you can get the chinese headers and street tune
help with budget performance upgrades please
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
help with budget performance upgrades please
i just came back form deployment and could finally afford the car of my dreams, a c5 targa, it came with a k&n intake c6 intake manifold and a bbk exhaust, i have about 1000 to play with, can someone suggest the best bang 4 my buck please
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,294
Likes: 1,527
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
I would make a plan first. A good set of headers would be one of
my first mod's, let your engine breath. Good luck.
my first mod's, let your engine breath. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
I also vote for longtube headers if the car doesn't already have them. If you're patient you should be able to land a good used set for less than $800. After that I'd recommend a mail-order tune to take better advantage of your mods.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 835
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles CA
Nothing beats a wet nitrous kit in terms of bang for the buck power. If you want handling then C5 Z06 springs, C6 Z51 swaybars, and Bilstein shocks will give you a great upgrade and still leave you with a few hundred dollars in your pocket. For a 1000 you could also upgrade the seats in the car which is a huge upgrade imo.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
Thanks for your service, and WELCOME BACK!
My 2cents:
Hold onto your grand, save another $500, and get a set of 410 gears if you have an MN6. Not sure what the cost is to improve gears on an auto, but gears are your best bet for dramatic SOP improvement.
My 2cents:
Hold onto your grand, save another $500, and get a set of 410 gears if you have an MN6. Not sure what the cost is to improve gears on an auto, but gears are your best bet for dramatic SOP improvement.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
1. Vararam and Power duct
2. LG Motorsports Long tube Streets (LG has a sale on) (JWMotoring.com has Military specials, just call to see)
Install in that order, and you should be close to your budget, if not wait till Uncle Sam drops another load.
Then plan on your next move for heads and cam down the road.
2. LG Motorsports Long tube Streets (LG has a sale on) (JWMotoring.com has Military specials, just call to see)
Install in that order, and you should be close to your budget, if not wait till Uncle Sam drops another load.
Then plan on your next move for heads and cam down the road.
Waste of money.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
The original question was about bang-for-the-buck. He already has an aftermarket low-restriction intake that draws cold air from under the nose. Any gains he'd see from the Vararam (or any other intake for that matter) would be minimal and thus his money best spent elsewhere. As always, IMHO.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Headers, X crossover and a tune should help.
See July 2010 Vette for header guide including Dynatech, American Racing, Bassani, BBK, Billy Boat/B&B, Borla, Pertronix, Exoticmuscle, and Kooks. I don't have a recommendation but ceramic coated headers will not heat up your engine bay as much as others. Also check on spark plug clearance.
Remember that long tube headers are most effective at higher RPM and some are designed to optimize HP there. So do your homework if you want torque for SOTP improvement at low RPM (stop light to stop light) as some headers are designed for a balance between TRQ and HP gains.
X crossover balances the back pressure on the engine side to side and doubles the exhaust crosssection aft of the X. If will also raise the exhaust sound an octave or two while quieting the exhaust somewhat and reduce popping during deceleration.
I bought a mail order tune from Ron Zimmer in LA a few years back that was very good.
See July 2010 Vette for header guide including Dynatech, American Racing, Bassani, BBK, Billy Boat/B&B, Borla, Pertronix, Exoticmuscle, and Kooks. I don't have a recommendation but ceramic coated headers will not heat up your engine bay as much as others. Also check on spark plug clearance.
Remember that long tube headers are most effective at higher RPM and some are designed to optimize HP there. So do your homework if you want torque for SOTP improvement at low RPM (stop light to stop light) as some headers are designed for a balance between TRQ and HP gains.
X crossover balances the back pressure on the engine side to side and doubles the exhaust crosssection aft of the X. If will also raise the exhaust sound an octave or two while quieting the exhaust somewhat and reduce popping during deceleration.
I bought a mail order tune from Ron Zimmer in LA a few years back that was very good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
I agree to ditch the gears idea---mostly because with traction, lower gears will break parts on spirited drag race runs from a dead stop--
I would go as suggested with a set of LT's and X-pipe and deff. a tune--If you install the LT's without a tune you won't get the full benefit of them-- maybe even less !! But tuned you can get up to 20-30 more RWHP--- (if in your state you can get past the smog police)
I would go as suggested with a set of LT's and X-pipe and deff. a tune--If you install the LT's without a tune you won't get the full benefit of them-- maybe even less !! But tuned you can get up to 20-30 more RWHP--- (if in your state you can get past the smog police)
