C8 Mods vs mods & HP Tune
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 214
Likes: 264
From: Canada
C8 Mods vs mods & HP Tune
I have a 2022 vert and currently have a Borla Catback, Soler 91mm throttle body , Soler throttle controller and a Attack Blue Nano filter
which is the better next option for me for both gains and sound ?
1.) add Paragon equal length Headers and High Flow cats (suggestions for the best ones?)
2.) get ECM unlocked at HP tuners and tune for what I already have ?
ultimately all the above is the best answer but if I do it in stages, what’s my best bang for buck as unlocking/tuning is expensive on its own. I also only have 91 octane at best available to me.
Given closed loop in action, maybe a tune is not money well spent unless a turbo or supercharger was involved ? I also have 2 years of extended warranty left so there is that on my mind also.
thanks for any and all thoughts
which is the better next option for me for both gains and sound ?
1.) add Paragon equal length Headers and High Flow cats (suggestions for the best ones?)
2.) get ECM unlocked at HP tuners and tune for what I already have ?
ultimately all the above is the best answer but if I do it in stages, what’s my best bang for buck as unlocking/tuning is expensive on its own. I also only have 91 octane at best available to me.
Given closed loop in action, maybe a tune is not money well spent unless a turbo or supercharger was involved ? I also have 2 years of extended warranty left so there is that on my mind also.
thanks for any and all thoughts
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 3,566
NA LT2 modding is a giant waste of money in my opinion. Go heads/cam/tune for $15,000 and get your 500-515whp or forget about it. If you go with headers (+install) and a tune, with all your other bits, you'll have over $10,000 in mods for what, maybe 30whp. If you have E85 available in your area, you could tune for FlexFuel and get another 25-30whp for a couple grand more. What is 'worth' it is subjective, just my opinion.
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,479
Likes: 1,137
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
SO,,,,, there are bolt on guys running mid to bottom 10’s. I was going to keep my 2023 Stingray and do the bolt on thing. I started until my C8 Z came in. Those same bolt ons I’m doing with my Z06. Cat deletes, cold air, ported throttle body (s) and more. One mod on any car doesn’t do much. Add multiple mods works.
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,479
Likes: 1,137
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
NA LT2 modding is a giant waste of money in my opinion. Go heads/cam/tune for $15,000 and get your 500-515whp or forget about it. If you go with headers (+install) and a tune, with all your other bits, you'll have over $10,000 in mods for what, maybe 30whp. If you have E85 available in your area, you could tune for FlexFuel and get another 25-30whp for a couple grand more. What is 'worth' it is subjective, just my opinion.
Reality is the C8 platform sux for tuning no matter what variety
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 214
Likes: 264
From: Canada
the mid engine and factory tuning/setup is pretty finely tuned as is ? Everything beyond is just not worth it?
aftermarket parts suck , relatively speaking and just don’t provide much advantage over stock?
appreciate the feedback and chat
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,479
Likes: 1,137
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
why is this? The closed loop learning is adequate enough to negate any real gains? So bolt ons and factory adaptation is sufficient?
the mid engine and factory tuning/setup is pretty finely tuned as is ? Everything beyond is just not worth it?
aftermarket parts suck , relatively speaking and just don’t provide much advantage over stock?
appreciate the feedback and chat
the mid engine and factory tuning/setup is pretty finely tuned as is ? Everything beyond is just not worth it?
aftermarket parts suck , relatively speaking and just don’t provide much advantage over stock?
appreciate the feedback and chat
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,052
Likes: 889
From: Tampa Florida
SO,,,,, there are bolt on guys running mid to bottom 10’s. I was going to keep my 2023 Stingray and do the bolt on thing. I started until my C8 Z came in. Those same bolt ons I’m doing with my Z06. Cat deletes, cold air, ported throttle body (s) and more. One mod on any car doesn’t do much. Add multiple mods works.
. 100%
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 3,977
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
why is this? The closed loop learning is adequate enough to negate any real gains? So bolt ons and factory adaptation is sufficient?
the mid engine and factory tuning/setup is pretty finely tuned as is ? Everything beyond is just not worth it?
aftermarket parts suck , relatively speaking and just don’t provide much advantage over stock?
the mid engine and factory tuning/setup is pretty finely tuned as is ? Everything beyond is just not worth it?
aftermarket parts suck , relatively speaking and just don’t provide much advantage over stock?
But your third point is also somewhat true, the factory parts on the C8 are already fairly well optimized. I'm not saying there aren't any gains to be had, but they will be minimal compared to doing the same mods on a C5. GM really started getting pretty good on optimizing the air intake and exhaust manifolds on the C6 C6 Z06/ZR1. On my 2012 ZR1 I gained literally zero peak HP going from the factory manifolds to long tubes, and that was when I was already modded to 700whp. The C8 exhaust manifolds are even better and basically already factory shorty headers. As others have said, I wouldn't plan on gaining more than 20-30HP from doing full bolt-ons to a C8, so is it really worth the cost? Save that money and save up to do a cam and Flexfuel, or even better go forced induction.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,102
From: Fulshear, TX
I have a 2022 vert and currently have a Borla Catback, Soler 91mm throttle body , Soler throttle controller and a Attack Blue Nano filter
which is the better next option for me for both gains and sound ?
1.) add Paragon equal length Headers and High Flow cats (suggestions for the best ones?)
2.) get ECM unlocked at HP tuners and tune for what I already have ?
ultimately all the above is the best answer but if I do it in stages, what’s my best bang for buck as unlocking/tuning is expensive on its own. I also only have 91 octane at best available to me.
Given closed loop in action, maybe a tune is not money well spent unless a turbo or supercharger was involved ? I also have 2 years of extended warranty left so there is that on my mind also.
thanks for any and all thoughts
which is the better next option for me for both gains and sound ?
1.) add Paragon equal length Headers and High Flow cats (suggestions for the best ones?)
2.) get ECM unlocked at HP tuners and tune for what I already have ?
ultimately all the above is the best answer but if I do it in stages, what’s my best bang for buck as unlocking/tuning is expensive on its own. I also only have 91 octane at best available to me.
Given closed loop in action, maybe a tune is not money well spent unless a turbo or supercharger was involved ? I also have 2 years of extended warranty left so there is that on my mind also.
thanks for any and all thoughts
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...port-cats.html
I also suggest a full intake kit vs. just a drop-in filter:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-arrived.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 214
Likes: 264
From: Canada
If any forum vendors wanna quote me on some coated AFe Headers for my 2022 vert along with some corsa cats , I’m all ears.
shipping to 04619
not in a rush, unless deal is right. Black Friday sounds like a decent deal time which is fine.
Im in Canada but will pay us funds and ship to Maine … but 35% on the dollar and 15% tax coming back into Canada is a real thing for me so deals gotta be pretty great!
shipping to 04619
not in a rush, unless deal is right. Black Friday sounds like a decent deal time which is fine.
Im in Canada but will pay us funds and ship to Maine … but 35% on the dollar and 15% tax coming back into Canada is a real thing for me so deals gotta be pretty great!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,102
From: Fulshear, TX
If any forum vendors wanna quote me on some coated AFe Headers for my 2022 vert along with some corsa cats , I’m all ears.
shipping to 04619
not in a rush, unless deal is right. Black Friday sounds like a decent deal time which is fine.
Im in Canada but will pay us funds and ship to Maine … but 35% on the dollar and 15% tax coming back into Canada is a real thing for me so deals gotta be pretty great!
shipping to 04619
not in a rush, unless deal is right. Black Friday sounds like a decent deal time which is fine.
Im in Canada but will pay us funds and ship to Maine … but 35% on the dollar and 15% tax coming back into Canada is a real thing for me so deals gotta be pretty great!
@Corvetteexhaustsystems
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 409
From: Bremerton Wa.
I went the flex fuel route.
It only needs E50 to have the timing all in on my Z51.
At peak it picked up 39/36. The TQ. picked up nearly that much from 2K all the way to redline.
The HP picked up about 20 at 2K and just gains more as the RPM goes up.
The only other thing that was swapped is a ported Solar TB.
It only needs E50 to have the timing all in on my Z51.
At peak it picked up 39/36. The TQ. picked up nearly that much from 2K all the way to redline.
The HP picked up about 20 at 2K and just gains more as the RPM goes up.
The only other thing that was swapped is a ported Solar TB.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 214
Likes: 264
From: Canada
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 568
From: Carterville Il
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified