newbie package mods question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
newbie package mods question
Just purchased my first Corvette ever; a 2004 silver auto coupe with 42,000 miles. My original thought was to keep the gas mileage and maybe drag race it a little on the weekends. I got a few of my questions answered on here and think maybe I don't want to go that route. So ... being a new C5 owner with the goals of having a more "throttle-responsive" car without sacrificing MPG too much (this is my daily driver) does this list need anything added/deleted and will it all as a package really wake my car up to where I would notice a seat-of-the-pants difference? I did a search but didn't really come up with a comprehensive list in any single post.
1. Quality 1.75" header system and cats (probably keep the stock mufflers).
2. Vararam
3. TC (maybe a Yank 3200)
4. 3.42 gear (I have a 3.15 now but don't want to kill mileage)
5. GOOD dyno tune
6. Lower the car all the way around on the stock bolts
I thought I'd ask the experts that having modding experience before I start throwing money at it and not be happy or satisfied with the outcome. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
1. Quality 1.75" header system and cats (probably keep the stock mufflers).
2. Vararam
3. TC (maybe a Yank 3200)
4. 3.42 gear (I have a 3.15 now but don't want to kill mileage)
5. GOOD dyno tune
6. Lower the car all the way around on the stock bolts
I thought I'd ask the experts that having modding experience before I start throwing money at it and not be happy or satisfied with the outcome. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
If all you are going to do is headers then a dyno tune is really a lot more money than you need to spend. a mail in from ECS will get you within a few % points of a dyno tune for 1/4 the price. spend that extra money upgrading the brakes and suspension.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,756
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
1. Quality 1.75" header system and cats (probably keep the stock mufflers). High price to buy and install - at this time probably not needed
2. Vararam Again, not going to give you a lot
3. TC (maybe a Yank 3200) This will give you the most "seat of the Pants" change to your car and will not really effect MPG much
4. 3.42 gear (I have a 3.15 now but don't want to kill mileage) Not worth the money since you already have 3.15
5. GOOD dyno tune Mail order tune from ECS is a much better bang for your buck.
6. Lower the car all the way around on the stock bolts This will effect appearance - not performance
2. Vararam Again, not going to give you a lot
3. TC (maybe a Yank 3200) This will give you the most "seat of the Pants" change to your car and will not really effect MPG much
4. 3.42 gear (I have a 3.15 now but don't want to kill mileage) Not worth the money since you already have 3.15
5. GOOD dyno tune Mail order tune from ECS is a much better bang for your buck.
6. Lower the car all the way around on the stock bolts This will effect appearance - not performance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
I think you've got a great plan. if the budget is there, do it. you might want to rethink the rear end choice but do some more research. lots of good info here. do the dyno tune if you have a good shop.
good luck and let us know what you decide
good luck and let us know what you decide
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: Tampa fl
St. Jude Donor '14
I would use the money though for some borla's!! DONT KEEP THEM STOCK!!!!!! I have all of those mods you are thinking of doing but I have an x-pipe and the Very Aggressive series borla car runs and sounds amazing! http://www.borla.com/products/produc...prod_sku=12649you can get them cheaper on amazon!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
I would use the money though for some borla's!! DONT KEEP THEM STOCK!!!!!! I have all of those mods you are thinking of doing but I have an x-pipe and the Very Aggressive series borla car runs and sounds amazing! http://www.borla.com/products/produc...prod_sku=12649you can get them cheaper on amazon!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: Tampa fl
St. Jude Donor '14
The loudness is more out the rear end, especialy at WOT. Straight pipes = drone and i dont think it is unbearable but there are some ways to reduce that... do a search for undercoating there are some guys that did this to reduce the noise. Also dyno mat interior is a good way to go. I have this but no undercoating. Your GF SRT is not built like a vette so there are tons of things to dampen the sound. If you look under the car there is not much between you and the road, engine, tranny, diff,... anything really. if you want reduced noise do the stingers or something similar. I wanted raw and loud sound that didnt cost over $1000 so I went with the straight pipes. ill take a video tonight and post it so you can hear the sound. I do not have my headers in yet but you can get a good idea of what it will sound like.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,756
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
A good compromise would be the Z06 stock exhaust. It's lighter than the base exhaust and sounds just a bit more throaty.
It's likely that the borla's will drone. And they are certainly louder than stock.
If you're not looking for max effort hp, just a better seat of the pants feel, keep your stock exhaust. It's not that restrictive.
It's likely that the borla's will drone. And they are certainly louder than stock.
If you're not looking for max effort hp, just a better seat of the pants feel, keep your stock exhaust. It's not that restrictive.
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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
Just purchased my first Corvette ever; a 2004 silver auto coupe with 42,000 miles. My original thought was to keep the gas mileage and maybe drag race it a little on the weekends. I got a few of my questions answered on here and think maybe I don't want to go that route. So ... being a new C5 owner with the goals of having a more "throttle-responsive" car without sacrificing MPG too much (this is my daily driver) does this list need anything added/deleted and will it all as a package really wake my car up to where I would notice a seat-of-the-pants difference? I did a search but didn't really come up with a comprehensive list in any single post.
1. Quality 1.75" header system and cats (probably keep the stock mufflers).
2. Vararam
3. TC (maybe a Yank 3200)
4. 3.42 gear (I have a 3.15 now but don't want to kill mileage)
5. GOOD dyno tune
6. Lower the car all the way around on the stock bolts
I thought I'd ask the experts that having modding experience before I start throwing money at it and not be happy or satisfied with the outcome. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
1. Quality 1.75" header system and cats (probably keep the stock mufflers).
2. Vararam
3. TC (maybe a Yank 3200)
4. 3.42 gear (I have a 3.15 now but don't want to kill mileage)
5. GOOD dyno tune
6. Lower the car all the way around on the stock bolts
I thought I'd ask the experts that having modding experience before I start throwing money at it and not be happy or satisfied with the outcome. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
You can get away with not tuning for a set of LT headers and a Vararam BUT,,, IF,, you change the Torque Converter and Rear Differential Ratio,, you will have to have the PCM tuned to make the transmission perform and shift correctly.
There isn’t any need to get 1 7/8 primary headers for your mods. It may hurt you more than aid you. 1 3/4 is more than adequate for your purposes unless you plan on some SERIOUS displacement mods in the future.
Any mods worthwhile, should be tuned to optimize the PCM TUNE. Trust me. Without a tune, your fuel efficiency will suffer some and you will most likely lose a few MPG. Been there done that. Lost 4 MPG after I added: LT Stainless Works 1 3/4 headers, Vararam and Ported TB. Got it all back with a street tune plus I saw a better running engine.
A competent tuner can make the car run perfect and may even make the car have the same fuel efficiency or better than you observed before the mods. You don’t have to have a DYNO TUNE. A street tune will get you the best of both worlds!
BC
