Performance Suggestions
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Performance Suggestions
Since I have my 2003 Anniv. Ed57 L . garaged for the winter I have been thinking about tweaking it's performance for next Spring. I have considered headers, a cam kit, a new intake manifold all the way up to a supercharger. Since I have decided to only spend around $1,500, I wondering if anyone has any suggestion or suggestions in combination as to where I should invest this money to get the biggest bang for the buck. Car is basically stock except for a high flow air intake and Flowmaster axleback exhaust.
TIA
TIA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
Auto or stick? If auto and 2.73 gears I'd swap in some 3.42's from a Z. If 3.15's I'd probably do headers. The cam might actually give you the best boost though (although I think a cam kinda calls for headers).
So, what tranny and gears?
Edit; meant to say as CamminC5 said, your manifold is fine; same as an LS6
So, what tranny and gears?
Edit; meant to say as CamminC5 said, your manifold is fine; same as an LS6
Last edited by grantv; Jan 17, 2016 at 07:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 48
From: Nathalie VA
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18
You have a great intake manifold on it now. Leave that alone. The mods listed above would be great if your car is an auto.
Do you plan on turning your own wrenches?
A full exhaust would eat up a lot of that $1500 for a quality set, but it really wakes these cars up and will be needed to get the most out of any other mods you do. Don't forget to factor in the price for a tune.
Do you plan on turning your own wrenches?
A full exhaust would eat up a lot of that $1500 for a quality set, but it really wakes these cars up and will be needed to get the most out of any other mods you do. Don't forget to factor in the price for a tune.
Last edited by CamminC5; Jan 17, 2016 at 06:47 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
If your car is an A4:
I would recc. as the 1st mod to install a stalled TQ converter --A 3000 stall is the best all round choice-- Cost installed about $1100
2nd If your budget is only $1500 I would get a performance dyno tune Cost about $350
IF your car is a 6 speed manual----I would get a cam and springs-----cost about $800
2nd I would get a set of LT headers---You can find them now for about $750
That leaves nothing left so a dyno tune isn't in the budget but you can get a mail order tune for about $150 which would be a MUST
I would recc. as the 1st mod to install a stalled TQ converter --A 3000 stall is the best all round choice-- Cost installed about $1100
2nd If your budget is only $1500 I would get a performance dyno tune Cost about $350
IF your car is a 6 speed manual----I would get a cam and springs-----cost about $800
2nd I would get a set of LT headers---You can find them now for about $750
That leaves nothing left so a dyno tune isn't in the budget but you can get a mail order tune for about $150 which would be a MUST
Last edited by tblu92; Jan 17, 2016 at 10:24 PM.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Performance mods
All good points. As far as I know the rear is what came stock with the car, which means I don't really know. It is a 4 speed Automatic w/od. Since it's garaged I can't take it out for a drive to determine the rear ratio. Depending on what route I went I may do my own wrenching, but if it's exhaust or rear I don't think I will mess with that. I like the header advice so it breathes a bit better and there would be money left over for a tune. Then if I go with gearing later I'll already have a good running engine.
Thanks for the input. Sometimes you need to step off and look at it from another viewpoint.
Thanks for the input. Sometimes you need to step off and look at it from another viewpoint.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 304
I like the header advice so it breathes a bit better and there would be money left over for a tune
The cheapest headers out there now are ~800-900. A tune will be between 350-500, depending on where you are. Doesn't leave you much money for installation, so I guess you are on your own with that.
And BTW, I tried to go the cheap route with headers, but learned the lesson. I sent them back and bought a set of Kooks. Headers + installation + tune is going to be ~2500.00 for me.
Shakey
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
918 Comp springs cost $150
so parts cost is $500
Where I live labor from most shops is $75 an hour
It should be a 4 hour job at the most---so $3oo for labor---
That comes to $800----give or take depending on where you liveand who does your work--
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 most cams can be purchased for $350
918 Comp springs cost $150
so parts cost is $500
Where I live labor from most shops is $75 an hour
It should be a 4 hour job at the most---so $3oo for labor---
That comes to $800----give or take depending on where you liveand who does your work--
918 Comp springs cost $150
so parts cost is $500
Where I live labor from most shops is $75 an hour
It should be a 4 hour job at the most---so $3oo for labor---
That comes to $800----give or take depending on where you liveand who does your work--
True story. 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,760
Likes: 24,682
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
For $1500, get the headers and a tune.
As an alternative, stall converter would be a good choice.
As an alternative, stall converter would be a good choice.
