How to Build a 12.5 second C5
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 1
The odds are that you can beat that Mustang just the way that two cars presently set.If beating this guy really is your only goal,then don't waste money on mods,just slap on some Nitto's (good street/strip tire)especially with a stock application,and the race will be yours.Now if getting your car to run 12.50 is the actual goal,then a converter and gears should do the trick.That will give you a good starting base and all additional mods will benefit from it.
Last edited by 98vettedave; Jan 28, 2009 at 04:39 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Only shorties...I don't think any long tubes are because they relocate the cats. SLP may be CARB certified, but most people over look them because they are complete and utter PITA to install. There is an option in the SLP headers to keep the cats I believe.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: nokomis fl
I agree w/ chevy ss, I ran 13.7 stock and added c.a.i a&a exhaust mod + hand held tune.
running consistant 12.6 times now. got about $700 in that. still running stock converter &2.73 gear and pulling 1.90 60 ft times on nitto 555'S
running consistant 12.6 times now. got about $700 in that. still running stock converter &2.73 gear and pulling 1.90 60 ft times on nitto 555'S
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Since I own the same Mustang (an 07) with an intake an tune, I can tell you he is full of it. No where near 12.5. Even with drag radials high 12s at the best and for that he'd have to be very good. I've actually been on the strip against a Shelby GT500, I went mid 13s and he did high 12s. Make him a bet, you will win it easy.
He sounds like he is doing rice addition. He probably added up the advertised hp and thinks he is pushing 400hp
. He is probably making around 325 hp at the flywheel........
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids MI
I believe I seen a couple of Nitrous kits on the parts for sale section. That and a set of Nitto's is all you need. Absolutly zero effect on driveablility and as long as you don't get carried with the jet sizes, it won't hurt reliability either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
My best run is a 12.9 A4 3.15 gears, corsa indy exhaust, corsa x pipe, breathless vortex coldair intake, and 295 18" good years eagle f1 supercar tire.
So if i can hit that with out headers, tune, gears or a stall think of what you can do.
First thing to replace is run flat tires no question about it. But there goes half of your "funds" the other half i would buy american racing headers and a tune.
Your 3000 is already gone
Next is Gears and Stall if you are really that serious about drag racing other wise who gives a flip about how fast anyone is compared to your vette.
you drive a corvette it is a "super car" Mustangs are just mustangs
Girls will want to drive in a corvette any day over a mustang
So if i can hit that with out headers, tune, gears or a stall think of what you can do.
First thing to replace is run flat tires no question about it. But there goes half of your "funds" the other half i would buy american racing headers and a tune.
Your 3000 is already gone
Next is Gears and Stall if you are really that serious about drag racing other wise who gives a flip about how fast anyone is compared to your vette.
you drive a corvette it is a "super car" Mustangs are just mustangs
Girls will want to drive in a corvette any day over a mustang
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
I would NOT start with converter, headers and/or gears. You might not need them to get to 12.5 seconds. And those are bigger items that WILL affect drivability.
I'd begin with CAI (cold air intake) and catback and tune. Also, I'd run non-runflat tires, which will be quicker, quieter and smoother than the RF's (assuming you still have them). Here's a comparo of RF to non-RF: http://www.corvette-express.com/news.php
You can check your rear gearing by looking at the RPO (Regular Production Option) sticker in your glovebox door. The sticker will have a bunch of 3-character codes (hopefully, you've already got 3.15 gears). You can go to a site like this one to decode all those:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/.../2004rpos.html
For rear gears in auto trans C5 (any year), I believe these are the two RPO code possibilities:
GU2 Axle, Rear, 2.73 Ratio
G90 Axle, Rear, 3.15 Ratio
-
I'd begin with CAI (cold air intake) and catback and tune. Also, I'd run non-runflat tires, which will be quicker, quieter and smoother than the RF's (assuming you still have them). Here's a comparo of RF to non-RF: http://www.corvette-express.com/news.php
You can check your rear gearing by looking at the RPO (Regular Production Option) sticker in your glovebox door. The sticker will have a bunch of 3-character codes (hopefully, you've already got 3.15 gears). You can go to a site like this one to decode all those:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/.../2004rpos.html
For rear gears in auto trans C5 (any year), I believe these are the two RPO code possibilities:
GU2 Axle, Rear, 2.73 Ratio
G90 Axle, Rear, 3.15 Ratio
-
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Clovis California
I asked a couple guys at work what they would do, so I could compare ideas. I work at a Ford dealership (haha, I know but it pays the bills) a few of my co-workers drive Corvettes as well. They think that just some decent tires (I currently have the run-flats) and 100 shot of nitrous would do the trick. One of the guys showed me this kit http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nitro...Q5fAccessories
He has it installed on his car, and it hauls. Nitrous seems like a good idea, being that I wouldn't need the HP all the time. I'm taking everything into consideration. Very good ideas thusfar, keep them coming!
Only reason I don't want to run nitrous, is because I can already predict what his excuse would be....lol
I was thinking if I should get a cut-out over the cat-back. Being that the cat back starts after the "H" pipe, wouldn't it be better just to weld the cutouts onto the "H" pipe? Just a thought.
He has it installed on his car, and it hauls. Nitrous seems like a good idea, being that I wouldn't need the HP all the time. I'm taking everything into consideration. Very good ideas thusfar, keep them coming!
Only reason I don't want to run nitrous, is because I can already predict what his excuse would be....lol
I was thinking if I should get a cut-out over the cat-back. Being that the cat back starts after the "H" pipe, wouldn't it be better just to weld the cutouts onto the "H" pipe? Just a thought.
Last edited by C5Joe559; Jan 28, 2009 at 08:34 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I would NOT start with converter, headers and/or gears. You might not need them to get to 12.5 seconds. And those are bigger items that WILL affect drivability.
I'd begin with CAI (cold air intake) and catback and tune. Also, I'd run non-runflat tires, which will be quicker, quieter and smoother than the RF's (assuming you still have them). Here's a comparo of RF to non-RF: http://www.corvette-express.com/news.php
You can check your rear gearing by looking at the RPO (Regular Production Option) sticker in your glovebox door. The sticker will have a bunch of 3-character codes (hopefully, you've already got 3.15 gears). You can go to a site like this one to decode all those:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/.../2004rpos.html
For rear gears in auto trans C5 (any year), I believe these are the two RPO code possibilities:
GU2 Axle, Rear, 2.73 Ratio
G90 Axle, Rear, 3.15 Ratio
-
I'd begin with CAI (cold air intake) and catback and tune. Also, I'd run non-runflat tires, which will be quicker, quieter and smoother than the RF's (assuming you still have them). Here's a comparo of RF to non-RF: http://www.corvette-express.com/news.php
You can check your rear gearing by looking at the RPO (Regular Production Option) sticker in your glovebox door. The sticker will have a bunch of 3-character codes (hopefully, you've already got 3.15 gears). You can go to a site like this one to decode all those:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/.../2004rpos.html
For rear gears in auto trans C5 (any year), I believe these are the two RPO code possibilities:
GU2 Axle, Rear, 2.73 Ratio
G90 Axle, Rear, 3.15 Ratio
-
My A4 w/3.15's, CAI, tune and fantastic air only netted by a 12.89 and that was with 1.9X 60' times.
Headers, CAI, tune and a cat back will get you close to 12.5 but I doubt you need to be that fast.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 30
From: WENTZVILLE MO
I asked a couple guys at work what they would do, so I could compare ideas. I work at a Ford dealership (haha, I know but it pays the bills) a few of my co-workers drive Corvettes as well. They think that just some decent tires (I currently have the run-flats) and 100 shot of nitrous would do the trick. One of the guys showed me this kit http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nitro...Q5fAccessories
He has it installed on his car, and it hauls. Nitrous seems like a good idea, being that I wouldn't need the HP all the time. I'm taking everything into consideration. Very good ideas thusfar, keep them coming!
Only reason I don't want to run nitrous, is because I can already predict what his excuse would be....lol
I was thinking if I should get a cut-out over the cat-back. Being that the cat back starts after the "H" pipe, wouldn't it be better just to weld the cutouts onto the "H" pipe? Just a thought.
He has it installed on his car, and it hauls. Nitrous seems like a good idea, being that I wouldn't need the HP all the time. I'm taking everything into consideration. Very good ideas thusfar, keep them coming!
Only reason I don't want to run nitrous, is because I can already predict what his excuse would be....lol
I was thinking if I should get a cut-out over the cat-back. Being that the cat back starts after the "H" pipe, wouldn't it be better just to weld the cutouts onto the "H" pipe? Just a thought.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Clovis California
There's another nitrous option as well. A buddy of mine has this kit...
http://kyspeedparts.com/items/shop-b...ird-detail.htm
http://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/NOS05177.htm
He has it on his 71 Camaro, but only had it on (he says) 1 week. He said he'd install it for me for $600, or just sell me the kit for $450. Here's my stupid question....would this kit work fine with a C5? It says Camaro/Firebird specific, but still obviously an LS1.
http://kyspeedparts.com/items/shop-b...ird-detail.htm
http://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/NOS05177.htm
He has it on his 71 Camaro, but only had it on (he says) 1 week. He said he'd install it for me for $600, or just sell me the kit for $450. Here's my stupid question....would this kit work fine with a C5? It says Camaro/Firebird specific, but still obviously an LS1.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
I'm already at 12.8s with just a Vararam and tuning on my automatic C5, so it's definitely possible to get 12.5s for $3000! I think that you could probably run low 12s or even high 11s with $3000 worth of work (especially if you went with drag radials, 3.73s and a higher stall converter in addition to the Vararam/tune)
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 13,099
Likes: 672
From: Bristol, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09
In 2001 I ran 12.61 @ 111 mph at Sacramento Dragway with our LS1.
Mods:
Halltech Stinger Induction
LS6 Intake manifold and 30# RC Injectors
Stock LS6 Titanium exhaust
X-pipe
No tuning was available back then, no headers.
Z06 rubber
I beat 20 different Corvettes that day (Corvetteforum.com event) inlcluding all Z06s except a couple of NOS cars and one Z06 that had our intake onboard (Tom Easterday, who ran 12.49 @ 115 mph)
Mods:
Halltech Stinger Induction
LS6 Intake manifold and 30# RC Injectors
Stock LS6 Titanium exhaust
X-pipe
No tuning was available back then, no headers.
Z06 rubber
I beat 20 different Corvettes that day (Corvetteforum.com event) inlcluding all Z06s except a couple of NOS cars and one Z06 that had our intake onboard (Tom Easterday, who ran 12.49 @ 115 mph)
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"World Class Performance for your Corvette"
Intake Design and Engineering since 1999
Halltech Systems, LLC
423-915-6056
For service email:
orders@halltechsystems.com
www.halltechsystems.com
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Clovis California
I'm already at 12.8s with just a Vararam and tuning on my automatic C5, so it's definitely possible to get 12.5s for $3000! I think that you could probably run low 12s or even high 11s with $3000 worth of work (especially if you went with drag radials, 3.73s and a higher stall converter in addition to the Vararam/tune)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Clovis California