engine upgrades
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
engine upgrades
hello everyone,
I'm new to these forums, I just bought a 2019 corvette stingray z51 6.2l v8 automatic 7speed. I enjoy this car and I'm making it my new daily driver. I am looking into making it faster, however possible. is there any recommends of which parts/website I should use to purchase? along with a shop that is recommended to use or just use any shop that is certified and willing to work on a corvette (with good reviews)? I live in the Everett area of Washington state. what would be the best bang for my buck to start out? is there a line of process I should take, like start with upgrading the air intake before installing a turbo? just looking for general advice on the route I should take with lists of parts I should go with and possibly a price range for each item. doesn't have to be just the engine parts, just anything able to make the car go faster without taking the whole body off to reduce weight lol. also question for maintenance, how often should I change the oil/filter, how often for any fluid change or repair in any way. I want to be smart about this vehicle as I really enjoy it already and I want to keep it on the road as long as possible. thank you for your time and looking forward to the responses.
I'm new to these forums, I just bought a 2019 corvette stingray z51 6.2l v8 automatic 7speed. I enjoy this car and I'm making it my new daily driver. I am looking into making it faster, however possible. is there any recommends of which parts/website I should use to purchase? along with a shop that is recommended to use or just use any shop that is certified and willing to work on a corvette (with good reviews)? I live in the Everett area of Washington state. what would be the best bang for my buck to start out? is there a line of process I should take, like start with upgrading the air intake before installing a turbo? just looking for general advice on the route I should take with lists of parts I should go with and possibly a price range for each item. doesn't have to be just the engine parts, just anything able to make the car go faster without taking the whole body off to reduce weight lol. also question for maintenance, how often should I change the oil/filter, how often for any fluid change or repair in any way. I want to be smart about this vehicle as I really enjoy it already and I want to keep it on the road as long as possible. thank you for your time and looking forward to the responses.
Pro
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 500
Likes: 433
From: Queen Creek, AZ
If you want to be "smart about this vehicle" and use it as a daily driver, my recommendation is to keep the engine stock and to throw your funds into maintaining your Vette in top condition. As far as short-term maintenance items go, your dash display will inform you when something needs attention. The manual will lay out the long-term maintenance requirements for you. And if you feel your engine doesn't have enough power for you, take your Vette out on the interstate and punch the throttle. You will find that, although not the fastest engine on the streets nowadays, the LT1 has more power than you will ever use driving off track. It's been my experience that once you start modifying the engine, you had better be prepared to modify the entire system to match. Otherwise, you're just building a potentially unreliable platform.
Having said that, if you still have the itch, follow the advice of the gent that posted above me.
Having said that, if you still have the itch, follow the advice of the gent that posted above me.
Last edited by AZRenegade; May 29, 2024 at 02:31 PM.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
thank you for your time and I appreciate the advice. yea I don't know much about the car, which is why I'm here asking. I was just curious the options it had for performance upgrades. I plan on keeping it stock for a while and seeing what I really want to do with it. i will look into local qualified shops and see what they have to say. it makes me happy when I drive it and that's all I want to keep. thanks again for your posts. hope all the best with their own. ill post some pics in a bit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 800
Likes: 353
Small world, I’m also in the Everett area.
there’s a few shops south of us that work on vettes. I’ve never used any of them personally. I hear good things about them and then run across a horror story and write them off my list so I can’t vouch for any one. I’ve accepted that all maintenance and mods will have to be done in my garage. If you do find a good shop make sure to share it
there’s a few shops south of us that work on vettes. I’ve never used any of them personally. I hear good things about them and then run across a horror story and write them off my list so I can’t vouch for any one. I’ve accepted that all maintenance and mods will have to be done in my garage. If you do find a good shop make sure to share it
Pro
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 711
Likes: 197
where did u buy a 7 speed auto??? u might have a modified car already!! I have a 2017 GS A8 transmission. I bought it to drive it as much as I could, I live in Connecticut. That being said over the 3 years of ownership, ive put on 30k miles on it with only 1 issue, had a module go bad. But Ive done simple upgrades that have made me very happy! I love listening to music and upgraded the stereo and dynomat the entire car interior for a concert like experience! That being said, for performance I did a Soler Throttle body and controller, a AFE CAI, brake pad upgrade to ceramic pads from Adam on the forums! Also did a x pipe cat delete which really turned the car into a monster! For cosmetics I bought Carbon fiber side skirts, front splitter and rear diffuser! If u want pics of my car please message me! For a few grand you can do some very nice "safe" tuning to turn your car into a beast! good luck!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 1,080
From: South Florida
Never let anybody touch your vehicles
Learn what you need to learn to make the maintenance and changes you are comfortable with.
Use a disposable vehicle for learning on gradually accumulating experience and confidence to properly modify your own vehicle.
I did for 25 years and can confirm experience is not quite enough. People do things wrong for 35 years in automotive because they lack education and scientific method. So I would suggest in additional to the experience working on disposable vehicles for learning that you pursue an education in engineering mechanical for some foundation in fluids, stress, conservation of mass and energy, it is what enables you to evaluate perceived benefits in a mathematical sense for some exchange in the universe.
Learn what you need to learn to make the maintenance and changes you are comfortable with.
Use a disposable vehicle for learning on gradually accumulating experience and confidence to properly modify your own vehicle.
I did for 25 years and can confirm experience is not quite enough. People do things wrong for 35 years in automotive because they lack education and scientific method. So I would suggest in additional to the experience working on disposable vehicles for learning that you pursue an education in engineering mechanical for some foundation in fluids, stress, conservation of mass and energy, it is what enables you to evaluate perceived benefits in a mathematical sense for some exchange in the universe.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,184
Likes: 1,049
From: North Texas
Never let anybody touch your vehicles
Learn what you need to learn to make the maintenance and changes you are comfortable with.
Use a disposable vehicle for learning on gradually accumulating experience and confidence to properly modify your own vehicle.
I did for 25 years and can confirm experience is not quite enough. People do things wrong for 35 years in automotive because they lack education and scientific method. So I would suggest in additional to the experience working on disposable vehicles for learning that you pursue an education in engineering mechanical for some foundation in fluids, stress, conservation of mass and energy, it is what enables you to evaluate perceived benefits in a mathematical sense for some exchange in the universe.
Learn what you need to learn to make the maintenance and changes you are comfortable with.
Use a disposable vehicle for learning on gradually accumulating experience and confidence to properly modify your own vehicle.
I did for 25 years and can confirm experience is not quite enough. People do things wrong for 35 years in automotive because they lack education and scientific method. So I would suggest in additional to the experience working on disposable vehicles for learning that you pursue an education in engineering mechanical for some foundation in fluids, stress, conservation of mass and energy, it is what enables you to evaluate perceived benefits in a mathematical sense for some exchange in the universe.
50 years of wrenching with way too many tools and I still don't know everything, but I'm way ahead of 98% of dealership mechanics.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 76
Likes: 18
From: Houston
hello everyone,
I'm new to these forums, I just bought a 2019 corvette stingray z51 6.2l v8 automatic 7speed. I enjoy this car and I'm making it my new daily driver. I am looking into making it faster, however possible. is there any recommends of which parts/website I should use to purchase? along with a shop that is recommended to use or just use any shop that is certified and willing to work on a corvette (with good reviews)? I live in the Everett area of Washington state. what would be the best bang for my buck to start out? is there a line of process I should take, like start with upgrading the air intake before installing a turbo? just looking for general advice on the route I should take with lists of parts I should go with and possibly a price range for each item. doesn't have to be just the engine parts, just anything able to make the car go faster without taking the whole body off to reduce weight lol. also question for maintenance, how often should I change the oil/filter, how often for any fluid change or repair in any way. I want to be smart about this vehicle as I really enjoy it already and I want to keep it on the road as long as possible. thank you for your time and looking forward to the responses.
I'm new to these forums, I just bought a 2019 corvette stingray z51 6.2l v8 automatic 7speed. I enjoy this car and I'm making it my new daily driver. I am looking into making it faster, however possible. is there any recommends of which parts/website I should use to purchase? along with a shop that is recommended to use or just use any shop that is certified and willing to work on a corvette (with good reviews)? I live in the Everett area of Washington state. what would be the best bang for my buck to start out? is there a line of process I should take, like start with upgrading the air intake before installing a turbo? just looking for general advice on the route I should take with lists of parts I should go with and possibly a price range for each item. doesn't have to be just the engine parts, just anything able to make the car go faster without taking the whole body off to reduce weight lol. also question for maintenance, how often should I change the oil/filter, how often for any fluid change or repair in any way. I want to be smart about this vehicle as I really enjoy it already and I want to keep it on the road as long as possible. thank you for your time and looking forward to the responses.
Decide on your power goal. Then build from there. If above 650 whp. Just get a $25K loan and get it done. No sarcasm.. commit. this is Drop in Pistons/Rods.. Supercharger.
If 500 whp;
American Racing headers and mid pipe. 103mm TB. Atomic intake manifold, AFE intake. Flex fuel and Tune.. Done.. This is still not cheap. $5k in parts plus install and tune.
If 600whp. Save another $12K and buy heads cam and all the parts required to make it all work together and labor. But don't expect a polite Idle. Heading towards annoying for older peeps.
That gives you an idea of how to budget.
Tons of details in between, but that's what web surfing is for.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 800
Likes: 353
I know it was just an example, but going from Air intake to Turbo is more than just a giant leap.
Decide on your power goal. Then build from there. If above 650 whp. Just get a $25K loan and get it done. No sarcasm.. commit. this is Drop in Pistons/Rods.. Supercharger.
If 500 whp;
American Racing headers and mid pipe. 103mm TB. Atomic intake manifold, AFE intake. Flex fuel and Tune.. Done.. This is still not cheap. $5k in parts plus install and tune.
If 600whp. Save another $12K and buy heads cam and all the parts required to make it all work together and labor. But don't expect a polite Idle. Heading towards annoying for older peeps.
That gives you an idea of how to budget.
Tons of details in between, but that's what web surfing is for.
Decide on your power goal. Then build from there. If above 650 whp. Just get a $25K loan and get it done. No sarcasm.. commit. this is Drop in Pistons/Rods.. Supercharger.
If 500 whp;
American Racing headers and mid pipe. 103mm TB. Atomic intake manifold, AFE intake. Flex fuel and Tune.. Done.. This is still not cheap. $5k in parts plus install and tune.
If 600whp. Save another $12K and buy heads cam and all the parts required to make it all work together and labor. But don't expect a polite Idle. Heading towards annoying for older peeps.
That gives you an idea of how to budget.
Tons of details in between, but that's what web surfing is for.
A $25k loan for car mods??
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 76
Likes: 18
From: Houston
Or better yet. Don't do it if you can't pay cash.. I didn't want to nag about responsibility on a car forum.
The point was to be realistic about Costs for such things and don't head down a path you can't finish.
The point was to be realistic about Costs for such things and don't head down a path you can't finish.