C5 Upgrade Suggestions
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
The LS6 is tried and true and 450HP is easily obtainable without sacrificing low end torque. When you add a larger cam you will need stiffer springs to keep the valves from floating. LS6 springs cost about $60 and are good for about .570 lift. If you use a larger cam then you will need stiffer springs and they will be substantially more expensive. The larger cam may not like the stock converter as your engines torque will be higher in the RPM range. The cam ZEEVETTE mentions is a fairly mild upgrade. The 20 HP increase will be felt around 6000 RPM's and will cost some low end torque. Thus the need for the higher stall converter.
It seems like when you go much past 450 FWHP there are other parts that need to be beefed up. You may need larger injectors and fuel pump. The A4 trans is really being pushed at its limits and should be built up, etc...
There is always trade off and compromise like reliability, fuel consumption, and drivability. The compromises one is willing to live with might irritate the **** out of someone else.
It seems like when you go much past 450 FWHP there are other parts that need to be beefed up. You may need larger injectors and fuel pump. The A4 trans is really being pushed at its limits and should be built up, etc...
There is always trade off and compromise like reliability, fuel consumption, and drivability. The compromises one is willing to live with might irritate the **** out of someone else.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 144
From: Mobile al
The LS6 is tried and true and 450HP is easily obtainable without sacrificing low end torque. When you add a larger cam you will need stiffer springs to keep the valves from floating. LS6 springs cost about $60 and are good for about .570 lift. If you use a larger cam then you will need stiffer springs and they will be substantially more expensive. The larger cam may not like the stock converter as your engines torque will be higher in the RPM range. The cam ZEEVETTE mentions is a fairly mild upgrade. The 20 HP increase will be felt around 6000 RPM's and will cost some low end torque. Thus the need for the higher stall converter.
It seems like when you go much past 450 FWHP there are other parts that need to be beefed up. You may need larger injectors and fuel pump. The A4 trans is really being pushed at its limits and should be built up, etc...
There is always trade off and compromise like reliability, fuel consumption, and drivability. The compromises one is willing to live with might irritate the **** out of someone else.
It seems like when you go much past 450 FWHP there are other parts that need to be beefed up. You may need larger injectors and fuel pump. The A4 trans is really being pushed at its limits and should be built up, etc...
There is always trade off and compromise like reliability, fuel consumption, and drivability. The compromises one is willing to live with might irritate the **** out of someone else.
The setup I described will be cheap, VERY effective and work with his gear, converter and drive like stock. It's a win/win/win. Car will be damn quick and surprise a lot of people. Open the hood after a stoplight *** kicking.....stock....wtf?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
^The only problem I am having with this set up is passing at 30mph. The trans down shifts it gets loud and the tires spin a little unintentionally. It slides a little sideways and I probably look like a maniac. I need to work on the shift points.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
As you can see from all the posts, more HP is easy (maybe not cheap) but I would attend to your driveline before adding any. I don't have any experience with a A/T car, so beyond gears/stall, it's all news to me. 
Gotta say, a Corvette with a 4-spd AT seems weird to me. I know they are capable of being faster in a straight line, but geez, it's a Corvette!
Gotta say, a Corvette with a 4-spd AT seems weird to me. I know they are capable of being faster in a straight line, but geez, it's a Corvette!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 144
From: Mobile al
As you can see from all the posts, more HP is easy (maybe not cheap) but I would attend to your driveline before adding any. I don't have any experience with a A/T car, so beyond gears/stall, it's all news to me. Gotta say, a Corvette with a 4-spd AT seems weird to me. I know they are capable of being faster in a straight line, but geez, it's a Corvette!
Gotta say, a Corvette with a 4-spd AT seems weird to me. I know they are capable of being faster in a straight line, but geez, it's a Corvette!You can really build a great sounding crappy driving dog of a car if you're not reallll careful.
If he builds the car is described, that beotch will RUN from a roll.
Last edited by FASTFATBOY; Jan 3, 2017 at 05:44 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,782
Likes: 314
From: The Lowcountry South Carolina
With exception, forget 799 do the 243, and do a borla or Corsa catbacks
And lots of aftermarket cams that will perform better for a couple bucks more. BTW, getting the right tune once this is all installed is the most important item on the list. Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 144
From: Mobile al
Only "special" head is the 243 that came on 2002-2004 Z06, all the other 243 or 799 head is the same head.
Last edited by FASTFATBOY; Jan 5, 2017 at 01:07 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,511
Likes: 22
From: Southern MD
When you decide on what upgrades your looking to do keep us in mind. We sell tons of mods for your vehicle. Just give us a call @443-730-9428! You can check out our current Holiday Sale linked below. (this will be taken off our site in the next day or two)
http://marylandspeed.com/holiday-i-24.html
But if you call us we can offer you a better deal!
http://marylandspeed.com/holiday-i-24.html
But if you call us we can offer you a better deal!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 433
From: Bossier City Louisiana
I built the 2000 A4 coupe that I had. Vararam, ls6 intake, lg superpros with catted x pipe, Corsa sports, 227/231 cam, 3000 stall and dyno tune. Car only put 360 on the dyno but was fast as heck and had incredible street manners and sounded awesome. Tuner told me not to worry about the dyno number bc being an auto killed it but to worry more about actual driving. That car was fast!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
If you just bought the car I would drive it for about 2-3 months before I spent any money on mods. The reason I say that is you don't know the car that we'll yet and you never know what you will find out. You may find that there are a few maintenance items that need attention or maybe you decide you are happy with the power output but you want it to handle better.
You may well find you are happy with it the way it is...or you find you want something else first. Like lighting upgrades.
Thats my primary issue with the C5 right now - especially since the HIDs in the 7 have spoiled me....
Last edited by aj98; Jan 7, 2017 at 01:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 121
Likes: 1
From: Chicago area Illinois
I have already purchased the conversion kit from OEM to HID and will replace them in the spring. This inquiry is for the performance enhancements.