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Hello Forum Family! I've finally gotten around to putting together a build thread for my 2001 m6 pewter coupe. I have posted pictures in other peoples threads, and even had a thread started a long time back as I was getting parts, but the title of that thread was misleading so I decided to start a new one, plus I finally took some shots with a decent camera, all the other shots I have are off my cell phone. I'm going to prattle on a bit about the journey before I get to the shots, so please bear with me....
I purchased the car on father's day 2014. I had been looking for a Vette for awhile. It had to be a 6m (sorry auto guys) and I wanted a Pewter, Spiral Grey, or Black C5 coupe with black interior or a Cyber Grey or Black Centennial C6 GS coupe. The C6 would have to have the 4lt leather package. At this point I have to acknowledge that I have a serious problem with cars. I cannot leave them stock. At a minimum wheels, exhaust, and lowering is going to happen. Then it just goes from there. After I put together and priced my wish list, even though I could have purchased the C6 with the money I have spent on the C5, I still would have done a lot of the same things to the C6 which would have put me in C7 territory, and of course then there would have been things I wanted to do to a C7 so this was actually cost effective from my point of view. But I digress, I found my car at a local dealer which allowed me to finance it to have cash available to get started on the mods. The car was bone stock with 50k miles. Interior and exterior were in good shape. No tears in the seats, and just a couple of nicks in the paint. It had the Z51 option with heads up display and memory seats with power telescoping steering wheel. The springs and shocks were tired, probably original, but that just made it look lowered (but creaky). After serious haggling and leaving twice I got the car for $17k out the door. For another $150 I had them tint the windows before I picked it up. Here's how she looked the day I got her:
The first thing(s) I did was put a Vararam CAI, Corsa Extreme exhaust, and Chuck Cow tune as he happened to be in Charlotte for a group tuning session. I also found a set of HRE 540's for sale on Ebay. I had to drive to Florida to pick them up, but I got a great deal on them.
This got me going for awhile, but I always had a vision for what I wanted the car to be, so I started collecting parts, looking for sales or pre-owned where I could. I did a lot of research here on the forum (thanks!) hence the name Vetted C5. My goals were as follows:
1. Fast, the car had to be fast my target was 500 whp, as I also wanted the car to be drivable and reliable.
2. Handling, not planning to track or auto cross but I do have some great country roads around here, I should be able to double any off/on ramp speed without drama.
3. Comfort, the reason I wanted a Corvette was for it's relative functionality. The hatch will fit enough luggage for a weekend trip. My bucket list is for my wife and I to drive to Key West.
4. Looks, I wanted the car to be unique but not gaudy. I tried to put parts together that complimented each other but was not a predefined "kit". Something that could pass for factory to someone who wasn't familiar with Vette details. This goes for the interior as much as the exterior. I applied the same criteria to the engine bay, I picked the mechanic that I did not only for his technical reputation but for the aesthetics that he puts into his work. I didn't want wires and hoses just running all over the place.
I tried to show restraint in all of the aspects of the car. It's not the fastest 561whp/560 tq. It's not the loudest, I ended up with a Stainless Works exhaust, it has a deep tone with a low rumble that doesn't scream until I open it up. It's not the flashiest, Pewter is a pretty subtle color in a sea of reds, yellows, and black. No chrome, no flames, just a couple of black accents. The engine bay has a little carbon fiber and a little billet, with a couple of red accents, no flashing lights or murals, just neat. This has resulted in a car that does not do very well in judged car shows, but it does get a lot of complements and I like it, I hope you do too. Finished pics after the mods list. All comments welcome both complimentary and critical. Thanks for indulging me, enjoy!
Mods List:
Engine:
ECS Super Charger Kit
MSD Airforce intake manifold
LS2 fuel rail
80# injectors
MSD Blaster coil packs
MSD spark plug wire
NGK spark plugs
LS6 90mm silver blade throttle body (polished)
Energy Suspension motor mounts (1/4" lower)
DeWitts radiator and twin fan kit
Mechman 240 amp billet alternator
LG 1-3/4" headers/2-1/2" X-pipe
Stainless Works exhaust with custom tips
McCleod RST twin disc clutch with billet flywheel
MGW Shifter with C6 handle
Suspension:
LG Motorsports G2 Bilstein coilovers
TPS Chassis tunnel plate w/Z Cool thermal shielding
VetteWorks Shark Bar
C6 Z06 brakes frnt/rr - silver
Wheels/Tires:
19x10/19x11 BC Forged HBO5
275/35/19 & 305/35/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Audio:
Kenwood DNN992
Kenwood XR900 amp
Morel Virtus 6.5 component speakers
Morel Maximo 6.5 coax speakers
JL 10tw3 10" shallow mount sub in center mount with amps
Interior:
Apsis carbon fiber/leather/alcantara silver stitching super seats power driver and passenger
Apsis carbon fiber/leather silver stitching steering wheel
Apsis C6 Shift **** leather/alcantara silver stiching
Double D Mods carbon fiber/leather silver stitching double din center console
Double D Mods leather dashboard silver stitching
Double D Mods leather/alcantara door panels
Double D Mods carbon fiber door bezels
Billet vent surrounds
Billet door handles
Leather sun visors with integrated I/R controls
Exterior:
BSM's removed
StarCraft Tigershark front bumper and lip
ACP extractor hood
Radio Flyer Stealth Cannon V3 Headlights with 3/4 halos
Radio Flyer LED tail lights
Radio Flyer LED switchback turn signals
Radio Flyer LED license plate lights
Radio Flyer LED DRL systme (replaces fog lights)
Corvette Creationz AC Edition rear spoiler
Corvette Creationz AC Edition side skirts
L5 rocker panels with functional brake ducts
Custom "Jake" stinger stripe
Carbon flash metalic top and Halo
Yes, the seats were the single most expensive item on the car. My only consolation is that they were less than Caravarggios. C7 sport seats would have been slightly cheaper but they were not available at the time and I've since found out they are too wide like most of our after market seat options. They are quite comfortable and I like that they retained the factory functions including the lumbar and wing bladders.
Yes, the seats were the single most expensive item on the car. My only consolation is that they were less than Caravarggios. C7 sport seats would have been slightly cheaper but they were not available at the time and I've since found out they are too wide like most of our after market seat options. They are quite comfortable and I like that they retained the factory functions including the lumbar and wing bladders.
I'm rattling around some numbers in my head and I wouldn't be surprised if you dropped 20K on that build. It's not even the same car anymore and one of my favorites on the forum. Great job.
That's way too low. $30K if he did all of the wrenching; much more if someone else did it.
Ask me how I know.
The Lizzard
That's crazy! But if the OP got it the way he wanted it, that's all that counts. I like how tastefully it was done, it just turned an average looking C5 into something to drool over.
Vetted C5 Build Thread - Pic Heavy
