LS1 improvments
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
LS1 improvments
hi everyone, i don't post alot as i am new to Corvette's, (been lusting over them my whole life though 
) and have been searching and reading tons. still, with all the research there seems an endless supply of knowledge and ideas on here, it's amazing! i bought my first Corvette in aug of this year, a 2003 torch red vert 6 speed. when i was test driving cars i also drove a Z06 of the same vintage (same color too), it was hard to decide between the two, but i got a better deal on the vert. what my main question is, can a person get Z06 like performance from the LS1 in my vert with just bolt ons? or am i asking a little too much? i really loved both cars but the deal and driving with the top down was just too good to pass up. if i could get my vert to perform close to the Z (with a moderate investment) i could have the best of both world's.
thanks Julian. aka the duce
) and have been searching and reading tons. still, with all the research there seems an endless supply of knowledge and ideas on here, it's amazing! i bought my first Corvette in aug of this year, a 2003 torch red vert 6 speed. when i was test driving cars i also drove a Z06 of the same vintage (same color too), it was hard to decide between the two, but i got a better deal on the vert. what my main question is, can a person get Z06 like performance from the LS1 in my vert with just bolt ons? or am i asking a little too much? i really loved both cars but the deal and driving with the top down was just too good to pass up. if i could get my vert to perform close to the Z (with a moderate investment) i could have the best of both world's.thanks Julian. aka the duce
Instructor
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From: Prince Frederick maryland
Simple answer is yes! Long tube headers and an intake should be first then heads and a cam will get you all the way there. Or a supercharger will put you past that point. Just check your wallet. 
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The LS1 is very mod friendly and the HP can be bumped up pretty easily. Just takes the money to get past the Vette Tax.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
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From: Vancouver Island
My car is a 6 speed so it should be 3.42 in the diff already (please correct me if I am wrong) and I believe as posted above my car has a Z06 intake as well?
Duce
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
Ok, this looks like its going to work out just fine for my LS1 improvement plan.
What parts do you guys recommend? If I stick to name brand stuff I should be ok? So my list looks like this, CAI , long tube headers, x-over pipe with high flow cats, and a better than stock flowing muffler setup plus a good tune and I should be there. Or at least till I either get used to it or the mod bug bites me again. thanks for all the help and replies!
Duce
What parts do you guys recommend? If I stick to name brand stuff I should be ok? So my list looks like this, CAI , long tube headers, x-over pipe with high flow cats, and a better than stock flowing muffler setup plus a good tune and I should be there. Or at least till I either get used to it or the mod bug bites me again.
thanks for all the help and replies!Duce
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,483
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From: Lake Tapps WA.
Ok, this looks like its going to work out just fine for my LS1 improvement plan.
What parts do you guys recommend? If I stick to name brand stuff I should be ok? So my list looks like this, CAI , long tube headers, x-over pipe with high flow cats, and a better than stock flowing muffler setup plus a good tune and I should be there. Or at least till I either get used to it or the mod bug bites me again. thanks for all the help and replies!
Duce
What parts do you guys recommend? If I stick to name brand stuff I should be ok? So my list looks like this, CAI , long tube headers, x-over pipe with high flow cats, and a better than stock flowing muffler setup plus a good tune and I should be there. Or at least till I either get used to it or the mod bug bites me again.
thanks for all the help and replies!Duce
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From: cookeville tennessee
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Long tube headers and hiflow cats and minimum of C5 Z06 Titanium mufflers + DYNO Tune with all of that you will see right about 355+ RWHP - which is right around what a stock LS6 C5 Z06 puts out at the RW's
Do a Heads and Cam with the above mentioned mods and you will have an easy 440+ RWHP
But if you really want to spend the money right and get the most Dollar for HP then bolt on a A&A Corvette Supercharger set-up and a DYNO tune and you will have 525+ RWHP in stock form and it will CO$T the same if not less!
FI is the best way to go and it is safe too!
Thanks,Matt
Do a Heads and Cam with the above mentioned mods and you will have an easy 440+ RWHP
But if you really want to spend the money right and get the most Dollar for HP then bolt on a A&A Corvette Supercharger set-up and a DYNO tune and you will have 525+ RWHP in stock form
and it will CO$T the same if not less! FI is the best way to go and it is safe too!
Thanks,Matt
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From: Somewhere in Mo
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From my knowledge I agree with Matt.
It doesn't take much to equal the Z06 in HP.
I think some folks were saying they added 40 HP to the RW with a vararam, headers and aftermarket mufflers + a tune. That's more than adding 50 HP to the crank.
It doesn't take much to equal the Z06 in HP.
I think some folks were saying they added 40 HP to the RW with a vararam, headers and aftermarket mufflers + a tune. That's more than adding 50 HP to the crank.
Team Owner
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From: cookeville tennessee
bUT IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY DO LIKE MATT HAS SAID YOU WILL BE MUCH BETTER OFF.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
Lots of good idea's, thanks! I thought about the A&A kit but the price is a little steep for me right now. But with the bolt ons I can chip away at it as the money flow allows. Plus I am not sure if I need that kind of power? I found the stock Z06 was pretty quick, maybe even quick enough to keep me happy for sometime. I guess with all things there comes a time when you get used to it and need more.
Duce
Duce
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Austin, Texas
The best thing is that you can buy all of the parts in the "C5 Parts for Sale" section, and save a ton of money.
For a total of ~$1300 I was able to buy LT headers/X-pipe, Z06 cat back, and a Blackwing intake. Installed with the help of some friends for ~$200, and add a Dyno tune for $300, and for well less than $2K I was at 352 RWHP...
Oh, don't for get to add Z06 shocks and sway bars, for ~$250, Z06 springs if you are really aggressive (I didn't do that), and it will now corner like a Z06!!! I had a base suspension, but this may not be necessary if you already have the Z51 suspension.
I did this all about three or four years ago so prices may have come down a bit since then.
roscoe
For a total of ~$1300 I was able to buy LT headers/X-pipe, Z06 cat back, and a Blackwing intake. Installed with the help of some friends for ~$200, and add a Dyno tune for $300, and for well less than $2K I was at 352 RWHP...
Oh, don't for get to add Z06 shocks and sway bars, for ~$250, Z06 springs if you are really aggressive (I didn't do that), and it will now corner like a Z06!!! I had a base suspension, but this may not be necessary if you already have the Z51 suspension.
I did this all about three or four years ago so prices may have come down a bit since then.
roscoe
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
The best thing is that you can buy all of the parts in the "C5 Parts for Sale" section, and save a ton of money.
For a total of ~$1300 I was able to buy LT headers/X-pipe, Z06 cat back, and a Blackwing intake. Installed with the help of some friends for ~$200, and add a Dyno tune for $300, and for well less than $2K I was at 352 RWHP...
Oh, don't for get to add Z06 shocks and sway bars, for ~$250, Z06 springs if you are really aggressive (I didn't do that), and it will now corner like a Z06!!! I had a base suspension, but this may not be necessary if you already have the Z51 suspension.
I did this all about three or four years ago so prices may have come down a bit since then.
roscoe
For a total of ~$1300 I was able to buy LT headers/X-pipe, Z06 cat back, and a Blackwing intake. Installed with the help of some friends for ~$200, and add a Dyno tune for $300, and for well less than $2K I was at 352 RWHP...
Oh, don't for get to add Z06 shocks and sway bars, for ~$250, Z06 springs if you are really aggressive (I didn't do that), and it will now corner like a Z06!!! I had a base suspension, but this may not be necessary if you already have the Z51 suspension.
I did this all about three or four years ago so prices may have come down a bit since then.
roscoe
Duce