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Hello all... I have been a GM guy for a while. My first new car was a Grand Prix GTP. I had grown up cars since then, but now I have the SS (since 2012), and my first vette (since 2015). Couldn't afford a Z, and I have loved the C5 coupe since it came out when I was in college. So, I got what I think was a solid deal on this 2002 coupe. Far from new - but I love finally having my own vette. Having the Impala SS as a day driver is great too (and so far, with 135K miles - it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned).
Having typical issues with the vette, so I joined to start sharing what I have learned and get some advice....
What was done when before I got it
- Clearly has the 160 degree thermostat
- 1st gear to 4th gear override
- column steering lock override
- new battery
What I have done:
- Replaced the oil sender without removing the intake (POA!). Dealer I bought it from did it for me, but it broke in 3 months. I did it myself with the Autozone part and I have been good for a year.
- Replaced the coolant resovoir
- Replaced the headlight switch
- Replaced the air damn under the nose
- Replaced multiple "sagging" interior parts
- Installed C5 Z06 exhaust (because the stock ones rusted off)
- C6 gunmetal wheels (by far my favorite wheels ever....)
What I will do next...
- Replace more sagging interior parts!
- Replace visors (crap-ola)
- Repaint parts
- Fix the friggin squeaky belt issue (replaced the tensioner - which only made it better. somethin is still squeakin)
What I think I will do if things would stop breaking...
- Install LS6 heads
- Install LS6 CAM
Congrats on your C5 purchase, black, IMO is a great C5 color, just a real booger to keep up. Good luck and keep working with it, C5's are really a terrific performance car bargain and a ton of fun. Best wishes!
A couple quick things:
1: if you're having a squeak issue still, it very well may be the harmonic balancer wobbling causing a chirp/squeak from the belt. Relatively common on these cars, and gives a good excuse to replace the cam while you're in there
2: if you're going to do a cam, you might as well go for something slightly more aggressive than the stock LS6. Not that the ls6 is bad, but it really only accounted for a couple ponies.
3: headers, if you're in a state where you can, really improve the sound quality, and the combination of heads/can/headers will have a much better effect combined, than anything.
4: have fun and drive the thing!
Welcome. Car looks great and I too had a GTP. Pulled the blower off and installed a Cartuning turbo kit. If you were ever on grandprixforums I was txslow6. Corvette is quite an upgrade. Welcome to the family.
Mine is a black '02 coupe and I did the LS6 cam and heads thing.
I went with the LS6 cam for valve train reliability but there are some better options out there. A CIA and tune is good for about 30 ponies after that. With a few minor mods you can get a reliable 100 more HP than the stock LS1. Then you will need more traction.
A couple quick things:
1: if you're having a squeak issue still, it very well may be the harmonic balancer wobbling causing a chirp/squeak from the belt. Relatively common on these cars, and gives a good excuse to replace the cam while you're in there
2: if you're going to do a cam, you might as well go for something slightly more aggressive than the stock LS6. Not that the ls6 is bad, but it really only accounted for a couple ponies.
3: headers, if you're in a state where you can, really improve the sound quality, and the combination of heads/can/headers will have a much better effect combined, than anything.
4: have fun and drive the thing!
11-04-2017, 10:42 PM
New member, not so new car guy...
