I have had my MN6 Z51 for a year now and it is still bone stock. I have almost 9k miles on it and I am still really happy with the performance, or at least I am not tired of it yet. I have been down this road before where I heavily Mod my cars and then sell them for something differnt because they are breaking down or throwing codes or etc. etc. Here's my dilemma. I have my eyes on a used Procharger for $4,000(fair price) but by the time I pay to have it installed/tuned and with all the bells and whistles it is over $6,000. Then I am told I need a new clutch to harness the power and while they are there I should get long tube headers and hi-flow cat's, and then don't forget wider tires.... Where does it end. I just really want to enjoy my car and not have it at the shop all the time. Mod's are like a drug once you take a hit you can't stop, but drugs would be alot cheaper. This is stressing me out just thinking about it, I think I am going to go get HIGH.

 

My car is for the most part finished. All sensors active no code. I am confortable crusing or going to the track.

I think it is important when you mod your Vette to have a plan. I may change my current seats out and a couple of other little things but basically it is finished.

It is fast and dependable

 

And its amazing how so many don't seem to have any plan whatsoever and just throw parts and money at their cars and end up with who knows what.

 

there is no need to buy every stick on thing that comes along for your car.

It is a delicate balance between $$$$ and keeping it clean

 

Mods are very addictive. My C6 vert. is one year old and I have spent over 30k on it. By the way I have just turned 2800 miles on the odometer. I finally think I have everything I need and love everything I've done. (until I see the next one)

 

I'm an engineer. Sometimes we fix things that aren't broken. Where's my credit card...

I ordered headers, shifter, cold air the day I picked up the car. It's not a curse, it's a blessing. But my kids are out of college.

Joe

 

I have spent approximately $15K in performance mods and do not regret having done so.

 

Remember there are two types of mods - Performance and Appearance.

Both categories of mods present different challenges, opportunities and results. For me the main considertion is "how easily car I reverse the mod". Being able to return the car to the same state it was in the day I laid eyes on it for the first time at the NCM is a must.

That's the beauty of the Corvette. It can be left bone stock and still be a satisfying car to own/drive or you can ramp it up a notch or two and personalize it to your own tastes/desires/needs.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Good luck

Tom

 

I plan on leaving the car looking stock. So far I've spent almost $4,400 for bolt-ons and two tunes. Parrott and Neucleus work great. A little disappointed in the dyno numbers, but we've been thru all that.
This Fall, I plan on heads and a cam. That oughta do it.
Modifying and twisting wrenches is half the fun of ownership.

 

I often wonder this myself. I want more power but I don't want the breakdown problems some people have with more power. That is why I am thinking of keeping it to headers pullies CAI. ported intake and tune on my 06. Hopefully that won't cause too many problems

 

what are your goals with the car?

 

There's nothing wrong with modifying for appearance sake but for me, modding is about performance...form follows function. If you're still happy with the performance of the stock C6, you likely answered your own question. For me, the stock C6 performed well but it never had the power I thought it should have....I loved my stock C6 but I wanted something more.

You mention selling your car for something "different" and the modded car "breaking down and throwing codes." For me, I've never modified (or purchased) a car with any thought about resale value. I modify a car for the driving enjoyment it brings-me.

If your modded car is continually breaking-down and throwing codes...you're doing something wrong....either in what was done or how it was done (no disrespect intended). Although it's a popular choice, I'm not a fan of FI...slapping a supercharger in a stock, cast-piston engine. IMO the foundation of a well-modded car is a forged component, naturally-aspirated, built engine....it's more expensive but well worth the money. I'm not trying to be 'flip' with the financial realities involved either. I know it gets expensive no matter which way one goes.

I would also suggest to others 'go with the best.' For my money there were perhaps 5 tuners in the entire Country I would feel confident to work on my C6 (Lingenfelter, 21st Century Muscle Cars/Lingenfelter, Doug Rippie Motorsports, Katech, Callaway and I'll throw LGM on the list). For me, Lingenfelter is the 'gold standard' in Corvette performance. My LPE 403 package does not throw codes and is very reliable (in general, my 2005 C6 has also been extremely trouble-free).

You're are correct that one mod often leads to another. I could leave what I've done as-is and be quite happy but I have a few other modifications I'm thinking about doing....nothing too major and I envision being essentially done. I enjoy making a great car even better.

Only you can answer whether modding your car is right for you but for me, every time I start my car or last weekend carving corners and blasting down a straight-a-way on the track...I know I made the right decision.

 

I guess I don't really have a plan yet. I want to pay the car off this year. I am keeping it until the C7 comes out and has been around a couple years for refinement. Resale value is important but right now it is all about Me! I am happy with the car in it's current condition but I am getting the urge to Mod and I am unsure if I will be even happier with it or is it more headaches than it is worth? I don't want to miss out on a good deal and regret it latter. (Used Procharger installed $6,000) By the way the car is really just a weekend cruiser with my wife and a couple times a year to the drag strip. I know ultimately it is a choice only I can answer but good advise is welcome and appreciated.

 

Modding is a VERY personal thing - you mod because you want to not because you have to.

 

because you asked the question: stay stock stay happy

 

A 461rwhp LS2, great motor no issues. Now it's a stroked L92 motor, L92 CNC ported heads, etc Makes 522rwhp and it's still my daily driver.
I used common sense, a small cam, big inch motor equals good power with good drivability. Modding is up to your individual taste. I needed a good driver and good gas milage. I haven't regreted any of the modding that I've done and I did it in stages. BTW this is the last mod for this car. I'm done!!!!

 

Many good answers and there probably isnt a wrong answer when you put the word value in the equation.

Value is a personal thing. A person who is into enjoyment and entertainment will put some value into mods even knowing there will be nearly no return on the sale of the car. It in many instances will make it hard to sell the car snce many non tech enthusiasts still beleive 100% stock virgin is worth more. Having done all my mods myself except for gearring, it will be hard to sell the car to someone lookng for a brand name and doesnt trust in my mechanical abilities.

That aside, if you put financial value into the equation and cant handle losing money on the resale then dont do it. If you put in a 20,000 dollar stroker, it isnt going to sell very easy. Insurance companies place extreme value on the stock parts and when you say there was a 20k motor in there, they dont pay for labor and deduct GM's list price for an LS2 off your Lingenfelter stroker. I had 12k in mods on my 2001 when it was totalled and the insurance gave me 2200 towards mods. Half was from the stereo.

A supercharger in this sense is a best bet since you remove it and sell it for 60-70% of what you paid with a total loss in labor. Taking out a heads/cam mod and returning to stock will just lose more money and used heads if they arent one of the 3 big guys right now are nearly worthless used.

Mods should be done for enjoyment with an attitude of financial loss accepted at the get-go. I spend 1k a month on restraunts and entertainment a month and consider mods on my vette a small amount in comparrison spread out over the 3-4 years I will have the car. Technically my japanese food bill per month comes to more than the vette mods broken down per month.

Gear it and evaluate the car again. You may find 4.10 gears to be all you want in the bang for the buck and will not do anything to the engine for any chance of breakdown.

Good luck with your decisions and enjoy the car.

 

well said

 

to me.. the c6 felt a little slow stock, im more then happy with full bolt ons.. couldnt even imagine having to much more power then this!

 

I have spent less than $5K on mods (which is less than the discount I got from Conti when buying the car ) and have a nice, well rounded 11 second ride with great sound and performance. The only other mod I would do would be stickier tires on the rear when they make some I like. If you trade or sell your cars often, my suggestion is not to mod, only a small segment of people who buy upper-crust cars mod and it can hurt the trade in or resale value, belive it or not.I paid $25K for my 2000 TA WS6 new,added over $40K of mods to turn 11's...sold it for $24K...not a good turn over imo.Had it been stock, I could've still gotten $20K+ and not had spent the extra $40K, but I would've missed alot of the fun...but not sure if it was $40K worth of fun....