MOST Regrettable Mod
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 0
From: Flowery Branch GA
First I did not mean to start another tread, but mistakingly posted a new one , sorry.
I've done a lot of moding over the past 7 years, both on my own car & others. Without doubt the most regrettable was the gauge rings. 1) it takes about 3 & one half hours to do, and one really has to take a bunch of stuff apart that really was NEVER intended to be taken apart. (First clue that this is NOT a good mod) 2) now after three years those that we installed are starting to fall off. I don't believe the gel super glue used was ever intended to be used in the interior of a car that in summer time can reach unbeliveable temps. If you have done it, you just can't go back to stock, as the glue ruins the OEM gauges side trim, so ya gotta put them back on. If you are considering doing them, trust me, DON'T, they will come back to haunt several years down the road.
I've done a lot of moding over the past 7 years, both on my own car & others. Without doubt the most regrettable was the gauge rings. 1) it takes about 3 & one half hours to do, and one really has to take a bunch of stuff apart that really was NEVER intended to be taken apart. (First clue that this is NOT a good mod) 2) now after three years those that we installed are starting to fall off. I don't believe the gel super glue used was ever intended to be used in the interior of a car that in summer time can reach unbeliveable temps. If you have done it, you just can't go back to stock, as the glue ruins the OEM gauges side trim, so ya gotta put them back on. If you are considering doing them, trust me, DON'T, they will come back to haunt several years down the road.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 2
From: Palm Desert CA
First I did not mean to start another tread, but mistakingly posted a new one , sorry.
I've done a lot of moding over the past 7 years, both on my own car & others. Without doubt the most regrettable was the gauge rings. 1) it takes about 3 & one half hours to do, and one really has to take a bunch of stuff apart that really was NEVER intended to be taken apart. (First clue that this is NOT a good mod) 2) now after three years those that we installed are starting to fall off. I don't believe the gel super glue used was ever intended to be used in the interior of a car that in summer time can reach unbeliveable temps. If you have done it, you just can't go back to stock, as the glue ruins the OEM gauges side trim, so ya gotta put them back on. If you are considering doing them, trust me, DON'T, they will come back to haunt several years down the road.
I've done a lot of moding over the past 7 years, both on my own car & others. Without doubt the most regrettable was the gauge rings. 1) it takes about 3 & one half hours to do, and one really has to take a bunch of stuff apart that really was NEVER intended to be taken apart. (First clue that this is NOT a good mod) 2) now after three years those that we installed are starting to fall off. I don't believe the gel super glue used was ever intended to be used in the interior of a car that in summer time can reach unbeliveable temps. If you have done it, you just can't go back to stock, as the glue ruins the OEM gauges side trim, so ya gotta put them back on. If you are considering doing them, trust me, DON'T, they will come back to haunt several years down the road.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
Two really.... The underhood blanket decal. Could not get it to fit right and it became wrinkled and crooked. Ended up taking it back off and throwing it away. $50 down the drain. Other one was the letters for the CORVETTE on the fuel rail covers. I wanted to make them silver to match the car but they did not fit right plus the red showed through. Looked cheap and should have been a better quality for $30. The Cyberdine style would be great if they were available but not sure about that. $.02 deposited 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Install of the LS6 cam and LS6 heads..should have gone with a larger cam and performance heads at first..now have a 224/224 comp cam and a set of Patriot 243 performance heads, also shortie headers then to LT headers...wasn't sure what I wanted to achieve in the start of mods. I now know my goal of achieving 400RWHP.
When you start to mod you have to know what you want to achieve. my .02
When you start to mod you have to know what you want to achieve. my .02
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Grants Pass Oregon
I have had to de-mod my car from the previous owner . Crappy , rusty exhaust tips , mirror masks to slow down the mirror flop from the clip coming off of the post in the housings , bra , and I have a new set of lambo door hinges that he never had a chance to screw up my car with .
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I didn't have my Vette for three days and I drove down to Corvette America and picked up a set of Y2K Chromes. Wish I would've waited... I think Black wheels would look better now.Anyone want to trade???????
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor NJ
YOU WILL regret all your mods....WHEN you decide to sell or trade up one day. Not only will you loose all the money you spent on mods, but it will also cost you money due to depreciation of a non stock car. Believe me, a used car is worth much more when it is 100% original stock. I have spent about $3,000-$4,000 on mine and it is worth about $1,500-$2,500 less than it would be pure stock. My math say's it cost me about $5,000 that could have gone towards a newer vette.
BUT, it's not for sale, and I am enjoying my mods... So it comes down to if, or how long you are going to keep the C5. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes you can find a buyer who likes your mods and is willing to pay for them, but on the retail market, everything above is very true... I know, been there and done that, many, many times...
BUT, it's not for sale, and I am enjoying my mods... So it comes down to if, or how long you are going to keep the C5. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes you can find a buyer who likes your mods and is willing to pay for them, but on the retail market, everything above is very true... I know, been there and done that, many, many times...
Don't plan on selling it. I have already told the wife....I will continue to add to the stable, but I don't plan on selling any more horses. If I wanted an investment, it would not have been any car.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I feel the same way. Of course, there have been times I wanted something new to take a fresh approach with, but decided against it and just keep making small changes to mine, further personalizing my baby.
I still say that the transparent targa top is my biggest mistake.
Sometimes I wish I would have went blower cam with SC, but I love my H/C car.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Allowing a professional performance shop to get away with installing a reverse split cam in my vette without my knowledge or approval, even though we had agreed on an entirely different cam beforehand.
Now, it's not considered to be "cost-effective" to swap it out for the correct one.
I regret not persuing that matter every time I read what kind of horsepower/torque so and so is putting down to the ground with the cam I SHOULD have had installed.
When will I learn to NEVER go with the "lowest bidder" on a job estimate?
Now, it's not considered to be "cost-effective" to swap it out for the correct one.
I regret not persuing that matter every time I read what kind of horsepower/torque so and so is putting down to the ground with the cam I SHOULD have had installed.
When will I learn to NEVER go with the "lowest bidder" on a job estimate?
Revers split cams are the cam of choice for road racing.
Which cam do you have? do you know the specs / cam card?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
a revers split cam when tuned properly will give you more torque under the curve vs high end HP. in short launch the car faster off the line or out of corners vs top end speed.
Revers split cams are the cam of choice for road racing.
Which cam do you have? do you know the specs / cam card?
Revers split cams are the cam of choice for road racing.
Which cam do you have? do you know the specs / cam card?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 195
Likes: 3
From: Ponchatoula Louisiana
Thread Piracy
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have had to de-mod my car from the previous owner . Crappy , rusty exhaust tips , mirror masks to slow down the mirror flop from the clip coming off of the post in the housings , bra , and I have a new set of lambo door hinges that he never had a chance to screw up my car with .
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: New York
oooffffhhhaaa!!!! This thread is REALLY heating up! Personally, I have gotten some great info on mods I have considered at one time or another. After reading about the idea that the more mods you add, the more in detracts from the resale value, I might be re-thinking any further mods. Then again like someone mentioned, if I wanted an investment I would'nt have bought a car! However, if I want to trade up one day I'll need some value in my present car to afford the newer toy! Oh man, so many decisions...what to do??????
