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So i figured i'd start a "build" thread for this vette. it'll be mild by your guys standards. But it's always enjoyable reading other peoples builds. so i figured i'd do my own.
First thing's first. I sold my Jeep TJ and my 02 Mustang to buy this vette. the specs on it are:
2001 corvette coupe
106k miles
F45 package
dual power seats with memory
dual climate, bose stereo, painted top (what i wanted), fog lights, no door moldings (what i wanted), etc.
AND, EVERYTHING worked!!!! which in this price range was hit or miss.
Corsa sport (or the knock off version, hard to tell)
B&M shifter
LLoyds mat and some accessories.
I picked it up a few hours away. I spent a little more on it than the other ones i was looking at (11k vs 8-9k) but it was a really good color and i liked the options.
So first thing i did was drop it off over at pittsburgh pro care where my buddy Jason Miller took a look at getting the paint as good as it could be (has plenty of rock chips and stuff on the hood/lights). After kicking around a few options i opted to go with a 4 stage cut and a ceramic coating. This took out almost all the swirls, scratches, etc and left a FANTASTIC final product
During
After
He was unbelievably affordable for the amount of work they put into this car. I had him to the interior and his guy did the motor while it was there... just because. It'll always have the rock chips. and that's fine. I plan on driving this thing. And i'm not a show/cruise kind of guy. And it'll see some track use as well.
With it as pretty as it was ever going to be i figured it was time to start changing it around to make it how i wanted it. Plans were:
TSW forged wheels with Nitto tires
Wilwood brakes (since the stockers were so ugly/rusty looking, and for the upgrade) with stainless lines
suspension upgrades (Hotchkis sway bars, probably more down the road)
help it breathe a bit better (Vararam intake with power tube)
I started on it last night. OH, i also purchased a quickjack. This thing is AWESOME:
tonight i'm going to bleed the brakes so that's wrapped up. And try and get the sway bars on.
Then it's on to the intake and clear corners. And at some point install the HUD i bought (Purchased all the parts on ebay for 300 bucks to do the HUD swap/add)
Down the road the plan is:
Heads/cam/Long tubes/tune but i want to drive the car this spring/summer/fall so i won't do that until this fall. I usually do my projects over the winter but I can't leave anything stock.
Last edited by 2k2wranglerx; Mar 22, 2018 at 10:43 AM.
i had it set up pretty well but i never should have started with a convertible. and it wasn't pretty enough to be a really great looking car (paint job on it had a horrible clear coat job by the previous owner).
With this one i wanted to start with the right car. I could have gone z06 or FRC but the targa top is really nice. And it would be pushing my budget to go Z06.
You and myself think alike ,buy nice C-5 spend $10,000 run with most if not all C-7 ( not the Zs) save $50,000 have big fun .. I was in my 04 Z last weekend on the track with 2015 C-7 in my 04 Z stock shocks springs ECT. it does have 550 HP right on his bumper could have passed at any time ,didn't want to make him feel bad .. LOL . C-5 HOT RODS got to love them .. Thanks for sharing ..
You and myself think alike ,buy nice C-5 spend $10,000 run with most if not all C-7 ( not the Zs) save $50,000 have big fun .. I was in my 04 Z last weekend on the track with 2015 C-7 in my 04 Z stock shocks springs ECT. it does have 550 HP right on his bumper could have passed at any time ,didn't want to make him feel bad .. LOL . C-5 HOT RODS got to love them .. Thanks for sharing ..
these cars are awesome. So much bang for buck. I'm weird once I have too much $ into a toy I start to want to sell it. I could have gone z06 or c6 but I know I wouldn't have been able to justify it. I have 2 terminally ill kids with cystic fibrosis and for some reason I have trouble spending $ on big stuff for myself when I could be giving them a better life experience ya know.
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
VERY NICE LOOKING CAR!!
IMHO,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, DITCH THE F-F5 CRAP and do all you can to make the suspension do the proper performance stuff that the car SHOULD DO!
You can easily up-grade the suspension parts with a LOT of C6 parts. You can also do aftermarket bars and springs.
Here are some things that I would address to make the car more fun and reliable:
SHOCKS: If you are not going coilovers, get some C6 ZO6 Shocks. Best bang for the buck and it will return some excellent wheel control to your ride!
Let me know what you think.
Bill
Thanks man
that lower shift box and mount look like no brainer upgrades. I'll put them on the list for this fall.
I'm not sure what the plan for the suspension is since I have the softer leaf on mine I figure if I'm going to swap them to a stiffer leaf I might as well just go coilovers.
So tonight my 6 year old had art night so I had the 2 year old all night so I didn't get a lot done
but once the kids went to bed i was able to get the wife to go down to the garage with me and work the pedal so I could bleed the brakes.
most guys are bugging their wives for 10 minutes for other stuff... I'm over here trying to get her to come bleed brakes with me lol. She's cool though and after 28 or so jeeps and various other cars she's a pro with working the pedal to bleed the brakes haha.
so eventually I'll do a full fluid change to something higher temp. But the fluid in the reservoir didn't look bad so I just used good ol dot3 for now.
anyway. Tomorrow it's sway bars and starting the vararam.
oh also. I ordered some led switch backs for the new clear parking/driving lights and a harness. I figured if I'm in there doing the intake that would be the time.
So plugs and wires were pretty new but for peace of mind I did them anyway not sure why guys say this is a tough service with a swivel and taking my time probably 30 to 40 mins. New iridium plugs and gm red wires installed
changed the oil and then moved on to the fun stuff.
Sway bars are on. Rear was already an eibach (currently for sale for 100) but I found a good deal on a matched pair. Also my end links were toast and these came with good metal end links.
Vararam cold air is on along with the power tube the fitment is exactly like everyone described. Lol while I was at it I did the corner lights with led switch backs and a harness to stop the hyper flash
The bulbs were too long so I had to modify them a bit. Removed the projector and ground them down till they fit
I also ceramic coated the wheels and got them on
and ya I forgot to take the lift pucks off before I took it for a ride... Lol oh well. They're off now.
bedded the brakes in and they're awesome. I'm happy with that upgrade it was 32 degrees out so the nittos probably weren't giving me what they could. It's a little dirty in these pics and needs some tire shine but overall I like how it's coming out
hud and blue tooth module install next. Then need to get some more miles on it to start planning the next step.
I have been saying this for years these old C-5 Corvettes are a great platform to build a modern day HOT ROD .. They remind me of the old 57 Chevys and the 68-69 Camaros hot rod back in the day .. I have a 04 Z 550 HP A/C in a hot rod got to love it .. Looks great and am sure will haul as well .
Thanks!. everything in me wants to slam it. But i have to figure out the plan first. whether or not i'm going to do coilovers or swap mono's or what.
Mine is lowered on stock bolts and I have seen some on the ground ,All I am going to say is were do you live and can you drive on the roads in this Corvette way lowered , Right now I AM GOING TO THE GRAGE TO CHECK THE BOTTOM OF MY 04 TO SEE WHAT DAMAGE I Have FROM A RUN this past weekend and mine is lowered on stock bolts ,Just saying be carful lowering it ..
my first corvette, my first "build" thread
