sure this hasbeen asked before, but....
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: So. Cal.
sure this hasbeen asked before, but....
Moneys tight fellas, is it worth it to purchase an afermrket intake, like t he blackwing? And do I really need all the piping or can I just put a couple high flow muflers? In other words if you only had about a thousand bucks what performance mods woud you do? 2004 Z06, 18K miles, all stock. Had her for two months now and LOVE IT!!!!!!!
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
ttt
Im new to the site and new to GM, from looking through here the only weld in mufflers Ive heard were flowmasters.
Ive heard clips of straight pipes on a turbo c5, I believe it was a member here by the name of Navy2008 IIRC, car sounded phenomenal.
I also read that considering the pipes were running from the turbos that the sound was quite different than it would be if you were to run straight pipes on an otherwise stock car.
I have also heard clips with the borla 'straight pipes', I wonder how much different they would sound than if you were to just run stock size piping in place of the mufflers.
Would love* to hear what some Bassanni, SLP, Borla etc., mufflers would sound like welded in, I realize the gains will not be as good a complete catback but I too am on a tight budget. For now I just want to make the car louder without making it sound like crap.
Im new to the site and new to GM, from looking through here the only weld in mufflers Ive heard were flowmasters.
Ive heard clips of straight pipes on a turbo c5, I believe it was a member here by the name of Navy2008 IIRC, car sounded phenomenal.
I also read that considering the pipes were running from the turbos that the sound was quite different than it would be if you were to run straight pipes on an otherwise stock car.
I have also heard clips with the borla 'straight pipes', I wonder how much different they would sound than if you were to just run stock size piping in place of the mufflers.
Would love* to hear what some Bassanni, SLP, Borla etc., mufflers would sound like welded in, I realize the gains will not be as good a complete catback but I too am on a tight budget. For now I just want to make the car louder without making it sound like crap.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,586
Likes: 0
From: Lynn Haven, FL Sunshine State
St. Jude Donor '08
if money's tight, don't get caught up in the mod hype. The Z is an amazing car stock. You have plenty of time to mod down the road! Save up $2K and get longtube headers/intake/tune, it will be worth the wait.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 14
From: Visalia CA
Is there someplace to go to see the REAL WORLD horsepower gains from certain mods like the Vararam, Blackwing, Borla exhaust, long tube headers, K&N filters, etc, etc. I know they all CLAIM horspower gains, BUT... figures and conditions can be twisted. I've read on this forum that just by themselves, the Veraram or cat-back exhaust systems don't add that much HP, if any. However, you gotta agree, all those little performance mods start to add up and its got to amount to something, right? Just curious how much.
Last edited by wettevette; Jun 1, 2007 at 01:01 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,979
Likes: 31
From: Wichita KS
IMO a intake is a intake, you can pay $250 for a name brand one or $45 for one off ebay (like I did) and it will still give you HP and they will be within 1 to 2 hp difference of each other, vararam is a different story. I would do a intake ($45-$250), LT headers (TSP LT's $500) and Borla straight pipes or SLP loudmouths ($200-$400 used or new) or just run straight pipes (a LOT cheaper) and you will be very happy with that.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
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
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,854
Likes: 8
From: Pearland, TX
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '20
If money being tight is the issue you can not go wrong buying from the for sale section of this forum. Used CAI's and exhausts are on there all the time ... or post your own WTB (want to buy) post and see what comes your way.
Good luck with the mods
Good luck with the mods
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,522
Likes: 24,823
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I like my Blackwing - don't think I gained a lot of HP, but the engine does breathe better. And a nice catback exhaust will sure sound good on the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,692
Likes: 5
From: Hayward CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 6
From: Los Angeles
1000 bucks for intake/exhaust?
IMO, go with a Vararam B2 and the new Granatelli Exhaust. That will keep you within budget and will feel/sound like a new car.
Another budget intake mod is the "Zip-Tie mod" search for it, free intake upgrade.
With a Z06 however, I would keep the stock Ti exhaust. But should you go aftermarket, you can always sell the stock exhaust on the forum and recoup a chunk of your money.
IMO, go with a Vararam B2 and the new Granatelli Exhaust. That will keep you within budget and will feel/sound like a new car.
Another budget intake mod is the "Zip-Tie mod" search for it, free intake upgrade.
With a Z06 however, I would keep the stock Ti exhaust. But should you go aftermarket, you can always sell the stock exhaust on the forum and recoup a chunk of your money.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
From: Butler PA
