I had introduced my self several months ago, stating i'd still remaing a lurker, simply because i've been weening myself away from the euro scene (currently drive a track prepped E36 M3), and get myself into the american sports car scene (sport, not muscle!!) I'd like my corvette to be more than nice for a D/D while still being able to, how shall i say politically correctly, capable of passing traffic on the highway? And at the same time, go to an occasional track day. Now, my search began with a C5z06, i love the basic design of it, not too stoked about the interior..and def. not a fan of the flipup headlights...
So that leads me to the C6, now i don't know what I should do for year, should i really hold out and get the LS3 vette, or find a cheaper 07 LS2? My Mod bug WILL be put in check, i will only stop engine mods once my car hits a healthy 500whp, which platform would be the most cost effective to start on? LS2/LS3....minus going F/I, what would I be looking at getting to achieve my goals?
I take my hat off to you corvette guys, this forum has such a better atmosphere about it than any Euro, or BMW forum i've ever been on. I've learned ALOT here these past 5 months, and hopefully pending a purchase in the next couple months, i'll stop being a lurker! till then i start to fade back into the background!
(this is my re enlistment present to myself(Marines) )



Cliff notes-
480-500whp goal N/A if possible
whats best platform to start with LS2/LS3, or go with a C5z06(keep in mind cost effective...(whatever saves money the most) )
What Mods would be necessary for the car to be a SAFE, D/D, and occasional Track Day(rain or shine)

Thnks guys!!

 

LS3 heads will support that power n/a with wiggle room. You go LS2 and it will be all uphill work. It can be done, but its going to be a hard, hard road.

I'd hold off for the LS3. Cam and exhaust will get you real close, might need to notch pistons but could probably do it with a small cam. LS2s with 500rwhp are more the exception than the rule and they are really gone into. I think you would be happy with a cam/exhaust LS3.

The C5Z is a great car too. I just dig the C6 lines. In fact I was at the dealership to get a C5Z and was like, "whoa, what is that"?!?!?! Just fell in love with the car.

 

Those were my initial "vette noob" thoughts as well. The initial purchase for an LS3 may be higher, but it won't take as much to reach my goal.
What do you mean by "notching pistons"? Is that a way of reinforcing them?
I really do enjoy the looks of the c5z too...at least from the side! It's a mean lookin car..i just can't get past the interior and lights.
Plus i've read (on this forum!!!) that the top end for a c5z is about 177mph or so, and the c6 top end is about 187? that interests me as well...not that i will ever get that deep in the speedo (not enough brass lol) but its always good for chest thumping amongst the fellow Marines! lol

 

If you want to run a huge cam in the LS3, you would have to cut grooves in the tops of the pistons to get some clearance. You can do it with a small cam so I think its a moot point. I don't know how much of a difference the top speed is going to be with you. I wouldn't sweat it. All depends on what you are going to do. If you are going to cut the car up, I'd say get the older one and say yourself some cash. If you seriously think you will just go cam, I think the LS3 will run with the C5Zs all day long.

If you Marines have a global email list, look up CW04 Desidario and tell him Major Cilurso said to kiss his ****.

 

I'm dead set on achieving a "goal" with this car as opposed to what i did with my M3, where i was just modding for the sake of modding.
Would this goal be achieveable with a modest cam, or something a bit more wild? (IE Lg motorsports GSXE cam Vs. GSX3?)

So I'm guessing supporting mods for a cam would probably be,
heads
CAI
Headers
Exhaust?

We have email lists within each unit, but i do enjoy the ball busting the military has, active and retired

 

That was my point, the LS3 heads flow so well you won't need new ones. LS2s need some work.

So, with the LS3 I'd port the intake, run a good cam, headers, CAI and polished TB. Mufflers do have a very slight effect but I do those more for sound.

Supporting mods for the cam would be springs and pushrods, the motor flows well enough as is to get you real close with stock heads.

I'm active AF. I was with a bunch of you jar heads out in Kuwait a few months back.

Wanna hear a funny Marine story? Ok, glad you asked.

I'm sitting in Kuwait in my in my nice office, typical AF air conditioning go ahead use your imagination. I get a call from a Marine telling me to cancel and Air Drop. I proceed to tell the nice man that because we are only a few hours out I need a flag officer to approve this yadda yadda, yadda. The guy holds the phone up to all this gun fire, tells me that if I don't cut the ******* air drop I will be supplying the ******* enemy with food and ammo. I think for a second and say, "its cut". Lol I always give you guys crap, but I'm glad you do what you do.

 

That is quite a good story
now, i'm sorry to ask, but i'm just a dumb marine
could you explain to me about
"porting" the intake? that would just be getting a FAST intake perhaps?
and what about the springs and pushrods? where would i start my search for those?

I'm livin in Niceville FL right now right up the street from Eglin AFB...goin to school for EOD right now, I've got a couple of your fellow flyboys in my class, luckily one of them is an older officer, and the other is a 15 year E-5, my buddies are in class with a couple of the pocket protector bottle cap glasses wearin AF kids fresh from highschool
Regardless, as long as your servin' you're more than good in my books

 

I had a house in Crestuckey in 1993, I was an E2.

The FAST for the LS3 is not out yet. So, send the stock intake to Cory Harris and he will port and polish it and get a few hp out of it. That and the throttle body are some cheap easy hp.

I would suggest buying a cam from a good tuner. Those guys have tried lots of combinations and know what works well. They will sell you a set of springs and whatever pushrods you will need to match the cam. Many of the supporting tuners are good, but my personal favorites are ECS, LG. I hear some good things about HPE in FL, but I don't have any personal experience. Charlie at RPM knows his stuff too. Ask those guys when you are ready to order and they will hook you up. The "springs" are valve springs which you want to upgrade if you run an aftermarket cam. Depending on the cam you may need different length pushrods. The tuners who do thousands of these will know if you do and which to get. When you get ready to do the install, PM me and we'll get you through it. Then all you need is a good tune.

 

haha crestview, yeah, thats a great place, full of good ol' boys and stars and bars flags. Surprisingly though, both crestview, and niceville, both being fairly close to the base are EXTREMELY pro military. I was stationed for four years at Pendleton in san diego, and that military town, Oceanside, is not very military friendly. So i was very happy to see these towns here in florida are more hospitable for us

Thats funny that you mention LG, and ECS. From my months of lurking and doing nothing but reading, those two companies are the only two that I have bookmarked for further use. I've already decided that with the cam portion of the upgrades (and several others) i'll more than likely be going with one of these two companies. I'm glad you stated that they will take care of recommending any other internal upgrades to go along with the cam package...i consider myself somewhat car savy...but again, it pertains to inline six german engines, and even then, its nothing to in depth!

In terms of a tune, i've read of a couple reputable places here in florida, but they are far from the redneck riveria. I really havent heard of any corvette shops around my area. And again, from my reading, i've learned that a "tune" does not mean reflashing the ECU and putting a chip in, like my bmw. I assume i could always have my car shipped off for a tune, but i'd rather not if theres someone closer to my area.

I appreciate the help bud, i've been taking notes as I go along!

 

Porting is done to your existing manifold. Knocks off and rough edges, matches everything up, and creates better flow.

Generally speaking it's best to match the springs and rods with the cam your getting. Most vendors will generally be able to sell you a nicely matched kit. Other vendors may just list the recommended springs and/or rods in the cam description.

 

Gotcha, that helps a bit. Thanks for the insight!

 

my .02

you can do a stage 3 port on the 243's which will give you a little more (~10) cfm than what the ls3/l92 heads flow stock but it costs about twice as much (1800 vice 750)- however, you can then use a FAST manifold with the 243's and pick up more than you would with a ported stocker.

of course, eventually there will be a FAST for the newer heads so... it's all in how long you want to wait. Someone is always faster - pick a goal and build to it. You can very easily get 500rwhp out of a 6.0, you just have to spend the money to do it.

 

Off topic but a good Marine whos been through Parris Is knows that "American" is started with a Capital A. Semper Fi

 

If you get an LS2, it can save you some money vs. buying an LS3, then you can use the extra coin to do more mods....

H/C LS2
Long tubes
Clutch

I do have a buddy that is selling his Yellow 2008 LS3 M6 w/ 6k miles for ~ $36k

Cam, headers, clutch....

Should get you at / close to your goal of 500 rwhp.....

 

Thanks for all the help guys, if you have any other ideas, or tips to throw at me, i'll be more than happy to catch 'em and put them in my toolbox till i can use them!