This is my first post so you have to forgive the questions as I'm sure they've been asked before a million times.

After 48 years on this earth, I finally got my first vette. 04 BLK/BLK/BLK C5 convertible. Nice ride!
After getting all the magazine's, catalogs, etc. it has my mind spinning on intake and exhaust mods. After dropping 50K I have to watch the $$ or the wife will end up with the car and everything else. I live in Massachusetts!!
1. I want the note to sound aggressive, but not like a funny car. cat back,x-pipe?!?!
2. It appears the intake is a good place to start, but which set up is best for say $500-1,000???
I want to stay around $2,000.00 for the whole thing.
Oh yea...... I want to do the work at my buddies house. He has a lift, 4 vetts, 66-427, 70-454, 93-ZR-1, 03-50th, but is a "stocker" and is not into mods so I really can't ask for his opinon.
Thanks
OTIS C5

 

welcome to the world that is corvette!you just opened a mountain of info that i'm sure will be coming your way regarding your intake/exhaust!as for me,i currently have borla straight pipes/corsa x-pipe.i like my vette loud.any straight pipe set up you see/read about is without mufflers.if you like quiet inside,but a nice little rumble when you get on it,then borla or corsa will do the trick.borla stinger system gives you a choice of 2 or 4 tip exhaust,as i'm sure,the other makes do. borla's have more of an american v-8 rumble sound to them, where as the corsa's sound more european,in my humble opinion! then there's b+b,ghl,magnaflow,etc.as for my intake,i was going to go w/vararam,but i decided to get a blackwing w/a team zr1 "icebox"that will free up my airflow and also get outside air,not hot engine air.don't believe all the hype you'll read about gaining 4 million horse power w/this or that system,it's selling voodoo,but you will gain a little.blackwing makes aircraft filters,so they have good quality filters for around 235 bucks plus shipping.you can go to any vendor site to the left any check out everything!good luck w/your vette and do yourself a favor and go to corvette's at carlisle in august for the weekend,it's a blast!!!!!!!!jesse(upstate new york)p.s.if you click on my corvette photos to the left,you'll get an ides of what two tip exhaust's look like.

 

first off. congrats. if i hadnt gotten the black Z, i would have gotten a black convt.

Second, u will easilyyyyyyyy be able to get a catback and exaust for 500-1000.

My recom. is the new vararam. Has proven the best at the track, and the new ones are easier to install than the old ones- a little pricier though. Your exaust though will depend on preference. Try using the search feature to look for info.

 

My first mod was Corsa Indy pace car catbacks, I would buy them again. Some would say they are on the loud side, its all personal taste. For exhaust you are best off listening to them in person. Recommendations from forum members give you an idea of what they think sound good. Corsa's are a good choice because they are high quality and do not have any resonance, if you want quieter go with the Touring and if you want louder go with the Indy version.

For intake I would go with the Vararam or Blackwing. Vararam is supposed to give better performance at speed, while the Blackwing provides good performance at a lower cost and easier installation.

Enjoy the car!

 

Get GHL Magnum Plus exhaust and Blackwing intake. It satisfies your requirements to the T!

ghl=650.00
blackwing=275.00 most places

 

First off, I'd get rid of the most restrictive part of your power developement - the intake airbox. As I type, there is a fantastic GP (group purchase) going on at Corvette Garage for the Halltech Stinger-R intake system. You get a HUGE air filter, a larger-than-stock airbridge, AND and smooth throttlebody coupler, all for $199.00 (shipped). See http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=966115
This is without a doubt, the best bang-for-the-buck intake system for a C5. A great sounding exhaust system (cat-back) will run approx. $700-900. I recommend that you listen to a few if you can. I heard at least half a dozen before choosing the Borla Stingers. They produce an idle sound that reminds me of my 68 Corvette's exhaust sound - deep and throaty.

 

Go with the Corsa Touring if you want a quieter note, and if you think you will be doing headers and engine mods. The Indys get very load if you add headers and H/C.

If your car is a daily driver and you don't plan on racing your car get the Blackwing. The Vararam will give you a bit better performance at speed but like all CAIs you run a greater risk of hydro lock.