need realistic advice on performance goals
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
need realistic advice on performance goals
My car is an 01 A4 coupe thats basically stock. It had a flowmaster catback on it when I bought it, and I did an exhaust bypass to it, but other than this, its stock. This is a street machine that might only make it to the drag strip a couple times, but I also do drive it a lot in the summer up here in the northwest. Im looking for 350-370 rwhp on a dont break the bank budget. Im thinking callaway honker, patriot stage 2 243 heads, XR275HR cam and supporting mods (timing chain, better oil pump, better push rods) 1 7/8 ARH headers with cats, and of course a quality dyno tune. so my question is...is this realistic, should I be thinking of anything specifically for reliability, what's your opinion? And no, im not spending 2K plus on my heads, its out of the question.
Last edited by ErikwithAK01; Jun 28, 2014 at 08:12 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,544
Likes: 209
From: Huntersville, NC
My car is an 01 A4 coupe thats basically stock. It had a flowmaster catback on it when I bought it, and I did an exhaust bypass to it, but other than this, its stock. This is a street machine that might only make it to the drag strip a couple times, but I also do drive it a lot in the summer up here in the northwest. Im looking for 350-370 rwhp on a dont break the bank budget. Im thinking callaway honker, patriot stage 2 243 heads, XR275HR cam and supporting mods (timing chain, better oil pump, better push rods) 1 7/8 ARH headers with cats, and of course a quality dyno tune. so my question is...is this realistic, should I be thinking of anything specifically for reliability, what's your opinion? And no, im not spending 2K plus on my heads, its out of the question.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
A solid point, see, this is why I ask you guys before I buy anything haha. Someone was telling me my goals are reachable with just bolt ons and my cam. I just read the articles about the corvette central staged performance upgrades, and I like their all inclusive cam package with that cam. http://www.corvetteonline.com/tech-s...l-performance/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,290
Likes: 1,522
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
The truth is with some thought , you can reach your goals with
just add-ons . You would not add heads or a cam. Your budget
would be very low.
Add-ons like headers, tricked up throttle body, LS-6 intake,etc-- you
get the picture. With a good tune you may reach 400 rwhp, with
alittle luck.
You have sensible goals-- don't over reach or overspend.--rp
just add-ons . You would not add heads or a cam. Your budget
would be very low.
Add-ons like headers, tricked up throttle body, LS-6 intake,etc-- you
get the picture. With a good tune you may reach 400 rwhp, with
alittle luck.
You have sensible goals-- don't over reach or overspend.--rp
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 501
From: Rio Rancho NM
For what you are going to pay..4-6k why not supercharge it and blow those number out the water? you can get new kits from 4200 on sale or 4500 tuner only. Just not worth all the money for heads and cam and intake and tick tack boltons when you can do one simple Boltons not have to worry about a choppy idle or having to rev to the moon like a civic to make power. Runs stock until you put your foot on it. I would be pissed if I spent thousands of dollars and I'm only seeing 400-450..Just my opinion though
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,027
Likes: 170
From: oregon
For what you are going to pay..4-6k why not supercharge it and blow those number out the water? you can get new kits from 4200 on sale or 4500 tuner only. Just not worth all the money for heads and cam and intake and tick tack boltons when you can do one simple Boltons not have to worry about a choppy idle or having to rev to the moon like a civic to make power. Runs stock until you put your foot on it. I would be pissed if I spent thousands of dollars and I'm only seeing 400-450..Just my opinion though
superchargers and cast pistons limit how hard you can drive the car
if the OP is only looking for 350-370 a vararam and 1-3/4" headers & z06 cat back should meet his goal with no cam or headwork
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I went with a Vararam, LG longtube pro, LG catless X-pipe, B&B axle back mufflers, Fast intake manifold, and a tune. I don't have dyno numbers, but it runs a lot better than stock. I suspect it is about what you are looking for, is reliable, gets good power and still gets great mileage. Good combination (at least I like it).
Good luck.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
From: South al
Your gonna tell me that u plan on stopping after adding all of these upgrades?? It ain't gonna happen!!
I don't know of anyone ever who can just stop after eating 1potato chip
I don't know of anyone ever who can just stop after eating 1potato chip
Last edited by fsuforever; Jun 29, 2014 at 05:06 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 501
From: Rio Rancho NM
my car says otherwise but it's true to anything so knock on wood my **** doesn't blow up anytime soon...
if the op is like most of us that just wont be enough
if the op is like most of us that just wont be enough
Last edited by Chicago1; Jun 29, 2014 at 06:33 PM.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
... but to the op, you can start out with those mods and see how you like it and go from there... the good thing is that if it isn't enough for you then you can slap a centri blower on it and all the mods you have already done will just amplify the power when you throw some boost at it
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
I'm looking for 350-370 at the wheel though, I'd like to be at the top end of that and a little more never hurt. Are headers and an intake with a tune really going to get me there with an otherwise stock 2001 A4??? I don't want a supercharger, I'd rather not take the price hit all at once, I'd like some more power, but I want to do a piece at a time, and I'd like to have a nice sounding/performing exhaust in that package. I also want this to be reliable, but also like a little cam chop. I have been looking at the corvette central stage 3 kit with a cam whose specs are as follows 222/224 .566/.568 112-lsa, something reasonably conservative. The kit also comes with all the matched reliability items to go with it, like springs, push rods, retainers. I know now that I won't need heads to make this power, so I'm not thinking about that anymore. I also just bought a honker, I've seen several vararam's and I don't like the quality control personally. This car was my dream car growing up, whatever components I add to it, will be high quality.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,027
Likes: 170
From: oregon
i admit i'm a bit nervous having blown up two cast piston engines with boost, ringlands went both times
if they are done on e85 it's much safer, pump is sketchy with cast pistons imo
as for the never enough, that's a person to person thing. i'm all about the balance of a car and don't like over powered straight line machines, some people always want to make more hp. that said, if you are a HP junkie boost is the way to go. bang for your buck it's always a better value than NA. with boost you just build a strong bottom end and turn up the pressure. NA motors need huge cams, expensive heads etc.
Last edited by racebum; Jun 29, 2014 at 06:49 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 191
Likes: 2
From: Chandler Arizona
ErikwithAK01
I also have an 01 A4 coupe with the following MODs:
- Blackwing CAI
- 1 3/4 Kooks LTs with matching catted mids
- B&B 2 1/2 Route 66 cat back
- Custom Dyno-tune
I have 331 HP and 340 Torque to the wheels. The tuner only expected ~ 320 HP with my MODs, so it was a nice surprise.
If you want more HP you will need to go with either Throttle body / Intake manifold (you already have an LS6) / Heads / Cam (plus supporting) / Supercharger or some combination.
I very much recommend starting with similar MODs to mine and see how you like it. I love it, my car is damn fast (IMHO).
If I were to want more HP, I would go supercharge with a modest boost. The cost of heads/cam + supporting + install will get you close to the cost of SC and only roughly half the HP increase.
Just my 2 cents worth....
I also have an 01 A4 coupe with the following MODs:
- Blackwing CAI
- 1 3/4 Kooks LTs with matching catted mids
- B&B 2 1/2 Route 66 cat back
- Custom Dyno-tune
I have 331 HP and 340 Torque to the wheels. The tuner only expected ~ 320 HP with my MODs, so it was a nice surprise.
If you want more HP you will need to go with either Throttle body / Intake manifold (you already have an LS6) / Heads / Cam (plus supporting) / Supercharger or some combination.
I very much recommend starting with similar MODs to mine and see how you like it. I love it, my car is damn fast (IMHO).
If I were to want more HP, I would go supercharge with a modest boost. The cost of heads/cam + supporting + install will get you close to the cost of SC and only roughly half the HP increase.
Just my 2 cents worth....
Last edited by Mr Russ; Jun 29, 2014 at 07:16 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 501
From: Rio Rancho NM
go run a few laps or do 1 mile pulls and see how long it lives
i admit i'm a bit nervous having blown up two cast piston engines with boost, ringlands went both times
if they are done on e85 it's much safer, pump is sketchy with cast pistons imo
as for the never enough, that's a person to person thing. i'm all about the balance of a car and don't like over powered straight line machines, some people always want to make more hp. that said, if you are a HP junkie boost is the way to go. bang for your buck it's always a better value than NA. with boost you just build a strong bottom end and turn up the pressure. NA motors need huge cams, expensive heads etc.
i admit i'm a bit nervous having blown up two cast piston engines with boost, ringlands went both times
if they are done on e85 it's much safer, pump is sketchy with cast pistons imo
as for the never enough, that's a person to person thing. i'm all about the balance of a car and don't like over powered straight line machines, some people always want to make more hp. that said, if you are a HP junkie boost is the way to go. bang for your buck it's always a better value than NA. with boost you just build a strong bottom end and turn up the pressure. NA motors need huge cams, expensive heads etc.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 191
Likes: 2
From: Chandler Arizona
Thx.
Last edited by Mr Russ; Jun 29, 2014 at 07:14 PM.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
go run a few laps or do 1 mile pulls and see how long it lives
i admit i'm a bit nervous having blown up two cast piston engines with boost, ringlands went both times
if they are done on e85 it's much safer, pump is sketchy with cast pistons imo
as for the never enough, that's a person to person thing. i'm all about the balance of a car and don't like over powered straight line machines, some people always want to make more hp. that said, if you are a HP junkie boost is the way to go. bang for your buck it's always a better value than NA. with boost you just build a strong bottom end and turn up the pressure. NA motors need huge cams, expensive heads etc.
i admit i'm a bit nervous having blown up two cast piston engines with boost, ringlands went both times
if they are done on e85 it's much safer, pump is sketchy with cast pistons imo
as for the never enough, that's a person to person thing. i'm all about the balance of a car and don't like over powered straight line machines, some people always want to make more hp. that said, if you are a HP junkie boost is the way to go. bang for your buck it's always a better value than NA. with boost you just build a strong bottom end and turn up the pressure. NA motors need huge cams, expensive heads etc.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
www.corvetteonline.com/tech-stories/engine/project-y2k-stage-3-4-upgrades-from-corvette-central-performance/ in the article the car made 385 whp with this cam, kooks 1 3/4 non catted, ls6 intake, honker, plugs n wires, under drive pulley, and a fast hand held (no customer dyno tune) on a mn6. The cam kit is their stage 4, and it is $1300.oo