1999 Corvette M6 convertible, 96000 miles, owned car over 21 years it’s in pretty good shape for 25 years old.



Bought Borla Stinger cat back on Black Friday sale 2020, put them on immediately and wanted to do more mods.

Bought used LS6 intake in 2021, bought new 1 7/8 coated headers and catless X pipe Black Friday sale 2022, would have put the LS6 intake and headers on right away, but read a tune is required so held off.

Could add cam and heads, the Summit ghost cam, and used Z06 243 heads, have heads inspected by machine shop before installing and valve job if needed.

There is a place I see on eBay that sells parts off wrecked corvettes, they are local to me in Phoenix and could pick up in person to save shipping.





I realize the cam and heads could add up quick from little things, possibly valve job, better valve springs, new head gaskets,head bolts, lifter trays and lifters, new timing set and oil pump, timing cover seal and gaskets, possibly engine damper.

Not sure what a tune cost by a shop, but trying to avoid paying twice if I just added headers and LS6 intake, then decide want heads and cam.

Or buy HP Tuners and try on my own, could go back with more mods down the road.

Has anyone here just added headers and exhaust and LS6 intake on pre 2001 C5 and kept it that way?

 

My old stomping grounds. Use to live in Mesa. My 1998 I have kept pretty much like you mentioned. I put an LS6 intake and over axle mufflers on it a short time after owning it. I can't honestly say I put headers on it as I installed the shorties on mine because of the inspections they have down there. I've since moved in 2022 out of Arizona and I could install the long tubes. But right now I don't see any reason for it so I'll keep it like it is for now. I did get a tune on it while in Arizona too. But I didn't do it right away and the car ran just fine with just the intake, shorties and mufflers.

 

mstromquist, maybe I’ll just put the headers on and LS6 intake and see if it gives any check engine light/codes or runs bad, then get tune or decide on more mods, then tune.

The hot weather finally went away so now is a good time to start, also guessing the brutal heat is part of the reason you moved away?

 

Yes, pretty much with the heat but grandkids played a part in that decision too. I loved the winters down there but boy that heat was brutal after working in it for 28 years or so. Worked outside too but it was mostly at night. Worked day shift from February 1989 to December 1996. Then I had the graveyard shift from March 1999 until November 2021 from 9 pm until 7 am. Hard to sleep but I didn't bake on the tarmac either. Moved away April 2022 because we decided we didn't want the heat anymore and to get closer to the grandkids in NC. Good luck with your projects.

 

Nice looking car and looks like you have your mods planned out. A tune would help you get maximum benefit from the headers, but you can try it without the tune and see how the car runs.

 

Thank you Vetteman Jack.

Gave up on the idea of used 243 heads and looking at new CNC 243 style Brawler heads from Texas Speed.

They were $1900.00 and kept looking at them, wondering if after Thanksgiving there might be a Black Friday sale, then looking again they took $300.00 off!

Really thinking of getting them ordered ASAP while on sale, will hold off buying cam and all other parts and keep collecting everything needed to do cam and heads at once.

Any reviews on these or Texas Speed CNC porting on 243/799 heads?