Can anyone suggest a poormans performance package that would include:
Air intake
Intake manifold
Cam
Heads
Exhaust
Chip
Tstat

To be installed on an '06 LS2

Thank You

 

You want heads and intake on a poorman's budget, then keep the heads and manifold you have now. Vendor Spinfast will port your stock intake and TB for a very reasonable price.

 

What do you consider a poormans budget?That stuff up there is a couple of grand + I'm thinking.Don't waste your money on a new air filter type thing.They are ALL OVER RATED and hardly work as advertised unless you keep your car on a dyno with the hood open and tow it around town!!VARARAM,LPE and those type intakes where you cut the shroud will give you a few ponies at speed,but your stock unit ain't bad either!
DIABLO PREDATOR and you can fine tune your tune yourself.Maybe a 10 hp gain. 200-300$$
EXHAUST-0-5 HP 800+
NO CHIP IN A VETTE.
HEADERS- 15-20. <<<2000 GRAND RIGHT THERE.

 

Modest performance enhancements I've done which are reasonable in cost included the following items below. Some of my items were acquired used on this forum and on Ebay. I love my vette but frugal.

1) Vararam VR-SC1 ram air intake, $250-$300 new - HP increases are across a range since the intake is more effective as your speed increases, supposedly ranging from +10hp to +40hp.

2) Performance Catback Exhaust, bought a set of Billy Boat 'Route 66' units for $400 used - +10hp to +15hp. Nice gurgle sound too.

3) Diablosport Predator ECU Programmer, $150 used - about +10hp to +15hp. This unit can also permanently turn off the pesky 'skip shift' light on your dash.

4) MSW short shifter, $150 used - 30% shorter throws with better feel.

 

Not to be a downer, but I don't think you are going to see any power gain on the catback -It just won't sound like a Kia anymore. The intake increased my 1/4 time by about 2 tenths of a second on the 1/4 mile (on my C5).

 

Drivers education courses...Do some events etc...250 for the weekend and the best performance mods you can make..

I would save your money on the nonsense mods...etc..

Down the road when you have enough coin ....go big and get a supercharger installed for 6 or 7 grand ...

Get a guaranteed 125hp easy...

Thats what I'm planning on doing if I keep my 08 C6 vs. buying a new C7...

I've decided to go with the 550 hp Edelbrock kit. No headers...no nothing other than a Dewitts radiator upgrade..

I don't want more than 550hp because I'm looking for OEM like reliablity...(if there is such a thing)

I did the bull.... cam, headers, gears, throttle body, air intake on my last c5 z06 and it ruined the reliability of the car as a daily driver..(and it was a mild 224/224 .563 cam 114lift)

When the car finally took a dump at 60k miles I was relieved...sold the car without a motor and bought a new c6 z51 M6..

The cars are fast enough stock but if you want more...my suggestion and its just an opinion....take some track day events that double as driver events...with an instructor for minimal money....

And then if you still want more speed...just go to supercharger when the time is right..

Not a big fan of all the bits and pieces approach..

Just one mans opinion..

Good luck deciding ...

 

You can tune your C6 but there is no performance chip. I well understand what performance mods can cost but I suggest you focus on quality instead of economy. For most of us modding is a process that takes time and money. You'll be further ahead in the long run if you come up with a logical modification plan that emphasizes quality mods and do them incrementally as money permits. This is especially important when it comes to internal engine mods. IMO, even if it means waiting and saving...go with the best. For certain things you might search for used parts. Quite often guys upgrade a previous modification or some just de-mod their car prior to selling it.

FWIW...it might be prohibitively expensive but some of the premier names in Corvette performance (such as Lingenfelter, Callaway, etc.) provide great warranties on their applications. You might check it out, a Lingenfelter H/C package might be doable. Good luck with your project!

PS I prefer naturally aspirated power....I'm not a fan of forced induction on a stock, cast-piston engine. Cheap power IMO is nitrous. IMO if you care about your car I suggest you do not use nitrous.

But....
Performance gains from an after market, catback exhaust and a cold air intake will be negligible, however, IMO both are essential components of one's overall (more major) performance modifications.

 

The manufacturer's website claims a 11 hp gain with the catbacks but, then again, the numbers could be exaggerated too. I didn't notice a performance gain afterwards but 11 hp wouldn't be much of an increase anyhow. Given that mild upgrades only add small amounts of power, I'm shooting for a combined effect of several upgrades to make a difference.

 

As mentioned above I don't think there is any "cheap" way to add any real horsepower... GM engineered the Corvette it to produce lots of power run clean and be relatively very fuel efficient as a bonus... Quite frankly unless your going to the track your not going to feel any real difference by adding 10 to 20 HP other than to your bank account....

The supercharger is the way to go for the most bang for the buck... But if you car is under warranty there that goes with it!

 

lol

 

An upgrade of the driver is the cheapest, best thing you can do. Driving school will pay off before headers or any other performance addition.

 

Great answers. Essentially engine mods are for dummies. Look at everything GM engineers did to reliably upgrade the LS2 to an LS3 in order to up the horsepower 9%. Do you think your smarter than those engineers?