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So I bought my first Vette a year ago, a 33K mile 02 coupe, and am hooked. Just upgraded to a 7500 original mile 04 Le Mans Edition Z06 literally last night.
With that in mind, a question for you experts out there. On my coupe, we did a Billy Boat exhaust with an X pipe and an Air Raid, Carb Legal (I am in CA) Dry Cold Air Induction. I was also told to put on C6 Z06 Shocks and C6 Z51 sway bars with metal end links. Never got to that.
So here's my question to you guys. I am not changing the Z06 Titanium exhaust. But might do the Cold Air Induction. Is it a worthwhile upgrade on the LS6? Also, does the Z06 have metal end links on the sway bars (I guess they are plastic on the coupe)?
Thanks in advance all. Looking forward to 10+ Years with my new toy.
I am not up on all the CAI options, as I have a SC, but I know the Callaway Honker had good results. I would only do if I also put on headers, and like you I have the stock Ti mufflers, with Kooks headers, X, cats.
The 04Z has the best of the stock C5 shocks, would leave them and the rest of the suspension as it, unless you plan to track it hard.
Ahh, that one bit me on the first car. Column locked up outside a restaurant. Had to have it trailered to dealer. They didn't want to warranty it. I guess it was a recall. They tried to say "Recall has expired". Pardon my French but I called Bull **** on them. Safety Recalls don't expire and I said, the steering wheel locking up and not steering the damn car might just be considered a safety issue. Bottom line, they fixed it. Anyway, I am guessing with 7000 miles, this one may need it too. Thanks
Ahh, that one bit me on the first car. Column locked up outside a restaurant. Had to have it trailered to dealer. They didn't want to warranty it. I guess it was a recall. They tried to say "Recall has expired". Pardon my French but I called Bull **** on them. Safety Recalls don't expire and I said, the steering wheel locking up and not steering the damn car might just be considered a safety issue. Bottom line, they fixed it. Anyway, I am guessing with 7000 miles, this one may need it too. Thanks
they definitely didn't fix it, GM doesn't have a real fix for the column lock issue.
Here are the 2 cars, old and new (new old anyway). The coupe is an 02 with 37K on it. The Z06 is an 04 LeMans edition with 7600 miles on it. The coupe is for sale if anyone's interested. Magnificent / Immaculate car
Spaceme you hit my list right on the spot. I may also add a cam but I haven’t decided yet. I’d like to do it all at once so I only have to get it tuned once.
Spaceme you hit my list right on the spot. I may also add a cam but I haven’t decided yet. I’d like to do it all at once so I only have to get it tuned once.
I had also considered a cam at one point but decided against it. At 3118 lbs stock and with 405 crank HP, my Z06 still scares me a little bit when I get on it.
I just can't imagine this lightweight car with 50 or more HP/TQ.
How much can a good tune do for the LS6? I saw a you tube video of some guys dyno-ing a c5 z06 at about 350 HP at the wheels, they did a tune, got it up to 360. And then did some more and got it to about 370, again, at the wheels. Is 20 HP possible by a talented tuner?
How much can a good tune do for the LS6? I saw a you tube video of some guys dyno-ing a c5 z06 at about 350 HP at the wheels, they did a tune, got it up to 360. And then did some more and got it to about 370, again, at the wheels. Is 20 HP possible by a talented tuner?
20 HP just from a tune sounds a bit of a stretch to me but is possible. 10 is more realistic of a gain.
The best use of a tune is in combination with other mods to maximize the gains from those mods making everything work together at the fullest potential.
Combine a tune with a set of headers and a good intake and now we are talking a solid 25 to 35 WHP gain.
How much can a good tune do for the LS6? I saw a you tube video of some guys dyno-ing a c5 z06 at about 350 HP at the wheels, they did a tune, got it up to 360. And then did some more and got it to about 370, again, at the wheels. Is 20 HP possible by a talented tuner?
i don't know about 20 hp on a stock car, but with headers I could see a baseline 350 then up to 370 after tuning. That's roughly where I am, 376 Rwhp 386 rwtq.
lt headers and most cold airs are not smog legal here in california.unless the o.p has a hook-up on smog or wants to swap parts every other year it's not worth doing any mods.
there are turbo and supercharger kits that have carb numbers if you want more power
Congrats on an awesome find! As much as you have enjoyed your coupe, you will be thrilled with your Z06.
I'm an original owner, bought it back in 1/02, and have been very pleased. As far as, "first order of business mods", you have some excellent responses above. CLB will bite you (as you already found out on your coupe) at some point. Might as well address that now. You can eliminate the skip-shift feature with a tune... no need to purchase hardware on that.
Way back in '02, a tune and CAI was worth a solid 15+rwhp on my car. But tuners are probably better/more precise now.
Two years after I bought my car, I went with a twin-turbo setup... car is a blast. Big $$, yes, but I've gotten my money's worth as long as I've owned it. No issues at all. 725+hp.
I would do heads/cam/exhaust as time and $$ allows. These cars are very tractable and can handle the additional power with a deft right foot.
C5 Z06 Upgrades
