[Z06] $2k to spend
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 22
From: Cary NC
Here's a different idea. Instead of becoming a dyno warrior. How about putting that money into learning how to drive what you have and enjoying it. 
(2) HPDE events is about $500 each, $1,000. Change all your fluids including brake fluid, $200. Better brake pads. $400. Travel and gas, about $400. $2,000 and you'll have learned something a set of headers will never get you.
(2) HPDE events is about $500 each, $1,000. Change all your fluids including brake fluid, $200. Better brake pads. $400. Travel and gas, about $400. $2,000 and you'll have learned something a set of headers will never get you.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Thanks for all the suggestions I'm still not sure what I want to do though. I would love to save for a supercharger but with 68,000 miles I don't know if that would be the safest bet.
I'm still not sure what I want to do though. I would love to save for a supercharger but with 68,000 miles I don't know if that would be the safest bet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,289
Likes: 86
From: Kennesaw Jawga
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Here's a different idea. Instead of becoming a dyno warrior. How about putting that money into learning how to drive what you have and enjoying it.
(2) HPDE events is about $500 each, $1,000. Change all your fluids including brake fluid, $200. Better brake pads. $400. Travel and gas, about $400. $2,000 and you'll have learned something a set of headers will never get you.
(2) HPDE events is about $500 each, $1,000. Change all your fluids including brake fluid, $200. Better brake pads. $400. Travel and gas, about $400. $2,000 and you'll have learned something a set of headers will never get you.
Actually that's a pretty damn good idea.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
So like I said, my car has 68k on it. I would LOVE to save my cash a little longer and put a supercharger on it but I dont want to end up with a trashed engine any time in the near future. I dont rag my car by any measure, but I do use the power it has I'm just nervous about boosting it because of what happened to my previous car. 2000 Mustang GT. At about 60k I put a kenne bell on it running the recommended 9psi. Had all the supporting mods except for a bullet proof bottom end. Long story short it was a beast, but it didnt live for near as long as I wanted it to. First I lost 3rd gear, replaced the tranny, then lost the engine. I did drive it like I stole it on a regular basis. Anyone have any opinions on boosting my Z with its current amount of miles?
Thanks
Jamie
I'm just nervous about boosting it because of what happened to my previous car. 2000 Mustang GT. At about 60k I put a kenne bell on it running the recommended 9psi. Had all the supporting mods except for a bullet proof bottom end. Long story short it was a beast, but it didnt live for near as long as I wanted it to. First I lost 3rd gear, replaced the tranny, then lost the engine. I did drive it like I stole it on a regular basis. Anyone have any opinions on boosting my Z with its current amount of miles?Thanks
Jamie
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,600
From: Honolulu HI
So like I said, my car has 68k on it. I would LOVE to save my cash a little longer and put a supercharger on it but I dont want to end up with a trashed engine any time in the near future. I dont rag my car by any measure, but I do use the power it has I'm just nervous about boosting it because of what happened to my previous car. 2000 Mustang GT. At about 60k I put a kenne bell on it running the recommended 9psi. Had all the supporting mods except for a bullet proof bottom end. Long story short it was a beast, but it didnt live for near as long as I wanted it to. First I lost 3rd gear, replaced the tranny, then lost the engine. I did drive it like I stole it on a regular basis. Anyone have any opinions on boosting my Z with its current amount of miles?
Thanks
Jamie
I'm just nervous about boosting it because of what happened to my previous car. 2000 Mustang GT. At about 60k I put a kenne bell on it running the recommended 9psi. Had all the supporting mods except for a bullet proof bottom end. Long story short it was a beast, but it didnt live for near as long as I wanted it to. First I lost 3rd gear, replaced the tranny, then lost the engine. I did drive it like I stole it on a regular basis. Anyone have any opinions on boosting my Z with its current amount of miles?Thanks
Jamie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 116
From: North Dallas Forty Orange County, Ca.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13, '15,'21
I would think you'd be fine, as long as your tuner doesn't place you on the edge of what's safe and too much power. Which I would dare to say wasn't the philosophy applied with your GT.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,794
Likes: 614
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
This one is easy been there done that on 4 different C5s I have owned and modded including 03 M. Yellow Z06 with all black rims that looked identical to your car.
Here is what I did to my M Yellow 03 Z with black wheels and this bad boy was FAST AS HECK and all that you need.
1. Gears-I had 4.10s but 3.90s will work just fine to and best bang for the buck go fast bolt on mod for your Z you do can for faster acceleration 0 to 160 mph.
2. Vararam-Most Proven Bad boy battle tested CAI on the market.
3. Headers and X-Pipe.
4. Dyno Tune.
The gears and headers you can buy used in great shape on the C5 secton Just keep your eyes peeled and keep you in the budget and Vararam is only about $300 shipped these days (at the most).
AND THEN YOUR DONE!
Here is what I did to my M Yellow 03 Z with black wheels and this bad boy was FAST AS HECK and all that you need.
1. Gears-I had 4.10s but 3.90s will work just fine to and best bang for the buck go fast bolt on mod for your Z you do can for faster acceleration 0 to 160 mph.
2. Vararam-Most Proven Bad boy battle tested CAI on the market.
3. Headers and X-Pipe.
4. Dyno Tune.
The gears and headers you can buy used in great shape on the C5 secton Just keep your eyes peeled and keep you in the budget and Vararam is only about $300 shipped these days (at the most).
AND THEN YOUR DONE!
Last edited by Mopar Jimmy; Jun 23, 2009 at 12:58 PM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Thanks for all of the opinions Its a tough decision on what to do. The Z used to be my daily driver until I moved 50 miles from base and have to commute every day. (Its worth it not to live in Cheyenne WY lol) Now I have 92 toyota as a DD. I only drive the Z on my days off now. I also dont want to pay anyone to do the install on whatever I decide to get, so I have to take that into account. Its never been this hard for me to decide what to spend money on.
Its a tough decision on what to do. The Z used to be my daily driver until I moved 50 miles from base and have to commute every day. (Its worth it not to live in Cheyenne WY lol) Now I have 92 toyota as a DD. I only drive the Z on my days off now. I also dont want to pay anyone to do the install on whatever I decide to get, so I have to take that into account. Its never been this hard for me to decide what to spend money on.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
If you can come up with another 500.
C6 for sale section always has used C6 Z06 rims and tires for 1400 or 1500. Then the rest of the 1500 you spend 800 on the L5 Rear Widebody and 400 to have a shop install it. And if you love the look you can sell the rims and tires you currently have on your car and buy a mod. Don't know if your about show or go but seems like you already have mods done on your car. Here are some pics of the L5 widebody
C6 for sale section always has used C6 Z06 rims and tires for 1400 or 1500. Then the rest of the 1500 you spend 800 on the L5 Rear Widebody and 400 to have a shop install it. And if you love the look you can sell the rims and tires you currently have on your car and buy a mod. Don't know if your about show or go but seems like you already have mods done on your car. Here are some pics of the L5 widebody
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
If you can come up with another 500.
C6 for sale section always has used C6 Z06 rims and tires for 1400 or 1500. Then the rest of the 1500 you spend 800 on the L5 Rear Widebody and 400 to have a shop install it. And if you love the look you can sell the rims and tires you currently have on your car and buy a mod. Don't know if your about show or go but seems like you already have mods done on your car. Here are some pics of the L5 widebody
C6 for sale section always has used C6 Z06 rims and tires for 1400 or 1500. Then the rest of the 1500 you spend 800 on the L5 Rear Widebody and 400 to have a shop install it. And if you love the look you can sell the rims and tires you currently have on your car and buy a mod. Don't know if your about show or go but seems like you already have mods done on your car. Here are some pics of the L5 widebody
I'm more into making power though. Like I said before, this is a tough decision 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
Have your stock TB ported for $100, put in a streetable cam kit around 228-230 duration and under .600 lift, get yourself a cold air intake. And have it tuned. It'll work fine, make more power than a bolt on car, and cost about the same. You can always bolt on a set of headers later and get that extra 15hp if you want. Definitely not the path most traveled but why be like everyone else?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 116
From: North Dallas Forty Orange County, Ca.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13, '15,'21
I just installed a Shaner polished throttle body, and couldn't believe the difference in the response from the go pedal. Don't know if it added any HP but the motor sure runs up smoother.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,794
Likes: 614
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
1000%, along with a Vararam! 
Also, keep in mind you DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANY TUNING in a manual tranny C5 when you swap out gear ratios. Is truely a bolt in mod does not affect your speedometer or anything (and that is a nice perk with doing gears in a manual tranny C5, not to mention the major improvement you will get in acceleration
and the fact that 6th gear overdrive will actually be usable (and gas mileage is only affected by neglible amount)!