[Z06] upgrades vs stock
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Windsor on
upgrades vs stock
I have an 04Z with low mileage, bone stock except for the chrome wheels. runs great. I use the car for shows, cruising, roadtrips, the odd track day. Im thinking on making a few mods, headers, x-pipe, high flow cats, and a cold air intake. Planning on going with the stock ti mufflers and pipes.
What gains can I expect? Any issues with xs heat under hood? Ceramic coated? Sound? Does this change dependability for every day driving?
Im thinking Vararam intake. Does adding a power duct make a difference?
Will the car be more sellable down the road if I just leave it alone?
Feedback from members who already made the mods are appreciated.
What gains can I expect? Any issues with xs heat under hood? Ceramic coated? Sound? Does this change dependability for every day driving?
Im thinking Vararam intake. Does adding a power duct make a difference?
Will the car be more sellable down the road if I just leave it alone?
Feedback from members who already made the mods are appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 56
From: Escondido CA
I'm in the same place as you...just picked up an o4 CE, its my 3rd c5 Z, i have had the other stuff/mods..its always a +and -, stock will usually net the best resale....mods are fun, that extra 30-35hp is great...but usually it just means you loose traction in 1st gear..!
the cars are plenty quick for the street..and there is always somebody faster, better,newer, etc...good luck , here are some pics of my previous vettes, i like um all, wish i had the money to keep um all...
this last one is stock...just gonna drive and enjoy it..do a lot of maint. on it, its 10 yrs old with only 15k mi.the orig owner did not drive it much...so i will..................
good luck with yours...
bud
the cars are plenty quick for the street..and there is always somebody faster, better,newer, etc...good luck , here are some pics of my previous vettes, i like um all, wish i had the money to keep um all...
this last one is stock...just gonna drive and enjoy it..do a lot of maint. on it, its 10 yrs old with only 15k mi.the orig owner did not drive it much...so i will..................
good luck with yours...
bud
Last edited by bud miller; Jan 14, 2014 at 11:26 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
- Header heat can cause clutch pedal issues; definitely get them coated if you do redline shifts on any sort of a regular basis.
- CAI creates a small increase in in-cabin engine noise; headers create a much larger one. You don't have to worry about drone with the stock Ti exhaust, though.
- Driveability and dependability shouldn't be significantly affected, if you get a good tune.
Absolutely, without a doubt. If you're worried about this but still decide to make the modifications, keep all the original parts so you can swap them back on before selling. Then you would also be able to sell the aftermarket parts separately, to recoup some costs.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 15,866
Likes: 196
From: PA
Those are the three of the most common mods for these cars, I doubt it would be worth any less than a stock one when you go to sell it, just keep the original parts. Cold air, headers, xpipe and a tune are relatively minor mods to most people.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 533
Likes: 6
From: Indian Trail NC
I've got an 02 with 87000 miles, vararam intake & power duct, texas speed headers/ x pipe, SLP exhaust, dyno tuned makes 411rwhp, should be around 360rwhp stock, I suggest ceramic coating, keeps them looking new. With just the vararam & exhaust it made 392 rwhp
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 611
Likes: 36
From: Dallas Texas
I have an 04Z with low mileage, bone stock except for the chrome wheels. runs great. I use the car for shows, cruising, roadtrips, the odd track day. Im thinking on making a few mods, headers, x-pipe, high flow cats, and a cold air intake. Planning on going with the stock ti mufflers and pipes.
What gains can I expect? Any issues with xs heat under hood? Ceramic coated? Sound? Does this change dependability for every day driving?
Im thinking Vararam intake. Does adding a power duct make a difference?
Will the car be more sellable down the road if I just leave it alone?
Feedback from members who already made the mods are appreciated.
What gains can I expect? Any issues with xs heat under hood? Ceramic coated? Sound? Does this change dependability for every day driving?
Im thinking Vararam intake. Does adding a power duct make a difference?
Will the car be more sellable down the road if I just leave it alone?
Feedback from members who already made the mods are appreciated.
Performance wise, you won't really notice these upgrades. CAI = ~5hp; headers with high flow cats and X pipe = ~15hp. A new tune after those mods will bump that ~20hp increase up to ~35hp. However, if you add a new cam to this list of mods, you can get a total of ~70hp. I did these incremental mods as well (K&N CAI, AR headers, tune). I didn't do ceramic coating on the headers. If you don't track the car hard, I expect you won't have heat issues. If you do track the car hard, you will have temp issues regardless of coating on the headers. The only way to keep temps under control in race like conditions is to add a bigger radiator, oil cooler, diff cooler, and trans cooler. Stock Ti mufflers with headers sounds really good and doesn't bother the neighbors nearly as much as headers with Borla stingers (I tried both, got a call from the neighbors with the headers and Borla stingers combo as I would leave for the track at 5:30 AM).
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 41
From: Chesterfield (St. Louis) MO
With a Halltech, AR 1 7/8" ceramic coated headers + high flow catted X pipe, and tune, mine put down 386WHP/372WTQ SAE. Drivability is as good as stock if not better.
Last edited by 95rtturbo; Jan 16, 2014 at 08:33 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
My first two mods were CAI and ported TB. They didn't really give a noticeable SOTP difference in acceleration. After the headers and tune however, there was a very distinct improvement in mid-range power and throttle response.
The tune is all-important, though. I actually wasn't happy with the car after the initial installation and tune, so I took it to a different tuner (RPM Motors in Santa Clarita, CA), and there was a night and day difference.
The tune is all-important, though. I actually wasn't happy with the car after the initial installation and tune, so I took it to a different tuner (RPM Motors in Santa Clarita, CA), and there was a night and day difference.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 41
From: Chesterfield (St. Louis) MO
I asked a simple question - I would like to see the chart for comparison. 411 for bolt ons (no cam) is definitely not the norm. And yes I realize dynos read differently, but typically not to that extreme.
Last edited by 95rtturbo; Jan 16, 2014 at 02:16 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 164
From: MA
I just bought a bone stock '03 C5 Z as well. I am not touching the exhaust as it sounds decent from the factory and I like that it is Titanium and light weight. I plan on adding headers/intake/custom dyno tune and that's really it. I would like to cam it but then you're doing something that is more difficult to "un-do" most people would consider intake/headers/tune tasteful value-adding mods and its easy to return to stock, but once you open the motor up it changes the game.
I do plan on getting the valve springs replaced as well as I've heard there can be issues and I want to avoid that if I can. My car only has 13,300 original miles so the owner barely used it which may increase the risk of valve spring failure and that can take the whole engine out.
I do plan on getting the valve springs replaced as well as I've heard there can be issues and I want to avoid that if I can. My car only has 13,300 original miles so the owner barely used it which may increase the risk of valve spring failure and that can take the whole engine out.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 594
Likes: 51
From: Kenosha WI
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I got the typical bolt-ons and a full exhaust but left the titanium axle back on for the weight savings BUT did the bypass mod and absolutely love the way the car sounds and think this is the way it should of sounded from the factory. Quiet while normal driving and sounds like a race car under full throttle. I gotta give a big thumbs up to Joel and the guys over at Blackdog racing in Lincolnshire IL who did the install and tune, drives awesome....... 386whp/376trq
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
I have LS7 Exhaust manifolds/Hpipe to stock Ti mufflers, Sounds great (quiet still but louder deeper then stock). I would look at a Haltech Intake or Callaway Honker as well. fit nice and looks good. Uses OEM parts so it is high quality and you can also eliminate the AIR injection system to clean up the engine bay for the Show part of it. Some guys have coated the manifolds and others have polished them, they look nice.
My dyno with Intake/Airbridge/Powercouple/LS7 Exhaust and tune 383hp 358tq
Can be found for 300-400 Bux and Perform very well.
What you will need:
My dyno with Intake/Airbridge/Powercouple/LS7 Exhaust and tune 383hp 358tq
Can be found for 300-400 Bux and Perform very well.
What you will need:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
I'm in the same place as you...just picked up an o4 CE, its my 3rd c5 Z, i have had the other stuff/mods..its always a +and -, stock will usually net the best resale....mods are fun, that extra 30-35hp is great...but usually it just means you loose traction in 1st gear..!
the cars are plenty quick for the street..and there is always somebody faster, better,newer, etc...good luck , here are some pics of my previous vettes, i like um all, wish i had the money to keep um all...
the cars are plenty quick for the street..and there is always somebody faster, better,newer, etc...good luck , here are some pics of my previous vettes, i like um all, wish i had the money to keep um all...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Windsor on
great feedback
Thanks for some great advice. The pics sent were helpful, some really nice rides also. I'm just researching what parts I want to run, before pulling the trigger. Lots of exhaust manufacturers to choose from for headers, cats, x-pipe. Vararam CAI seems to be a no brainer. I'm planning on going to Bowling Green this August, first timer for the event. I'm sure i'll see every combination imaginable. Can't wait, winter here has been brutal.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 164
From: MA
I don't think it's that crazy. My 03 w/ vararam only just put down 365whp on an extremely stingy mustang dyno. I previously dynoed my G8GT at this same shop with LT headers, no cats, X pipe, catback, ported TB, vararam, tune it put down 339whp, similar weather same mods the car laid down 352whp on a dynojet. Some dynojets read 5-10% higher. My tuner told me he would expect 390-400ish after ported TB and LTs after seeing 365 w/ just the vararam
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 14
From: Honolulu, HI
I personally was most impressed with the following mods.
1. Coilovers (with corner-weighing done)
2. Tune
3. HID headlights
4. Partition divider
The other stuff has been nice, but if IMO these were the the big improvements.
The coilovers transformed the car's handling, the Tune made a noticeable difference in power and throttle response. It also removed the skip shift feature. The HID headlights were expensive but well worth it. The partition divider kocked down a ton of drone, and noise in the cabin.
1. Coilovers (with corner-weighing done)
2. Tune
3. HID headlights
4. Partition divider
The other stuff has been nice, but if IMO these were the the big improvements.
The coilovers transformed the car's handling, the Tune made a noticeable difference in power and throttle response. It also removed the skip shift feature. The HID headlights were expensive but well worth it. The partition divider kocked down a ton of drone, and noise in the cabin.