How to Build a 12.5 second C5
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,757
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
That's more like a high 12 second S197. They pick up a decent bit with a CAI/tune but he will definitely have to be a hot shoe to break in the 12s. This is an easy victory for you if you have up to $3000 since the LS1 is a much much better platform than the 3V 4.6.
Anything from good tires and full exhaust/CAI or a 100 shot will do it and you'll have plenty of money left over.
Anything from good tires and full exhaust/CAI or a 100 shot will do it and you'll have plenty of money left over.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
what r your plans 4 the future mods. or goals i should say
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 956
Likes: 2
From: st. anne illinois
i know you said reliable but we all have different ideas of reliabe
so.
muffler delete, under 100 bucks, complete.. with labor
black wing/vararam, used 200-250 install yourself
nitrous kit, 1200.. with heater/window switch, full throttle activiation
nitrous kit install 800 bucks maybe less
373 gears. installed under 400
spend the other 3-400 on a decent set of sticky tires
i would say you could get a 11.7 to 11.5 pass
then when you got ten cars on him.. he will be 
then tell him all you have is a cold air intake and a exhaust.... another one for the good guys
so.
muffler delete, under 100 bucks, complete.. with labor
black wing/vararam, used 200-250 install yourself
nitrous kit, 1200.. with heater/window switch, full throttle activiation
nitrous kit install 800 bucks maybe less
373 gears. installed under 400
spend the other 3-400 on a decent set of sticky tires
i would say you could get a 11.7 to 11.5 pass
then when you got ten cars on him.. he will be then tell him all you have is a cold air intake and a exhaust.... another one for the good guys
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 22
From: Lititz PA
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.
Getting beaten by a stock C5 hurts a lot more than getting beaten by a lightly modded C5.
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Vararam, 3200-3600 stall, and full exhaust should get you 12.5's on street tires. This is exactly what we are currently doing to my buddy's C5. I own a Mustang, and know alot about Mustangs. Your friend is definitely not running 12.5's. With an induction and mail order tune the sticks will go 13.2-13.3. With a shifter, 4.10 gear, and drag radials 12.70. Add full exhaust and a custom dyno tune and the car will run 12.3's. Add rear upper and lower control arms and 12.2's on a M/T et street radial or better tire are possible. If your friend only has the induction, chip, magnaflow catback, and is on street tires he is not going any quicker than about a 13.1 with real good driving. I think it is safe to say that you will be pretty much even.
Last edited by blownstang; Jan 29, 2009 at 12:19 AM.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Clovis California
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
My wife has an 08 Mustang GT/CS. Her only mod is flowmasters.
It's a cool car, has low end grunt, but quickly runs out of steam after about 4000 RPMs. It is also a VERY large car. It has to weigh at least 1000 lbs more than the vette.
My 97 C5 MN6 would whip it stock. With my mods, it honestly feels like I could a 1/4 mile before the GT did a 1/8 mile.
That being said, Neither of us would trade rides if we could.
Have you taken him for a ride in your vette? That alone would probably shut him up.
It's a cool car, has low end grunt, but quickly runs out of steam after about 4000 RPMs. It is also a VERY large car. It has to weigh at least 1000 lbs more than the vette.
My 97 C5 MN6 would whip it stock. With my mods, it honestly feels like I could a 1/4 mile before the GT did a 1/8 mile.
That being said, Neither of us would trade rides if we could.
Have you taken him for a ride in your vette? That alone would probably shut him up.
Last edited by jedblanks; Jan 29, 2009 at 10:15 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 11
From: Newport, RI
Originally Posted by Chevy-SS
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
...................
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That's why I used the word "might".......
He said it's a daily driver, so I think he should mod carefully. Only do gears, cams, SC, converters, etc if really serious and not too concerned about drivability.
Just MHO, of course.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 34
From: King George Virginia
If he changes the gearing to a 3:42's he can use the stock converter with out a trans cooler. Buy a used set of TI's and get the car tuned by a professional. That will wake up some sleeping horses in the LS1 - LS6. Getting off the run-flats would help also. Since this is his DD putting on a large stall converter is not the way to go here. He will have a lot more fun driving the car just doing these minimum mods and can spank mustangs all day.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 1
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Dearborn Mi
ok sorry to butt in but what 1/4times should i be looking at with my mods its a 01 6-speed,3.42 rear end, has ls6 intake stock, on stock tires
1.lg street headers with off road x-pipe
2.borla quad catback
3.zip tie callaway honker style
4.vararam airbridge
5.tune
6.vararam velocity stack in throtle body
7.coolant by-pass mod
what do you guys think should i be able to run 12.5 or better again sorry to the guy who started this thread but i was gonna start one and i said i will just add on thanks
1.lg street headers with off road x-pipe
2.borla quad catback
3.zip tie callaway honker style
4.vararam airbridge
5.tune
6.vararam velocity stack in throtle body
7.coolant by-pass mod
what do you guys think should i be able to run 12.5 or better again sorry to the guy who started this thread but i was gonna start one and i said i will just add on thanks
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
ok sorry to butt in but what 1/4times should i be looking at with my mods its a 01 6-speed,3.42 rear end, has ls6 intake stock, on stock tires
1.lg street headers with off road x-pipe
2.borla quad catback
3.zip tie callaway honker style
4.vararam airbridge
5.tune
6.vararam velocity stack in throtle body
7.coolant by-pass mod
what do you guys think should i be able to run 12.5 or better again sorry to the guy who started this thread but i was gonna start one and i said i will just add on thanks
1.lg street headers with off road x-pipe
2.borla quad catback
3.zip tie callaway honker style
4.vararam airbridge
5.tune
6.vararam velocity stack in throtle body
7.coolant by-pass mod
what do you guys think should i be able to run 12.5 or better again sorry to the guy who started this thread but i was gonna start one and i said i will just add on thanks
Being easier on hard parts is the only plus of an auto!!
(number's 4. and 6. probably don't add anything to the car though.....imo)