Question about performance upgrades
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 28
From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
Question about performance upgrades
I've been reading about performance upgrades. I have no current plans, I intend to keep mine stock for now.
It looks like most have the facilities, tools, and skills to do the work themselves. Living in an apartment, I've never been able to work on my cars, so I have none of those.
I assume the mods, especially adding things like turbos and superchargers eliminates the possibility of taking the car to the local mechanic or dealer for service. They would look and say "I don't know what that is, I'm not touching it".
If you have the work done by someone else, does that mean if you move away from your shop you have to sell the car? What if you have a breakdown while on a road trip?
It looks like most have the facilities, tools, and skills to do the work themselves. Living in an apartment, I've never been able to work on my cars, so I have none of those.
I assume the mods, especially adding things like turbos and superchargers eliminates the possibility of taking the car to the local mechanic or dealer for service. They would look and say "I don't know what that is, I'm not touching it".
If you have the work done by someone else, does that mean if you move away from your shop you have to sell the car? What if you have a breakdown while on a road trip?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
That's a valid concern for sure. I build and work on my own stuff and did it for a living years ago, so most trouble I can take care of myself. BUT if you don't have the ability or the facilities to address these situations then you are certainly at the mercy of everyone. Being an apartment dweller has it's restrictions for you which make doing anything a risky problem. Finding a retail shop with technicians who can do quality work is another problem all together. If I were in your shoes, I'd likely stay with stock and just find a local shop who does fair work.
The goal for you would be to buy your own place and build your own work shop so you can build whatever car you want.
The goal for you would be to buy your own place and build your own work shop so you can build whatever car you want.
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
As far as simple bolt-ons are concerned you would be fine. The car will still run and drive with no abnormal problems. I think once you go into the motor or go forced induction that throws you into a whole new level where you would want a reputable mechanic working on your car who actually knows what they're doing.
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
That's a valid concern for sure. I build and work on my own stuff and did it for a living years ago, so most trouble I can take care of myself. BUT if you don't have the ability or the facilities to address these situations then you are certainly at the mercy of everyone. Being an apartment dweller has it's restrictions for you which make doing anything a risky problem. Finding a retail shop with technicians who can do quality work is another problem all together. If I were in your shoes, I'd likely stay with stock and just find a local shop who does fair work.
The goal for you would be to buy your own place and build your own work shop so you can build whatever car you want.
The goal for you would be to buy your own place and build your own work shop so you can build whatever car you want.
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As far as simple bolt-ons are concerned you would be fine. The car will still run and drive with no abnormal problems. I think once you go into the motor or go forced induction that throws you into a whole new level where you would want a reputable mechanic working on your car who actually knows what they're doing.
The more complicated the mod, the more concern I would have in finding someone who could work on the car if you moved to a new location and couldn't get back to the installing shop very easily.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,404
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
I've been reading about performance upgrades. I have no current plans, I intend to keep mine stock for now.
It looks like most have the facilities, tools, and skills to do the work themselves. Living in an apartment, I've never been able to work on my cars, so I have none of those.
I assume the mods, especially adding things like turbos and superchargers eliminates the possibility of taking the car to the local mechanic or dealer for service. They would look and say "I don't know what that is, I'm not touching it".
If you have the work done by someone else, does that mean if you move away from your shop you have to sell the car? What if you have a breakdown while on a road trip?
It looks like most have the facilities, tools, and skills to do the work themselves. Living in an apartment, I've never been able to work on my cars, so I have none of those.
I assume the mods, especially adding things like turbos and superchargers eliminates the possibility of taking the car to the local mechanic or dealer for service. They would look and say "I don't know what that is, I'm not touching it".
If you have the work done by someone else, does that mean if you move away from your shop you have to sell the car? What if you have a breakdown while on a road trip?
Just curious, what area do you live in? There are some reputable shops around, maybe we could steer you to one...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 28
From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
I don't like Lafayette and intend to move in the near future, where to is still up in the air.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
My issue with upgrades is not so much repair, but reliability. I have seen some serious builds on this site and when I inquired about some common upgrades, I was lead to believe the reliability would plummet.
Case in point:
New cam and new springs means new springs every 10k miles. I have driven my car 30k in less than a year, I am not about to replace valve springs every 3 months for a few extra ponies.
Shocks and sway bars will net me another maybe 100k miles. That I can live with.
Case in point:
New cam and new springs means new springs every 10k miles. I have driven my car 30k in less than a year, I am not about to replace valve springs every 3 months for a few extra ponies.
Shocks and sway bars will net me another maybe 100k miles. That I can live with.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,404
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
My issue with upgrades is not so much repair, but reliability. I have seen some serious builds on this site and when I inquired about some common upgrades, I was lead to believe the reliability would plummet.
Case in point:
New cam and new springs means new springs every 10k miles. I have driven my car 30k in less than a year, I am not about to replace valve springs every 3 months for a few extra ponies.
Shocks and sway bars will net me another maybe 100k miles. That I can live with.
Case in point:
New cam and new springs means new springs every 10k miles. I have driven my car 30k in less than a year, I am not about to replace valve springs every 3 months for a few extra ponies.
Shocks and sway bars will net me another maybe 100k miles. That I can live with.
Good Point!
It's a corny saying, but one that a former neighbor told me that his father used to say it..."The more you're under the hood, the more you're under the hood"!
Given my 40+ years of automotive adventures, I think there's some truth there, corny or not...
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Joined: Dec 2010
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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if I didn't have the skills/means to work on my own car or couldn't afford to take it to a shop I personally wouldn't own a vette, not to mention modding one which can get real expensive real fast if you're like me... if I could just leave it stock and just drive it then I guess it could work
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
if I didn't have the skills/means to work on my own car or couldn't afford to take it to a shop I personally wouldn't own a vette, not to mention modding one which can get real expensive real fast if you're like me... if I could just leave it stock and just drive it then I guess it could work
So far I've only had to install new headlights, a battery, an LMC5, hyperflash relay, and yesterday replaced my first turn signal bulb (did it through the brake vent hole, even with my fat hands).
Between this forum and youtube, I have found the answers to any problem I have faced in the year I've had it. I have a feeling I will need to have the clutch done as I lack the equipment to do it correctly and will pay someone a lot to do it. But I will also upgrade it to the LS7 clutch and get at least another 100k miles out of it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 28
From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
I'm hoping I won't have many maintenance issues with mine. It only has 16000 miles on it. I was concerned there would be a lot of parts that needed replacing due to age, mainly the belts and hoses. The mechanic said all was good. The only thing I know of is a small AC leak.
