[Z06] Help me MOD my 2003 C5Z06
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Cornelius NC
Help me MOD my 2003 C5Z06
I'd like to get your opinion on what would be the easiest way to MOD my 2003 C5Z06.
Specifically - only interested in boosting the HP, and would like to do this with as little change to stock as possible.
I would be happy with anything in the 450HP - 550HP range.
Of course I am very happy with car in pure stock, and yes I understand the value of keeping it stock and no I do not have my heart set on any MODS.
But your opinions, as usual, are extremely informative!
Specifically - only interested in boosting the HP, and would like to do this with as little change to stock as possible.
I would be happy with anything in the 450HP - 550HP range.
Of course I am very happy with car in pure stock, and yes I understand the value of keeping it stock and no I do not have my heart set on any MODS.
But your opinions, as usual, are extremely informative!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
I've been through all the usual steps, as I could afford, and my confidence grew. So much for my bonifides.....
I'd recommend LT headers as my first mod, too. It's a base from which every other mod will benefit. As to major mods needed to achieve your goal of 450-550 hp, (I'll assume RW) then you need to decide first whether or not you're planning on using a power adder. If you're a die-hard all motor type of guy, you can achieve around 450 pretty easily, without getting into the shortblock. At this point, things start getting more difficult, and you have to support the extra HP with drivetrain parts that can take it, starting with a clutch. The simplest way to get the HP is a centrifical supercharger. For about $4500-7500, depending on kit, and DIY or not, you'll easily get 500, or more. This level is achievable NA, but it takes a perfect combination, and a generous dyno operator. If I had it to do over, I'd skip the heads/cam/FAST step, and go right to a power adder.
I'd recommend LT headers as my first mod, too. It's a base from which every other mod will benefit. As to major mods needed to achieve your goal of 450-550 hp, (I'll assume RW) then you need to decide first whether or not you're planning on using a power adder. If you're a die-hard all motor type of guy, you can achieve around 450 pretty easily, without getting into the shortblock. At this point, things start getting more difficult, and you have to support the extra HP with drivetrain parts that can take it, starting with a clutch. The simplest way to get the HP is a centrifical supercharger. For about $4500-7500, depending on kit, and DIY or not, you'll easily get 500, or more. This level is achievable NA, but it takes a perfect combination, and a generous dyno operator. If I had it to do over, I'd skip the heads/cam/FAST step, and go right to a power adder.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
To get that power at the rear wheels you can go at least 3 different ways.
1. NOX, although many people do not recommend it.
2. Heads and cam. Costly, requires going into the engine, and may affect drivability.
3. Supercharger or turbochargers. Will cost more but will give you the best power increase without going into the engine.
With all of the above, you would benefit from a cold air intake and long tube headers. It would be somewhat pointless to not do them. Also, a better clutch would be a necessity.
And a larger throttle body and different intake could be beneficial.
It all really depends on your budget, what you want to do with the car, and your driving ability. If you cannot get all the car has to offer out of it as it is now then driving school would be a nice modification.
1. NOX, although many people do not recommend it.
2. Heads and cam. Costly, requires going into the engine, and may affect drivability.
3. Supercharger or turbochargers. Will cost more but will give you the best power increase without going into the engine.
With all of the above, you would benefit from a cold air intake and long tube headers. It would be somewhat pointless to not do them. Also, a better clutch would be a necessity.
And a larger throttle body and different intake could be beneficial.
It all really depends on your budget, what you want to do with the car, and your driving ability. If you cannot get all the car has to offer out of it as it is now then driving school would be a nice modification.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 488
Likes: 8
From: Datil NM
Enjoy the car for a year before you start adding power. It's a fast car stock. Get to know it and learn how to drive it. The weather will be getting nice soon and you shoud be driving it! I've had mine for 4 years and it's still stock and I've put about 40K miles on it. If I were to add power, I'd go with a blower. There's quite a few excellent products available. But drive it for through the summer and then make up your mind.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
Unless you are going to roadcoarse much, I'd go right for a Centri Supercharger (great for street cars or drag cars.) You can gain 150+ hp with just that, and not have to change hood as with a screw style blower. And significantly cheaper than most turbo kits. You can spend just as much on full bolt-ons + heads, cam etc. and still not end up with near the power output of just bolting on a centrifugal blower in the first place.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Cornelius NC
Enjoy the car for a year before you start adding power. It's a fast car stock. Get to know it and learn how to drive it. The weather will be getting nice soon and you shoud be driving it! I've had mine for 4 years and it's still stock and I've put about 40K miles on it. If I were to add power, I'd go with a blower. There's quite a few excellent products available. But drive it for through the summer and then make up your mind.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
I thought about the idea of "learning to drive it as is", but decided that I did not want to learn to drive it twice. I bought my Z and put C6 rims and nitto tires on it the first week I had it. The second week it went to the shop. It has headers, cam, cai, ported TB, UD pulley and tune. It made 425rwhp. Now I am learning to drive it once and I get better every time I get in it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
I thought about the idea of "learning to drive it as is", but decided that I did not want to learn to drive it twice. I bought my Z and put C6 rims and nitto tires on it the first week I had it. The second week it went to the shop. It has headers, cam, cai, ported TB, UD pulley and tune. It made 425rwhp. Now I am learning to drive it once and I get better every time I get in it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 264
From: Near Charlotte NC
Assuming the car has new/almost new plugs,wires,fuel regulator,all fluids have been changed...this is what I suggest (and did to my 02Z).
Add a CAI,Street tune,Short shifter,Upgrade the shocks,brakes and tires.Improving your driving skills is always a good mod.
Enjoy this level for several months( I stopped here)......IF you need more horses,go with headers,cam,heads...and don't forget to upgrade the clutch,trans & diff if needed.
This should be 450 easy......
As always,IMO.Opinions & Results vary.
\db2
carolina
Add a CAI,Street tune,Short shifter,Upgrade the shocks,brakes and tires.Improving your driving skills is always a good mod.
Enjoy this level for several months( I stopped here)......IF you need more horses,go with headers,cam,heads...and don't forget to upgrade the clutch,trans & diff if needed.
This should be 450 easy......
As always,IMO.Opinions & Results vary.
\db2
carolina
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Cornelius NC
I guess every person has their own pace that feels the most comfortable. I started with a base C4 way back in 1990 and it was all the car I needed at the time. 3 years later I was looking for more punch and in 93 bought a Base C4 with a 383 Lingenfelter package pushing out 440 HP. That put a smile on my face for almost 18 years! So I don't mind learning to drive a corvette 2 or 3 times ... or 4 or 5 or ... anytime I get to drive a vette I am pretty happy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
Curious why you suggest doing the bolt-ons first?
When an A&A kit on a bone stock C5Z will put out around 520 at the wheels (approx. 590hp engine horse power.) If the OP would be satisfied with that power level wouldn't the bolt ons be a considerable extra expense?
When an A&A kit on a bone stock C5Z will put out around 520 at the wheels (approx. 590hp engine horse power.) If the OP would be satisfied with that power level wouldn't the bolt ons be a considerable extra expense?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Cornelius NC
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Louisiana
I only drive it on non-work days or special events. (Less than 9k a year.) It may seem like an odd set-up, but I run Nitto NT05R up front, and Nitto 555RII in the rear. I have 380 tq to the tires and I cant break them loose. High speed handling stays planted as well. I may go with new fronts though when they wear down.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 313
Likes: 1
From: Cypress, TX
Bash's Guide to modding your Stock c5z06:
Done in order:
1. Tires (Drag Radial/High Performance Summer Tire; these are a must) ($300-600)
2. Longtubes/Midpipe ($800-1600)
3. Vararam/Intake of your choice ($400-500)
4. Short shifter and a Tune (SS = $150-300) (Tune = $600)
*** At this point you can decide which of the following routes you'd like to go, most of your mods will transfer over (unless you go turbo...ect)***
[x] Route 1: Bolt-on Supercharger & Clutch ($4000-$6000+) [depending on where you go and if you do the work yourself/ or what deal you can get]
[x] Route 2: Install a Cam/Heads Combo ($3000-$4000+) [depending on where you go and if you do the work yourself/ or what deal you can get]
+ Route 2a: Add nitrous/clutch to the combo ($500-????)
[x] Route 3: Install Nitrous & a Clutch ($1500+)
[x] Route 4: Go all out and get a TT kit ($7000+)
Either route will get you to the power you desire, its all about how much you wanna spend and how reliable you want things to be. Also depends on your preference (some people love the N/A Power, some love S/C)
Done in order:
1. Tires (Drag Radial/High Performance Summer Tire; these are a must) ($300-600)
2. Longtubes/Midpipe ($800-1600)
3. Vararam/Intake of your choice ($400-500)
4. Short shifter and a Tune (SS = $150-300) (Tune = $600)
*** At this point you can decide which of the following routes you'd like to go, most of your mods will transfer over (unless you go turbo...ect)***
[x] Route 1: Bolt-on Supercharger & Clutch ($4000-$6000+) [depending on where you go and if you do the work yourself/ or what deal you can get]
[x] Route 2: Install a Cam/Heads Combo ($3000-$4000+) [depending on where you go and if you do the work yourself/ or what deal you can get]
+ Route 2a: Add nitrous/clutch to the combo ($500-????)
[x] Route 3: Install Nitrous & a Clutch ($1500+)
[x] Route 4: Go all out and get a TT kit ($7000+)
Either route will get you to the power you desire, its all about how much you wanna spend and how reliable you want things to be. Also depends on your preference (some people love the N/A Power, some love S/C)
Last edited by Bash; Feb 10, 2011 at 03:33 PM.