mods worth it?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
mods worth it?
I am thinking of adding the following items to my 99 Vette with an automatic and 3:15 gear. 02 Z06 air cleaner lid, smooth flow air coupler, throttle body coolant bypass tube, low temp thermostat, and a throttle body air flow booster. Will I see any real increases in HP without a loss of torque? If so, is this set "a good match" or should I add or delete item(s)? I am looking to spend what these items cost right now. I know there are other things but I ask about this specific combination. My goal is to add 15-20 HP and torque. This fall I am looking to add a more aggressive gear ratio (3.73?) so I am only really looking at minor mods now because I feel the gear change should get me a few tenths in the quarter. My goal is eventually to hit 12.9 in the quarter. The car is 100% stock as it sits. Please advise. Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
I am thinking of adding the following items to my 99 Vette with an automatic and 3:15 gear.
02 Z06 air cleaner lid - Little if any HP gain
smooth flow air coupler - Little if any HP gain
throttle body coolant bypass tube - No gain
low temp thermostat - No gain
a throttle body air flow booster - ??? What's that ???
Will I see any real increases in HP without a loss of torque? - Not with these mods - If you get 5 HP gain TOTAL I'd be surprised.
My goal is to add 15-20 HP and torque. - You need to start thinking about a cam
This fall I am looking to add a more aggressive gear ratio (3.73?) so I am only really looking at minor mods now because I feel the gear change should get me a few tenths in the quarter. My goal is eventually to hit 12.9 in the quarter. The car is 100% stock as it sits. Please advise. Thanks!
You'll get more out of putting a clean air filter on the car, fresh oil and filter, and maybe thinking about more agressive tires (when you say stock I'm assuming you have runflats on it now) for the track than spending money on the above mods.
02 Z06 air cleaner lid - Little if any HP gain
smooth flow air coupler - Little if any HP gain
throttle body coolant bypass tube - No gain
low temp thermostat - No gain
a throttle body air flow booster - ??? What's that ???
Will I see any real increases in HP without a loss of torque? - Not with these mods - If you get 5 HP gain TOTAL I'd be surprised.
My goal is to add 15-20 HP and torque. - You need to start thinking about a cam
This fall I am looking to add a more aggressive gear ratio (3.73?) so I am only really looking at minor mods now because I feel the gear change should get me a few tenths in the quarter. My goal is eventually to hit 12.9 in the quarter. The car is 100% stock as it sits. Please advise. Thanks!
You'll get more out of putting a clean air filter on the car, fresh oil and filter, and maybe thinking about more agressive tires (when you say stock I'm assuming you have runflats on it now) for the track than spending money on the above mods.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
From: Littleton NC
Black Z06 is pretty much dead on. I would go ahead and get gears first because from what I have read they will make the biggest difference in how the car feels out of what you listed. However I don't think you need a new cam to get an extra 15-20rwhp. A good tune should get you close to that. Maybe you need to look at getting you a set of headers and a catback at a good deal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
I am thinking of adding the following items to my 99 Vette with an automatic and 3:15 gear. 02 Z06 air cleaner lid, smooth flow air coupler, throttle body coolant bypass tube, low temp thermostat, and a throttle body air flow booster. Will I see any real increases in HP without a loss of torque? If so, is this set "a good match" or should I add or delete item(s)? I am looking to spend what these items cost right now. I know there are other things but I ask about this specific combination. My goal is to add 15-20 HP and torque. This fall I am looking to add a more aggressive gear ratio (3.73?) so I am only really looking at minor mods now because I feel the gear change should get me a few tenths in the quarter. My goal is eventually to hit 12.9 in the quarter. The car is 100% stock as it sits. Please advise. Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Not only that but it will sound really nice at full throttle, almost like a four barrel! As stated above go with the gears for a nice gain. Don't know about 3:73's on an A4 but 3:42's are nice.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 5
From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
The gears are a good choice, the rest is next to worthless. How much money are you willing to drop on HP/TQ mods? I would be going for a good air intake (you can get the functinality of a honker for about 10 bucks and a couple hours time, if you wanna save money) and free up the exhaust.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I am thinking of adding the following items to my 99 Vette with an automatic and 3:15 gear. 02 Z06 air cleaner lid, smooth flow air coupler, throttle body coolant bypass tube, low temp thermostat, and a throttle body air flow booster. Will I see any real increases in HP without a loss of torque? If so, is this set "a good match" or should I add or delete item(s)? I am looking to spend what these items cost right now. I know there are other things but I ask about this specific combination. My goal is to add 15-20 HP and torque. This fall I am looking to add a more aggressive gear ratio (3.73?) so I am only really looking at minor mods now because I feel the gear change should get me a few tenths in the quarter. My goal is eventually to hit 12.9 in the quarter. The car is 100% stock as it sits. Please advise. Thanks!
Keep the gears in the list, add an air intake (Halltech Stinger, Blackwing ,Varam, Honker or whatever), Long Tube headers and a tune. You will be well into the 12's...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The man ALREADY has the 315 gears!!!
Like everyone else stated,,,you need to save some more money and do this the right way the first time. Skip the GIMIC stuff! Here are the BASICS for making your car faster the correct way.
Headers (LT SS with high flow cats and a X pipe). Use the TI mufflers for a great sounding exhaust with zero drone.
Vararam or Honker Cold Air Intake
De-screen the MAF
160 deg thermostat
Tune
You can port your own TB for little or no cost!
With all those you should see just about 30 HP
BC
Like everyone else stated,,,you need to save some more money and do this the right way the first time. Skip the GIMIC stuff! Here are the BASICS for making your car faster the correct way.Headers (LT SS with high flow cats and a X pipe). Use the TI mufflers for a great sounding exhaust with zero drone.
Vararam or Honker Cold Air Intake
De-screen the MAF
160 deg thermostat
Tune
You can port your own TB for little or no cost!
With all those you should see just about 30 HP
BC
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Illinois
The only noticible performance you will feel is with the intake. I did the zip tie mod and felt the difference. Now I have a stinger intake with the smooth coupler and it feels the same as the zip tie mod. My corsa catback didnt yield any improvements either. I would definately get an intake, a tune, then headers and gears which will make the best improvement. Do not waste your $$$ on the other stuff.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Jasper, GA
St. Jude Donor '10
CAI, Catbacks, and Tune
Do a nice CAI like a Vortex or Callaway Honker with good catbacks . . . do a tune and you'll see around 330 RWHP and 328 RWTQ. That's what I saw with the mods on a '99. Best spent money for the performance. Throw in a lower geared rear end and it will go plenty with spending lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.Mike C sends
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
99 upgrades
Thanks for all the ideas. The popular opinion seems to be my upgrade plans besides the gear are worthless. I can go with that but the opinions on the other stuff vary besides the "honker intake" and a "tune". So that is my new focus but where can I get a "tune"? I live in Chicago. Can I see high 12's with a honker and a tune? I believe the car is low 13's at best the way it sits. Any ideas? Thanks again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I would change the air filter cover to an 2002 Z06, the early year C5s had a very restrictive stock air cover. There is no slit in the front or "side gills", just four one-inch straws. I did it to my 1998, you will feel and here a difference.
