I research extensively, perhaps obsessively, before I mod a car. I don't like spending thousands and thousands on mods. I would rather spend the least amount possible to get the best gains possible. That said, I am not big on huge horsepower. I think the 400 the car comes with stock is plenty, and I feel like improving myself as a driver is more important than getting more power.

The only mods I've done so far were subtle. I switched out all my interior bulbs for LED's. I got Z06 replica wheels. I got a Flowmaster exhaust (which I will be replacing with Corsa Sports soon).

I think the car is 90% there from the factory, but there are some tweaks that can make it even better.

I'm more interested in overall feel than impressing with numbers or beating the next guy in a straight line.

The following mods seem to be the kind of mods that are universally praised, with little or no drawback. I think the ideal mod is the one that feels like it could have, and should have, come from the factory.

- Short shifters. Everyone seems to love this cheap little mod. B&M/Hurst/Callaway. Not sure what the best is, but this is something I definitely plan on it. I will probably go with Callaway as they seem to be the most solid. The stock shifter is not great: it's a bit sloppy.

- Koni FSD shocks. What a great product. Finally you get a tremendous improvement in handling AND a better ride. What else could you want? I can't wait to get a set and try them out.

- Corbeau A4 seats. This seems to be a mod that caught on more in the C5 community, but I think it will catch on with the C6 guys as well. I like them in black leather to give a stock look. C5 and C6 seats are very similar in dimensions and the fact that they offer little lateral support for spirited driving and especially for track days. Almost everyone who installed the A4's said they should have come from the factory with them. Of course, realistically that never would have happened, because GM needed a seat that fit every waist size.

- CAI/tune. Great bang-for-the-buck boost in power. Add headers to the mix and you've got a great package.

- Gears. This is something I won't personally be doing, but I hear great feedback from those who have.

What do you think?

 

This is very true. The performance (track) results of these cars can be all over the place, air and track conditions are part of it but driver skill is likely most of the reason why there might be such a disparity between otherwise similar cars, especially with the manual versions.
As for bang for the buck mods, I would recommend the above mentioned driver improvement along with a Vararam cold air intake and a 160 degree thermostat along with adjusted fan settings (Cartek Fan Module, HP Tuners etc.)

 

#1 on my list was a ported intake and throttle body form Cory Harris

$250 for the intake and $120 for the ported TB.

Looks stock, good gains, and improved throttle feel.

Both will augment other mods you might make.

 

Impressive list.

 

Absoutely, and myself not being a huge straight line fanatic, auto-x and HPDE track days are a really fun way to adjust the nut behind the steering wheel.

 

I'm all about the gears.

 

I sure wouldn't waste a 1000 bucks on a cat back exhaust that is about zero performance bang for the buck. I am a fan of letting the engine breath.

1. Ported intake and TB
2. Headers
3. CAI
4. Tune

You can do 1,2,3 yourself. There are a lot of tuners out there that can dial it right in after you do the install. These mods can be done for around 2500 to 3000 bucks and you will wind up with about 400 rwhp and rwtq.

 

400rwhp sounds really generous for those mods?

 

Back in the '90s when I was autocrossing my first Z28 (IROC 350) and later my first 5.0 Mustang I found that my car control/reactions/reflexes out on the street improved astronomically. I was once in a situation once where an accident appeared absolutely inevitable and I somehow found my way out of it, even though I was never that great at it I know my SCCA Solo II experience helped me avoid the body shop a few times.

 

4.10's for the 6 speed is killer, best mod for the dollars spent..

 

 

You could do some real damages with 400 rwhp.

 

I have around $20k in self installed mods. I don't have much to show for it. But, the best bang for the buck it terms of smiles per miles is gears. Makes you feel like you are driving a big block C2... if you are into that sort of thing.

I been through a few exhausts. Mostly ones I made myself. No gain. Just looking for the right tone. I'm trying a Magnaflow this month. Maybe I will find the sweet spot. To me they are all overpriced hunks of crap.

Tons of folks love the C6 shifter. I hate it. My rubber insulator was shot in 5k miles. Those parts do not come with new shifters. You need to replace those to get the firm feel back. Otherwise you are putting a bandaid on a sucking chect wound. I used solid aluminum mounts from a C5 in mine. Its firm but rattles the hell out of my Breathless shifter. Going to try a Callaway based on the rattle factor alone.

 

I have posted my dyno results for these mods without the polished TB. I came in at 400 rwhp and 397 rwtq. The results are on Cory Harris's website as well.

 

Pretty impressive. How important is the ported TB?

What kind of numbers should be expected from headers/tune/CAI?

 

Gears - especially if you are not doing any other engine mods

 

After over $20,000.00 in mods. The best was the Hurst shifter I bought for $150 delivered.