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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 07:46 AM
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Default First Mods?

Besides some nice interior trim pieces I already have pick out and of course a Corvette jacket What type CAI? and who are the best vendors? I have dealt with Maryland speed in the past for my G8,or maybe just a K&N filter for now? how restrictive is the factory intake? I'm also wondering about a mild tune,I notice the throttle is not as responsive under light input as my tuned G8 was.But I'm not sure about those hand held tuners? Thanks guys,lead me toward the path and I will follow it. lol
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 08:14 AM
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I put in a K&N cai, flowmaster axle back system. It made a big difference for me in my throttle response. Like night and day. Getting a tune from ECS. Mine is a 05 auto.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 08:37 AM
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My first mods were an Airaid intake (very easy install, good fit, no cutting anything, and cheaper than K&N) and Corsa sport exhaust. Was very happy with those simple mods.... until the mod bug bit harder.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 09:23 AM
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What year do you have? The LS3 intake is very good and I noticed nothing with my Airaid install, I did it for the looks as the factory one I do not like the Silencer
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by peter pan
What year do you have? The LS3 intake is very good and I noticed nothing with my Airaid install, I did it for the looks as the factory one I do not like the Silencer


Unless you have $500 to burn I would just skip on the CAI.

I have a Vararam and am thinking of going back to stock.

Track or strip is another ballgame.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 09:53 AM
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First mods? Think headers. A nice, noticeable bump in hp/tq and a building block for future mods.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by peter pan
What year do you have? The LS3 intake is very good and I noticed nothing with my Airaid install, I did it for the looks as the factory one I do not like the Silencer
I found a nice used LS7 intake on ebay for $60. It's essentially the LS3's but without the silencer. Easy swapout, done in like 5 minutes
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 09:57 AM
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Besides the standard (window tint - EVERY car I have owned since I am 15), I put a K&N Intake, Headers, and tune. Then I added fusions to the exhaust setup. Great for "first mods". Be warned. IT WILL BE FIRST MODS, NOT LAST!!!!

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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 09:59 AM
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I got the K&N CAI from Amazon for $300.00 and a Predator on eBay for $175.00. Those two mods seem like a pretty good bang for the buck to me.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by peter pan
What year do you have? The LS3 intake is very good and I noticed nothing with my Airaid install, I did it for the looks as the factory one I do not like the Silencer
I have an '05 LS2, and, yeah...... I don't know if it actually made a difference or not. But, hey, it's my first 'Vette, I've waited well over half my total life expectancy to get one, so I'm entitled to go a little nuts.. right?
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by peter pan
What year do you have? The LS3 intake is very good and I noticed nothing with my Airaid install, I did it for the looks as the factory one I do not like the Silencer

2010 Grand Sport with auto,and NPP
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 05:10 PM
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Two MODs in mind (one done already) period.

1) M2W Switch - Done
2) Front & Rear Splash Guards - on order

That's it..... the rest is bone stock.

Us owners who maintain "stock" on this forum take some heat for leaving ours stock but I'm okay with that. I figure the more people who do these extensive MODs (wide bodies, superchargers, interior, etc) make the ones left stock a little more rarer with each one MODed.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 05:23 PM
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Think how the engine works... air in, air out.

Simple air in mods: CAI, ported throttle body, ported intake manifold.

Simple air out mods: headers, exhaust.



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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by DT455
Besides some nice interior trim pieces I already have pick out and of course a Corvette jacket What type CAI? and who are the best vendors? I have dealt with Maryland speed in the past for my G8,or maybe just a K&N filter for now? how restrictive is the factory intake? I'm also wondering about a mild tune,I notice the throttle is not as responsive under light input as my tuned G8 was.But I'm not sure about those hand held tuners? Thanks guys,lead me toward the path and I will follow it. lol
Assuming you have a GS, For street use a CAI is a waste of money, or I'd have one, LS3/7/9 units are very well engineered. Touch your OEM tune= warranty loss and multiplies depreciation (unable to fully mask the tune) If you have an NPP exhaust then a mild to wild switch to keep it open ,if not, a Corsa or Borla system. Headers void the warranty. First mod I did,manditory for a widebody, is to install a complete Clearbra kit.

Last edited by QUAKEJAKE; Feb 25, 2011 at 06:07 PM.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by QUAKEJAKE
Assuming you have a GS, For street use a CAI is a waste of money, or I'd have one, LS3/7/9 units are very well engineered. Touch your OEM tune= warranty loss and multiplies depreciation (unable to fully mask the tune) If you have an NPP exhaust then a mild to wild switch to keep it open ,if not, a Corsa or Borla system. Headers void the warranty. First mod I did,manditory for a widebody, is to install a complete Clearbra kit.
Just pop the fuse for the NPP exhaust to have it on all the time.Clearbra? I was wondering about these,dealer installed?
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 08:53 PM
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oh beans! Here we go again!
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Raazor
oh beans! Here we go again!
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To First Mods?

Old Feb 26, 2011 | 02:19 AM
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It's true that a CAI is almost worthless when just putting around town, but I have a VaraRam and when I'm cruising on the freeway at about 75 MPH and decide to tromp it to humiliate the Porsche's or whatever, you better hang onto your panties! Think about it; with a VaraRam, what is the airflow velocity into the intake at 75 MPH? Yes, 75 MPH! What is it with any other CAI? Much, much, much, much less. Mixing this massive airflow with the proper fuel mixture (tuning) yields horsepower.....doesn't take a genius to figure this out, but it's up to you.

However, keep in mind that if you just modify the intake and not the exhaust side then you'll see very little improvement. Same goes if you modify the exhaust side and not the intake. You really need to do both if you really want to see large gains. When all is said and done, one can obtain about 600 HP with no turbo or supercharger......then add a supercharger and see what you get!! A lot of thought is necessary.
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Old Feb 26, 2011 | 02:39 AM
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Originally Posted by HuskerBullet
However, keep in mind that if you just modify the intake and not the exhaust side then you'll see very little improvement. Same goes if you modify the exhaust side and not the intake. You really need to do both if you really want to see large gains. When all is said and done, one can obtain about 600 HP with no turbo or supercharger......then add a supercharger and see what you get!! A lot of thought is necessary.




GTFO nOOb!
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Old Feb 26, 2011 | 02:56 AM
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Originally Posted by HuskerBullet
Think about it; with a VaraRam, what is the airflow velocity into the intake at 75 MPH? Yes, 75 MPH! When all is said and done, one can obtain about 600 HP with no turbo or supercharger.......
ahhh NO. The front of the car creates a low pressure zone at the front of the hood etc....you are NOT getting some type of 75 mph ram jet supercharger effect. Search out You tube wind tunnel tests for C6's...study the airflow patterns over and under the Vette....as well as the air that hits the flat surfaces such as the front bumper and then 'stalls'....Auto areo packages are a whole world of engineering in and of itself (way beyond me)..
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