Hey Everyone, done this on different forums with my car builds. Finally at the point where my C5Z is mostly where I want it and figured I'd share some details.

Backstory: Always been a German car guy, most recent was an E36 M3 refresh build, but dad has always been a Vette guy. He's had everything from a C2 Split Window to a C7 Grandsport. However, my favorite was always the C5Z, perfect balance of visceral experience and modern features. So a C5Z was on my list of cars I'd like to own. I prefer OEM+ type modifications and a huge detailing geek. I do an annual trip down to the Tail of the Dragon area in NC and build accordingly.

Picked mine up in May of 2019 with 17,800 miles from a retired GM Corvette engineer from the forums here. Was in really nice shape and most of what I wanted to do already done to the car. Did a bunch of maintenance when I first got it, replaced every fluid in the car.

Modifications/ Items of Note:

Engine:
American Racing long tube headers with Hi-Flow Cats and 2-1/2" x-pipe
Airaid Cold Air Intake
Billy Boat Bullets Round Tips Axle back
ATI Harmonic Balancer
PCV Catch Can
2004 LS6 Upgraded Valve Springs
SAC Corvette Lux Rear Trans/Diff Mount
Originally Tuned by Dr. Phil in Michigan. Tune revised via Dyno Tune from Ultima Raceworks (452WTQ/429WHP; 520TQ/493HP)

Braking:

Baer Eradispeed drilled and slotted brake rotors
EBC Redstuff Pads
Stainless steel brake lines

Lighting:

Bi-Xenon ACA projector headlights (Radioflyer) with brass headlight gears
LED Tail lights, Parking/DRL lights, Back-up lights and side marker lights (Radioflyer)
Clear front corner parking light lenses
Clear/diamond cut back-up lenses
Red/diamond cut rear side marker lenses

Interior/Electronics:

Corbeau A4 Full Leather Seats
Apsis "D" shaped steering wheel
Vette Essentials center console lid
Rocking seat repair with polyurethane bushings
Trunk partition and Vette tray
C6 Shiftknob with ‘anti-venom’ mod.

Exterior/Misc:

Column lock bypass
Skip shift eliminator (CAGS)
Rebuilt ABS module
Shorty antenna
C5 “Fangs” Skid Plate Covers

Wheels/Suspension:

Polished 2004 Commemorative Edition Speedline Z06 wheels: Nitto 555RII tires-Rear 305/35/18, Front 275/40/17
Stock Speedline Anthracite Wheels. Conti Extreme Contact DW Rear 295/38/18, Front 255/40/17
Lowered on Stock bolts
(C6Z shocks incoming)

Pics/Vids:

Current setup:


When I run the polished wheels:


Recent dyno day where I had the tune adjusted:



Most Recent Trip to the Tail:





Car was really clean when I got it, but GM black is the worst. Spent probably 40+ hours doing a 3 stage polish winter of 2019/2020:



Car looked clean but when you got closed it was pretty swirled/ lightly scratched



Swirl free!


Where she spends her time with my DD, a 2019 Golf R



Future plans other than just enjoying the car I'd like to get a 18x18 wheel setup of some sort so I can run PS4 tires as the Conti's are pretty underwhelming after running PSS/PS4s for years.

Would also like to upgrade to C6Z brakes or some other larger brake option.

Thanks for reading and will post updates here when applicable.

 

Those mods don’t add up to those hp/tq numbers, it’s off by a LOT.

Is there a supercharger or nitrous missing in the mods list?

 

Very nice write up! Can you help explain why you think his numbers would be off?

 

Headers, an intake, and a tune might be worth 30 hp over stock, not 90 hp. The numbers he posted are more similar to a car with a moderate cam and ported heads.

 

Yeah, I think you left off the heads/cam.

 

Car looks great, I wish my black C5 looked as good as yours

 

That’s a very nice looking C5Z!

 

I dunno, just going off the dyno sheet. I estimated crank numbers as Mustang Dynos are usually +~15% to calc crank.

Here's the dyno sheet. Dashed line was the original tune that was running a bit rich over 3k rpm.



Butt dyno just tells me that it rips.

Cam I know is stock, potentially could have head work done but previous owners log/file book he gave me (and guy kept everything) doesn't mention it. However, he also never disclosed that drip rails on windows were replaced, so maybe there are some hidden goodies going on?

 

I think the dyno numbers are inaccurate or that your mod list is incomplete, but...

...this is all that really matters The car looks good, glad you're having fun with it!

 

IDK, something is off, Mustang dynos read even lower than Dynojets, maybe the correction factor, but still the HP should be more than the TQ.
I also wondered why he got the ATI balancer if no power mods were done.
Maybe you got lucky and have a Lingenfelter TT kit. lol
Show a pic of the engine bay. Nice car regardless.

 

Lol, I think I'd notice a TT kit.

Looked like this when I bought it, people paid big bucks for that dress up stuff:


Mostly stock looking under the hood now. Minus a missing batter tray cover. Need a new OEM sticker for the drivers fender too as that was missing.

 

There's definitely something else going on

 

The ATI is just a good part. Sure the Powerbond is a reliable option and is cheaper, but it's also quite a bit heavier than stock. I went with ATI mostly to keep the weight similar to stock, and the aluminum outer ring won't get all rusty, so it looks nicer.

 

Those battery covers aren't factory, so you're okay in that respect.

Car looks clean.

 

My brother's 02 Z06 with callaway air intake, cooks long tubes, a mild "blower" cam and remapped ECU pulled 435hp at the rear wheels & on Bridgestone Street tires ran high 7.50's in the 1/8th at almost 95 MPH. without the cam - BUT with the headers and air intake it was a high 7.70's car - the cam lopped off 2 tenths.

 

Great looking car.

 

Nice car! Need some pics of the interior upgrades

 

Thanks! Can't recommend the Apsis steering wheel enough (and the C5 square shifter is probably the worst shift **** ever made, who has square hands?) Pardon the dirty carpet, been driving her a lot!




Wife isn't a fan of the Corbeaus, so just have mine in the drivers seat.