Next mod?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 458
Likes: 22
From: OK
Next mod?
2005 Z51 manual car.
It has an axle back and Vararam currently. Would I be better off upgrading the intake or doing headers/x pipe next? Have heard that the stock ls2 intakes are pretty restrictive. I am wondering which of those might I see bigger gains with after a tune.
It has an axle back and Vararam currently. Would I be better off upgrading the intake or doing headers/x pipe next? Have heard that the stock ls2 intakes are pretty restrictive. I am wondering which of those might I see bigger gains with after a tune.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)
Tech Contributor
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
I believe he did the headers/intake first,then cam, then fast, then gears, then heads. His current best is 10.8x@128mph in a convertible 6 speed manual
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 507
Likes: 30
imo it's better to go with headers first, cant beat the sound of a C6 with headers.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 10
From: Magnolia Texas
Headers! I did LG's tubes, then Corsa's, then Ported TB & VMAX Ported Intake, then Patriot Stage III heads, then FAST 102. You'll definitely like the feel and the sound of the headers. The gain on my FAST 102 install was BIG, but that' only because I could take advantage of the heads and exhaust. Went from 427/422 to 465/435 at wheels with the FAST 102 install over VMAX ported LS2 intake.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,949
Likes: 263
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Justin thanks for the kind words.
Here is my thread. I hope you find it useful.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...ast-heads.html
If you are only going to do one mod on an 05 manual I would put 4.10 gears on the car and upgrade to a 06+ rear before you break your rear end. 05 rears are very weak and when they break they bend the trans mainshaft too requiring a trans rebuild.
You always feel the gears. Feels like the car lost 500 lbs.
Add a Vararam too. It's cheap real horsepower particularly with a stock tume.
Headers are a great mod but even if you get cats your car will stink. Sometimes I wish my car didn't stink.
That is my recommendation after many years of doing this.
Here is my thread. I hope you find it useful.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...ast-heads.html
If you are only going to do one mod on an 05 manual I would put 4.10 gears on the car and upgrade to a 06+ rear before you break your rear end. 05 rears are very weak and when they break they bend the trans mainshaft too requiring a trans rebuild.
You always feel the gears. Feels like the car lost 500 lbs.
Add a Vararam too. It's cheap real horsepower particularly with a stock tume.
Headers are a great mod but even if you get cats your car will stink. Sometimes I wish my car didn't stink.
That is my recommendation after many years of doing this.
Last edited by Joe_G; Dec 7, 2012 at 09:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 458
Likes: 22
From: OK
Great thread and information, thanks for posting. I already have Vararam, so that is covered. Good advice on the rear as well, I had 4.10's in the TA before busting the rear end. I went a bit more mild the next time around with 3.73's which held up fine.
I am thinking I will go LT's with X and a good tune. Be interested to see what numbers it makes after that.
I am thinking I will go LT's with X and a good tune. Be interested to see what numbers it makes after that.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,949
Likes: 263
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
My pleasure. Glad you found it useful.
Vararam was my first mod. Great mod with a stock tune. Stock tune pulls 12 degrees of timing at 100 inlet air temp (half of commanded timing) and stock intake can get as high as 154 idling on an 80 degree day. A cai makes a huge difference by allowing cool air in and this substantially mods timing.
Vararam was my first mod. Great mod with a stock tune. Stock tune pulls 12 degrees of timing at 100 inlet air temp (half of commanded timing) and stock intake can get as high as 154 idling on an 80 degree day. A cai makes a huge difference by allowing cool air in and this substantially mods timing.