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Ok, I'm fairly new here and have seen that there is a difference in the intake air box of the two, I understand that the Z06 has a bigger inlet opening and was wondering if one could take a standard one and "adapt" it to be similar to the Z? If so does any one have "instructions" as to how and if it would be worth the effort? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks in advance. Hope I'm not
Pick up C5 Z06 Leaf Springs, Sway Bars and Wheels; and C6 Z06 Shocks. GM's damper technology was improved substantially in 2009, and this suspension setup will be superior from a performance point of view to a stock C5 Z06. You can make up the 50hp and 25 torque with any number of bolt on upgrades, and a hard top is mandatory if you're serious about performance. So you can upgrade a base corvette to a more formidable car than a Z06 for about $2500, but the Z06 can support a little bit more power without new internals!
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; Jun 9, 2017 at 08:09 AM.
Reason: No need to quote the previous post when you are the next poster.
I wanted to help my '98 breath a bit easier yet keep the stock look for the California smog police so I found a '02 z06 cover on ebay for $35 and a K&N filter, you could also do the zip tie mod were you ditch the cover completely and zip tie the element in if not worried about water or look. FWIW the '01 z06 one is about 1/4 of the opening that the 2002 is.
Any CAI will make more than standard Z06 equipment. If you want to make real world cheap power, do the flip tie mod to your stock filter housing; you will see a bigger difference. They are also identical in the way they mount, so you should easily be able to figure it out.
Also, an FRC is not required to be serious about performance. They are only marginally more rigid than a coupe because they have the body spreader bar between the top and the trunk, where as the coupe has just the roll hoop (which is stronger in itself than the top on an FRC without that body piece I mentioned). The targa top coupe body is more aerodynamic than an FRC as well, but that won't matter unless you are doing standing mile, or half mile races. FRC's weigh a little less, but with lexan hatch glass the difference is negligible.
Last edited by ErikwithAK01; Jun 9, 2017 at 12:23 AM.
I did the Z06 lid. It's a nice mod if you don't plan to get too into modding your C5. Make sure it's a 2002-2004 lid which has the larger opening pictured above. A Z06 lid can be found for $40ish.
If you don't mind spending around $275 I'd recommend you get a blackwing. Very simple install too!
You could probably modify yours, but for a few bucks you can buy a Z cover. IIRC GM stated 2.5HP (on an LS6) by enlarging the opening.
I'd just buy a used Blackwing or similar though...
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Originally Posted by Roddy13
I did the Z06 lid. It's a nice mod if you don't plan to get too into modding your C5. Make sure it's a 2002-2004 lid which has the larger opening pictured above. A Z06 lid can be found for $40ish.
If you don't mind spending around $275 I'd recommend you get a blackwing. Very simple install too!
The Z06 air filter housing is a direct bolt on for the stock LS1 housing. I have heard of some owners making the opening on the stock LS1 a bit larger to try and take advantage of increased air flow. Not sure how it worked out for them.
I am running the Blackwing on my car and have been pleased with its performance. Plus it is an easy install. They do come up for sale every now and then in the C5 Parts for Sale section.
More to it than hp, with the Z06 lid from 3000rpm and up it breathes a lot better. Revs a smoother.
You want to wake up an M6 car put in an LS7 clutch and flywheel in, spins up faster IMO. Lighter flywheel makes a huge difference. I tried the K&N filter and have driven a car with a modified stock air box. Results are nil. On my 00 FRC I have a C5Z trans(non paper block in rings) with above mentioned clutch.. Night and day difference.. If hacking up the stock air box gives one a perceived impression of 5hp ? Enjoy !
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Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
Standard VS ZO6
The Z06 air filter housing is a direct bolt on for the stock LS1 housing. I have heard of some owners making the opening on the stock LS1 a bit larger to try and take advantage of increased air flow. Not sure how it worked out for them. 
