SeeMeGo

In my corvette journey, I started with a base car, graduated to a Z06 and am now back in a base model. I was not fond of buying $2K of tires every 15000 miles on the Z06 is why I downgraded. But I sorely miss the power of the Z06. Are there any upgrades to the power of the base model cars that are cost effective and do not harm anything else on the car? I am not looking to make it into a Z06. I just wish it ran a little stronger.

Dave S

I would start with headers & an aftermarket exhaust. Then a tune from a reliable shop with plenty of C6 experience.....check with your local Corvette club for recommendations.

madmatt9471

Along with the above stated you can also go with a custom Cam for you Vette -

I would suggest a PatG cam
https://www.guerragroup.com/camshaft-help

If you are a A6 and have 2.56 gears you could do a 3200+ stall and a 3.42 Z06 rear (direct bolt in)

And of course a Dyno tune will be necessary -

Thanks,Matt

buckmeister2

I would suggest you fill in your bio with your location. That way, people in your area can recommend a good shop to check out. Maybe even someone in your area has had some work done, and can give you their experience.

AORoads

Altho generic advice is adequate (and good of those to make these observations), I have to agree w. Buck. Wouldn't you rather have a bit more info maybe even specific to your area?

Tonylmiller

How much do you want to spend? You can put a supercharger on it and increase the horsepower quite a bit.

Corvette_Ed

Since you're in Waco, I'd suggest you give Matt at 21st Century Muscle Cars a call and ask him this question. They're one of the top shops in the area, and provide outstanding customer service.

Kenny94945

IMO the answer is no....not cost effective for horsepower gains to get near Z06 levels.

Your easy options are headers, cats, x-pipe, mufflers, cold air intake, throttle body mod, blueprinted intake manifold and a tune.
Cost?
My estimate $5000.
Horsepower increase?
My guess forty.

Next level, camshaft with the above mods.
Cost?
Another $1500 installed.
Additional HP twenty.

Then you could consider gearing and the throttle controller.
Those would fool the mind making the car feel faster.

Lastly you have a Nitrous (best bang for the buck...some say).
Or a Supercharger (again not cost effective) and you have your original tire wear complaint.

Good luck in your decision.

madmatt9471

The proper Cam will yield results much better than 20 HP, as proven many times over.

But as stated you really won't be able to reach Z06 level until you get into H/C and LT's and Dyno tune -

OP - do you have a MN6 or A6 transmission?

Thanks,MAtt

87SAM

As mentioned above, if you built your base to near ZO6 power levels, wouldn't go through tires just as fast the ZO6?

I suppose base size tires are cheaper than though.

windyC6

I thought the OP's av states that he's in Waco ????

JJLAI724

If you lay off the gas you should get better than 15000 miles per a set of tires.

Mike's LS3

Just to add.

Tire wear has a lot to do with HP, driving habits and tire quality. Add more HP and you will need stickier tires, especially on a base which has a narrower tire (285).

Add your choice of mods: Headers, CAI, cam, tune, gears, stall (auto), nitrous or S.C. and yes, stickier tires and it all adds up $$$. Maybe the extra set or two of tires for the Z06 is not so expensive now.

Personally, I would of kept the Z06 and addressed the valve issue (if not done already) and be done. But that's just me.

I'm not seeing the logic here, unless you limited your mods to headers, cai and tune.

2L8LUZ

Having your Alignment done according to the PFADT specs would have allowed you to have normal tire wear and your shoes would have had a long life run...

Sorry if you are just hearing about this now....

2L8LUZ

Cam and Install $2000
LT Headers $400
CAI $200 used
E85 Pin and Sensor $100

Probably close to 3k with header labor- Done and Done!!


500 wheel HP and 450ish TQ - On a LS3 Motor

919cw313

Get a supercharger, CAI, exhaust, tune, and call it done.

BigMonkey73

CAI, long tube headers, exhaust, tune, and Vitesse Throttle controller.

I'm betting it will sound awesome and a lot more fun after that....then you can decide if you want to take it further after that.

Z51 sway bars and Z06 shocks are also a cheap way to make it handle way better if you're planning to do any cornering ever

Corvette_Ed

Waco is just south of Dallas. About an hour's drive.

LowRyter

I'd press the little button the console that disables the traction control.

That should be enough to start. Also, it's free.

Ahrmike

^my plan..
Except from what I understand, drop the CAI for a loss of maybe 10 hp.

LTH: 30-40ish
Cam: ??? depends how wild you get

but people have been posting dynos nearing the 500whp with those two mods. I'd be happy with 450 and a daily driveable cam.