Hi All,
New C5 Corvette owner here, 1st Corvette too
(a 2000 CONVERTIBLE)
I have a question,is the C5 Corvette BHP Underrated
BHP 345... Is this a true BHP horsepower Stat?


Thanks to all
Martin
Easton, CT

 

Funny, I asked the same question a month or so ago. I think it is underrated myself, but only a dyno and 10 or so STOCK Vettes would give us a good average.

 

I believe it is a correct rating at the flywheel. I got my first vet a few months back, and I went on a little search to find out how to get more HPs. I spoke with Tony of Tony's Corvettes, and we had great conversation. While it has been some many years sense I've been around race/sporty cars, we seemed to have the same understandings about how to get HP from a motor, however Tony is much more familure and experianced with the LSx and SB motors that I. On the old Chevy small block motors we seem to be in sync about things.

So with all this, he said the stock motor rating was very accurate at the flywheel. C5's loose 20% to 30% to the rear wheels depending on transmission. This should give us about 270 to the rear wheels. He said he has both engine and wheel dynos at his place and has run these things up many times. I don't really mean to quote Tony here though.

While I like the stocker LS1 power and it's very good, my old SB 69 camero was faster and felt faster also. But I ain't complaining. Small mods may gain 30 or so HPs but not all will reach the rear wheels.

Once I can get my children out of the house (and purse), I hope to do some HP changes. In my searching and pricing, I think I may just swap motors and go to a LS3 or LS6 motor. I've seen all these little mods of ram air this, headers, cat backs, H pipes. Geeze a person can spend a small forture (about 1/2) of what a new JEGS/GMHP motor would cost.
To get some real HP out of the LS1 you need to change heads, cam and let it breath with all the small mods above. So why not just bolt in a stocker "LS bigger motor" and let it run stock. IMHO

Anyway just felt like writing, enjoy your vet. They are still fun the way they are. Not really the big gorella but good gorella.

 

A decent heads/cam package on an LS1 will run you about 5-6k $$(assuming you have a shop install it) If you run a midsize cam in an LS1 like I do, you can easily get about 410 RWHP (about 450 at flywheel). You will pay alot more for a new LS3 or LS6 motor, and not even be close to that in RWHP. An LS6 (stock) will make about 355RWHP (give or take) an LS3 would make about 380 RWHP..so closer but still not at the same level as a camed LS1.

In addition, if you add a blower to an LS1 with a good safe tune, you can jump the power up to anywhere between 450 and 550RWHP, again depending, that will run you more along the lines of 8-10k installed with supporting mods, so closer to a new engine price.

If I were to upgrade to another engine in my C5, I would do the LS7 at a minimum (450RWHP).

Just so more food for thought, You can get alot of power out of an LS1 and still be cheaper than moving to an LS3 or LS6, not that big a difference in power(if you are talking stock) really.

 

There is no doubt that the LS1 motor has a lot of potential HPs. The small heads will need to be replaced in order to get there. I call them small because of valves and CC. A blower is a quick megga HP gain, but they are pretty pricey too. But as a wise man once told me, "money equals HP" or was it HP = money.

I was just thinking of the work and money involved, that an engine swap my be the easiest and almost cost effective, JEGS LS6 for $7441. I'm sure that there are other excellent motor builders that might take less for the same type of motor. Plus the up side is you would have a LS1 to play with as time goes by. A motor project, woohoo! And even in that case you could piock up a used LS1 motor, build it and do the swap thing for maybe the same as new "LS bigger".

Looking at the over all for me, mine is still the DD. I drive in Washington DC suburban traffic, which sucks. I've driven in many countries and many US cities, this is up there in the top 5 worst if not number one. I don't want to go too wild of cam and have lurching problems at traffic lights and all. I'm auto trans.

Anyway, thanks for the discussion and ideas. The ideal for me is to have two (or more) C5's, a hot one, a DD, and who knows what. Like Tim "The Toolman" Taylor says "more power, oue, oue oue ahh ahh ahh.

 

Congrats on getting the vert - hope you enjoy it. I'd say the hp ratings are pretty accurate for at the flywheel. To get RWHP, take about 15% off for a manual tranny and about 18% off for an auto.

 

Welcome, and congrats.....

These guys did a great job explaining flywheel/tranny/rwhp.

 

Welcome to the forum Martin & congrats on the new C5!
Glad to see another CT Vette guy. Bring that vert up to the NW corner where you can really air it out!

 

Welcome to the madness!! No matter what you come up with ,,someone here will probably have an answer!!!!