C5 Horsepower gains (how much?)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
C5 Horsepower gains (how much?)
I just took delivery of my first Corvette. It's a 1997 torch red C5 with auto transmission. I have already installed an aftermarket intake "T" type air filter with 2 conical filters, replaced the accordian type hose at the throttle body with a smooth silicone tube, installed a Vararam velocity stack in the throttle body, and installed a throttle body bypass. I just ordered a set of shorty Pacesetter headers with Jet Hot coating and I think I have decided on B & B cat backs. I am also installing a 160 degree thermostat. Finally I plan on having the engine tuned or installing a Jet stage II chip.
Can anyone tell me approximately how much bhp I can expect from these mods? Also any suggestions. I am looking to be over 400 bhp.
Thanks.
Can anyone tell me approximately how much bhp I can expect from these mods? Also any suggestions. I am looking to be over 400 bhp.
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
Originally Posted by 400hp
I just took delivery of my first Corvette. It's a 1997 torch red C5 with auto transmission. I have already installed an aftermarket intake "T" type air filter with 2 conical filters, replaced the accordian type hose at the throttle body with a smooth silicone tube, installed a Vararam velocity stack in the throttle body, and installed a throttle body bypass. I just ordered a set of shorty Pacesetter headers with Jet Hot coating and I think I have decided on B & B cat backs. I am also installing a 160 degree thermostat. Finally I plan on having the engine tuned or installing a Jet stage II chip.
Can anyone tell me approximately how much bhp I can expect from these mods? Also any suggestions. I am looking to be over 400 bhp.
Thanks.
Can anyone tell me approximately how much bhp I can expect from these mods? Also any suggestions. I am looking to be over 400 bhp.
Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 0
From: TurtleCreek Twp Ohio
Cruise-In III Veteran
Please don't take this the wrong way but you really put your money to use the wrong way.
Shorties - Waste of Money
Non Vortex/Vararam/Blackwing/TRiC intake - waste of money the zip tie mod would have given you equal or more the the "other" Intakes
You need long tubes, a quality intake, Good exhaust (B&B's are a good choice) and an LS1 edit tune from a good tuner and you'll be at 400bhp. You seriously got very little from your current mods maybe 10hp. At this point get yourself a good tune and those B&B's along with an X pipe.
Shorties - Waste of Money
Non Vortex/Vararam/Blackwing/TRiC intake - waste of money the zip tie mod would have given you equal or more the the "other" Intakes
You need long tubes, a quality intake, Good exhaust (B&B's are a good choice) and an LS1 edit tune from a good tuner and you'll be at 400bhp. You seriously got very little from your current mods maybe 10hp. At this point get yourself a good tune and those B&B's along with an X pipe.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Long tube headers are the only ones that will give you significant gains. I remember recently someone dyno'ed the shorties and got about 6 hp. The only cat back I've ever seen that actually had dyno numbers to back up it's claim of 10hp and 10 torque was JCL's Spiral Turbo Baffles, which I run. I've dyno'ed several of the popular cat backs and got exactly zero out of them all - but the sound was much improved... I'd say the biggest bang for the buck would be tuning. I got almost 20 hp and 25 lbs./ft. torque on my old '99 using LS1Edit with fewer mods than you have now. I agree that with the bolt-ons you describe you will get 15 hp over stock. If you want to touch 400, you need heads and a cam or nitrous. Congrats on the new ride!!! 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
bad news
Originally Posted by Aquaman
Please don't take this the wrong way but you really put your money to use the wrong way.
Shorties - Waste of Money
Non Vortex/Vararam/Blackwing/TRiC intake - waste of money the zip tie mod would have given you equal or more the the "other" Intakes
You need long tubes, a quality intake, Good exhaust (B&B's are a good choice) and an LS1 edit tune from a good tuner and you'll be at 400bhp. You seriously got very little from your current mods maybe 10hp. At this point get yourself a good tune and those B&B's along with an X pipe.
Shorties - Waste of Money
Non Vortex/Vararam/Blackwing/TRiC intake - waste of money the zip tie mod would have given you equal or more the the "other" Intakes
You need long tubes, a quality intake, Good exhaust (B&B's are a good choice) and an LS1 edit tune from a good tuner and you'll be at 400bhp. You seriously got very little from your current mods maybe 10hp. At this point get yourself a good tune and those B&B's along with an X pipe.
Yep 400hp I am afraid I agree with Aquaman, I did not want to break the news since you already bought the stuff. I would sell it and buy exactly what he just told you. With the mods Aquaman quoted you, I think you are looking at around 385-tops 400 crank hp.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
idea
You may already be thinking about this, but if you just ordered the shortys you should be able to change for some longtubes, that is really the only big money item you have bought that I would not want.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
Thanks you guys, don't be afraid to be honest, I am looking for information, I am not an expert. Anyone know a good tuner in the New England area? Massachusetts or Rhode Island preferably.
P.S. I don't feel that bad about the headers, there is still some gain and they must sound better than stock.
I bought them directly from Jet Hot and got a good deal.
P.S. I don't feel that bad about the headers, there is still some gain and they must sound better than stock.
I bought them directly from Jet Hot and got a good deal.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
I didn't think it was that easy, I thought I had to buy everything from the headers back to the cat backs to go with long tubes. Oh well live and learn. Maybe I will do that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
Originally Posted by 400hp
I didn't think it was that easy, I thought I had to buy everything from the headers back to the cat backs to go with long tubes. Oh well live and learn. Maybe I will do that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
Originally Posted by 400hp
The only other headers I see from Jet-Hot for a C5 on their web site is the Hooker super comps. Would these do it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
oh yeh
Originally Posted by 400hp
I found them, 1 3/4" tubes, nice. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 0
From: TurtleCreek Twp Ohio
Cruise-In III Veteran
Originally Posted by BSiegPaint
Long tube headers are the only ones that will give you significant gains. I remember recently someone dyno'ed the shorties and got about 6 hp. The only cat back I've ever seen that actually had dyno numbers to back up it's claim of 10hp and 10 torque was JCL's Spiral Turbo Baffles, which I run. I've dyno'ed several of the popular cat backs and got exactly zero out of them all - but the sound was much improved... I'd say the biggest bang for the buck would be tuning. I got almost 20 hp and 25 lbs./ft. torque on my old '99 using LS1Edit with fewer mods than you have now. I agree that with the bolt-ons you describe you will get 15 hp over stock. If you want to touch 400, you need heads and a cam or nitrous. Congrats on the new ride!!!