Corvette Modifications Primer : A few things to consider if you wish to modify your Corvette for High Performance


So you want to modify your C6 or C5 Corvette for high performance. Here are some things that you should consider first.

What is your driving style? Are you a drag racer? Autocross? Road racer? Weekend warrior? Show car? Stoplight to stoplight? Or simply highway fun? Or a combination of all or some of these choices?

How you drive and enjoy your Corvette will directly determine what modification you should make to your Corvette.

Nothing is free. Every modification you make to your stock Corvette will involve some kind of compromise. You are not going to make 800 rear wheel horsepower and get 30 miles per gallon with a whisper quiet exhaust as well as drive and idle like stock. That is not going to happen.

The trick is to be totally honest with yourself and decide what compromises you can live with and which ones you cannot. For example, if you want to achieve 500rwhp naturally aspirated, expect a big cam with a loping idle. Expect to lose some fuel efficiency. Expect your Corvette to not drive like stock. Expect to void (at least in part) your GMPP warranty.

You can start with simple bolt-ons like an aftermarket air filter, long tube headers and cat-back exhaust system. The next logical step is a camshaft only upgrade or heads and camshaft. Along with the bolt-ons, you can be comfortably at the 425-450rwhp range, all naturally aspirated. Or you could bypass the bolt-ons and simply have a supercharger or twin turbocharger system installed. An alternative to bolt-on might be rear gears (along with a stall converter for the automatics). Gears can also compliment your other modifications.

It all depends on what you wish to achieve.

As you increase the stock Corvette from it's 300-340rwhp (C5-C6) or 435rwhp (C6 Z06) to circa 550rwhp on the stock bottom end, expect to have to upgrade other aspects of your drivetrain, cooling and suspension. Remember, nothing is free.

Beyond 550rwhp, we strongly recommend a forged engine as you will be on borrowed time. At this point, your clutch/stall converter will have to be upgraded along with torque tube connectors, transmission and differential. Cooling must be addressed as well as the always overlooked and often forgotten bulletproof fuel system. At this point, methanol injection for boosted applications is almost mandatory. Suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres should also be seriously addressed, along with additional safety systems like a 6 point or better rollcage and so on.A Corvette that is very fast is no fun if it also does not handle and stop.

High performance is not a cheap hobby and it is best to be very aware of this fact going in so you do not encounter any surprises.

But no matter what your budget, we can tailor a system to suit your current and future needs. So please drop us a line or give us a call to discuss your Generation 5 & 6 Corvette high performance needs.

Phone: 281 464 2800
Email: sales@englandgreen.com
AIM: englandgreeninc

Stephen

 

That was informative, thanks for taking the time

 

Thanks for posting. I get quite a few inquiries and thought I would share my thoughts on this subject. Glad you found it helpful.

Stephen

 

Great write up and a little well deserved PR for your company.

Personally I love the stock Z06. Chevy created a wonderful car and besides, I have a FM II Turbo 275 HP 2,500 lb kick-*** Miata!!

 

"A Corvette that is very fast is no fun if it also does not handle and stop."

How true. Therefore this is my only mod. After all, how many can use a stock Z06 to it's full potential?

 

Very good write up!

 

ttt

 

Do those fit under the stock wheels?

 

ttt

 

This write up contains some very useful information that I encourage everyone to read not just the individuals who are just beginning to modify their cars. Stephen posted this write up to encourage folks to do their homework and find out exactly what they want before they start spending money. I cannot speak for all tuners out there but I know that it can be a big disappointment when you do a job for someone and once it is finished they become displeased for whatever reason. So please take the information above and use it to your benefit and don't be afraid to ask the questions you need answers to. As always we are here to answer those questions so please don't hesitate to give us a call.

 

That really depends on what venue you're talking about; street, track, drag strip, high speed run, etc ...

If you're bringing your car down from 200 + miles per hour, you'll definitely need every bit of those brakes and other suspension modifications.

The advice Stephen is giving out should be taken very seriously before you begin doing any modifications to you vette. I wish I had thought things out a little better before I began my project. Things would have been a lot smoother and heck of a lot cheaper.

The first mistake I made was buying a coupe. The second mistake I made was buying an automatic.

I always wanted a Navy Blue vette but they only came in coupe's and convertibles. Knowing what I now know, I should have bought a convertible and just changed out to the hardtop as that would have been easier and cheaper to do versus changing a coupe over to a FRC.

You'll lose about $3K to $5K to convert from an auto to stick depending on how lucky you are getting parts.

Interior color conversion is another item that cost a lot of money, so if you don't like it, keep searching.

That's some of the lessons I have learned.

 

 

ttt

 

Man, I really like that. Can't wait to see the finished result. Please be sure to post pics!!!

 

I'll be starting a thread about the whole conversion process in about a month.

 

I have just read some of the smartest advices and more helpful procedures before falling in big trouble...that unfortunately happened to some of the Corvette owners during the past years that started modifications without a clear global vision of the complete implication.

I like the sticker on my back window


Christian

 

^ Thanks for the endorsement, Christian. It is most appreciated.

All the best

Stephen

 

 

This is so basic...thought I'd send it up for the new owners....

 

Thanks for the bump