Denny Kohlman

I have a stock 2000 automatic coupe with 28k. I would like to get about 50 more hp with bolt on mods. I have been told that headers, exhaust, and a good tune would get me around that figure. Is that true? If so here are my questions since I never did any mods on any of my previous corvettes.

Questions 1 Would I get around a 50 hp increase?

Questions 2 If so what kind of headers and exhaust would be the best to buy? There seems to be a lot of different brands out there. I don't want a loud car. What specific brand would you recommend?

Question 3 I would have to have someone do the work so what would be a fair price to buy the parts have them installed and get a tune?

Thanks for any thoughts.

C5 Kirkland

Answer 1. Long tubes, pipe and exhaust is about 12-15rwhp. Tune could add another 15rwhp. Add a bigger intake and aftermarket CAI, and you are 50hp increase.
Answer 2. Cost vs. Performance vs. Sound. A hundred different answers. I have Borla front to back (it was $1,400-ish). I love the sound and look but it is loud.
Answer 3. No way possible to do it yourself? It is not that difficult (unless you want to save the stock exhaust and only have a floor jack). Cost is all over the map depending on Answer #2. Mail order tunes are $149 and up.

My personal thought would be to keep it stock (if it has zero mods with only 28k miles on it and if you have any thoughts of selling it in the future).

Denny Kohlman

Thanks. Is your 98 stock? If not what mods have you done?

Denny Kohlman

Maybe just getting a good tune and picking up a few hp is the answer and not mess with the headers and exhaust.

C5 Kirkland

I had the block bored with new pistons, rings, crankshaft, bearing, etc., FAST 92mm intake, 90mm LS2 TB, 85mm slp MAF, Vararam,
AIR delete, MSD Spark Plug Wires Spiral 8.5mm Black Boots, NGK TR5, Borla front to back. Mail order tune from ECS.
Heads and Cam are next on the list.

Denny Kohlman

I just looked up some info on ecs (never heard of them) and it sounds like you just sent them your pcm and info about your car (in my case all stock) and they do the tune and sent it back. I also worry that once I do something to the car that codes will start popping up that I know nothing about. Is the ecs tune fairly safe.

zeevette

Wait on getting a tune until your mods are done. Especially if you're going to do headers. With an A/T you may have 2:73 gears. You would benefit from higher gears, and a stall more than some bolt-ons, IMO.

Try Chuck Cow for mail-in tunes, too.

Denny Kohlman

Thanks Good advice

bobs77vet

what rear end do you have?

it may be better for you to go to a 3.15 performance rear end.

sometimes making the gearing steeper makes more sense then chasing HP and expect hp to cost about $85 per hp.....and if you can get t under $45 you are working magic

NSFW

What shop did you have that done at? And, would you go back?

I live on the east side as well.

Thanks!

Pounder

or 3.42 WOW !!!!!!!

Denny Kohlman

Thanks . There is an old saying Speed costs. How fast do you want to go? It can get costly.

neutron82

go forced induction and you will get the most hp per dollar

Vetteman Jack

Headers/exhaust/good tune is not going to get you 50 rwhp if that is your goal. You'll need to go with more mods to get up to 50.

NSFW

Fixed that for you.

LoneStarLizzard

Here's a benchmark: your bone-stock LS-1 (assuming it is in well-maintained condition), running through an A4 with a 2:73 differential, is producing around 280-290 rwhp.

Why do you want "FIFTY" additional hp? Is that what do you really want? Or, instead, do you want better acceleration off the line? Better acceleration for highway passing? Or something else? Before you spend a nickel, first articulate what your goal really is, and how you will know when you achieved it. (Measurable performance improvements? Bragging rights? Etc.).

Also, for how long will an additional 50 hp be sufficient (i.e. before you want even more power)?

My thought: first establish your near-term and longer-term performance goals, then decide what mods, incrementally, will best get you there (considering cost, reliability, upgradeability for further power increases, etc.). That way you can spend additional bucks for milestone improvements, stop (or pause, as the case may be) whenever you wish and start again when the jones get to you.

That is precisely what I have done with my 2002 A4. Over a 6 year period of incremental improvements I went from 285 rwhp (stock) to 600rwhp, achieved with the combination of a supercharger, LT headers, blower cam, aftermarket heads and 2800 stall converter, all running through an upgraded A4 and a 3:42 differential. But I did all of those mods in stages, starting with the LT headers, CAI, free-flowing exhaust and a tune (all of which, by the way, got me an additional 40 rwhp).

Just my opinion.

The Lizzard

Spaceme1117

Definitely headers, intake, and tune and you will get +50 HP.

I having the following:

1. American Racing Headers with Ceramic coating. Expect a 20 to 25 HP increase.
Definitely get ceramic coated headers. It will prevent any wires near the headers from getting cooked.

2. Callaway Honker intake. This is THE best intake. Looks factory, always pulls fresh air from the outside, and is a solid 15 HP increase.

3. Diablew remote Tune. Diablewtune.com. Custom remote tune that is adjusted for you specific mods with 1 year of free updates should you change anything.

As for price to install everything, I would figure about 8 hours of labor for a competent shop, which I would estimate would be about $800 to $1000.

0Chuck CoW

Thank you! We have the best remote tune package in the business.

Also, for you automatic guys I've got a few suggestions to really wake up your car.....

For the stick guys..... 4.10s! That's all I gotta say.

Chuck CoW

Route99

You can easily check whether you have the 3.15 differential gear by checking your RPO list (inside door cover of your glovebox). If you have codes G90 and G92, you have the 3.15 ratio. If you have code GU2 you have the 2.73 ratio.

Dark Sarcasm

I say don't shoot for a number. Just do a few mods and see how it feels. You can always add more. If you've got a buddy with 45 more hp than you then I completely understand.