[Z06] Minor Bolt-On Performance Mods?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
Minor Bolt-On Performance Mods?
Hello Z06 gurus! I was home on Leave and did the first mod to my 2004 Z06...a Halltech Stinger. I know, weak-sauce, but you have to start somewhere.
Anyways, I was wondering what low-drama, moderate-price mods I could do next. Bear in mind that I am not building a max-effort car...I have my 600+rwhp Z28 for that.
Here's what I'm thinking, so any advice will be appreciated:
Light-weight Oddesey (or similar) battery.
Short-throw shifter or at least shorter stick.
ASP crank pulley.
I will do headers eventually and will probably suck it up and pay for an install along with a tune. Any input or better mod suggestions would be greatly apprecited. Thanks!
Anyways, I was wondering what low-drama, moderate-price mods I could do next. Bear in mind that I am not building a max-effort car...I have my 600+rwhp Z28 for that.
Here's what I'm thinking, so any advice will be appreciated:
Light-weight Oddesey (or similar) battery.
Short-throw shifter or at least shorter stick.
ASP crank pulley.
I will do headers eventually and will probably suck it up and pay for an install along with a tune. Any input or better mod suggestions would be greatly apprecited. Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 0
From: Vilano Beach FL
My standard response for incremental performance upgrades would be something like the following - keep in mind at any point a tune will optimize the components. As you get more radical, the tune becomes more and more crucial (as you likely know).
***
Air Intake
Headers
Simple, easy to install, good performance boost, great sound difference, brand doesn't really matter (in the case of the LT's: Kooks, ARH, LG, Dynatech, etc., etc.)
***
Cam
Springs
Pulley
Note that Y-body cars are a bitch to swap the cam (unlike your F-body) so I'd recommend not doing a pulley swap unless you're also doing a cam swap (the steering rack has to be removed).
***
Heads
Clutch
Potentially before this level you might need a clutch, but of it's a street car, with a few (road) track events a year, I don't think the mods previous to this will require one (YMMV
) Depending on your head choice, they might be a reusable item for a bigger CI setup.
***
90mm Intake Man
90mm Throttle Body
These are moderate bang-for-the-buck, but at this point, it's about the last thing you can do before you go either FI or larger CI. These are great reuse items for bigger CI motors!
***
Air Intake
Headers
Simple, easy to install, good performance boost, great sound difference, brand doesn't really matter (in the case of the LT's: Kooks, ARH, LG, Dynatech, etc., etc.)
***
Cam
Springs
Pulley
Note that Y-body cars are a bitch to swap the cam (unlike your F-body) so I'd recommend not doing a pulley swap unless you're also doing a cam swap (the steering rack has to be removed).
***
Heads
Clutch
Potentially before this level you might need a clutch, but of it's a street car, with a few (road) track events a year, I don't think the mods previous to this will require one (YMMV
) Depending on your head choice, they might be a reusable item for a bigger CI setup.***
90mm Intake Man
90mm Throttle Body
These are moderate bang-for-the-buck, but at this point, it's about the last thing you can do before you go either FI or larger CI. These are great reuse items for bigger CI motors!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
I want to do the headers/FAST 90/tune at the same time, so I'm looking for any smaller mods that will ake the car more enjoyable along the way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Mod fever
If it makes you feel better&for peace of mind I,d go a head and replace the battery. You might want to get a trickle charger @ the same time,( factory battery is only good for about 36 mo.). I'd go w/the 08 Z06 shifter, I havn't heard any complaints about them. Instead of headers, I would go w/a 390 rear end built by DTE or RPM. With the rear end you would notice a seat of the pants difference, and wouldn"t need a tune as you would if you went w/headers. If your not concerned about your gas milage , you could jump up to a 410 rear gear. That you could really tell a difference over your 342 gear. Good luck w/ your new mods. Bob.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
Air intake is a great place to start, and probably offers the best bang for the buck for simple mods. If you want louder exhaust you can do a cat-back system, this will offer more noise than performance though. You can send your stock throttle body out to be ported for a little over $100 which will add a few HP (but you were talking about upgrading to 90mm.) You can do a TB bypass (only if you don't drive in freezing temps) and low temp thermostat, both really cheap. I have an oddyssey 24lb battery only because the stock one died, shaving that 10-15 lbs will be like adding 1 HP, so I wouldn't do that unless you need a new one. Sounds like you're in the beginning stages of Mod fever so I wish you the best, it only gets worse
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
If it makes you feel better&for peace of mind I,d go a head and replace the battery. You might want to get a trickle charger @ the same time,( factory battery is only good for about 36 mo.). I'd go w/the 08 Z06 shifter, I havn't heard any complaints about them. Instead of headers, I would go w/a 390 rear end built by DTE or RPM. With the rear end you would notice a seat of the pants difference, and wouldn"t need a tune as you would if you went w/headers. If your not concerned about your gas milage , you could jump up to a 410 rear gear. That you could really tell a difference over your 342 gear. Good luck w/ your new mods. Bob.
As for the rear, aren't they about $2000? How do you get traction, drag-radials?
I'm looking at small mods that I can do between deployments and hen do the big stuff in one lump when I get back to the USA in 2009.
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
Air intake is a great place to start, and probably offers the best bang for the buck for simple mods. If you want louder exhaust you can do a cat-back system, this will offer more noise than performance though. You can send your stock throttle body out to be ported for a little over $100 which will add a few HP (but you were talking about upgrading to 90mm.) You can do a TB bypass (only if you don't drive in freezing temps) and low temp thermostat, both really cheap. I have an oddyssey 24lb battery only because the stock one died, shaving that 10-15 lbs will be like adding 1 HP, so I wouldn't do that unless you need a new one. Sounds like you're in the beginning stages of Mod fever so I wish you the best, it only gets worse
I promised myself and my wife I wouldn't mod the Z06 after the Z28 situation, but what can I say? I lied.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
A cam swap is just as labor intensive as headers. Doing a cam only makes more of a mess, with draining the coolant. The hardest part of a cam swap is getting the friggin' crank pulley off. Changing valvesprings on the car is no fun, but if you end up doing headers, UD pulley, and a tune, you might as well do a cam (and double the HP gains of the other bolt-ons).
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 0
From: Vilano Beach FL
A cam swap is just as labor intensive as headers. Doing a cam only makes more of a mess, with draining the coolant. The hardest part of a cam swap is getting the friggin' crank pulley off. Changing valvesprings on the car is no fun, but if you end up doing headers, UD pulley, and a tune, you might as well do a cam (and double the HP gains of the other bolt-ons).
FYI to the OP, there's a 2-piece cam cover made by a couple of vendors that greatly simpifies changing the cam the 2nd time around (should you want bigger/smaller/FI spec/etc).
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
A cam swap is just as labor intensive as headers. Doing a cam only makes more of a mess, with draining the coolant. The hardest part of a cam swap is getting the friggin' crank pulley off. Changing valvesprings on the car is no fun, but if you end up doing headers, UD pulley, and a tune, you might as well do a cam (and double the HP gains of the other bolt-ons).
If I did a cam, it would be a fairly mild one. I'd be thrilled with 400rwhp from the Z06 with stockish driveability.
Maybe I should just go with a blower and be done with it... I just hate to ADD weight to such a svelte car.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
Why is the crank pulley so hard to get off on the Y-body? It was pretty easy to pull the crank pulley and put an ASP on my Z28.
If I did a cam, it would be a fairly mild one. I'd be thrilled with 400rwhp from the Z06 with stockish driveability.
Maybe I should just go with a blower and be done with it... I just hate to ADD weight to such a svelte car.
If I did a cam, it would be a fairly mild one. I'd be thrilled with 400rwhp from the Z06 with stockish driveability.
Maybe I should just go with a blower and be done with it... I just hate to ADD weight to such a svelte car.
Here's an idle vid of my setup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M-BRVvG8xs
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
Stock-like cam with a decent power bump? You might be happy with the one I'm running, Lingenfelter GT-11 (215/231 .631"/.644" 118CL). I was also told it would be an excellent blower cam for a centrifugal blower from A & A corvette. I'm making 423whp with supporting bolt-ons and ported LS6 heads.
Here's an idle vid of my setup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M-BRVvG8xs
Here's an idle vid of my setup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M-BRVvG8xs
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
I've got an '03 Z06 and here's what I've done thus far (would do it ALL again as well):
Kirban shifter (much better then stock)
Odyssey battery with bracket from Accurate Technologies, Inc. (http://performance.accuratetechnologies.com/ (20 lbs. lighter then stock and no chance of leaking and ruining ECU)
Sparco Pro 2000 seat (much lighter then stock and actually fits me: 5'10" 150 lbs.) Also purchased from Accurate Technologies because they modify the OEM GM seat rail to maintain fore and aft seat function.
Goodridge braided stainless steel brake lines
DeWitts radiator (replaces cheap plastic end-tanks that can crack with a solid aluminum radiator that also holds a gallon of additional coolant)
HTH,
- Max
Kirban shifter (much better then stock)
Odyssey battery with bracket from Accurate Technologies, Inc. (http://performance.accuratetechnologies.com/ (20 lbs. lighter then stock and no chance of leaking and ruining ECU)
Sparco Pro 2000 seat (much lighter then stock and actually fits me: 5'10" 150 lbs.) Also purchased from Accurate Technologies because they modify the OEM GM seat rail to maintain fore and aft seat function.
Goodridge braided stainless steel brake lines
DeWitts radiator (replaces cheap plastic end-tanks that can crack with a solid aluminum radiator that also holds a gallon of additional coolant)
HTH,
- Max
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
I've got an '03 Z06 and here's what I've done thus far (would do it ALL again as well):
Kirban shifter (much better then stock)
Odyssey battery with bracket from Accurate Technologies, Inc. (http://performance.accuratetechnologies.com/ (20 lbs. lighter then stock and no chance of leaking and ruining ECU)
Sparco Pro 2000 seat (much lighter then stock and actually fits me: 5'10" 150 lbs.) Also purchased from Accurate Technologies because they modify the OEM GM seat rail to maintain fore and aft seat function.
Goodridge braided stainless steel brake lines
DeWitts radiator (replaces cheap plastic end-tanks that can crack with a solid aluminum radiator that also holds a gallon of additional coolant)
HTH,
- Max
Kirban shifter (much better then stock)
Odyssey battery with bracket from Accurate Technologies, Inc. (http://performance.accuratetechnologies.com/ (20 lbs. lighter then stock and no chance of leaking and ruining ECU)
Sparco Pro 2000 seat (much lighter then stock and actually fits me: 5'10" 150 lbs.) Also purchased from Accurate Technologies because they modify the OEM GM seat rail to maintain fore and aft seat function.
Goodridge braided stainless steel brake lines
DeWitts radiator (replaces cheap plastic end-tanks that can crack with a solid aluminum radiator that also holds a gallon of additional coolant)
HTH,
- Max
I'm pretty much sold on a smaller battery, either the Odyssey or this one: http://www.brailleauto.com/ProductCa...=2&idproduct=1
Do you have a weight comparison guesstimate between the Sparco and stock seats? I'm a pretty wide guy (5'7" 200ish lbs gym rat), but dunno if that's an issue.
Lighter brakes and wheels are down the road a bit, but the lines sound like a great idea.
Never thought about the radiator, thanks!
Have a great holiday!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Right Corner Pocket of Illinois
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Oh oh, minor is the first step in major!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
I've never used a Kirban, only Pro 5.0 and Hurst, but I'll check them out.
I'm pretty much sold on a smaller battery, either the Odyssey or this one: http://www.brailleauto.com/ProductCa...=2&idproduct=1
Do you have a weight comparison guesstimate between the Sparco and stock seats? I'm a pretty wide guy (5'7" 200ish lbs gym rat), but dunno if that's an issue.
Lighter brakes and wheels are down the road a bit, but the lines sound like a great idea.
Never thought about the radiator, thanks!
Have a great holiday!
I'm pretty much sold on a smaller battery, either the Odyssey or this one: http://www.brailleauto.com/ProductCa...=2&idproduct=1
Do you have a weight comparison guesstimate between the Sparco and stock seats? I'm a pretty wide guy (5'7" 200ish lbs gym rat), but dunno if that's an issue.
Lighter brakes and wheels are down the road a bit, but the lines sound like a great idea.
Never thought about the radiator, thanks!
Have a great holiday!
Regarding seats, you'll just have to sit in them and see. Thankfully, OG Racing in Sterling, VA (not too far from you) is a stocking dealer for Sparco and has them all on the showroom so you can test fit: http://www.ogracing.com/
HTH,
- Max
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
I've never used a Kirban, only Pro 5.0 and Hurst, but I'll check them out.
I'm pretty much sold on a smaller battery, either the Odyssey or this one: http://www.brailleauto.com/ProductCa...=2&idproduct=1
Do you have a weight comparison guesstimate between the Sparco and stock seats? I'm a pretty wide guy (5'7" 200ish lbs gym rat), but dunno if that's an issue.
Lighter brakes and wheels are down the road a bit, but the lines sound like a great idea.
Never thought about the radiator, thanks!
Have a great holiday!
I'm pretty much sold on a smaller battery, either the Odyssey or this one: http://www.brailleauto.com/ProductCa...=2&idproduct=1
Do you have a weight comparison guesstimate between the Sparco and stock seats? I'm a pretty wide guy (5'7" 200ish lbs gym rat), but dunno if that's an issue.
Lighter brakes and wheels are down the road a bit, but the lines sound like a great idea.
Never thought about the radiator, thanks!
Have a great holiday!
- Max
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
Max- You are the man! There are a couple Braille battery hold-down solutions on Z06vette.com that I've looked at. Still haven't picked it over the Odyessey as I want some more reviews.
Thanks for taking the time to post!
Thanks for taking the time to post!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
- Max
