Upgrade
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 397
Likes: 13
From: Pittston PA
Upgrade
Just bouncing around ideas and looking for opinions:
I have a low mileage C5 (47K) 6sp currently has Long tubes, cold air intake and a B7B axel back, runs strong, but the quest for more power is calling.
I have contemplated a supercharger, or heads. cam (nothing to wild) or see the car and buy a C6 Z06, any and all input is welcom and appreciated.
Thanks
I have a low mileage C5 (47K) 6sp currently has Long tubes, cold air intake and a B7B axel back, runs strong, but the quest for more power is calling.
I have contemplated a supercharger, or heads. cam (nothing to wild) or see the car and buy a C6 Z06, any and all input is welcom and appreciated.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,291
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From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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The age old problem of gear heads.
If you are thinking about selling your C5 for a C6
you don't love your C5. You like it but not love.That's OK.
And go that route. If you had said you love your C5 I would say SC.
A lot more rwhp and still has street manners.
Good luck
If you are thinking about selling your C5 for a C6
you don't love your C5. You like it but not love.That's OK.
And go that route. If you had said you love your C5 I would say SC.
A lot more rwhp and still has street manners.
Good luck
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 629
From: Rural North West NV
I think it depends on just how much more power you want (You can never have too much, right?
) as well as time and money to spend. A C6Z is a pretty amazing car in stock form. Have you driven one?
Your low miles C5 is worth a pretty good chunk of money these days and I think doing significant mods could devalue it some (or at least make it harder to sell). A C6 is going to also cost more now so hard to tell which way is better.
I keep having the same debate with myself although my car has much higher miles on it. A C6 would be instant gratification and possibly cheaper in the long run.
) as well as time and money to spend. A C6Z is a pretty amazing car in stock form. Have you driven one? Your low miles C5 is worth a pretty good chunk of money these days and I think doing significant mods could devalue it some (or at least make it harder to sell). A C6 is going to also cost more now so hard to tell which way is better.
I keep having the same debate with myself although my car has much higher miles on it. A C6 would be instant gratification and possibly cheaper in the long run.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,561
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From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Do you ever plan to sell your C5? If the answer is yes, then don't supercharge it. I had a choice between trading my C5 in on a C7, or putting a blower in my C5. I chose to SC my C5. I don't regret that decision at all. I absolutely LOVE my car. However, with the money I have spent on mods, it would be impossible for me to ever sell the car without taking a massive loss. For me, that isn't an issue as I am planning to keep the car for the rest of my life. It is a choice that you will have to make for yourself. Good luck!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 239
From: Missi'ppi... no mo' MO for me!!
"more power" for what? Do you want more HP for top end, or is this just for street driving? If you just want some muscle for the low end and maybe some spirited freeway speeds, a set of 4.10s might be another option. It won't change any of the engine configs, you won't need a tune and it could be "cheaper". And you won't face "compatibility problems" when a mechanic recommends heads, valves, cams, intake, etc that might not produce as well as expected together. On the other hand, if you wanna reduce your quarter mile times, gears won't help much and H/C/I or a blower might be your only choices.
If yours is a stick, you could wait to do the diff when you replace the clutch since the labor cost is redundant.
If yours is a stick, you could wait to do the diff when you replace the clutch since the labor cost is redundant.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Do you ever plan to sell your C5? If the answer is yes, then don't supercharge it. I had a choice between trading my C5 in on a C7, or putting a blower in my C5. I chose to SC my C5. I don't regret that decision at all. I absolutely LOVE my car. However, with the money I have spent on mods, it would be impossible for me to ever sell the car without taking a massive loss. For me, that isn't an issue as I am planning to keep the car for the rest of my life. It is a choice that you will have to make for yourself. Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 47
From: Mill Creek Washington
Many years ago I sold my first Corvette an 02 EB Z06 to buy my 2nd Corvette a C6 Z. Reason being the C6 Z was a performance monster compared to the C5 Z but also most any car made at the time.
I don't regret that decision but I did find myself missing the C5 Z very quickly. Simply put both cars are very different. Each generation of Corvette has become more refined than the previous generation at least C4 through C8 and the C5 Z to put it simply provided a more fun/ visceral driving experience compared to the C6 Z.
I still have my C6 Z although these days it has turned into a HCI car to deal with the head issues and it has become more visceral than the C5 Z was in some respects but...I did just pick an 04 C5 CE Z06 2 weeks ago because I realized I love some many things about the C5 generation.
I don't regret that decision but I did find myself missing the C5 Z very quickly. Simply put both cars are very different. Each generation of Corvette has become more refined than the previous generation at least C4 through C8 and the C5 Z to put it simply provided a more fun/ visceral driving experience compared to the C6 Z.
I still have my C6 Z although these days it has turned into a HCI car to deal with the head issues and it has become more visceral than the C5 Z was in some respects but...I did just pick an 04 C5 CE Z06 2 weeks ago because I realized I love some many things about the C5 generation.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 397
Likes: 13
From: Pittston PA
There in lies the trouble, haven’t driven a C6 Z06, or a SC C5, so all is therotical. I’m leaning to the supercharger route, but I’m afraid when all is said and done, I may end up spending more than selling the C5 and buying a C6, just because of the “while your at it” factor (clutch, maybe 3:90 rear, and any other issues discovered in the upgrade)
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 239
From: Missi'ppi... no mo' MO for me!!
Hmmm. Coupla thoughts. Find an auto business(es) that stocks both a "base" Corvette and a z06 in the years you like and test drive them both. You say you haven't driven a c6Z nor an SC c5--they're gonna be VERY different because the suspensions will be way different (unless you meant a c5Z with a blower). Any Z-equipped model will feel drastically different--to the point you won't be able to push a SC'd base car through turns as you'd like to, because it'll be too boaty.
Before I bought my c7 z51, I drove a c7 z06. They're two completely different cars. The Z might look "the same" but there's almost no relation between it and the c7 z51. With its' blower, it's IMPRESSIVE (AFTER having tested a z51 "enthusiastically"). I'd expect about the same difference between a c6Z and an SC'd c5, especially if you have to take even a gentle turn. There'll be no way a base c5 can satisfy you in a turn stacked next to a c6Z.
And in case it's a consideration at all (at these prices), a Z will get ~40% less gas mileage. Oh sure, they're listed at "14-18mpg" etc., but who can get that without grannying the pedal as if Mama's in the passenger seat carrying a pot of gravy to Christmas dinner?
Before I bought my c7 z51, I drove a c7 z06. They're two completely different cars. The Z might look "the same" but there's almost no relation between it and the c7 z51. With its' blower, it's IMPRESSIVE (AFTER having tested a z51 "enthusiastically"). I'd expect about the same difference between a c6Z and an SC'd c5, especially if you have to take even a gentle turn. There'll be no way a base c5 can satisfy you in a turn stacked next to a c6Z.
And in case it's a consideration at all (at these prices), a Z will get ~40% less gas mileage. Oh sure, they're listed at "14-18mpg" etc., but who can get that without grannying the pedal as if Mama's in the passenger seat carrying a pot of gravy to Christmas dinner?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 673
From: Pingree Grove IL
I am the original owner of my 2004. I would upgrade if I wanted more power. I actually just got 373 gears and a yank 3200ss converter installed. I love my C5. If I got a different corvette in the future, I would rather give my old C5 to my boys. They are currently 9 and 11 years old. If they don’t want it, I’ll keep it. But for now, I love the way it drives with the gears and converter, expensive mod, but a lot of years of fun. Heck, it cost more to go to Disney world, then to throw gears and converter in.
I think you would like the 4.10 gear as mentioned above.
I think you would like the 4.10 gear as mentioned above.