C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Good, Practical Upgrades for '03 ZO6?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 02:08 PM
  #1  
Cold Fusion's Avatar
Cold Fusion
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Granville Oh
Default Good, Practical Upgrades for '03 ZO6?

Hey guys i recently bought a 2003 black zo6 with 35000 miles on it. I would really appreciate feedback as to what upgrades would be the most bang for the buck and/or the most effective. (besides forced induction.)
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 02:19 PM
  #2  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,475
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
Default

Originally Posted by Cold Fusion
Hey guys i recently bought a 2003 black zo6 with 35000 miles on it. I would really appreciate feedback as to what upgrades would be the most bang for the buck and/or the most effective. (besides forced induction.)
How much can you spend?
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 03:08 PM
  #3  
Cold Fusion's Avatar
Cold Fusion
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Granville Oh
Default

Originally Posted by lucky131969
How much can you spend?
I will eventually spend a lot of money over the course of time, but as far as effective upgrades that are surprisingly cheap. (Its hard to explain haha.)
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 03:15 PM
  #4  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,475
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
Default

Originally Posted by Cold Fusion
I will eventually spend a lot of money over the course of time, but as far as effective upgrades that are surprisingly cheap. (Its hard to explain haha.)
I'm not sure whey this question is soo hard to squeeze out of some people....

There is NOTHING cheap (let alone "surprisingly cheap" ) about this hobby. Revealing how much you want to spend, will allow forum members to recommend the best gain...... versus dollars spent.
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 03:43 PM
  #5  
Cold Fusion's Avatar
Cold Fusion
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Granville Oh
Default

Originally Posted by lucky131969
i'm not sure whey this question is soo hard to squeeze out of some people....

There is nothing cheap (let alone "surprisingly cheap" ) about this hobby. Revealing how much you want to spend, will allow forum members to recommend the best gain...... Versus dollars spent.
$5000-5500
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 03:45 PM
  #6  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,475
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
Default

Originally Posted by Cold Fusion
$5000-5500
I forgot to ask, will you be doing your own work?
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 06:02 PM
  #7  
ALVETTE00's Avatar
ALVETTE00
Drifting
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 5
Default

Engine
Cold Air Intake (10hp)
Headers, Hi_flow cats, cat back (25-30hp)
Cam (40+hp)
Heads (40+hp)
Dyno Tune (25+hp)

Suspension
Coil Overs

Gears
3.73 or 3.90's (4.10 might be too short with M12 tranny)

Rough numbers of course.
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 06:26 PM
  #8  
imavettegirl's Avatar
imavettegirl
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 4
From: either, ca/ohio
Default

what has already been done to it?

lt headers should be the first addition.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 07:25 PM
  #9  
corvette8189's Avatar
corvette8189
Safety Car
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 29
From: Wichita Falls Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Cold Fusion
$5000-5500
A&A kit i know u said no FI but its the best bang for your buck
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2011 | 11:22 PM
  #10  
kjmj's Avatar
kjmj
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 362
Likes: 2
From: denton tx
Default

Originally Posted by imavettegirl
what has already been done to it?

lt headers should be the first addition.



Headers are a great start. Can't really go wrong there. You really need to ask your self what you want out of your car. Sound, Power, Handling, Bling... You will get a lot of different answers based on what you tell us.

Last edited by kjmj; Feb 14, 2011 at 11:23 PM. Reason: spelling
Reply
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 01:26 AM
  #11  
JustinStrife's Avatar
JustinStrife
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
Default

Originally Posted by corvette8189
A&A kit i know u said no FI but its the best bang for your buck
Reply
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 07:01 AM
  #12  
VCUFAN's Avatar
VCUFAN
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Virginia
Default

If you definitely don't want to do FI, then as stated above a good header system with midpipe. Then you can do cam/head/intake.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 01:15 PM
  #13  
Cold Fusion's Avatar
Cold Fusion
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Granville Oh
Default

Thanks guys. Im not against forced induction, it is the best bang for the buck but despite the huge bang the kits are always very expensive but now i'm interested in that A&A kit, does it come with everything? I didnt see any tuning equipment.
Has anyone gone to the turbo route?

Last edited by Cold Fusion; Feb 23, 2011 at 01:18 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 01:29 PM
  #14  
DanA_F99_1977's Avatar
DanA_F99_1977
Racer
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 283
Likes: 181
From: New Boston
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified\
Default

Well, nothing about this is really practical! But we are not a practical bunch. We are passionate about the cars and the hobby.

You really have to say what you want to use the car for before we can help.
Road course? Drags? Street only?

Driver mod is typically the best and most effective. Go to a good Hi perfromance driving school like Spring Mountain.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Good, Practical Upgrades for '03 ZO6?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:32 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE