Corvette ls2 6.0 v8
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,507
Likes: 722
From: Sausalito CA
On budget.
1) Nitrous bottle. ($400)
2) Lower the car 1/2 inch front and rear. (free)
3) Remove weight. Windshield washer fluid, battery, glove box and trunk storage boxes "nick nacks". (free)
4) Modify air box to let more air in (free - plus possible increase in engine "roar", a benefit perhaps)
Yes, header, cats, mufflers will give overall HP and an increase in sound, which can make the car seem faster and more fun to drive. But $1500 or more in cost (?).
Entering the rabbit hole = intake, cam, exhaust, suspension, tires, gearing, shifter mechanism etc etc.
Best of luck to you.
1) Nitrous bottle. ($400)
2) Lower the car 1/2 inch front and rear. (free)
3) Remove weight. Windshield washer fluid, battery, glove box and trunk storage boxes "nick nacks". (free)
4) Modify air box to let more air in (free - plus possible increase in engine "roar", a benefit perhaps)
Yes, header, cats, mufflers will give overall HP and an increase in sound, which can make the car seem faster and more fun to drive. But $1500 or more in cost (?).
Entering the rabbit hole = intake, cam, exhaust, suspension, tires, gearing, shifter mechanism etc etc.
Best of luck to you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 433
From: Bossier City Louisiana
The LS2 can benefit greatly from the following:
1. Prop the air box open. Research the mod on the forum.
2. Get your intake manifold radically ported. I think peak speed shop will do a swap. Around $250
3. Buy a set of Z06 exhaust manifolds used. Search the forum. Full set around $400.
4. ECS canned tune to bring it all together. $150.
If you are after a better sound, do the muffler mod-research here on the forum.
1. Prop the air box open. Research the mod on the forum.
2. Get your intake manifold radically ported. I think peak speed shop will do a swap. Around $250
3. Buy a set of Z06 exhaust manifolds used. Search the forum. Full set around $400.
4. ECS canned tune to bring it all together. $150.
If you are after a better sound, do the muffler mod-research here on the forum.
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
I just saw a Grassroots Motorsports article where they put a FAST 92 intake on a C5 Z06 and made 7hp over the stock LS6. Not sure you'll see any more with stock heads and cam, but if you have goals of bigger cam and slicker heads, you'll want to get the headers and X pipe out of the way first. If it was mine, I'd do this:
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-3198-t...xtensions.aspx
And add a cold thermostat, LS3 airbox, VetteAir scoop, and a new LS3/7 style MAF with the $10 harness converter and head to the dyno. With that stuff you'll be ready for a cam, heads, and intake manifold later on if you choose to go that route. If you go nitrous or supercharger, you'll still need that exhaust.
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-3198-t...xtensions.aspx
And add a cold thermostat, LS3 airbox, VetteAir scoop, and a new LS3/7 style MAF with the $10 harness converter and head to the dyno. With that stuff you'll be ready for a cam, heads, and intake manifold later on if you choose to go that route. If you go nitrous or supercharger, you'll still need that exhaust.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 719
From: Janesville WI
The OP may have left, but I have benefited greatly from the replies. Thanks everyone. I was going to ask the same question (minus, I don't have a money issue). I do have a bone stock LS2 (w/4 speed auto). So, I would like to get a little more HP without digging too deep in the motor (read: cam and heads? nope). So, my conclusion from the thread is:
1) Air intake box mod, either after market or LS3, or mod the one I have
2) Headers (my original plan)
3) X pipe (I think I will do cats, maybe high flow?)
4) for sound (if I read it right) after the X-pipe do the mufflers and pipes
5) Don't want to mess with nitrous, but porting the intake manifold might be a good option.
So do I have a decent list in order of operation?
Last question, is it necessary to re-tune after any of the first three? My issue there is I haven't found a shop close by in southern Wisconsin (Madison is closest, I think).
1) Air intake box mod, either after market or LS3, or mod the one I have
2) Headers (my original plan)
3) X pipe (I think I will do cats, maybe high flow?)
4) for sound (if I read it right) after the X-pipe do the mufflers and pipes
5) Don't want to mess with nitrous, but porting the intake manifold might be a good option.
So do I have a decent list in order of operation?
Last question, is it necessary to re-tune after any of the first three? My issue there is I haven't found a shop close by in southern Wisconsin (Madison is closest, I think).
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
The OP may have left, but I have benefited greatly from the replies. Thanks everyone. I was going to ask the same question (minus, I don't have a money issue). I do have a bone stock LS2 (w/4 speed auto). So, I would like to get a little more HP without digging too deep in the motor (read: cam and heads? nope). So, my conclusion from the thread is:
1) Air intake box mod, either after market or LS3, or mod the one I have
2) Headers (my original plan)
3) X pipe (I think I will do cats, maybe high flow?)
4) for sound (if I read it right) after the X-pipe do the mufflers and pipes
5) Don't want to mess with nitrous, but porting the intake manifold might be a good option.
So do I have a decent list in order of operation?
Last question, is it necessary to re-tune after any of the first three? My issue there is I haven't found a shop close by in southern Wisconsin (Madison is closest, I think).
1) Air intake box mod, either after market or LS3, or mod the one I have
2) Headers (my original plan)
3) X pipe (I think I will do cats, maybe high flow?)
4) for sound (if I read it right) after the X-pipe do the mufflers and pipes
5) Don't want to mess with nitrous, but porting the intake manifold might be a good option.
So do I have a decent list in order of operation?
Last question, is it necessary to re-tune after any of the first three? My issue there is I haven't found a shop close by in southern Wisconsin (Madison is closest, I think).
you'll need a tune for sure after the MAF change, and the headers might make you need one too.
I'd do headers and X pipe, then do the MAF/airbox change in the dyno shop parking lot.
Be sure to get your trans tuned to beef up the shifts; This will save your transmission if/when you add more power. Also have them lower your fan turn on temp and add a cooler thermostat too, before you go.
Warning: the loud exhaust will get REALLY loud when you go header/X pipe so leave it stock until you're really sure you need more noise.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 148
Likes: 10
From: Greensboro NC
I started following this thread to help plan what I may/may not do to my car as well.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 719
From: Janesville WI
and good info for those still in the building (and still in the build)
you'll need a tune for sure after the MAF change, and the headers might make you need one too.
I'd do headers and X pipe, then do the MAF/airbox change in the dyno shop parking lot.
Be sure to get your trans tuned to beef up the shifts; This will save your transmission if/when you add more power. Also have them lower your fan turn on temp and add a cooler thermostat too, before you go.
Warning: the loud exhaust will get REALLY loud when you go header/X pipe so leave it stock until you're really sure you need more noise.
Last edited by MartyKC; Jan 28, 2020 at 12:47 PM. Reason: typo
