Upgrading FRC questions
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Upgrading FRC questions
Hello, spent much of the day while snowed in researching the best budget H/C/other upgrade route for an oem 99 FRC that I am considering buying. I was originally thinking I'd get a used Z but now thinking an upgraded FRC might make more sense economically. Found a nicely priced garage queen...
So far I have come up with the following - seeking feedback. Anything big that I am missing? Are these numbers realistic? This will be for a non-raced street car and I am not sure the LG cam is the right move. Also, how important is the Z exhaust? I'm thinking this is the least important of the below parts. Thanks!
$1,000 Used LT Headers
$600 Used LS6 heads with upgraded springs
$300 Cam - LG Motorsports G5X3
$150 Used underdrive pulley
$300 Used LS6 intake manifold
$500 Used Z06 Ti exhaust
$1,000 Install
$500 Tune
$4,350 total
So far I have come up with the following - seeking feedback. Anything big that I am missing? Are these numbers realistic? This will be for a non-raced street car and I am not sure the LG cam is the right move. Also, how important is the Z exhaust? I'm thinking this is the least important of the below parts. Thanks!
$1,000 Used LT Headers
$600 Used LS6 heads with upgraded springs
$300 Cam - LG Motorsports G5X3
$150 Used underdrive pulley
$300 Used LS6 intake manifold
$500 Used Z06 Ti exhaust
$1,000 Install
$500 Tune
$4,350 total
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,352
Likes: 103
From: In the pit, trying to love someone.
I'm doing the same thing now, I actually made a nice excel spreadsheet to help me with my mods. I would DEFINITELY say the least important part is not the Z06 exhaust, but the $1000 install!!! DO IT YOURSELF! Not only will you know your car better but I GUARANTEE you will appreciate it more! Dont forget things like gears either, depending on the cam you may want them. Other install related things like sensors, seals, gaskets, liquids, etc.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,352
Likes: 103
From: In the pit, trying to love someone.
It's not hard if you take it one step at a time. Yeah, looking at the project as a whole, it might seem intimidating, but if you look at it like a bunch of tiny projects, nothings a big deal. Go watch "What about Bob?" and you'll see what I mean 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett IL
Do the installs yourself. Their is ALOT of very good write ups on just about every mod from a shifter to pulling the entire drive train. If you are still unsure, pick up the gm service manuals for a little over $100. I bought a frc instaid of a zo6 and I am glad I did. The money you save on the vehicle and the insurance you can buy many mods. BTW you can find parts for even less than what you listed. You could also get ported heads for under $1k and you would get larger gains than that of the ls6 heads. Good luck 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 1
From: Kona, Treasure coast Hawaii, Florida
cool i think my plan is this..
1)borla stingers quad tips
2)Lg LT headers
3)UD pulleys
4)Intake
5)cartek x2 H/C setup
this will be going on a 99 FRC too
this should be over 400 Rwhp
1)borla stingers quad tips
2)Lg LT headers
3)UD pulleys
4)Intake
5)cartek x2 H/C setup
this will be going on a 99 FRC too
this should be over 400 Rwhp
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
i think you are local, i can help w/ the z06 exhaust @ 500 installed, this is actually the exact project i'm doing right now, i purchased a '99 arctic white FRC last October($16k after the DMV taxes), i have every cosmetic part upgraded to z06 spec; also have a spare z06 cluster and some brake scoops, wheels, tires, etc.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by stook1
$1,000 Used LT Headers
$600 Used LS6 heads with upgraded springs
$300 Cam - LG Motorsports G5X3
$150 Used underdrive pulley
$300 Used LS6 intake manifold
$500 Used Z06 Ti exhaust
$1,000 Install
$500 Tune
$4,350 total
$600 Used LS6 heads with upgraded springs
$300 Cam - LG Motorsports G5X3
$150 Used underdrive pulley
$300 Used LS6 intake manifold
$500 Used Z06 Ti exhaust
$1,000 Install
$500 Tune
$4,350 total
$1,000 for a set of used LG LT's is pretty inexpensive. Be prepared to pay a little more.
I think the G5X3 is ~$400 new, if you can find one used, then $300 would be a good price for it.
I would NOT buy a used underdrive pulley. They are stretched when pressed on and a used one WILL spin on a h/c car if the crank is not pinned.
$500 for a used TI exhaust is high, you should pay less than that for a mint set.
$600 for used LS6 heads with upgraded springs is optimisitc. I think you will be ~$1,000. I would buy used LS6 heads, clean them up and put NEW dual springs on if doing a cam the size of a G5X3.
As said above and supported by the fact that you can wrench, I would suggest you keep the $1000 for the install and do it yourself. These cars are pretty easy to work on if you do it step by step and take your time.
I also think $500 is a little high for a tune. Also, don't forget about gaskets and fluids.
Good luck and hope to see you on the forum soon.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 20,474
Likes: 2
From: Detroit
Originally Posted by ArKay99
I also think $500 is a little high for a tune. Also, don't forget about gaskets and fluids.
$600 for heads is wishful thinking if you factor in the type of valve required by a GX3 cam.
Mark
