LS2 daily driver mods (input??)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
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From: Tampa FL
LS2 daily driver mods (input??)
Hello everyone! 
I am currently deployed until late April/early May. I own a 2006 6 speed Corvette and was looking to modify it (N/A only) to around 450-500 WHP when I get home. I'm new to the Corvette family. My previous cars were a pontiac g6, mazdaspeed6, and nissan 350z. Yes I am young lol, 25 this month. I was wondering if you experienced members could help me out with some ideas or tips on what parts to use/not use. So far I was looking at the following:
Kooks 1 3/4 headers (the car came with a borla exhaust, i am not sure if its cat-back or axle-back, if they even make one in axle-back)
FAST intake & intake manifold (throttle body perhaps?)
A cam of some sort
Tune
I am open to any suggestions or ideas. Thanks a lot!
Tony
I am currently deployed until late April/early May. I own a 2006 6 speed Corvette and was looking to modify it (N/A only) to around 450-500 WHP when I get home. I'm new to the Corvette family. My previous cars were a pontiac g6, mazdaspeed6, and nissan 350z. Yes I am young lol, 25 this month. I was wondering if you experienced members could help me out with some ideas or tips on what parts to use/not use. So far I was looking at the following:
Kooks 1 3/4 headers (the car came with a borla exhaust, i am not sure if its cat-back or axle-back, if they even make one in axle-back)
FAST intake & intake manifold (throttle body perhaps?)
A cam of some sort
Tune
I am open to any suggestions or ideas. Thanks a lot!
Tony
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 150
From: Woodland CA
I have a 2005 6 speed. I have Kooks long tubes, high flow cats with X pipe, 228/232 115 LSA cam + tune. I am putting down 430 rwhp with very stock like idle. To get to 450 I would have needed to get a slightly bigger cam with a 112 LSA but that is at the cost of some "good" stock like road manners.
Is there a specific reason you want NA only? A supercharger will probably cost about the same as all those mods and it would put you in the low to mid 500's. And you car will drive exactly the way it does now...until you open it up.
Is there a specific reason you want NA only? A supercharger will probably cost about the same as all those mods and it would put you in the low to mid 500's. And you car will drive exactly the way it does now...until you open it up.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
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From: Tampa FL
I have a 2005 6 speed. I have Kooks long tubes, high flow cats with X pipe, 228/232 115 LSA cam + tune. I am putting down 430 rwhp with very stock like idle. To get to 450 I would have needed to get a slightly bigger cam with a 112 LSA but that is at the cost of some "good" stock like road manners.
Is there a specific reason you want NA only? A supercharger will probably cost about the same as all those mods and it would put you in the low to mid 500's. And you car will drive exactly the way it does now...until you open it up.
Is there a specific reason you want NA only? A supercharger will probably cost about the same as all those mods and it would put you in the low to mid 500's. And you car will drive exactly the way it does now...until you open it up.
you dont think you could get to 450 with intake/TB/manifold?
I'll be honest, I dont know too much about the effects of superchargers. I also dont know how much these engines can withstand forced induction. I feel like I would need to pull the engine and build it in order to feel safe with a supercharger. I am not totally against the supercharger idea I suppose, but I just like the idea of being N/A for some reason.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 150
From: Woodland CA
450 rwhp with just those 3 mods? I don't see how.
I believe stock C6 LS2 will put down about 340 rwhp
+ about 10 rwhp for the FAST intake
+ maybe 5 rwhp for a ported TB
+ 30 rwhp for long tubes (I think this is the gains I got)
+ a handful more depending on the tune.
So with just those mods, you might be close to 390-400 rwhp. My numbers might be off a bit so you can check the forum for other people's before/after dyno but I don't see 450 in your future with just those mods.
I believe stock C6 LS2 will put down about 340 rwhp
+ about 10 rwhp for the FAST intake
+ maybe 5 rwhp for a ported TB
+ 30 rwhp for long tubes (I think this is the gains I got)
+ a handful more depending on the tune.
So with just those mods, you might be close to 390-400 rwhp. My numbers might be off a bit so you can check the forum for other people's before/after dyno but I don't see 450 in your future with just those mods.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
450 rwhp with just those 3 mods? I don't see how.
I believe stock C6 LS2 will put down about 340 rwhp
+ about 10 rwhp for the FAST intake
+ maybe 5 rwhp for a ported TB
+ 30 rwhp for long tubes (I think this is the gains I got)
+ a handful more depending on the tune.
So with just those mods, you might be close to 390-400 rwhp. My numbers might be off a bit so you can check the forum for other people's before/after dyno but I don't see 450 in your future with just those mods.
I believe stock C6 LS2 will put down about 340 rwhp
+ about 10 rwhp for the FAST intake
+ maybe 5 rwhp for a ported TB
+ 30 rwhp for long tubes (I think this is the gains I got)
+ a handful more depending on the tune.
So with just those mods, you might be close to 390-400 rwhp. My numbers might be off a bit so you can check the forum for other people's before/after dyno but I don't see 450 in your future with just those mods.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 150
From: Woodland CA
Oh, well the FAST intake will probably get me close to 450. With everything stock, the FAST intake may get you +10 but with my mods working in conjunction I *might* get 15-20. Who knows. I never really felt the power gains were worth the cost of the FAST intake. (No offense to anyone that purchased one)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Oxford Pa
My car pre blower made 405/408 w/ported fast, vararam and 1 7/8 kooks(no cats)... For the money I would do an electric water pump over a 102 TB... Elec WP might get you 5-10 and a good cam should get you 50+
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
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From: Tampa FL
i've read a lot that the 1 7/8 headers are too big for lightly modded engines. any problems or regrets not doing 1 3/4?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Homer, the Fast is always going to give any LS2 20+ rwhp over the stock intake manifold and that is a bolt-on car figure.
If you put a port matched Fast 102 intake mani on a LS2 with a cam you will get a minimum of 25 rwhp.
I picked up 18 rwhp and 21 rwtq with the Fast unported over my ported LS2 intake manifold. My car had headers and a LS2 Vararam at the time.
OP (i4tov6tov8) - Keep the Fast on your list if you want to meet your power goals!
If you put a port matched Fast 102 intake mani on a LS2 with a cam you will get a minimum of 25 rwhp.
I picked up 18 rwhp and 21 rwtq with the Fast unported over my ported LS2 intake manifold. My car had headers and a LS2 Vararam at the time.
OP (i4tov6tov8) - Keep the Fast on your list if you want to meet your power goals!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Homer, the Fast is always going to give any LS2 20+ rwhp over the stock intake manifold and that is a bolt-on car figure.
If you put a port matched Fast 102 intake mani on a LS2 with a cam you will get a minimum of 25 rwhp.
I picked up 18 rwhp and 21 rwtq with the Fast unported over my ported LS2 intake manifold. My car had headers and a LS2 Vararam at the time.
OP (i4tov6tov8) - Keep the Fast on your list if you want to meet your power goals!
If you put a port matched Fast 102 intake mani on a LS2 with a cam you will get a minimum of 25 rwhp.
I picked up 18 rwhp and 21 rwtq with the Fast unported over my ported LS2 intake manifold. My car had headers and a LS2 Vararam at the time.
OP (i4tov6tov8) - Keep the Fast on your list if you want to meet your power goals!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 3
Homer, the Fast is always going to give any LS2 20+ rwhp over the stock intake manifold and that is a bolt-on car figure.
If you put a port matched Fast 102 intake mani on a LS2 with a cam you will get a minimum of 25 rwhp.
I picked up 18 rwhp and 21 rwtq with the Fast unported over my ported LS2 intake manifold. My car had headers and a LS2 Vararam at the time.
OP (i4tov6tov8) - Keep the Fast on your list if you want to meet your power goals!
If you put a port matched Fast 102 intake mani on a LS2 with a cam you will get a minimum of 25 rwhp.
I picked up 18 rwhp and 21 rwtq with the Fast unported over my ported LS2 intake manifold. My car had headers and a LS2 Vararam at the time.
OP (i4tov6tov8) - Keep the Fast on your list if you want to meet your power goals!
The Fast 102 is a great mod for the LS2. My 06 LS2 has a Fast, ported stock heads, a 224/228 114+2 cam, meth but no headers, only a Z06 exhaust system. It puts out 460 rwhp and 442 rwtq.
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 9,669
Likes: 37
From: Woodlands TX
OP: Please take a look at this thread about the FAST intake manifold for the LS2 that I made - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...st-intake.html Also if you are going to have a cam installed, I would think about replacing the OEM damper with an ATI damper, that way you save on labor down the road & you will never have to worry about it. If this is going to be a DD I would also recommend two other items. (1) - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...insulator.html (2) - http://www.topflightrepro.com/corvet...sole-insulator Also take a look at a Padded Leather Center Console. These items will not make you more HP/TQ, but they will increase the fun factor for your drive.
Last edited by Gering; Jan 10, 2013 at 07:43 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 407
Likes: 11
From: Mooresville North Carolina
Thanks for your service OP! I hope you stay safe. Sounds like you have some good ideas for your LS2.
There's several ways you can build a reliable daily driver. Since you mention daily, I would suggest a nice mild cam, bolt ons, and perhaps a set of heads. I'm really happy with how this build turned out, it was an LS2 car like yours and we did a medium sized cam, some ported and polished heads, headers and a cold air intake. Stock intake manifold and stock catback. The car drove like a baby!! No bucking or surging, just awesome, smooth power. If you didn't want to do heads you could do a fast intake manifold instead, wouldn't net quite as much as heads would but it's another option. Here's our dyno graph from this build,
Very useable power!
For another couple grand though, you could also get a vortech supercharger kit from A&A and strap that on. Without any other modifications it is still an enormous gain...those blowers feel awesome on the street as it ramps into power. Wouldn't ding gas mileage at all either (as long as you don't hot foot it everywhere).
Good luck with your build!
There's several ways you can build a reliable daily driver. Since you mention daily, I would suggest a nice mild cam, bolt ons, and perhaps a set of heads. I'm really happy with how this build turned out, it was an LS2 car like yours and we did a medium sized cam, some ported and polished heads, headers and a cold air intake. Stock intake manifold and stock catback. The car drove like a baby!! No bucking or surging, just awesome, smooth power. If you didn't want to do heads you could do a fast intake manifold instead, wouldn't net quite as much as heads would but it's another option. Here's our dyno graph from this build,
Very useable power!
For another couple grand though, you could also get a vortech supercharger kit from A&A and strap that on. Without any other modifications it is still an enormous gain...those blowers feel awesome on the street as it ramps into power. Wouldn't ding gas mileage at all either (as long as you don't hot foot it everywhere).
Good luck with your build!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 150
From: Woodland CA
Let me restate.
I am not saying the FAST isn't a great product. It is and with the right supporting mods, it does produce good gains.
That pretty much supported what I thought. That with the FAST + the mods I already have I would pick up about 15-20. For me it was more of cost vs value.
With my mods (Kooks long tubes, high flow cats with X pipe, 228/232 115 LSA cam + tune) I am sitting pretty at 430 rwhp. I picked this cam specifically because I needed one that would pass smog (I am in california) and would give me a close to stock idle. But if this wasn't a requirement, I would have picked up a bigger cam. Say 232/234 112 LSA, which would have put me over 450 no problem. Since cams cost the same regardless of size, it would been the same cost to me. And I don't see how the OP can get to 450 NA without an cam swap.
So if I put myself in the OP's shoes and I want to get to 450 (NA) I would do the following:
Long tubes, high flow cats with X pipe, 232/234 112 LSA cam + tune.
I would reach my goal of 450+ and I didn't have to spend another $900 on the FAST intake.
At that point, the OP can look into getting the FAST on top of that and probably at be 475+ rwhp. Because you know, once you start adding HP...It is a never ending cycle.
I am not saying the FAST isn't a great product. It is and with the right supporting mods, it does produce good gains.
With my mods (Kooks long tubes, high flow cats with X pipe, 228/232 115 LSA cam + tune) I am sitting pretty at 430 rwhp. I picked this cam specifically because I needed one that would pass smog (I am in california) and would give me a close to stock idle. But if this wasn't a requirement, I would have picked up a bigger cam. Say 232/234 112 LSA, which would have put me over 450 no problem. Since cams cost the same regardless of size, it would been the same cost to me. And I don't see how the OP can get to 450 NA without an cam swap.
So if I put myself in the OP's shoes and I want to get to 450 (NA) I would do the following:
Long tubes, high flow cats with X pipe, 232/234 112 LSA cam + tune.
I would reach my goal of 450+ and I didn't have to spend another $900 on the FAST intake.
At that point, the OP can look into getting the FAST on top of that and probably at be 475+ rwhp. Because you know, once you start adding HP...It is a never ending cycle.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Thanks for your service OP! I hope you stay safe. Sounds like you have some good ideas for your LS2.
There's several ways you can build a reliable daily driver. Since you mention daily, I would suggest a nice mild cam, bolt ons, and perhaps a set of heads. I'm really happy with how this build turned out, it was an LS2 car like yours and we did a medium sized cam, some ported and polished heads, headers and a cold air intake. Stock intake manifold and stock catback. The car drove like a baby!! No bucking or surging, just awesome, smooth power. If you didn't want to do heads you could do a fast intake manifold instead, wouldn't net quite as much as heads would but it's another option. Here's our dyno graph from this build,
Very useable power!
For another couple grand though, you could also get a vortech supercharger kit from A&A and strap that on. Without any other modifications it is still an enormous gain...those blowers feel awesome on the street as it ramps into power. Wouldn't ding gas mileage at all either (as long as you don't hot foot it everywhere).
Good luck with your build!
There's several ways you can build a reliable daily driver. Since you mention daily, I would suggest a nice mild cam, bolt ons, and perhaps a set of heads. I'm really happy with how this build turned out, it was an LS2 car like yours and we did a medium sized cam, some ported and polished heads, headers and a cold air intake. Stock intake manifold and stock catback. The car drove like a baby!! No bucking or surging, just awesome, smooth power. If you didn't want to do heads you could do a fast intake manifold instead, wouldn't net quite as much as heads would but it's another option. Here's our dyno graph from this build,
Very useable power!
For another couple grand though, you could also get a vortech supercharger kit from A&A and strap that on. Without any other modifications it is still an enormous gain...those blowers feel awesome on the street as it ramps into power. Wouldn't ding gas mileage at all either (as long as you don't hot foot it everywhere).
Good luck with your build!
i appreciate all the input. i will take all this into consideration. but correct me if im wrong, with the parts and tune on the 2nd dyno run it appears to have more peak power and torque but lower it doesnt make nearly enough as the previous dyno run. why is that?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Oxford Pa
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 407
Likes: 11
From: Mooresville North Carolina
Any sort of cam is a trade off. That is you trade fuel mileage, emissions, power up high and power down low. The trick is to get something that best matches the application. This particular application was a road race setup. The guy does time trials on the weekend for fun! We gave him several options and was dead set on making 470 rwhp. Since the car had a stock pulley, stock intake manifold, and actually stock catback we had to use a mid/high 230's duration cam. Cam's in this range will either make less or the same power as stock below say 3500 RPM.
We just did another setup for a customer who wanted a really well rounded hot street setup (this is a LS3 car) anyhow we went smaller with the cam and matched it perfectly to the heads we used. Anyhow this car also had a stock intake manifold. Here's what we did for him
