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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 10:58 PM
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Default best cheap performance mods

appologize if this has been asked before but what is a good combination of cheap mods to get better performance out of a stick shift? Intake, exhaust? Anything else? Looking for things that I could install in my garage with a set of jackstands or so, nothing too complicated, I think headers might be too complicated. Also, any intakes must not suck up water. If this has been discussed, kindly point me to the thread.

Thanks

Rob
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 11:08 PM
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You're on the right track. Those things will help. Dont worry too much about water induction unless you like driving thru standing water. Headers arent that bad to install either. Did it myself with only on jackstand. Plus, that will net you the biggest gains.
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 02:07 PM
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Headers with Xpipe and highflow cats, cold air intake, and a tune.
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 07:29 PM
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What cold air intake is good that won't hydrolock the car like the vararam. There is much too much water on the streets here for me to take a chance with that.
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 07:38 PM
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I went with the K&N aircharger and then cut a hole on each side of the lower air duct to bring up ambient air.

It ran very well at the track, 12.55@115.85 with just the K&N and Corsa Sports.

Howard
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by robl45
What cold air intake is good that won't hydrolock the car like the vararam. There is much too much water on the streets here for me to take a chance with that.

That's merely speculation. I have yet to read one single case of hydrolock on the C6 with a vararam installed. Of course only you can decide whether the conditions near you are worth the "risk".
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 01:07 AM
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If you do it right, you don't drown it, but if not you have a gulpy engine that doesn't like to gulp air anymore. Never know what another jerk in water will do to you. Risk him if you like, you may not win!
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 11:15 AM
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I would say the single biggest gain for small money would be to get some cheap smaller rims and a slick or at least a drag radial. I took half a second off my time with a 16" Mickey Thompson ET Street! 12.2 stock with a slick!
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 11:39 AM
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I was thinking of the Vararam and full exhaust too. I have also never heard of water ingestion from Vararam. I did alot of research and thats the one I am going with...any people have bad things to say please let me know now b4 I order!! I want the spacer too since I am going that far. Also, I have SLP mufflers and am shopping for the headers back (need the cats too, live in Canada). Any input for me?? So far, I am leaning towards the Kooks kit or the SLP. Help!!
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 03:52 PM
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I personally have the Halltech on my car(only because I do not want to cut my shroud because it will need to be cut for my twin turbo setup in the spring), but I have installed a few of the Vararams on my friends cars and I think it is a much better intake. If you are unsure about the install check out my Vararam install:

http://www.shockerracing.com/phpBB2/...pic.php?t=1380

The car we installed this Vararam on has the Vararam, Kooks headers not cats, Speed Inc. 007 Cam and a tune and dyno'd 419 rwhp.

Here is a video of the Vararam intake sucking air:

http://www.spdkilz.org/Video-Audio/R...20Car/Ryan.wmv

I know of multiple people running the Vararam here in Chicago without any problems and you know how Chicago weather can be!
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 09:33 PM
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Very happy with the mods listed below.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by robl45
appologize if this has been asked before but what is a good combination of cheap mods to get better performance out of a stick shift? Intake, exhaust? Anything else? Looking for things that I could install in my garage with a set of jackstands or so, nothing too complicated, I think headers might be too complicated. Also, any intakes must not suck up water. If this has been discussed, kindly point me to the thread.
Headers are very, very easy to install on the C6. You need a very limited amount of tools and some common sense. If you can change your oil, you can put headers on. Several posts on this forum are helpful.
Exhaust will give you such little gain (if any) it's not worth the $$ unless it is for sound improvement.

As Byrdguy mentioned: LT headers, intake,and good tune.
This will set you back approx $2500 and will get you the most for the $ with the least amount of work.

Last edited by DSOMC6; Dec 7, 2006 at 11:18 PM.
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 01:04 PM
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Nothing with any quality is cheap. you get what you pay for. Cheap mods don't mean they work. Big HP gains cost Money! NO getting around that.

Headers and a tune $1800-2200 installed

Cam and springs $1800 installed

FAST 90 manifold moded and installed $1050

Heads; depending on make, $3200-4100 installed

SC or turbocharging $$8000 up installed

Anyway pick your poison.
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by andreas g.
Nothing with any quality is cheap. you get what you pay for. Cheap mods don't mean they work. Big HP gains cost Money! NO getting around that.

Headers and a tune $1800-2200 installed

Cam and springs $1800 installed

FAST 90 manifold moded and installed $1050

Heads; depending on make, $3200-4100 installed

SC or turbocharging $$8000 up installed

Anyway pick your poison.
HEADERS OR CAM??? only 1??
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by andreas g.
Nothing with any quality is cheap. you get what you pay for. Cheap mods don't mean they work. Big HP gains cost Money! NO getting around that.

Headers and a tune $1800-2200 installed

Cam and springs $1800 installed

FAST 90 manifold moded and installed $1050

Heads; depending on make, $3200-4100 installed

SC or turbocharging $$8000 up installed

Anyway pick your poison.
I saw a thread that head & cam together gives like +100 hp gain.
What do they give separately?
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 06:42 PM
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it has rained here very hard this year. my trans cooler line broke, trans fluid everywhere under car. i fixed it took it out in a very bad rain storm flooding everywhere i hit every puddle, i could for three days, with vararam no problems
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