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Basic Bolt On Upgrades!!!

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Old May 31, 2016 | 12:22 PM
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Default Basic Bolt On Upgrades!!!

So after much thought about it, I decided to go forward with some upgrades to the ride . As of tomorrow, she should be rocking a set of 1 7/8" TSP headers, x pipe with high flow cats, a CAI, upgraded plugs and wires and a 160 thermostat.

We ran a baseline dyno last Friday and imagine my surprise when she put down 309 RWHP and 367 RWTQ on a factory tune!

Any ideas where I might end up after the mods are installed and tuned? Also, anything I need to watch out for or look for when getting the car back?
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Old May 31, 2016 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by bluemike28
So after much thought about it, I decided to go forward with some upgrades to the ride . As of tomorrow, she should be rocking a set of 1 7/8" TSP headers, x pipe with high flow cats, a CAI, upgraded plugs and wires and a 160 thermostat.

We ran a baseline dyno last Friday and imagine my surprise when she put down 309 RWHP and 367 RWTQ on a factory tune!

Any ideas where I might end up after the mods are installed and tuned? Also, anything I need to watch out for or look for when getting the car back?
330 to 340 ????
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Old May 31, 2016 | 12:49 PM
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TSP make 1 7/8" headers? Assuming LS1; you should get 30-35 including tune?

Last edited by grantv; May 31, 2016 at 12:49 PM.
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Old May 31, 2016 | 12:51 PM
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Sweet mike! I'm thinking the same, around 30ish...Are you going to cars and coffee this saturday?
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Old May 31, 2016 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Christian327
Sweet mike! I'm thinking the same, around 30ish...Are you going to cars and coffee this saturday?
Where is the meet being held? I certainly would like to show up with the new mods assuming the weather holds out!
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Old May 31, 2016 | 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by grantv
TSP make 1 7/8" headers? Assuming LS1; you should get 30-35 including tune?
I had actually been focused on the 1 3/4 primaries but the shop I am working with advised to me they would be 1 7/8" instead. Perhaps I misheard but I do believe that TSP only makes the 1 7/8" for the C5 now.

Also, yes LS1 but I do have the LS6 intake manifold and block as mine is an '03.
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Old May 31, 2016 | 01:15 PM
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I love mods! Great choices
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Old May 31, 2016 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by SuperTom
I love mods! Great choices
I really like the headlights upgrade on your Vette!
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Old May 31, 2016 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by bluemike28
where is the meet being held? I certainly would like to show up with the new mods assuming the weather holds out!
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^^^
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Old May 31, 2016 | 09:07 PM
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I'll guess you should end up with around 340 or so rwhp. Let us know how it ends up.
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 03:10 PM
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Update: Parts are going in today, saw the headers installed around lunch time and everything should be bolted up and ready for the dyno by end of day. I am hoping to have her back in my hands by tomorrow night!!!

On the down side, we found the F55 shocks are leaking at all four corners. This is especially disappointing as they were all replaced last August so I am having to pursue a warranty claim with AC Delco to get it all sorted. At least the warranty means I wont have to be out of pocket all that money since the shocks are notoriously expensive. Fingers crossed AC Delco comes through and stands behind the parts.
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by bluemike28
So after much thought about it, I decided to go forward with some upgrades to the ride . As of tomorrow, she should be rocking a set of 1 7/8" TSP headers, x pipe with high flow cats, a CAI, upgraded plugs and wires and a 160 thermostat.

We ran a baseline dyno last Friday and imagine my surprise when she put down 309 RWHP and 367 RWTQ on a factory tune!

Any ideas where I might end up after the mods are installed and tuned? Also, anything I need to watch out for or look for when getting the car back?
LS6 intake and ARH headers with dyno tune got me 340 at the wheels

Last edited by jjc508520; Jun 6, 2016 at 03:46 PM.
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by bluemike28
Update: Parts are going in today, saw the headers installed around lunch time and everything should be bolted up and ready for the dyno by end of day. I am hoping to have her back in my hands by tomorrow night!!!

On the down side, we found the F55 shocks are leaking at all four corners. This is especially disappointing as they were all replaced last August so I am having to pursue a warranty claim with AC Delco to get it all sorted. At least the warranty means I wont have to be out of pocket all that money since the shocks are notoriously expensive. Fingers crossed AC Delco comes through and stands behind the parts.
Upgrade to the C6 Z06 shocks...
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 73Corvette
Upgrade to the C6 Z06 shocks...
I have to admit I really like the F55 as I live in Houston where many of the roads are crap to put it lightly. The Tour mode makes the ride quite nice and then when I find a fast sweeper for example, I can tighten the car up at the flip of a switch. That said, I don't like it enough to drop another 5K on replacing the shocks again. If AC Delco honors the warranty on the parts, then I will be riding F55 until the next go round but if not, then I think the C6 Z06 shocks are in my future.

Any feedback on what I can expect as far as ride quality? Are my kidneys going to be bruised from a Sunday cruise?
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by jjc508520
LS6 intake and ARH headers with dyno tune got me 340 at the wheels

I am hoping to see close to 350 at the wheels, fingers crossed. Already have the LS6 intake, and she seemed to be a real hot tune from the factory based on the baseline dyno numbers. That said, I have read enough about dyno's to understand that each one will vary in what it reads and it is really more about being able to measure a difference in output from one change to another, not the final number you see on the graph.

Next up will be a Corsa Extreme axle back system and then who knows. I don't really want to get into H/C/I package or forced induction on this particular car so this might be it for go fast upgrades.
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 05:12 PM
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I would like the F55 as long as it works. If you get new ones then you are off the hook for a while. The leaky shocks could be a blessing in disguise.

I put LS6 cam and 799 heads on mine for ~$900. should add ~65hp. People say I went too mild. I wanted to keep it reliable and don't need huge HP. Just something you may look into in the future.
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob 02
I would like the F55 as long as it works. If you get new ones then you are off the hook for a while. The leaky shocks could be a blessing in disguise.

I put LS6 cam and 799 heads on mine for ~$900. should add ~65hp. People say I went too mild. I wanted to keep it reliable and don't need huge HP. Just something you may look into in the future.
I appreciate the heads up. I am really struggling to come around to doing Heads and a Cam as I am wanting to stay as close to factory or as easily brought back to factory as possible on this Vette. So far everything is easily bolt in/bolt out but Heads and a Cam is a whole other thing.

Did you do anyother mods leading up to the 799 heads? What cam did you go with?
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by bluemike28
I have to admit I really like the F55 as I live in Houston where many of the roads are crap to put it lightly. The Tour mode makes the ride quite nice and then when I find a fast sweeper for example, I can tighten the car up at the flip of a switch. That said, I don't like it enough to drop another 5K on replacing the shocks again. If AC Delco honors the warranty on the parts, then I will be riding F55 until the next go round but if not, then I think the C6 Z06 shocks are in my future.

Any feedback on what I can expect as far as ride quality? Are my kidneys going to be bruised from a Sunday cruise?


YES... we took our car on an Arkansas excursion last year... about 1700 miles worth... as soon as we got home the C6 Z06 shocks I purchased from another forum member had arrived... I put them on the next day...OMG!!!!!
We just got back from a 2000 mile adventure cruise in South Western Colorado... I can only WISH I had, had the C6 Z06 shocks on during the Arkansas trip...........................
They are somewhat firm, but NOT harsh. They help me "feel" the road better... the car also handles a little better with them, maybe because they are a little stiffer... We hit every kind of dip, pot hole, bump, wash, repaired asphalt, at every speed you can ... and they performed flawlessly... GREAT ride SUPER upgrade! You can probably pay more and get nicer/adjustable after market shocks but, for the MONEY these are the BOMB!
Your kidneys will thank you....

Last edited by 73Corvette; Jun 6, 2016 at 05:27 PM.
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 73Corvette
[/COLOR]

YES... we took our car on an Arkansas excursion last year... about 1700 miles worth... as soon as we got home the C6 Z06 shocks I purchased from another forum member had arrived... I put them on the next day...OMG!!!!!
We just got back from a 2000 mile adventure cruise in South Western Colorado... I can only WISH I had, had the C6 Z06 shocks on during the Arkansas trip...........................
They are somewhat firm, but NOT harsh. They help me "feel" the road better... the car also handles a little better with them, maybe because they are a little stiffer... We hit every kind of dip, pot hole, bump, wash, repaired asphalt, at every speed you can ... and they performed flawlessly... GREAT ride SUPER upgrade! You can probably pay more and get nicer/adjustable after market shocks but, for the MONEY these are the BOMB!
Your kidneys will thank you....
Great feedback!

The shop doing the headers install recommended the C6 Z06 shock upgrade almost immediately this morning when they pointed out the F55 shocks were leaking. A quick look around and it seems like it would also be a good idea to the do the C6 Z51 sway bar upgrade at the same time.

I will know hopefully in a day or two where I sit with AC Delco and really that is going to make the decision for me. At the end of the day, no matter what happens I am just stoked to have my Vette back!!!

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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 05:32 PM
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I went with a LS6 cam from Summit. The 799 heads are the exact same casting as the 243 heads that came on the LS6 engine. Basically a stock Z06 engine. I did have the heads surface undercut .0075, so the compression ratio is now around 11:1. That should add a few HP over stock.
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