Hello. I'm new to the forum and have been reading threads the last couple weeks to get familiar with these cars and decide if I should buy the one that has fallen into my lap.
I'm 40 years old and am just coming out of a divorce with my highschool sweatheart of 23 years who is also the mother of my two sons. It has been a rough year and maybe this is a mid life crisis, who knows. One of my best friends just passed at age 40. I'm very close to the family so have been giving support to my friends dad who also lost his wife of 43 years 2 months earlier. It makes my problems look like nothing. Anyway, he has decide to sell off all his cars but one as he really does not drive anymore. He wants nobody but me to own his baby. He really wants it to go to someone in the family, someone who will take care of it like he did. So I'm that guy. Never thought I would own such a car but I'm excited to be getting it.
It's a 1997 C5 Coupe. I think it's Torch Red. (might be other red but I'm not sure of the difference) Black Leather. It is a 6 speed manual
It only has 27000 miles on it!!! There is a touch of paint damage around the lower portion of the car and all 4 wheels have curb grind. Looking under the front nose, the metal bars that protect the front bumper are pretty beat up. No damage to the body other than the paint. Interior for the most part is perfect other than the door panels where the leather has pulled up by the arm rests. Looks to be a common problem as others I have seen for sale online show a similar flaw.
So I will be a Vette owner in the next few days and am getting really excited about it.
My question is what are the best first mods for these cars? Cold air intake? Best brand and model? Throttle body?
I plan on switching over to Royal Purple asap but want advice on other mods as well to simply let the LS1 run better. Not sure of the exhaust other than it has flowmasters on it and sounds sweet. Don't know if it was a kit or just the mufflers put on but will at it when I get her to the new home. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

sorry for your misfortune...

Congrats on your new car...

Sounds odd, doesnt it...

Anyway, spend time reading the C5 tech section and the C5 performance section.

What are your goals?

These cars run well on their own, without any mods.

Most seem to replace the airfilter assembly, as it is an easy DIY project.

And the Cat-back. You say you have Flowmasters. If you like them, no need to change them.

Headers, there are many threads on what brand is the best. but then you will need a tune - or buy tuning software.

Gears (3.90s, 4.10s) woud certainly give you an immediate seat-of-the-pants boost. Stock is 3.42 for the 6speed.

Drive it for a few months before you do anything...

Have fun

 

Personally, if the Car still has the Stock Long Throw Truck driver shifter installed, I would replace that first thing! A good quality short throw shifter will Perform much Faster than the Stock Long throw and your overall driving experience will be Better! (B&M, HURST are some favorites of many)

As for air intakes there are several good ones. Personally I think The best are the Vararam and Blackwing!

Don't bother with Royal Purple, Just use the Recommended Fully Synthetic 5w30 Mobile One.

Remeber to post Pics when you get HER!! Good Luck!

 

What about the Halltech Stinger?

 

First mods are usually the breathing system..now choosing a brand and method... could take a while

 

I'm just not sure if the Vararam is for me. Sounds like the Blackwing filter is nice but it's the filter only. Do you need to go with another brand of power duct???

 

Sounds like you've had the midlife crisis,now it's time for the midlife celebration!
My advice is to get the Vette and drive it just the way it is for a few months,And see if you even want to mod it(it's not a mandatory thing-you may like it just fine as-is),then think any mods over carefully before you do them.
You're in California,so if you get ,say,a Vararam Intake,be sure you save ALL the stock goodies,because at smog time,you may have to reinstall the stock stuff to pass.
This Forum is the absolute best place to get advice and ideas on how to fix just about anything on the Vette,and if you're the kind who does his own repairs,you'll find these cars are really very easy to work on,armed with a little knowledge of the procedures required.
Welcome to the Forum-Hang out,and get to know the place and the people-and enjoy the hell out of that Vette!

 

Sorry for your loss, but congrats on your vette.
So many choices......
You're going to have to make your own decisoins on mods. Look at others rides, see what they have done, and go from there. Once you find some work that you would like to add to your own vette, make a list. Then, start from there as your funds/time allows.
First order for me would be to replace the wheels. Curb rash just makes everything look like sh**.
Second would be a good tune, performed by a reputable tuner. You can even do mail order. Being an M6, your car won't benefit as much as an A4, but it WILL benefit from having the "skip shift" turned off.
From there, the sky is the limit.

 

If you knew me you would already know that I have to mod the Vette. It's just how I am. Can't leave well enough alone. I've been spending all my free time and money on my Suzuki DRZ400 I bought a year ago. I just switched it over to a Motard. Wheels and tires are on the top of my list for the Vette but so are the basic performance upgrades. CAI and Exhaust. First the intake and then the headers and X pipe. Then I will look at a tune for it. I will most likely start adding undercariage protection and maybe some suspension mods as well. Gotta have better brakes too ; ) It's gonna take me some time but I'll get there. But first, back to the topic of the CAI. I'm looking at the Halltech, Blackwing & ? Air Bridge, or the Vararam. I'm thinking in Cali, the Vararam might not be the best choice. I'm thinking the Stinger and maybe add the Blackwing filter to it down the road.

 

just get a used s/c or turbo kits off CF and u will always have a grin on ur face. that was my first mod went from stock to over 500 at the wheels and dont even have headers.

oh ya get a clutch.

 

Look into the Vortex Rammer. Unlike the blackwing, or Halltech, it actually rams OUTSIDE air into the filter and engine. You can actually feel the air being rammed in when you do WOT runs. It's like it just keeps pushing you back in the seat, even though you're pinned there already. Plus it looks like a factory piece. Inspectors won't even notice. Much simpler to install than a Vararam, and if you HAVE to put it back to stock before inspection, it can be done in about 30 minutes, as opposed to a couple hours for the Vararam.
I installed mine, then took it out for a shakedown run. My A4 broke traction going into 3rd gear. It NEVER did that before. From 1st to 2nd, it always gets sideways. But getting squirrley going into 3rd at 90MPH is something different......and fun as hell!

 

Welcome - sorry about your divorce, but CONGRATS on the vette!

Regarding CAI, I went with the Hurricane - tough to change the filter, but it's awesome how it takes air in from the outside. Here is a PIC (not of mine - but I wish it was )



The vette is the best car I've ever owned - plenty of FUN ahead for you!

 

Want a great mod, but no HP gain- do a HUD install, best mod I have done
Very

Sorry about your problems, times like this are tough, I went through similar around the time I was 40.

great car

 

Get rid of the "Wagon Wheels" first and foremost. Welcome to the best forum on the www.

 

PS: get rid of the stock shifter, watch the parts section you should be able to get something good (Hurst) for about 100

 

Wheels,shifter and Vararam in that order.

 

Sorry about you misfortunes and loss. Like one poster said make this your mid life celebration!

Since you have a cat back system that you like the sound of then the next logical step is getting air in. Blackwing, etc. Then wheels and probably tires. I don't think you mentioned speed in your post so I'm guessing appearance and drive-ability mods are areas you want to go.

 

Sounds like you have the funds. I'd just start off with a supercharger. Don't make the mistake that many of us have made and spend a fortune on bolt-ons only to later realize that you could've had the s/c. But, no matter what, you'll want to get a stronger clutch and lightnened flywheel.

 

Congrats on the car ..... I'm like you .... can't leave it stock. I feel every car and driver has there own personality ..... you need to match those mods to your car to fit you ...... not what everybody wants or does. You'll have fun doing it. Everybody will expect to see present & future pics.

 

In terms of a CAI, the Vararam has proven results, if you do search here ont he forum, you will find plenty of information on it. Some people complain about the build quality of the parts being a bit cheap, but I've had plenty of these CAI 's in the past and am most satisfied with the vararam.
Before I would give you more advice, what are your plans with this car? Is it going to be just a street machine? Are you going to road race it/Autocross? Quarter mile car? I think this is important to consider before you mod..