bolt on mod questions
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 93
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From: Rensselaer New York
bolt on mod questions
Hi guys. I have a 2008 LS3 and I'm looking at bolt ons and such. I'm wondering what the best proven bolt ons such as intakes and exhausts and such work for you guys. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by Randanky23; Apr 17, 2012 at 09:23 PM. Reason: wondering brand specific
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 93
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From: Rensselaer New York
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 475
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville TX
headers and x-pipe (high flow cats or catless) first step. from there you need to decide if you going forced induction or N/A. a blower/supercharger is more bang for the buck. it is more up front money at once. you can spend same amount of money or more going a ported fast intake, ported throttle body, cam, milling heads, fly cutting the pistons, and under drive haramonic balancer. you can do those in steps.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 3
From: Indy IN
Got my K&N intake for sale if you want to check it out, http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-p...-08-newer.html
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 195
From: On the east coast we drive until we die
You can even hold off on the CAI since the LS3 unit is supposed to be better than the LS2. Not that you couldn't benefit from an aftermarket unit but I don't believe it's as essential as it is for the LS2.
A set of headers and a tune is a great start and will set you up for just about any future modifications. I would also hold off on a catback system. They're basically just for sound on these cars at this power level. You may find the sound from the headers alone is enough for you.
Find a good tuner in your area and discuss it with them. Some tuners offer free retunes as you add mods, within reason. But headers and a tune would be my first suggestion. Then decide on your goals and budget, and go from there.
A set of headers and a tune is a great start and will set you up for just about any future modifications. I would also hold off on a catback system. They're basically just for sound on these cars at this power level. You may find the sound from the headers alone is enough for you.
Find a good tuner in your area and discuss it with them. Some tuners offer free retunes as you add mods, within reason. But headers and a tune would be my first suggestion. Then decide on your goals and budget, and go from there.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,801
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa Ok
Are you a manual or auto? If you have an auto then get headers, cam, stall and tune. And you'll be happy...............for awhile. And I'm not a believer of the CAI on the vettes. They (what I think, which doesn't mean much) use a less restrictive filter over the stock one which gets you the increase in power. I haven't seen one where it actually gets the air from a different location to actually make it different than the OEM location. I would like to know at what point do you sacrifice filtering the air at a given density of the material. Because the replacement cost of the OEM filter isn't exactly cost effective.
/flamesuiton
/flamesuiton
Last edited by danieloneil01; Apr 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 967
Likes: 1
keep in mind the stock air intake on the ls3 is pretty darn good for a factory piece
i myself like the LG street headers for their torque
and of course a tune always yields improvements
not sure what kind of power increase you are looking for, kind of have endless options
try the CoW booster
i myself like the LG street headers for their torque
and of course a tune always yields improvements
not sure what kind of power increase you are looking for, kind of have endless options
try the CoW booster
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 294
From: St. Louis MO
After you spend time researching all the threads, you might land where I have with your LS3:
buy a Z06 air bridge and if you want (slightly) more flow with optimal protection, throw in the ZR1 Donaldson air filter element
I added the Vmax ported throttle body ... best $149 I have spent on an engine mod ... I'd skip the $34 sleeve you posted. The Vmax has several documented 12-13HP gains on dyne vs. Halltech intake, for example. Save your $ on the K&N and all that stuff ... Vararam is probably best, but price you pay is dirtier engine compartment and less filtration (if you cut your shroud precisely, you should be able to avoid some of the road grime
Go with Kooks or AR 1 3/4 headers with catted 3 inch mid-pipe if not S/C or cam in your future. I plan to stay normally aspirated with OEM cam ... want to maintain as much stock as possible for future resale. If not, 1 7/8 is the ticket
Tune - I will be more on the mild side for reasons above, but good dyne tune by knowledgeable vette tech (that's an imperative) as well as A6 tune is money well spent now that you have a better breathing block
buy a Z06 air bridge and if you want (slightly) more flow with optimal protection, throw in the ZR1 Donaldson air filter element
I added the Vmax ported throttle body ... best $149 I have spent on an engine mod ... I'd skip the $34 sleeve you posted. The Vmax has several documented 12-13HP gains on dyne vs. Halltech intake, for example. Save your $ on the K&N and all that stuff ... Vararam is probably best, but price you pay is dirtier engine compartment and less filtration (if you cut your shroud precisely, you should be able to avoid some of the road grime
Go with Kooks or AR 1 3/4 headers with catted 3 inch mid-pipe if not S/C or cam in your future. I plan to stay normally aspirated with OEM cam ... want to maintain as much stock as possible for future resale. If not, 1 7/8 is the ticket
Tune - I will be more on the mild side for reasons above, but good dyne tune by knowledgeable vette tech (that's an imperative) as well as A6 tune is money well spent now that you have a better breathing block
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,728
Likes: 36
From: TX / CO
What are you going to do with the car? What power are you looking to get to? Determine what you want out of it, then talk to those in the know of the best way to get there. Not saying you are, but I'm amazed at how many people just start slapping things on the car without a gameplan.
