Upgrading a C5 1998 , need some help
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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Upgrading a C5 1998 , need some help
Hi , won't get into too many details , but there is a race with my neighbor I NEED TO WIN , it's an ego thing , ok , I lost the first time around and that does not sit too well with me . So far I have a Borla Exhaust System and K&N air filters , it's not enough . Here is what I need , few inexpensive things that I can do to raise the horse power , sure ,we can do supercharger but that is very expensive and aren't in my budget . Also what are the best grip tires for racing . Last time my current tires lost so much traction from the get go . The tires were spinning but there I was sitting there . Any help would be appreciated , thanks in advance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
What car does the neighbor have, and what do you know has been done to it? Is your 98 an auto or manual? If auto, a 2.73 gear or 3.15? Do you have to pass emissions or is that not a concern?
I have many suggestions and answers for you if you give me all the details you can.
A quick answer for any pre 2001 C5 is the LS6 intake, a Cold air intake, and exhaust modifications. Maybe some porting on the TB if you can manage it. All these bolt on's followed by a professional dyno-tune. This will net around 30whp and wake it up a little.
More import are gears and a torque converter if its an auto. That is the best way to wake an auto up.
I have many suggestions and answers for you if you give me all the details you can.
A quick answer for any pre 2001 C5 is the LS6 intake, a Cold air intake, and exhaust modifications. Maybe some porting on the TB if you can manage it. All these bolt on's followed by a professional dyno-tune. This will net around 30whp and wake it up a little.
More import are gears and a torque converter if its an auto. That is the best way to wake an auto up.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Very helpful bud , like I mean , very HELPFUL . I didn't ask to give me common knowledge , I politely asked for help for something inexpensive . The reason it's important to me , is because when he wins , it's painful to just hear him talk and brag and all of this and all of that . We've all had that one person in our lifes that was always ready to brag about how great they are and how they beat you at something . This has happened a few times and it starts to bug you . His car is his pride and joy so I figured , hit them where it hurts the most .
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
What car does the neighbor have, and what do you know has been done to it? Is your 98 an auto or manual? If auto, a 2.73 gear or 3.15? Do you have to pass emissions or is that not a concern?
I have many suggestions and answers for you if you give me all the details you can.
A quick answer for any pre 2001 C5 is the LS6 intake, a Cold air intake, and exhaust modifications. Maybe some porting on the TB if you can manage it. All these bolt on's followed by a professional dyno-tune. This will net around 30whp and wake it up a little.
More import are gears and a torque converter if its an auto. That is the best way to wake an auto up.
I have many suggestions and answers for you if you give me all the details you can.
A quick answer for any pre 2001 C5 is the LS6 intake, a Cold air intake, and exhaust modifications. Maybe some porting on the TB if you can manage it. All these bolt on's followed by a professional dyno-tune. This will net around 30whp and wake it up a little.
More import are gears and a torque converter if its an auto. That is the best way to wake an auto up.
My neighbors car is 1993 RX-7 Twin Turbo with cold air intake , aftermarket exhaust , headers , radiator and ECU computer tuned . Yes , I know , it's a serious car , it's light weight , when that second Turbo kicked , it quickly got ahead . I just want to see how close I can get to it before having to sell my kidney to afford more stuff haha
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
I have a 1998 C5 , manual , Borla exhaust and K&N dual cold air intake . I bought the car like that , I passed DEQ in Portland Oregon so I guess I do have cat converter , otherwise it wouldn't have passed . I used to drive a 1992 300zx Twin Turbo without it and it was not possible to pass a test , but that's just my uneducated guess . I have to go underneath the car and see .
My neighbors car is 1993 RX-7 Twin Turbo with cold air intake , aftermarket exhaust , headers , radiator and ECU computer tuned . Yes , I know , it's a serious car , it's light weight , when that second Turbo kicked , it quickly got ahead . I just want to see how close I can get to it before having to sell my kidney to afford more stuff haha
My neighbors car is 1993 RX-7 Twin Turbo with cold air intake , aftermarket exhaust , headers , radiator and ECU computer tuned . Yes , I know , it's a serious car , it's light weight , when that second Turbo kicked , it quickly got ahead . I just want to see how close I can get to it before having to sell my kidney to afford more stuff haha
. Just for future threads, don't get mad at peoples reply's. If you don't like what they say, ignore it. Too many arguments start over nothing on here.So onto your project. If you are wanting to take him from a stop, I suggest upgrading the diff from 3.42's to 3.73's or 3.90's. This will kick your acceleration up quite a bit, a good clutch too while your at it. You will need way better tires than the run-flats too.
As far as power, I think you will need to do at least all the bolt on's and a good tune to make enough power. I'm thinking if you get in the 350whp range, you will be able to take him. That's a FAST intake, long tube headers, x-pipe for your axle-back etc. etc. etc. refresh the spark plugs and wires etc. You can make 350whp with bolt on's and a good dyno tune.
I don't know the RX7 very well and what power to weight ratio will give it what speed, but I'm making as good a guess as I can. That is a very quick and light car. But he is only rocking bolt on's it sounds like. You should be able to catch him pretty easily.
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Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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Im from Oregon, and my brother lives in Portland. Welcome to the forum . Just for future threads, don't get mad at peoples reply's. If you don't like what they say, ignore it. Too many arguments start over nothing on here.
So onto your project. If you are wanting to take him from a stop, I suggest upgrading the diff from 3.42's to 3.73's or 3.90's. This will kick your acceleration up quite a bit, a good clutch too while your at it. You will need way better tires than the run-flats too.
As far as power, I think you will need to do at least all the bolt on's and a good tune to make enough power. I'm thinking if you get in the 350whp range, you will be able to take him. That's a FAST intake, long tube headers, x-pipe for your axle-back etc. etc. etc. refresh the spark plugs and wires etc. You can make 350whp with bolt on's and a good dyno tune.
I don't know the RX7 very well and what power to weight ratio will give it what speed, but I'm making as good a guess as I can. That is a very quick and light car. But he is only rocking bolt on's it sounds like. You should be able to catch him pretty easily.
. Just for future threads, don't get mad at peoples reply's. If you don't like what they say, ignore it. Too many arguments start over nothing on here.So onto your project. If you are wanting to take him from a stop, I suggest upgrading the diff from 3.42's to 3.73's or 3.90's. This will kick your acceleration up quite a bit, a good clutch too while your at it. You will need way better tires than the run-flats too.
As far as power, I think you will need to do at least all the bolt on's and a good tune to make enough power. I'm thinking if you get in the 350whp range, you will be able to take him. That's a FAST intake, long tube headers, x-pipe for your axle-back etc. etc. etc. refresh the spark plugs and wires etc. You can make 350whp with bolt on's and a good dyno tune.
I don't know the RX7 very well and what power to weight ratio will give it what speed, but I'm making as good a guess as I can. That is a very quick and light car. But he is only rocking bolt on's it sounds like. You should be able to catch him pretty easily.
As for the upgrades , when you said intake , the intake manifold seems like the stock one , all the ones I saw online were either chrome or silver , mine is flat black . Is it pretty safe to say it's stock ? Not too familiar with Corvettes and their parts unfortunately
I do have the cat converters , so I would say to remove them ? This should gain some horsepower . As for the long tube headers , I need to lift it up a lot more so I can tell . Hopefully whoever did the exhaust , did them as well .
Differential and nice tires , I know it will benefit so much since I know I lost so much traction from the get go when we raced . Where would I get a differential like that ? Or do you somehow upgrade the stock one ? Sorry , that's something I have never changed or worked on , so it's not my specialty
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
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HIS
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MINE
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MINE
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Last edited by L1Wolf; Sep 15, 2012 at 05:58 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
I live in California currently.
You would know if you had headers. You can see them from the side of the engine. Judging by your pics, the only things done are the cone filters and axle-back exhaust.
I would recommend a little maintenance before performance parts. I see the filters look to need a cleaning, and stock spark plug wires and likely plugs too. What is the millage on the car? It could get some power back from new maintenance items.
Stay away from metal intakes. They are not much of a performance increase due to heat soaking. Look up the FAST line of plastic intakes or simply an LS6 intake off of a 2001 or newer C5, f-body, or Z06.
Your stock diff can have larger gears installed. No need for a new carrier.
You would know if you had headers. You can see them from the side of the engine. Judging by your pics, the only things done are the cone filters and axle-back exhaust.
I would recommend a little maintenance before performance parts. I see the filters look to need a cleaning, and stock spark plug wires and likely plugs too. What is the millage on the car? It could get some power back from new maintenance items.
Stay away from metal intakes. They are not much of a performance increase due to heat soaking. Look up the FAST line of plastic intakes or simply an LS6 intake off of a 2001 or newer C5, f-body, or Z06.
Your stock diff can have larger gears installed. No need for a new carrier.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I live in California currently.
You would know if you had headers. You can see them from the side of the engine. Judging by your pics, the only things done are the cone filters and axle-back exhaust.
I would recommend a little maintenance before performance parts. I see the filters look to need a cleaning, and stock spark plug wires and likely plugs too. What is the millage on the car? It could get some power back from new maintenance items.
Stay away from metal intakes. They are not much of a performance increase due to heat soaking. Look up the FAST line of plastic intakes or simply an LS6 intake off of a 2001 or newer C5, f-body, or Z06.
Your stock diff can have larger gears installed. No need for a new carrier.
You would know if you had headers. You can see them from the side of the engine. Judging by your pics, the only things done are the cone filters and axle-back exhaust.
I would recommend a little maintenance before performance parts. I see the filters look to need a cleaning, and stock spark plug wires and likely plugs too. What is the millage on the car? It could get some power back from new maintenance items.
Stay away from metal intakes. They are not much of a performance increase due to heat soaking. Look up the FAST line of plastic intakes or simply an LS6 intake off of a 2001 or newer C5, f-body, or Z06.
Your stock diff can have larger gears installed. No need for a new carrier.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Most spark plugs are done by 40 -50k, so I would. But not a must. You should notice a smoother idle and overall better running engine. There's allot of info on doing that here on the forum. Replace both the plugs and wires to have a like new performing setup.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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. Send me an email if you ever come to visit , beer is on me
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 491
Likes: 38
Very helpful bud , like I mean , very HELPFUL . I didn't ask to give me common knowledge , I politely asked for help for something inexpensive . The reason it's important to me , is because when he wins , it's painful to just hear him talk and brag and all of this and all of that . We've all had that one person in our lifes that was always ready to brag about how great they are and how they beat you at something . This has happened a few times and it starts to bug you . His car is his pride and joy so I figured , hit them where it hurts the most .
Seriously though, if you are looking for a welfare power adder, just go with spray.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
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saved me a bundle , thanks !
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 408
From: Portland OR
I'm in Portland. I run at PIR whenevr I get a chance.
You can just borrow my car and race him with that, then you can kick his butt with an auto trans.
I'll be down next Friday and Sat, so come on down. I'll spank him for ya!
Aw shoot, your car is red, he would figure us out.
Got a 1/4 mile time on that Mazda? What's he say it runs?
Ron
You can just borrow my car and race him with that, then you can kick his butt with an auto trans.
I'll be down next Friday and Sat, so come on down. I'll spank him for ya!
Aw shoot, your car is red, he would figure us out.
Got a 1/4 mile time on that Mazda? What's he say it runs?
Ron
Last edited by RonSSNova; Sep 15, 2012 at 10:03 PM.
Tech Contributor
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From: Dyer, IN
Intermediate
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I say you are going to be hard pressed to take him without spending some serious cash.
Lest than 1k budget 100Hp
Nitrous kit
3k budget 50hp
long tune Headers with off road X unless you have to pass emissions then get high flow cats
LS6 intake with ported throttle body
Underdrive pulley
Tune
5k budget 100-150 hp depending on how aggressive you want your cam to be.
Sames as 3k with
A good cam on a 114 LSA unless you like a lope to your car then get a 112 LSA
LS6 (243) ported heads.
Lest than 1k budget 100Hp
Nitrous kit
3k budget 50hp
long tune Headers with off road X unless you have to pass emissions then get high flow cats
LS6 intake with ported throttle body
Underdrive pulley
Tune
5k budget 100-150 hp depending on how aggressive you want your cam to be.
Sames as 3k with
A good cam on a 114 LSA unless you like a lope to your car then get a 112 LSA
LS6 (243) ported heads.