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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 12:33 AM
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Default LS2 Engine MOD's

Finally considering some engine mod's for my 07 stock C6 LS2 A6.
Where do I start?
Looking to spend $1000-2000 installed.

Last edited by studiovette; Nov 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 12:47 AM
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I would spend the money on a cold air intake, dynotuning, and a used set of headers.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 01:07 AM
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to get bigger gains and given you have a corvette you'll be closer to that 2k mark.

headers and tune. if you bought used and can swing it than a vararam too. near 400 rwhp thats good times

Last edited by Farsighted770; Nov 13, 2010 at 01:09 AM.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 01:44 AM
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Originally Posted by studiovete
Finally considering some engine mod's for my 07 stock C6 LS2.
Where do I start?
Looking to spend $1000-2000 installed.
You don't say what tranny you have A6, MN6 or Z51 MZ6. Cheap headers, an intake and a dyno tune might give you around 35-40 rwhp and put you around 380 rwhp for a manual tranny, less for an A6.

For less money you can change the differential gearing and get a bigger SOTP gain.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Jim_H
You don't say what tranny you have A6, MN6 or Z51 MZ6. Cheap headers, an intake and a dyno tune might give you around 35-40 rwhp and put you around 380 rwhp for a manual tranny, less for an A6.

For less money you can change the differential gearing and get a bigger SOTP gain.
A6 sorry.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by studiovete
A6 sorry.
You might be consider the gears and a good tune of the engine and transmission. It should cost about $2000, and you have plenty of shops in your area that can do this; Vette Doctors, ECS, Cartek and Corvettes of Westchester are a few I know of. ECS seems to always have deals on gearing and they build it using your existing differential so you can get the exact gearing you want on your known core.

You can feel the effect of headers and an intake, but its not like the difference that gearing will make, and gearing has almost no negatives unless you go too crazy low.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 01:41 PM
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I also have a 07/A6, recently went with a K&N CAI (63 series) 160 degree t-stat and Diablosport tuner. Was really surprised at the gains I got. Havent had it on dyno so I cant give you hp numbers but the sotp gains were more than I had expected (actually have a hard time getting it to hook up in 1st gear). Got the CAI and turner used here on the forum, t-stat from one of the vendors. BEST $500 I ever spent.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 02:19 PM
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On an LS2, you need a Vararam (or any cai) and a tune. The LS2 has the worst air intake set up and the worst intake manifold as well. Get it to breath and get a better tune with a cooler plug to elliminate the sensitive knock (do a search for TR6) and they can really wake up.

Personally I would go

Vararam
Smooth couplers
FAST 102
Tune

You should be able to get it for less than $2K (IMHO)
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 03:20 PM
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Getting a FAST in place of headers wouldn't be a bad idea....it's an easier install also.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by markmott
I also have a 07/A6, recently went with a K&N CAI (63 series) 160 degree t-stat and Diablosport tuner. Was really surprised at the gains I got. Havent had it on dyno so I cant give you hp numbers but the sotp gains were more than I had expected (actually have a hard time getting it to hook up in 1st gear). Got the CAI and turner used here on the forum, t-stat from one of the vendors. BEST $500 I ever spent.
Any pics of the K&N installed on your car? I would appreciate it if you can show me what it looks like.
thank you,
studio

studiovete@yahoo.com
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by studiovete
Any pics of the K&N installed on your car? I would appreciate it if you can show me what it looks like.
thank you,
studio

studiovete@yahoo.com
If you're thinking of a KN I'd take a look at the Airaid. Great quality and under $250, they are the only non cold air intake my tuner recommends.
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Jim_H
If you're thinking of a KN I'd take a look at the Airaid. Great quality and under $250, they are the only non cold air intake my tuner recommends.
do you have this installed with the vette air intake system? Can these 2 even be combined? I'm really thinking of going with the vette air since it will bring in the true cold air in, but I still want to change my ugly filter housings and go with a used airaid or SLP LPE etc. I know with the vette air I have to cut a hole in the shroud right? or I can buy a precut one and keep mine as a back up. Is that right?
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by JayplaySS2
On an LS2, you need a Vararam (or any cai) and a tune. The LS2 has the worst air intake set up and the worst intake manifold as well. Get it to breath and get a better tune with a cooler plug to elliminate the sensitive knock (do a search for TR6) and they can really wake up.

Personally I would go

Vararam
Smooth couplers
FAST 102
Tune

You should be able to get it for less than $2K (IMHO)

Jayplay can you ellaborate on the TR6 I couldnt find anything on it. Also on the cooler plug. Sorry very new at the engine mod stuff. All my focus has been on interior/exterior mods for over a yr now. Now the fun begins
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by studiovete
Jayplay can you ellaborate on the TR6 I couldnt find anything on it. Also on the cooler plug. Sorry very new at the engine mod stuff. All my focus has been on interior/exterior mods for over a yr now. Now the fun begins
Sure thing-

Pay attention to post #14 and #22. I verified this on HPT's forum and they are in my car.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...ark-plugs.html
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by studiovete
do you have this installed with the vette air intake system? Can these 2 even be combined? I'm really thinking of going with the vette air since it will bring in the true cold air in, but I still want to change my ugly filter housings and go with a used airaid or SLP LPE etc. I know with the vette air I have to cut a hole in the shroud right? or I can buy a precut one and keep mine as a back up. Is that right?
No I don't have a Vette Air but you could install one. I wouldn't bother with a pre cut shroud because if you ever wanted to go back to stock you can just buy a new uncut shroud really cheaply from the forum GM parts vendors.

If I ever thought is was worth going to a true cold air system I would only consider the Callaway intake, just my opinion but I think the fit, quality and actual air filtering are way better than some of the others and I doubt that there is much if any difference in performance. The LPE would be my second choice, good but not as easy to remove and clean the filter as the Callaway.
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Jim_H
No I don't have a Vette Air but you could install one. I wouldn't bother with a pre cut shroud because if you ever wanted to go back to stock you can just buy a new uncut shroud really cheaply from the forum GM parts vendors.

If I ever thought is was worth going to a true cold air system I would only consider the Callaway intake, just my opinion but I think the fit, quality and actual air filtering are way better than some of the others and I doubt that there is much if any difference in performance. The LPE would be my second choice, good but not as easy to remove and clean the filter as the Callaway.
Even with all that talk about the Callaways sucking up water like the Vararams? I guess with the vette air its possible to since it basically sits all the way down by the grill. This is a non issue for me since my car has never seen a puddle or rain.
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 12:48 PM
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On my A6 LS2 I initially went with LG Pros, LPE intake and tune. I was thinking ahead for a S/C so thats all I did for a year. Two years ago I sold the intake on this site for close to what I paid for it and had a Vortech T-trim installed. I now have a car that idles and runs like stock until I put the hammer down and it spins up to 600+bhp. Plan ahead on what you want to do down the road.
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