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Best Bang for the Buck mod??

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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 06:58 PM
  #1  
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Default Best Bang for the Buck mod??

Brand new vert - feeling poor - but wanna do some performance mod to really make it mine.

What mod offers the biggest bang for the buck performance wise - if I wanna spend as little as possible but wanna feel the difference - what should I do?

A friend says intake - but y'all are the experts.

And whatever your suggestion tell me roughly what the parts will cost and if a moderately handy person can do it at home. Thanks
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 07:05 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (stevevaus)

might want to consider the group purchase on the new borla system (no hp gain on that though). your friend is probably right about the air intake. I haven't gotten one yet but I'm leaning toward a blackwing because they're comparable in gain and seem easier to install.
*oh yeah, the borla system is $410 and I think I saw a blackwing on the forum mall for $215 or something--hey, maybe me and you can get a group purchase started on those!


[Modified by Red Gump, 6:06 PM 2/22/2002]
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 07:07 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (stevevaus)

New (to me) C4 here. Asking same questions, see my post "Here we go again...The Call of The Mods" :yesnod:
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 07:09 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (Red Gump)

If you guys are thinking about a Hypertech Power Programmer, let's think about getting a group purchase going on that, because the GP price here beats the best internet price I could find by about $50. :cheers:
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 07:37 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (95_C4_convertible)

If you guys are thinking about a Hypertech Power Programmer, let's think about getting a group purchase going on that, because the GP price here beats the best internet price I could find by about $50. :cheers:
Do a search on the HPP before you buy it. I bought one for my '96 LT4 and sold it a month later. It actually made my car slower.

As far as a good cheap mod for the C5, I'd say an intake might give you a decent horsepower increase. By decent I'm talking 8, maybe 10.
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 07:39 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (QuickSilver97)

it has nothing to do with performance, the window valet by top down tech is the best bang for your buck
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 08:17 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (stevevaus)

Best bang for your buck performance mod is hands down nitrous but if you aren't comfortable with that I would suggest a Blackwing :cheers:

Jerry
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 08:23 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (99 Corvette)

Best bang for your buck performance mod is hands down nitrous but if you aren't comfortable with that I would suggest a Blackwing :cheers:
Would have to agree. Not my thing, but NOS is the best bang for the buck. If it's an A4 trans a Torque Converter would help with track times. About $850 + install.
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 10:09 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (Hissey)

Make your car breathe.... Intake system... exhaust will do little or nothing for the $800.'s you'll spend ( 8 to 10 hp). Just sound preference.... Look at GP's for intake systems... :chevy
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 11:57 PM
  #10  
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (Bill Vett)

what should intake cost?

is it a saturday home project?
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 08:50 AM
  #11  
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (stevevaus)

I put the Blackwing on my '01 vert - $240 delivered with the '01 adapter. Took about 20 minujtes to install, just a screw driver for the worm clamp! Not sure if it's really "noticeable" but I sure feel better n\knowing it's breathing better!

The most noticeable mod I've put on is my Kiban Quik SHift shifter for the MN6 - much shorter throw than the standard shifter.
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 09:09 AM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (stevevaus)

02 LS6 air filter lid and K&N air filter. I have read 10 to 14 HP at the rear wheels. To prove it I'm dyno'ing my car on March 16th. Will post results. I don't believe half of manufactures claims which is why I chose the GM designed part. No claims other than it comes on the 405 HP Z06.

The next best mod is A&A exhaust mod. For about $100 you have 9/10's the sound of a $1000 exhaust for 1/10th the cost.

The dyno will tell.

Tom
USAF Retired
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 09:42 AM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (AFVETTE)

Tom,
I belong to Looking Glass too... so keep me posted here or by email on your dyno results in March. If the LS6 air intake works well, the price would sure be a lot more attractive than the Vortex cold air or even the Blackwing. And since it's OEM I wouldn't have to punch a hole in my shroud as the Vortex requires.
Thanks.
Gunny
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 09:45 AM
  #14  
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (AFVETTE)

tired the 02 Z06 air filter lid and K&N filter for 2 months. just threw it away. the straps never did stay closed after the change from stock, and when they popped open the computer read too much air and until it relearned the volume the car would hunt at idle and somtimes stall. reclose the latches and car ran great. same thing happend on my c4 when i got an air leak in the intake. installed a ram air yesterday, but florida is too wet to try it yet, rain rain go away
david
99 pewter coupe 6 spd delco/mongoose
94 dark red coupe 6 spd (for sale)
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 10:15 AM
  #15  
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (l8apex)

I went with the Donaldson Blackwing. It has the appearance of a high quality item, and it's huge! If you need to go back to stock for warranty work, it only should take about 30 minutes or less to swap back. I got mine from exit28 ( http://www.exit28motorsports.com/ ). Tell them you want the $225 special. That's $200 for the Blackwing, $10 for the 2001/2002 adapter, $15 for the hoodseal, and FREE shipping. You could delete the hoodseal and save $15 but it's cheap insurance to keep water off the filter if you drive the car in the rain.
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 10:32 AM
  #16  
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (Gunny)

Gunny come join the Dyno Day fun March 16th. We will be testing with back to back pulls to see what mods produce the HP claimed. I'm installing the stock air box doing my pull in the morning will re-install the LS6 lid and dyno later in the day. Then we will do a cost vs performance graph. I set this up to see how much HP per buck folks can get. All for about $57 per car.

See my post on St Louis Dyno Day - I rented the entire facility for the entire day. No more HP BS. I want FACTS.

Should be interesting. There's too much snake oil being sold these days.

Let me know if you can join the fun.

Tom
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 12:22 PM
  #17  
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (AFVETTE)

Dropped you an email. Count us in... although I probably won't dyno the (basically stock) FRC. Good chance to take a spin with the club and will even let the wife tag along (as if I could stop her) ;)
:cheers:
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 12:41 PM
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Default Re: Best Bang for the Buck mod?? (Gunny)

We offer a few different intake options at Exit 28. Call me and we can discuss what works best for you. The install on some is longer and more involved and others, it's very easy.

:)

RG

877 966 8676
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