Opinion: C5 Engine/Performance Build
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Opinion: C5 Engine/Performance Build
After extensive research, this is what I’m thinking for my 2001 C5 build. As the title states, any help with parts I may be missing or opinions on components would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks
Corvette Build
✔️Callaway Honker CAI
Hayden 679 Trans Cooler
FAST 92mm Intake
LS2 Silver Blade Throttle Body
LS2 Throttle Body Adapter
42lb Fuel Injectors
160 Degree Thermostat
TSP Brawler LS6-Style Heads
TSP Stage 2 228/232 Cam
Timing Cover Gasket Set
Katech C5-R Chain / Sprocket Set
Melling OE Oil Pump
ATI Harmonic Balancer 917266
✔️Speed Engineering Headers w/ X-pipe
Yank SS 3200/3600 Stall Converter
3.42 3-rib Differential
✔️CORSA Xtreme Exhaust
TUNE
✔️ - Already Have
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 758
Likes: 366
Are you deleting the cats? I assume you are with the long tubes. I had the Corsa Extreme with Long tubes and it was insanely loud. Like 16 year old kit with a 5.0 mustang and open exhaust kinda loud. I traded for the sport and while still loud much better.
Otherwise looks like a great build. Pretty much same as mine except I have the CNC 5.3 stage 2.5 heads and a BTR stage 3 cam. 453/404. 6speed
I’m using 36 lbs injectors. Can’t remember the duty cycle numbers but had plenty of room to go.
I did fly cut my pistons since the 5.3 heads have a small chamber. I’m sitting at 11.1 ish compression
Otherwise looks like a great build. Pretty much same as mine except I have the CNC 5.3 stage 2.5 heads and a BTR stage 3 cam. 453/404. 6speed
I’m using 36 lbs injectors. Can’t remember the duty cycle numbers but had plenty of room to go.
I did fly cut my pistons since the 5.3 heads have a small chamber. I’m sitting at 11.1 ish compression
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Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 62
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Are you deleting the cats? I assume you are with the long tubes. I had the Corsa Extreme with Long tubes and it was insanely loud. Like 16 year old kit with a 5.0 mustang and open exhaust kinda loud. I traded for the sport and while still loud much better.
Otherwise looks like a great build. Pretty much same as mine except I have the CNC 5.3 stage 2.5 heads and a BTR stage 3 cam. 453/404. 6speed
I’m using 36 lbs injectors. Can’t remember the duty cycle numbers but had plenty of room to go.
I did fly cut my pistons since the 5.3 heads have a small chamber. I’m sitting at 11.1 ish compression
Otherwise looks like a great build. Pretty much same as mine except I have the CNC 5.3 stage 2.5 heads and a BTR stage 3 cam. 453/404. 6speed
I’m using 36 lbs injectors. Can’t remember the duty cycle numbers but had plenty of room to go.
I did fly cut my pistons since the 5.3 heads have a small chamber. I’m sitting at 11.1 ish compression
I currently have 241 heads which leaves obvious room for improvement, and the TSP LS6-style heads come CNC ported in the 243 casting and include titanium springs and retainers (which I would have chosen anyway) at an outstanding price. I’m pretty excited to get this project underway
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Posts: 62
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Its “daily driver” duties are over at this point. I also don’t autocross regularly and have only been down a drag strip a couple of times. I do however take a yearly trip to the Tail of The Dragon in East Tennessee and waste about a years worth of tread in a week lol I’m simply looking for a streetable weekender for car shows and the occasional red light to red light (in Mexico of course) romp.
*I hand painted the lettering using over-the-counter oil-based white. Gets a lot of attention (never understood why manufacturers quit making them that way)
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 706
From: Pingree Grove IL
Your build looks good. Your biggest decision is going to be the torque converter choice. It’s mostly going to be street driven, yankSS 3600 will be nice, create some fun, but, with that build, your going to blow your street tires off, 1st gear will definitely be useless with street rubber. The 3200 converter won’t whine as much, won’t heat up the trans that much, and won’t hit the rear tires as hard as the 3600. I use a 3200 with 3.73 gears and can even do HPDE because the converter doesn’t whine like the 3600. My installer said nobody with a c5 comes into the shop and gets a 3600+ converter for a street car, unless you’re going for drag times.
1st gear might be useless with either converter, but you have to decide.
1st gear might be useless with either converter, but you have to decide.
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Your build looks good. Your biggest decision is going to be the torque converter choice. It’s mostly going to be street driven, yankSS 3600 will be nice, create some fun, but, with that build, your going to blow your street tires off, 1st gear will definitely be useless with street rubber. The 3200 converter won’t whine as much, won’t heat up the trans that much, and won’t hit the rear tires as hard as the 3600. I use a 3200 with 3.73 gears and can even do HPDE because the converter doesn’t whine like the 3600. My installer said nobody with a c5 comes into the shop and gets a 3600+ converter for a street car, unless you’re going for drag times.
1st gear might be useless with either converter, but you have to decide.
1st gear might be useless with either converter, but you have to decide.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 660
Likes: 354
From: San Jose CA
Given the option - which in CA I don't have... I'd swap in an LS3 crate motor and be done
An LS3 is cheaper than you can build an LS6 for and has a lot more potential for power. The swap is not complicated
https://www.motortrend.com/articles/...-think/photos/
Putting an LS3 at over 500HP is easy.
An LS3 is cheaper than you can build an LS6 for and has a lot more potential for power. The swap is not complicated
https://www.motortrend.com/articles/...-think/photos/
Putting an LS3 at over 500HP is easy.
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Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 62
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Given the option - which in CA I don't have... I'd swap in an LS3 crate motor and be done
An LS3 is cheaper than you can build an LS6 for and has a lot more potential for power. The swap is not complicated
https://www.motortrend.com/articles/...-think/photos/
Putting an LS3 at over 500HP is easy.
An LS3 is cheaper than you can build an LS6 for and has a lot more potential for power. The swap is not complicated
https://www.motortrend.com/articles/...-think/photos/
Putting an LS3 at over 500HP is easy.
Comparing that to the LS6 build, current cost of all my listed parts totals approx $7,500. It would also replace just about everything but the block itself (which is still in great shape).
So yes, the LS3 will potentially make a lot more power in the long run, but the cheaper option is actually the rebuild at this time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 898
Likes: 988
From: NW Burbs of Chi-Town
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Those Brawler heads have been out of stock for a while. They look good on paper.
Couple posts in the for sale section you might be interested in.
If you sent your existing heads for their CNC stage 1 porting (no idea of current turn times). New LS6 Valves:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-set-16-a.html
NIB sealed stud kit:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...34-4316-a.html
Couple posts in the for sale section you might be interested in.
If you sent your existing heads for their CNC stage 1 porting (no idea of current turn times). New LS6 Valves:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-set-16-a.html
NIB sealed stud kit:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...34-4316-a.html
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 62
Likes: 111
Those Brawler heads have been out of stock for a while. They look good on paper.
Couple posts in the for sale section you might be interested in.
If you sent your existing heads for their CNC stage 1 porting (no idea of current turn times). New LS6 Valves:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-set-16-a.html
NIB sealed stud kit:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...34-4316-a.html
Couple posts in the for sale section you might be interested in.
If you sent your existing heads for their CNC stage 1 porting (no idea of current turn times). New LS6 Valves:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-set-16-a.html
NIB sealed stud kit:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...34-4316-a.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 758
Likes: 366
Given the option - which in CA I don't have... I'd swap in an LS3 crate motor and be done
An LS3 is cheaper than you can build an LS6 for and has a lot more potential for power. The swap is not complicated
https://www.motortrend.com/articles/...-think/photos/
Putting an LS3 at over 500HP is easy.
An LS3 is cheaper than you can build an LS6 for and has a lot more potential for power. The swap is not complicated
https://www.motortrend.com/articles/...-think/photos/
Putting an LS3 at over 500HP is easy.
I did the TSP 5.3 stage 2.5 Heads, BTR cam + pushrods and trunions, Ls7 lifters, Fast 92 intake and Silver Blade 90mm TB for right at $4000. Things like the headers etc would be added to the cost of either so I am not going to include those.
453 RWHP vs a Stock LS3 making 380rwp average in a 6 speed. I did my own work, but labor is labor if swapping.
A used LS3 is $5000 min plus adding in the cost of all the wiring and reluctor wheel adapters will drive that up. The LS3 has more potential but but will still need mosny spent to hit the middle 450s to the wheels.
I don't think cheaper is correct.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 62
Likes: 111
I did the TSP 5.3 stage 2.5 Heads, BTR cam + pushrods and trunions, Ls7 lifters, Fast 92 intake and Silver Blade 90mm TB for right at $4000. Things like the headers etc would be added to the cost of either so I am not going to include those.
453 RWHP vs a Stock LS3 making 380rwp average in a 6 speed. I did my own work, but labor is labor if swapping.
A used LS3 is $5000 min plus adding in the cost of all the wiring and reluctor wheel adapters will drive that up. The LS3 has more potential but but will still need mosny spent to hit the middle 450s to the wheels.
I don't think cheaper is correct.
453 RWHP vs a Stock LS3 making 380rwp average in a 6 speed. I did my own work, but labor is labor if swapping.
A used LS3 is $5000 min plus adding in the cost of all the wiring and reluctor wheel adapters will drive that up. The LS3 has more potential but but will still need mosny spent to hit the middle 450s to the wheels.
I don't think cheaper is correct.
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Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 62
Likes: 111
