New C5 owner
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Bishop CA
New C5 owner
High guys, well today I sold my 75 C3 and bought a Medium spiral grey 2003. Love the way this car handles. Just want to know where to start....I want to get as much as I can out of this stock motor as far as air in and air out. What is the best bang for my buck as far as air induction systems and exhaust. I want to stay within stock as close as I can but wanna add some HP if I can. Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I got so much help from the C3 guys and I'm sure you guys are as helpful as them. I will post some pics as soon as I ca. Thanks for your input.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,190
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
Going from a 75 to a 2003, does it feel like you need more hp the first day? Did you go for manual or auto? Congrats on your car, MSG is my second favorite color for 2003. It never hurts to post some pictures. Oh, and fill out your profile for better info and help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Bishop CA
Got the auto, as far as the first day.............Their all the first day. Just lookin to the future. Thanks, so what your fave 1rst color?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
OP:
You asked:
Good cold air intake, Longtube headers, highflow exhaust and a dyno tune.
Mine:
Vararam B2, Dynatech Headers, Corsa catback exhaust and a tune.
Real nice gains,,,
I then added a Cam Swap and retune to match! Enjoy the journey!
Don't get in a big of a hurry on mods! Learn what you have first! my $00.02
You asked:
Good cold air intake, Longtube headers, highflow exhaust and a dyno tune.
Mine:
Vararam B2, Dynatech Headers, Corsa catback exhaust and a tune.
Real nice gains,,,
I then added a Cam Swap and retune to match! Enjoy the journey!
Don't get in a big of a hurry on mods! Learn what you have first! my $00.02
Last edited by Silverbullet00; Oct 19, 2011 at 10:45 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,190
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
I've got the Anniversary Red 03, the medium spiral gray was the other color I would have bought if I had found it first. The combination of outside and inside colors with the shale interior swayed me to the Anniversary Edition.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
We want pictures! i love the spiral grey!
Normaly guys start with intake, headers, exhaust? as mutch as i see here.
ill start with that also but want to replace some worn out items first. like spark plugs, brake pads, rotors.
have fun!
Normaly guys start with intake, headers, exhaust? as mutch as i see here.
ill start with that also but want to replace some worn out items first. like spark plugs, brake pads, rotors.
have fun!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
that was my case, my 72 454 has 100 more hp and 220 mor ft/lbs than my stock ls1. my test drive was eh, its nice for a daily driver. a cam and head swap will help.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Well,,,,,,,,,, If it were me and I already had a pretty fast car; and since the C5 didn't stamp a grin on your face,,, adding small bolt on stuff isn't going to flip your switch any differently.
MY 02 Cents,,,,, Save for a significant first set of mod/s and be done with the game. (for a long while anyway
)
That being said,, you need to figure out what route you need to follow.
Here some school of hard knocks recommendations. You automatic tranny will NOT like a big cam or significant increase in HP/TQ. You will need a new high stall converter and a hardened modified tranny. Same for the rear end.
You have Basically TWO options:
CAM/HEADS/ INTAKE/HEADERS and a good tune. The bigger the cam, the more it effects Dirveability and the harder it is to tune. I like the lumpy rumpty cam so, I went this route. Heres my engine after the new flywheel was installed OPEN HEADERS. (testing for abnormal vibrations after the new matched balanced spec fly wheel wa installed:
CLICK ON PIC
OR
FORCED INDUCTION and a good tune. Great power with the best Dirveability. Significant HP TQ increase but lost more cash and more drive train mods.
If you piece meal your mods, you will never be happy and you will sooner or later break the bank on PCM re-tuning after you install more mods.
I did my mods on my 02 ZO6 in TWO steps.
Base HP was 360ish RWHP.
First set of mods were: Headers, Ported TB, VARARAM intake and a tune. Result= 390 RWHP 375 TQ. Drive line was happy, driver was happy (for about two years
)
Second set of mods were: ALL of the above mods plus= Ported Patriot Stage II Heads, Ported FAST 90, Ported 90mm Throttle Body, 240 /.610"/ 114+4 cam, underdrive damper and a comprehensive tune. Results= 450 RWHP and my drive train (clutch) was NOT happy. Started sticking to the floor between shifts.
Now I'm and doing all the after the engine drive train upgrades. SPEC Duel Disk clutch, hardened rear, upgraded TRANSZILLA T-60/60 tranny.
Unless you still want JUST another daily driver,, I recommend that you step up the MODS on your first attempt!
Bill
MY 02 Cents,,,,, Save for a significant first set of mod/s and be done with the game. (for a long while anyway
)That being said,, you need to figure out what route you need to follow.
Here some school of hard knocks recommendations. You automatic tranny will NOT like a big cam or significant increase in HP/TQ. You will need a new high stall converter and a hardened modified tranny. Same for the rear end.
You have Basically TWO options:
CAM/HEADS/ INTAKE/HEADERS and a good tune. The bigger the cam, the more it effects Dirveability and the harder it is to tune. I like the lumpy rumpty cam so, I went this route. Heres my engine after the new flywheel was installed OPEN HEADERS. (testing for abnormal vibrations after the new matched balanced spec fly wheel wa installed:
CLICK ON PIC
OR
FORCED INDUCTION and a good tune. Great power with the best Dirveability. Significant HP TQ increase but lost more cash and more drive train mods.
If you piece meal your mods, you will never be happy and you will sooner or later break the bank on PCM re-tuning after you install more mods.
I did my mods on my 02 ZO6 in TWO steps.
Base HP was 360ish RWHP.
First set of mods were: Headers, Ported TB, VARARAM intake and a tune. Result= 390 RWHP 375 TQ. Drive line was happy, driver was happy (for about two years
)Second set of mods were: ALL of the above mods plus= Ported Patriot Stage II Heads, Ported FAST 90, Ported 90mm Throttle Body, 240 /.610"/ 114+4 cam, underdrive damper and a comprehensive tune. Results= 450 RWHP and my drive train (clutch) was NOT happy. Started sticking to the floor between shifts.
Now I'm and doing all the after the engine drive train upgrades. SPEC Duel Disk clutch, hardened rear, upgraded TRANSZILLA T-60/60 tranny.
Unless you still want JUST another daily driver,, I recommend that you step up the MODS on your first attempt!
Bill
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Oct 20, 2011 at 06:28 PM.