Looking at dropping my C6 coupe into Doug Rippie Motors in MN to increase power. Want to maintain the driveability for casual rides (do most of my driving), durability (week long vacations w/mom) and keep the decibels down so I can enjoy the expensive radio I installed a few months ago. How far can I go to allow me the above?
Options:
1. Supercharge (any disadvantages? advantages?)
2. Headers, cam, etc? (any disadvantages? advantages?)
3. ???
BTW, I do not desire to race the vehicle. Just want some extra umph. Also, the C6 is an A6.

Thanks.

 

CAI Headers High Flow cats If you need more a mild cam and springs

400 1400 300? 390 250

CAI Varam
Headers Kooks 1-7/8

99-TR-CHEATRLS2-CAM Thunder Racing Custom Camshaft
"LS2 CheaTR" - 215/230 .629/.592 117 LSA. Off Idle-6800 RPM Power Band. Broad power range. Works well with stock exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters. Stock like idle. Minor tuning required on automatic transmission cars. Responds very well to nitrous. Due to the fast ramp rate of this camshaft, the use of 1.8 rockers is not recommended. Double valve springs and titanium retainers required for this cam. $389.99

 

I started pretty much the same as you. I wanted more power, although I rarely ever race. I started with CAI, and exhaust...then added headers, Tstat, tune.....then nitrous...then Heads/Cam. I did it like this because I didnt want to spend too much money, but as you can see, I've done enough to add up to a pretty penny. The resulting power has been great, but there are trade-offs. The headers were nice, but cause a funky exhaust smell, plus more drone, and more valvetrain noise. Nitrous was a big bang for the buck, it doesnt affect driveability at all, and tremendous power is there whenever you want. Downside is that the power isnt ALWAYS there, like if you run low on nitrous... plus you have to be careful with it, you cant just mindlessly floor it whenever, wherever. Heads/Cam power is awesome, but your driveability is affected no matter what. Sometimes its a VERY mild change in character, if you get a very mild cam. Mine is a mild 224/228 114 cam. It makes good power, but shakes the car A LITTLE at idle. Sometimes I love that, sometimes I hate it...but the extra drone it caused I always hate. It also makes ALOT of valvetrain noise now. If I could go back and do it all over again, I'd forget intakes and headers, and all this other stuff and go directly to a supercharger. You maintain stock driveability, but insane power is always on tap. After all I've done to my car I've spent as much as I would have doing a supercharger in the first place. Oddly enough...I complain about all the money I've spent, and yet im still considering supercharging my current setup.

 

I have heard that the droning is caused by your exhaust. If you still have your stock muffler, install them and see if you still have drone. I have heard people on the forum that had no drone with headers and stock mufflers.

 

Yes, it is the exhaust, but headers ADD to the drone if you have any. Even the corsas I had before drones with the headers/heads/cam combo. I think once you go heads/cam the stock exhaust becomes a real restriction, so either way you will have A LITTLE bit of drone, no metter which exhaust you go with. Anyways, those are just some things for the OP to consider.

 

If you want to stay mild go with a bolt-on package...

CAI
Ported Intake manifold
Ported TB
Long tube headers with highflow cats
Maybe a Corsa catback
160 stat
Custom tune

These are very basic mods that can get you in the 380-395 rwhp range. Very reliable and all mods support adding a cam and or heads later on if you need more.

I'd be happy to help you make a solid plan along these lines.

 

I hope you got my e-mail ok and I am glad that you are doing your research. Here is a great long road trip that some customers took. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ghlight=rippie

Come by the shop sometime if you are up this way. We will have a couple different cars to look at. We are finishing a C6 supercharged car this week, camed New Z06, a 383 c4, 427's and more.

Thanks
Randy
763-477-9272

 

Well, if you really want to keep the dB's down, N/A might not be the best way to go... When I had just longtube headers, intake, exhaust, and a cam (420 RWHP), I was the absolute loudest car in the area... The most quiet setup you could do and pickup 100+ RWHP/TQ while keeping drivability near stock is a turbo kit on an otherwise stock car... Turbos are natural mufflers. My car is the quietest it's been since it was stock!