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wow last time I was here(12 years ago) I built my DIY wide body C4 corvette [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]lol.
I just picked up a C5 vette and love it. it is a 1998 manual with 45k miles on it.. super clean. it currently has callaway CAI, hooker long tube headers, no cats and hooker full exhaust. oh and a really nice short throw shifter.
My question is does anyone have a build recipe to get to 400hp? i'm reading tons of them and everyone throws in opinions on others suggestions and leaves me wanting to just hear a "do this, this and this and you will have 400hp." as someone who is not good at the technical stuff like cam lift and air fuel ratio (get completely lost) but can tackle anything mechanical with my eyes closed... i need a little guidance.
I had a 2010 grand sport a couple years ago and that was 440bhp(i think) which was plenty of hp.. i just want to get close to that if possible with this C5
crazy.. i had a 2010 grand sport a few years ago and i didn't really care for it.. kept it for about 7 months and sold it... i know thats seem messed up but its just how it went.
i get this c5 and its making me smile like the c6 couldn't.. i'm thinking its maybe less refined and raw that i'm liking about it so much.
By 400 hp I assume you will want that to the wheels is that the case? A cam swap along with a set of stock 243 heads and ls6 intake would get you right there for a NA setup without a lot of drama.
A mild tune with a ECS supercharger would be the easy button and capable of a lot more than your goals. If your not looking to commit to those kinds of mods you can pick up some power with a variram air intake and a good tune. You could also pick up a ls6 take off manifold and maybe some headers. Your not going to get to 400hp with that but it will give you some pep. What are you willing to spend ?
i was thinking bhp but from what I'm reading the last two days.. that pretty easy to get to. i have had a few people mention on FB about there mods that took them to 400rwhp. one was BTR, LS6 intake, 799 heads and full headers/exhaust. he said it dynoed at 412 to the wheels.. that's pretty impressive.
either way i go.. lt looks like a cam intake will be a must for me.
So i like to mod my cars lol most of the stuff i ordered came in so .. thats nice
blacked out side markers, fog light, tailights, rims/tires. wide body rear quarters, new stereo system with subs, fabbing up some rear side well speaker housings for a pair of 8" to handle some really loud mids, had the windows tinted last weekend. side skirts and front valance(or whatever name of that piece is)
with the mods that are done to it and adding a cam and intake with everything.. i think i'll have a pretty fun ride.
suspension upgrades will come later as i do race my cars at Gratan raceway in Michigan often and suspension is needed for those corners.
this is a link to my C6 Gransport from a couple years ago at the track.
Welcome back. I also have a 98. Great cars. I drive mine at every opportunity. Start thinking about a clutch when you get to your 400rwhp.
My recipe: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
Lots and lots of cam options. I went with a TSP low lift, basically a truck cam to be easy on parts. Also single beehive springs, again to be easy on parts If I were to do over again, I'd just buy new Texas Speed Brawler heads. The 92 mm FAST intake and 90mm LS throttle body was not really needed, but is part of the reason it makes the power it does. The SE headers were a nice surprise as far as how they fit. They are Chineasium and are holding up well so far a year and 10k miles later. There are some great members here that gave me some really solid advise. As you read thru my post you will recognize the talent pool here. I went a little crazy from where I was starting (HB change and stuff a cam in it). I think the good flowing heads and headers are the key along with the cam selection. Brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. I love the car.
Lots of good tips here: http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Please make a post of what you end up with. I really like to read about what works and what doesn't.
400 to the wheel, cam, ported heads, headers, tune. You don’t need a wild cam either. Something in the 220/226 range, 550-ish lift, will have a great torque curve.
Bolt on. Enjoy your cake and eating it too. Realize that 400rw does not keep up with the Joneses anymore. 500 to 550rw is that point of absolute perfection where the drivetrain is easily happy and so is the engine and you have a tolerable quick car which also drives around town like stock. Cams get gapped.
Thanks for the input guys. sorry couldn't log in and reply over the weekend.
I started mudding the rear panels for the side vents mod. will post up pics soon. I'm currently finishing up a costumers paint job then I'm going to tackle the corvette project.
Just a clarification. I keep seeing posts about installing an "LS6 intake". All intake manifolds from 2001-2004 are the same for LS1 and LS6. So technically, there is no such thing as an LS6 intake.
Last edited by lucky131969; Mar 25, 2024 at 12:54 PM.
really!!.. what am i reading then about people going with the LS6 intake and getting hp gains?
honest question, i didn't mean that sarcastically. sorry I'm not up on all the LS stuff. I've been a Porsche 911 guy(don't hate me lol ) mostly for the last 12 years.
Your car, like mine should be 345 hp and 350 ft/lbs...On the base cars, 2001-2004 part of the reason for the power jump (350 hp and 365 ft/lbs) is the intake. Later "LS6 style" intake if you may.
The Z06 obviously got a different cam to get power even higher, 385 hp in 2001 and 405 for 2002-2004.
really!!.. what am i reading then about people going with the LS6 intake and getting hp gains?
honest question, i didn't mean that sarcastically. sorry I'm not up on all the LS stuff. I've been a Porsche 911 guy(don't hate me lol ) mostly for the last 12 years.
Using a 2001-2004 intake will make HP gains on a 1997-2000 motor, but needs to be paired with heads/cam/exhaust to yield max benefit.
thats good to know. i already have the exhaust and plan on doing all of the above mods.
thanks
If you’re going headers, get some better, preferably ported, heads. You can pick up some used 243’s for $200-$300, then Texas Speed will do a CNC valve job and port the heads in their state of the art machine facility for $899. Considering a regular local valve job is $600-ish, that’s a smoking hot deal.
Add a few hundred for new springs, but I’d put that expense in the cam column. Creative bookkeeping.
the car already has hooker headers, hooker full exhaust with cat delete and calloway air box.
speaking with Michigan Motorsports yesterday and today. they have mentioned this
"That camshaft when combined with ported 243/799 heads, an LS6 intake and headers will put you around 400-420hp at the tires, which would be roughly 480-500hp at the crankshaft. "
that's within my budget it so if that's all true then I'll go that route.
new c5 owner here.. Hi
lol most of the stuff i ordered came in so .. thats nice 
