what mod first?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
From: California
what mod first?
Just got a 2007 base coupe and was wondering which place to spend time and money first.
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,104
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Welcome to the forum. 
Your profile didn't show if your car has the M6 or A6 trans, since that's an important part of the direction toward what works best. However, you live in CA and will need to pass emission tests, so that's the first problem you need to understand. IIRC, headers are a no-go, but you can get away with using Z06 exhaust manifolds with functioning cats.and the NPP style mufflers. I'm not sure about a CAI, but a cam change will almost always require a tune and that's a big problem in CA. If you can dig deeper in your wallet, you can do an approved supercharger that includes about the only tune CA allows. Lots of power though.
Hate to break that news to you, but your options are very limited. Check with some clubs and performance shops to verify legality on anything that's not OEM stock.
Your profile didn't show if your car has the M6 or A6 trans, since that's an important part of the direction toward what works best. However, you live in CA and will need to pass emission tests, so that's the first problem you need to understand. IIRC, headers are a no-go, but you can get away with using Z06 exhaust manifolds with functioning cats.and the NPP style mufflers. I'm not sure about a CAI, but a cam change will almost always require a tune and that's a big problem in CA. If you can dig deeper in your wallet, you can do an approved supercharger that includes about the only tune CA allows. Lots of power though.
Hate to break that news to you, but your options are very limited. Check with some clubs and performance shops to verify legality on anything that's not OEM stock.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 15,885
Likes: 2,510
From: Frisco, TX
Just got a 2007 base coupe and was wondering which place to spend time and money first.
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
one thing i did that made a big difference on my c6 was the moog hd endlinks.. beefier, and greaseable
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,988
Likes: 484
From: South Florida
I did just headers/tune on my car. Power gains were very noticeable. May do a vararam soon, just depends if I am going to go the cam only route or blower/met. When I did the vararam on my old C5 the gains were also noticable, but I don't think the C6's pick up as much compared to the C5 due to a better stock intake design. I would just do the headers/intake/tune and plugs if the funds are there.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 274
Likes: 43
From: Vestavia Hills, AL
Just got a 2007 base coupe and was wondering which place to spend time and money first.
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,609
Likes: 1,802
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Just got a 2007 base coupe and was wondering which place to spend time and money first.
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
I want to do a cam change , CAI, headers and a tuner. Which would be first and why. On the tuner do you let the dyno guys do it or have a turner with custom tunes on it?
Thanks,
Vince
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 171
From: Auburn Al
I would suggest that you google everything you want to do and then start reading for about a month and then ask Specific Questions, no one has time to write you a six page dissertation and what you should do and why?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 597
From: Question Government
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,910
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From: Central NJ
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 168
Likes: 61
From: Albuquerque, NM
cams give you a ton more power and you can choose if you want it down low or up high. but they really only shine if you can let the engine breathe. so intake, intake mani and headers too. and the cam is going to need valve train upgrades if you want it to last. builds escalate quick lol.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
From: California
thanks for the reply's. I bought a z06/zri manifolds with cats and might look into a tuner. staying away from the cam kit etc. Only other thing would be a small shot of NOS. appreciate it guys
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: In my house