Engine Mods & Reliability??
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 501
Likes: 55
From: NW Chicago Burbs
Imho, if reliability is the least bit of a concern overriding the need for speed, doing the traditional stage one mods of a cold air intake, catback exhaust, and a tune is probably the best bet. I've used that combination on every performance vehicle I've owned that was a primary driver and all were rock solid while achieving a real SOTP performance gain.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
The reason I know this is that I've heard this many many times in private message. People confessing to me that they screwed up and wish they never tried to do something like it. They tried to save money, or thought they were a mechsnic. Most say they wish their car was back to stock. People saying their car has been nothing but trouble since they thought they could do better than GM engineers or a professional shop.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 52
From: Jefferson City MO
It has been posted many times that a higher lift cam will wear the springs. But I have yet to see a post that defines "higher lift". At what point does the springs begin to noticeably wear more - .58, .59, .60, etc.? If the springs are HD and made for high lift, are they still considered a wearable item with higher lift?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
There are basically two types of people on this forum.. Those that are OCD and those that want to do things cheaply as possible.. I see it all the time; what are the cheapest brakes ?, I use regular fuel with no problems! Why would I spend 3,000 dollars on forged wheels when I can get reproduction C7 wheels for 600 dollars?
The OCD guys do their homework, seek advice, do the research and spend the money to do it right. They would rather overkill a project then to ever take short cuts to save a buck.
ON this forum there is a bell curve of members at both ends of the curve.
about 40 % of the members on this forum are OCD, the other 40 % are not so focused on doing it right and more focused on doing it as cheaply as possible. And there are the 20% remaining that are just the average corvette enthusiast, enjoying their car with little intention of making any dramatic changes in anything.
Just my observation over 16 years here..
Oh yes... Of the OCD guy, about half are go fast guys the other half are wax on and wax off guys with aesthetic mods. and sprinkled in are the guys that want a little of both..
Then there is the Other group... who will bolt anything on their car, with no vision or forethought. those who think that more is always better. Would not know subtle or what research means,
if it bit them in the butt.
Some people obviously know what they are doing here, and more obviously, some don't have a clue.
Just my observation over 16 years here..
I could be dead wrong with my observations.. Its just my observations.
Bill aka ET
The OCD guys do their homework, seek advice, do the research and spend the money to do it right. They would rather overkill a project then to ever take short cuts to save a buck.
ON this forum there is a bell curve of members at both ends of the curve.
about 40 % of the members on this forum are OCD, the other 40 % are not so focused on doing it right and more focused on doing it as cheaply as possible. And there are the 20% remaining that are just the average corvette enthusiast, enjoying their car with little intention of making any dramatic changes in anything.
Just my observation over 16 years here..
Oh yes... Of the OCD guy, about half are go fast guys the other half are wax on and wax off guys with aesthetic mods. and sprinkled in are the guys that want a little of both..
Then there is the Other group... who will bolt anything on their car, with no vision or forethought. those who think that more is always better. Would not know subtle or what research means,
if it bit them in the butt.
Some people obviously know what they are doing here, and more obviously, some don't have a clue.
Just my observation over 16 years here..
I could be dead wrong with my observations.. Its just my observations.
Bill aka ET
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I am not trying to be mean with my assessment. its just my observation.
That 40 % who don't have a clue, are the ones I warn people ( newbies ) about when I say, " Be careful who you listen to on this forum ". and that 40% seems to have no problem giving bad information, misleading information, or " Alternate facts" Most of them are the ET haters who tell other of their abilities that they too have been " ET'd " .
Thanks for your support ( Bartels and James )
Bill aka ET
That 40 % who don't have a clue, are the ones I warn people ( newbies ) about when I say, " Be careful who you listen to on this forum ". and that 40% seems to have no problem giving bad information, misleading information, or " Alternate facts" Most of them are the ET haters who tell other of their abilities that they too have been " ET'd " .
Thanks for your support ( Bartels and James )
Bill aka ET
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 768
From: jefferson texas
Imho, if reliability is the least bit of a concern overriding the need for speed, doing the traditional stage one mods of a cold air intake, catback exhaust, and a tune is probably the best bet. I've used that combination on every performance vehicle I've owned that was a primary driver and all were rock solid while achieving a real SOTP performance gain.
Did just that with my C5, very nice upgrade with a terrific feel, more than enough for me as a street cruiser, racing days are long gone! Take care!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer