Settle an argument: headers or final drive upgrade?
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Joined: Dec 2024
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Settle an argument: headers or final drive upgrade?
So I'm new to the club of Vette ownership, and I was discussing future upgrades with a friend. I was considering upgrading the differential to a 3.90, he thinks headers would be a better upgrade.
Wondering what the consensus was here from those who have done either or both. Thanks in advance!
(01 manual, basically stock at this point.)
Wondering what the consensus was here from those who have done either or both. Thanks in advance!
(01 manual, basically stock at this point.)
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 378
From: Bellinum Wa
Classic conundrum.
Here's a thought;
maybe start on repairs and bring the suspension for starters up to the level of performance before you add power
The internet is full of cars guys have spent $$$$ on while you rarely see well maintained with perf. enhancements cars
But;
If you want the best bang for your buck ( and ego) try a used Catback, Plugs, plug wires, K&N and a Tune.
Good Luck
Here's a thought;
maybe start on repairs and bring the suspension for starters up to the level of performance before you add power
The internet is full of cars guys have spent $$$$ on while you rarely see well maintained with perf. enhancements cars
But;
If you want the best bang for your buck ( and ego) try a used Catback, Plugs, plug wires, K&N and a Tune.
Good Luck
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 93
Likes: 53
So, this is a street car. Not a daily driver, I want to have fun with it, mainly spirited/aggressive driving through the twisty country roads outside of the city. Track days are a possibility with a group of car guys. I live in Canada, so it will only be driven 6 months out of the year. It is currently hibernating in the garage, waiting for spring.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 93
Likes: 53
Classic conundrum.
Here's a thought;
maybe start on repairs and bring the suspension for starters up to the level of performance before you add power
The internet is full of cars guys have spent $$$$ on while you rarely see well maintained with perf. enhancements cars
But;
If you want the best bang for your buck ( and ego) try a used Catback, Plugs, plug wires, K&N and a Tune.
Good Luck
Here's a thought;
maybe start on repairs and bring the suspension for starters up to the level of performance before you add power
The internet is full of cars guys have spent $$$$ on while you rarely see well maintained with perf. enhancements cars
But;
If you want the best bang for your buck ( and ego) try a used Catback, Plugs, plug wires, K&N and a Tune.
Good Luck
Car has roughly 30,000 miles, nothing wrong with it, it has been a garage queen all it's life. The car has almost new Pilot Sports on the factory wheels. I have already begun some work on the car, with an additional list of things I will do in the spring that mostly require a lift.
Already done:
- C7 shifter with C6 ****
- Z06 Ti Mufflers
- LMC5 module
- LED lighting all around with hyper-flash harness and brake load resistors installed
- Tunnel plate upgrade
- Katech remote clutch bleeder
- Stainless steel brake lines
- Flush/ change all fluids
- Bilstein B8 shocks
- AFE Johnny O'Connell Sway bar kit
- CAGS delete harness
- Anti-venom mod
- Vararam intake
I also plan on getting a tune, and will be doing this sooner or later this year once things are decided and done.
While this is my first Vette, I am not unfamiliar with the cars. I installed all the mods on my friend's '99 convertible, and I was a GM tech at a Chevy dealer from '97-'14, and worked on countless Vettes. That being said, I am looking to the community for advice. I'm looking at all options for best performance bang for the buck for my setup and needs. All opinions are welcome.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
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From: In the woods
2024 C5of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'm with Mr Gahtoe's advice. I also want to bring my 2000 up to speed, no pun intended. Though yours is much lower mileage than mine all those suspension bushings are old and worn. Really want the car to feel lively again get the soft bits replaced first. I am deep into it now just spending over 2 G's on ball joints, tie rods and some cool Borg Delrin bushings. IMO car has to handle right before going faster not to mention the 100% improvement in handling and responsiveness.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 888
Likes: 753
From: SW Desert
With the manual trans you've already got 3:42s and that's a pretty good gear for street and HPDE if you choose that kind of "track". I say go with the headers since you'll need them if you jump up to a heads/cam improvement in the future.
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I too would ensure that all the suspension pieces are in good working order.
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From: US
if the choice really is just headers vs gears, I'd go with gears .. and I'd do 4.11's , not 3.90s (I did 4.11s, they're awesome). you'll see a very noticeable difference in acceleration with the gears, and 6th will actually be useable.
headers are nice ..but without any other changes you won't see much of a difference. The ls1 (and all ic engines) is a balance of intake, exhaust, and combustion. You can't just increase exhaust without re-balancing intake everything else. Most people start with cat back, headers, intake, and a tune. That's where I started YEARS ago, and saw about a net 30hp/30tq gain on a dyno (of course it didn't end there, and now at 500+ hp with supercharger and cam).
again, depends on what you want -- headers are a nice platform to start building out your motor, but don't expect very much gains if that's ALL you do.
headers are nice ..but without any other changes you won't see much of a difference. The ls1 (and all ic engines) is a balance of intake, exhaust, and combustion. You can't just increase exhaust without re-balancing intake everything else. Most people start with cat back, headers, intake, and a tune. That's where I started YEARS ago, and saw about a net 30hp/30tq gain on a dyno (of course it didn't end there, and now at 500+ hp with supercharger and cam).
again, depends on what you want -- headers are a nice platform to start building out your motor, but don't expect very much gains if that's ALL you do.
