best mods after the basics?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City OK
best mods after the basics?
I have a 2000 c5 M6, and have most of the starter mods done such as: vararam, corsa exhaust, LT headers and x pipe, tune, wires/plugs, ceramic pads with drilled/slotted rotors, and a short throw shifter.
my question is, other than heads and cam, would other mods like TB, ls6 intake, MAF, or anything else be beneficial for the money?
goals are to keep the car streetable, and would like to see at least a 12.9 this years (ran a 13.6 stock)
my question is, other than heads and cam, would other mods like TB, ls6 intake, MAF, or anything else be beneficial for the money?
goals are to keep the car streetable, and would like to see at least a 12.9 this years (ran a 13.6 stock)
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
A LS6 manifold would be your best bet. And after that save for a blower maybe taking a driving class to get the most potential out of your car or some DR and learn to launch. Other then that don't waste your money. Not sure but maybe a new stereo or some halo's but as far as performance your at your limit unless you spend big bucks.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Louisiana
I have a 3.90 gear in my Z06 and love it. Its still cruises well on the interstate without revving too high. See if someone will let you drive a similar vette with a 4.10 gear. I'm willling to bet you'll like it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
the ls6 intake will compliment the rest of the mods, if you do everything else, with the LS1 intake you are still leaving hp on the table. too cheap and easy of a mod not to do relatively. average cost is 350ish and half an hour of your time. keep the same throttle body you already have. wires and plugs arent really mods. especially since oem are as good of quality as aftermarket.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City OK
I see, so keep the stock TB and MAF? and yah i agree, just felt like making my list look longer
havent had it retunded for the long tubes, think it would be worth it to wait for the new intake?
what does a set of gears run? I have never looked into those
havent had it retunded for the long tubes, think it would be worth it to wait for the new intake?
what does a set of gears run? I have never looked into those
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I agree with the others that a LS-6 intake and a tune
are your best bet. Watch out with replacing gears
right now fuel prices are headed up and you probably
don't need the extra expense (for fuel) . If you got
to have gears 3.42 is your best bet. New the gears
go for $1400 plus install. Be careful on used gears
you can get burned easy. The "Oh they are perfect"
to oh they have a whine. Then you will have to rebuild
another expense.
From here on you are getting into big buck country and
best to be happy with what you have.
are your best bet. Watch out with replacing gears
right now fuel prices are headed up and you probably
don't need the extra expense (for fuel) . If you got
to have gears 3.42 is your best bet. New the gears
go for $1400 plus install. Be careful on used gears
you can get burned easy. The "Oh they are perfect"
to oh they have a whine. Then you will have to rebuild
another expense.
From here on you are getting into big buck country and
best to be happy with what you have.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
Good advice above all around but you have a 3:42 rear that you should keep. I have a cammed car with your mods. It breaks loose in the first four if I am not careful on street tires. If I could drive it better and add some DR's it would be a high 11's car. I too want to add a better intake and maybe heads someday, but I am in no hurry.
A good dyno tune to max your LT's will help a lot all by itself.
A good dyno tune to max your LT's will help a lot all by itself.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
What are you looking for is the question. Just to run quicker at the strip?
Do you want more hp ? Or better handling? gears will make it quicker
ported tb and a tune will improve throttle response and make more power making it quicker....
the ls1 intake is a restriction and the engine is an air pump.. move more air and you make more power.... but budget comes into play as well... what are you looking to spend to make it quicker?
Do you want more hp ? Or better handling? gears will make it quicker
ported tb and a tune will improve throttle response and make more power making it quicker....
the ls1 intake is a restriction and the engine is an air pump.. move more air and you make more power.... but budget comes into play as well... what are you looking to spend to make it quicker?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
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From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
I ran a 12.6 with similar mods. I did have an LS6 manifold at the time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City OK
What are you looking for is the question. Just to run quicker at the strip?
Do you want more hp ? Or better handling? gears will make it quicker
ported tb and a tune will improve throttle response and make more power making it quicker....
the ls1 intake is a restriction and the engine is an air pump.. move more air and you make more power.... but budget comes into play as well... what are you looking to spend to make it quicker?
Do you want more hp ? Or better handling? gears will make it quicker
ported tb and a tune will improve throttle response and make more power making it quicker....
the ls1 intake is a restriction and the engine is an air pump.. move more air and you make more power.... but budget comes into play as well... what are you looking to spend to make it quicker?
no certain amount set, this will be over time, but the ls6 intake will be purchased as soon as I find a decent price, throttle body worth porting?
what type of gains are people seeing from the ls6 intake over stock anyway?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City OK
traction is still an issue, have DR now though so hopefully that helps, still needs to work on my launch, I think that's where I am hurting the most
12.9 is just a minimal goal, of course the lower the better
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
no bang for the buck is going to shave time on the drag strip like gears, but as mentioned, they're not *that* cheap. the point made above regarding fuel is a valid point. if this is your DD, gears and huge cams arent always the best bets from a comfort and practicality point of view. thats subjective of course.
going for bang:buck and staying UNDER $1k.. well its nitrous. but thats a can of worms if you do it too cheap.. rebuilds are no fun when done unexpectedly.
bang for buck under $1k and super safe - intake and sway bars/end links. i was appalled at how morbidly the factory vette handled on its sways/endlinks and amazed how much of a difference it made afterward. i mean my done up Altima would have SMOKED the vette on a highly technical track it was so bad. that wont help on the strip, except to perhaps make you not wreck if the rear gets squirrely, but was that the best $125 spent on used parts EVER.
going for bang:buck and staying UNDER $1k.. well its nitrous. but thats a can of worms if you do it too cheap.. rebuilds are no fun when done unexpectedly.
bang for buck under $1k and super safe - intake and sway bars/end links. i was appalled at how morbidly the factory vette handled on its sways/endlinks and amazed how much of a difference it made afterward. i mean my done up Altima would have SMOKED the vette on a highly technical track it was so bad. that wont help on the strip, except to perhaps make you not wreck if the rear gets squirrely, but was that the best $125 spent on used parts EVER.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 8
From: Chester Springs PA
Ls6 intake then tune to take advantage of all you did. Sway bars and get the car aligned. I put c6z51 bars on my '03z along with '04z shocks and its been great. I track mine on road courses.
Do that then see where you're at. A good tune will knock your socks off. Always evaluate things first before throwing more money.
Do that then see where you're at. A good tune will knock your socks off. Always evaluate things first before throwing more money.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City OK
what sways/end links do you all suggest? that sounds like the next step after the tune and intake, which should be complete as soon as I can find an intake, is it worth the extra 150 to buy the ls6 throttle body too?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
i'd say if you can find the TB for cheap go for it. its not worth the $600 to upgrade to the bigger port/polished ones IMHO unless you're moving a lot of cubes or a huge cam to high RPM'. but if you can find the base ls6 maf/TB for cheap, which im sure you can with a little patience, pick them up too.