Top 5 Mods New owner
I just picked up a 2001 Z06 and still have a little money left. I want to do some Bolt on mod's and am looking for recommendations that would be the best bang for the buck. Listed below are some things I am considering. Any feedback on these or new ideas would be appreciated.
1. Air Induction. I had a Blackwing on my 98 Coupe Thinking about a Halltech Stinger.
2. Shifter. Are the aftermarket shifters much better? Hope so. How are the B&M Rippers? Read about the one from MTI. Is it worth the wait?
3. Exhaust. Best headers. Looking for best value (performance versus cost) and low maintenance after install. Do Catbacks on the stock Z06 flow better than the stock C5? Is it worthwhile to upgrade?
4. Tuning Would a custom tune help much on a stock LS6 or one with the above upgrades? Recommendations for a shop in Central Texas. Austin, Dallas, Houston.
5. Kind of a wildcard. Anything you might have done or bought that you could not live without. Looking at maybe a compartment divider to make the wife happier about the noise and an upgrade so it will never again shift from 1st to 4th. I all ready found a good place to get wheels and tires. Highly recommended.
1. Air Induction. I had a Blackwing on my 98 Coupe Thinking about a Halltech Stinger.
2. Shifter. Are the aftermarket shifters much better? Hope so. How are the B&M Rippers? Read about the one from MTI. Is it worth the wait?
3. Exhaust. Best headers. Looking for best value (performance versus cost) and low maintenance after install. Do Catbacks on the stock Z06 flow better than the stock C5? Is it worthwhile to upgrade?
4. Tuning Would a custom tune help much on a stock LS6 or one with the above upgrades? Recommendations for a shop in Central Texas. Austin, Dallas, Houston.
5. Kind of a wildcard. Anything you might have done or bought that you could not live without. Looking at maybe a compartment divider to make the wife happier about the noise and an upgrade so it will never again shift from 1st to 4th. I all ready found a good place to get wheels and tires. Highly recommended.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,920
Likes: 2
From: North Bend WA
If you're into the "keep it light, the way the factory intended it" mentality, I wouldn't bother with an exhaust switch. The factory Ti exhaust is pretty cool, and there are virtually no systems that weigh less than it (Corsa Ti is one). Good luck. 
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,897
Likes: 45
From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
I think the top five would be Cold air intake, headers, shifter, tune, and lowering. When you get full length headers you need different pipes to connect them to the TI cat-back, and those either come with free flow cats or none at all so keeping the stock cats is not really an option. Consider the stock C6Z shifter instead of aftermarket. Can get for $189 with ****. And to realize most of the power improvement of the headers, you need the tune. But get a real live dyno tune, not a mail order power programmer. Lowering can be done yourself in about an hour for $0. Just turn the adjusters in. Stock bolts will get you low enouph to crash into speed bumps and high center the car climbing your driveway. Do you really want to go any lower than that?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 3
From: Shreveport/Bossier Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
1. The halltec stinger is not bad, i have it myself and love it. Though you will get lots of suggestions on this one.
2. I also have the B&M ripper and also love it
3. I have the LG street series headers. They are a great price and perform very well with the high flow cats and a good exhaust.
4. I have had LG Motorsports do all my tuning. They are just out of Dallas in Wylie, TX. Great people to deal with, i dont see how you could be unhappy with their service.
5. Im not sure about the wildcard.....Maybe go with an appearence mod?
Good luck with all your decisions and have fun with it.
Chris
2. I also have the B&M ripper and also love it
3. I have the LG street series headers. They are a great price and perform very well with the high flow cats and a good exhaust.
4. I have had LG Motorsports do all my tuning. They are just out of Dallas in Wylie, TX. Great people to deal with, i dont see how you could be unhappy with their service.
5. Im not sure about the wildcard.....Maybe go with an appearence mod?
Good luck with all your decisions and have fun with it.
Chris
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,434
Likes: 18
From: Bartlett IL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 742
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
1. Definately tons of opinions. I have a Halltech Tric intake and really like it but they are hard to find now.
2. I have a B&M and cant complain.
3. LG Street system is a great bank for the buck. I wouldnt worry about changing the catback. Use that money towards a cam instead
4. As mentioned, LG is close to you.
5. The wildcard..... def a camshaft. When I had the LG streets and G5X3 cam it was unbelieveable for a cam only car. It really wakes the car up!! Oh yeah.... cant beat a good ole window tint job either!
2. I have a B&M and cant complain.
3. LG Street system is a great bank for the buck. I wouldnt worry about changing the catback. Use that money towards a cam instead
4. As mentioned, LG is close to you.
5. The wildcard..... def a camshaft. When I had the LG streets and G5X3 cam it was unbelieveable for a cam only car. It really wakes the car up!! Oh yeah.... cant beat a good ole window tint job either!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Park City UT
For my 02 Z06 I have a stinger, hurst short shift, LG pro's with cats, new rims, will soon be tuned at CAM, and may do a cam with the tune.
Last edited by SteveDM; Jan 7, 2007 at 02:31 PM. Reason: spelling
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
You have an '01, so that means you have the 4 cats instead of 2. So first off, do the zip-tie mod, and get headers, with or w/o catted X pipe. I've got LG pros, and they're expensive, and there's lots more options out there now, such as Dynamax, and American Racing to consider. You CAN retain your TI catback with any complete header/X section sold, at least the ones I've mentioned. I would wait on changing your catback until after you've done headers. The simple/free mod of zip-tie will get you about % 75 of any cold air gains that the simpler systems like the Stinger/Blackwing. Probably the most effective CAI's are the Vararam, and Honker, but they are spendier, and only a little better. And then if you don't plan on doing more engine mods soon, a good tune will really be effective. Have fun, the ride doesn't seem to ever end where you think it will.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 5
From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
1 - get something that provides true cold air, instead of air from under the hood. After quite a bit of looking around and trying others, I ended up with the Callaway Honker and am very happy.
2 - The MTI is a good shifter, and I like it quite a bit more than the Ripper that was previously installed. A must do after installing a short-shifter is the anti-venom mod.
3 - I landed on Dynatech LT headers, with x-pipe and high-flow cats. These come at a great price and will perform just as well as other brands that can run up to $500+ more.
Yes the Z06 cat-back is lighter (titanium), sounds different (kind of tinty/poppy), and I think it flows better.
4 - A tune will definately be in order after the above mods. I was running close to 10% lean on the top end after intake and exhaust. You can also get CAGS (skip-shift 1st to 4th) disabled at the same time.
5 - Tint, compartment divider, stereo upgrade, lowering, radar detector, this one is all up to you!
2 - The MTI is a good shifter, and I like it quite a bit more than the Ripper that was previously installed. A must do after installing a short-shifter is the anti-venom mod.
3 - I landed on Dynatech LT headers, with x-pipe and high-flow cats. These come at a great price and will perform just as well as other brands that can run up to $500+ more.
Yes the Z06 cat-back is lighter (titanium), sounds different (kind of tinty/poppy), and I think it flows better.
4 - A tune will definately be in order after the above mods. I was running close to 10% lean on the top end after intake and exhaust. You can also get CAGS (skip-shift 1st to 4th) disabled at the same time.
5 - Tint, compartment divider, stereo upgrade, lowering, radar detector, this one is all up to you!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
St. Jude Donor '07
I've done the 5 mods that you've listed since owning my car (bought it in May 2006).
I really like the MTI shifter, but haven't used anything else for comparison sake.
Stick with your TI's. I added Borla stingers after I first got the car and after adding headers, I took them off because of the bad drone. I've got the TI's on now and it's barely louder than stock.
I really like the MTI shifter, but haven't used anything else for comparison sake.
Stick with your TI's. I added Borla stingers after I first got the car and after adding headers, I took them off because of the bad drone. I've got the TI's on now and it's barely louder than stock.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Right now I'm concentrating on the CAI (Cold Air Intake) and Shifter......everything else will come later. Just got my CAGS eliminator in yesterday - that was major for driveability.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
CAI
Headers, X-pipe, high-flow cats
Tune
Those alone will wake the car up. After that there are many options.
To those, I added Borla Stingers and a little free lowering (not enough lowering)
I agree a shifter would be a positive upgrade.
Headers, X-pipe, high-flow cats
Tune
Those alone will wake the car up. After that there are many options.
To those, I added Borla Stingers and a little free lowering (not enough lowering)
I agree a shifter would be a positive upgrade.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 22
From: Cary NC
Well since you said other options. I went a different direction since my intended use was track.
1. DRM oil cooler
2. DRM brake ducts
3. 04 Z06 shocks
4. Nitto R2 tires
5. Carbotech XP10/XP8 brake pads
More or less freebies.
Cut Z06 lid, hood seal (home made), lowered.
I spent all the rest of my money on HPDE with instructors so I could learn to actually drive this beast.
Btw, I used my original wheels with the Nitto R2 for track. So I needed some street wheels with a little bling. I got a good deal from this TomZ Wheels place
1. DRM oil cooler
2. DRM brake ducts
3. 04 Z06 shocks
4. Nitto R2 tires
5. Carbotech XP10/XP8 brake pads
More or less freebies.
Cut Z06 lid, hood seal (home made), lowered.
I spent all the rest of my money on HPDE with instructors so I could learn to actually drive this beast.
Btw, I used my original wheels with the Nitto R2 for track. So I needed some street wheels with a little bling. I got a good deal from this TomZ Wheels place
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Before that, left turns drove me
and I think it's a safety hazard when pulling out in front of oncoming traffic 
Also, a nice round shift **** is a good mod in my book....better feel for the gears.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Georgia
I picked up my 2001 Z06 back in March and have modded it since. Here are my mods, ordered from 1st to most recent:
1 - MTI Shifter. I couldn't stand the stock shifter after 5yrs of driving a F-Body with a Pro 5.0
2 - LG Street series long tube headers.
3 - Borla Stingers. The TIs were too quiet even with the headers, so I swapped it with a friend.
4 - Wheels/Lowering. CCW 505s
5 - Callaway Honker. Received it last week, installed it over the weekend. Good STOP feel, but won't know the real difference until...
Next - Cam/Springs/Rods/Dyno Tune. Baseline dyno read 363/365 with the LG headers/Stingers on the car. Next month I'll be taking it to Vengeance Racing, and have a dyno run with the current mods/untuned, and an after run with the cam & tuning.
BTW... CAGS can be disabled via a tune, so if that's on your radar, don't bother doing the free mod, or spending the $20 on CAGS delete.
Good luck with it all, its very tempting to keep modding once you start
1 - MTI Shifter. I couldn't stand the stock shifter after 5yrs of driving a F-Body with a Pro 5.0
2 - LG Street series long tube headers.
3 - Borla Stingers. The TIs were too quiet even with the headers, so I swapped it with a friend.
4 - Wheels/Lowering. CCW 505s
5 - Callaway Honker. Received it last week, installed it over the weekend. Good STOP feel, but won't know the real difference until...
Next - Cam/Springs/Rods/Dyno Tune. Baseline dyno read 363/365 with the LG headers/Stingers on the car. Next month I'll be taking it to Vengeance Racing, and have a dyno run with the current mods/untuned, and an after run with the cam & tuning.
BTW... CAGS can be disabled via a tune, so if that's on your radar, don't bother doing the free mod, or spending the $20 on CAGS delete.
Good luck with it all, its very tempting to keep modding once you start
Last edited by Dre01SS; Jan 10, 2007 at 10:58 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 71
From: St. Jacob Illinois
How would you compare the MTI shifter tot he pro 5.0? I've ot a Z28, with the pro 5.0, and i've never loved a shifter more. I'm wondering what the shifters are like in the C5's, as I am wanting to purchase a Z06. My dad has a Hurst, and i dont care for it that much. It seems very stuff, and well you know the rest after driving a fbody with a Pro 5.0