How to run high 12s?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
How to run high 12s?
I've purchased my first ever Corvette last Saturday. Bought an '04 auto silver coupe with 42,000 miles. I've always wanted one and should have done this long ago. My question is how to run in the high 12s and keep it completely streetable.
In the past I've owned cars that had to be trailered and were strictly race only and I've also built "street/strip" that were extremely fast and could be driven to the track but often times would break and came home on a flatbed. I want to go a different direction now. My goal is to have a 100% performs like stock on the street (AC, no loss in gas mileage, ...) yet be able to drive to the track and run IHRA Stock Eliminator (D/PS - Pure Stock) which has an index of 13.10. I can dial lower than the index but not higher. Basically in Pure Stock you can add bolt-ons: headers, exhaust, tune, CAI, TC, gears, ... I don't want to go the TC/gears route because of gas mileage and driveability with a loose TC. Will headers, a good dyno tune, Vararam, lighter wheels with DOT drag radials get me there? I'm not even sure what a stock C5 runs.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
In the past I've owned cars that had to be trailered and were strictly race only and I've also built "street/strip" that were extremely fast and could be driven to the track but often times would break and came home on a flatbed. I want to go a different direction now. My goal is to have a 100% performs like stock on the street (AC, no loss in gas mileage, ...) yet be able to drive to the track and run IHRA Stock Eliminator (D/PS - Pure Stock) which has an index of 13.10. I can dial lower than the index but not higher. Basically in Pure Stock you can add bolt-ons: headers, exhaust, tune, CAI, TC, gears, ... I don't want to go the TC/gears route because of gas mileage and driveability with a loose TC. Will headers, a good dyno tune, Vararam, lighter wheels with DOT drag radials get me there? I'm not even sure what a stock C5 runs.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,986
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
sounds like you have a 3.15 - should be able to get a high 12 with good air.... my '02 with 2.73 would get 12.97 pretty regularly with good air, all it had then was a cat back and CAI, it's a bit faster now though....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Forgvie me for being a newbie but FRC? Does that mean "faster race car"?
I have a friend with an '03 Z06. Drove it one time. That's simply a race car with license plates. EVIL!!!
The FRC cars fit into a quicker class due to their weight and HP increase. Also, as cool as those cars are, this is my DD and I didn't want to shift gears on my commute.
I have a friend with an '03 Z06. Drove it one time. That's simply a race car with license plates. EVIL!!!
The FRC cars fit into a quicker class due to their weight and HP increase. Also, as cool as those cars are, this is my DD and I didn't want to shift gears on my commute.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 3
From: US
Forgvie me for being a newbie but FRC? Does that mean "faster race car"?
I have a friend with an '03 Z06. Drove it one time. That's simply a race car with license plates. EVIL!!!
The FRC cars fit into a quicker class due to their weight and HP increase. Also, as cool as those cars are, this is my DD and I didn't want to shift gears on my commute.
I have a friend with an '03 Z06. Drove it one time. That's simply a race car with license plates. EVIL!!!
The FRC cars fit into a quicker class due to their weight and HP increase. Also, as cool as those cars are, this is my DD and I didn't want to shift gears on my commute.
An auto with 3.15's plus a good set of longtubes, exhaust, air intake, and tune along with a decent set of tires should get you into the 12's easily.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
My thinking is to buy a Vararam and install it myself first. LG (I'm not terribly far from Houston) is quoting me a price of right around $2K for a set of headers installed and a dyno tune. Does this seem like a good price and will get me to my goals?
Growing up around Stock Eliminator racing I really like Bogart wheels and am pricing a set now for front and rear. That will help with weight and traction although they've not recommended for the street and I'll have to change at the track.
Growing up around Stock Eliminator racing I really like Bogart wheels and am pricing a set now for front and rear. That will help with weight and traction although they've not recommended for the street and I'll have to change at the track.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,755
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
My thinking is to buy a Vararam and install it myself first. LG (I'm not terribly far from Houston) is quoting me a price of right around $2K for a set of headers installed and a dyno tune. Does this seem like a good price and will get me to my goals?
Growing up around Stock Eliminator racing I really like Bogart wheels and am pricing a set now for front and rear. That will help with weight and traction although they've not recommended for the street and I'll have to change at the track.
Growing up around Stock Eliminator racing I really like Bogart wheels and am pricing a set now for front and rear. That will help with weight and traction although they've not recommended for the street and I'll have to change at the track.
There is a vendor on this forum that sells the bogart wheels.
Best of success to you!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
2K for longtubes installed and a tune isnt so bad. The stock mufflers are fine. You can buy longtube headers and install them yourself for less than half of that.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,755
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
Torque converter!
everyone says even a 3600 is a piece of cake on the street. Still locks up in 3rd and 4th so mileage doesn't suffer.
Probably an equal bang for the buck as headers.
BTW, on a stock engine, get the longest primaries (30") and 1 3/4" tubes.
I bet you will go low 12's.
My 2000 with an odd tune and cat back and vararam went 13.05 @ 107. Only tried it once. We don't get good air here.
Ron
everyone says even a 3600 is a piece of cake on the street. Still locks up in 3rd and 4th so mileage doesn't suffer.
Probably an equal bang for the buck as headers.
BTW, on a stock engine, get the longest primaries (30") and 1 3/4" tubes.
I bet you will go low 12's.
My 2000 with an odd tune and cat back and vararam went 13.05 @ 107. Only tried it once. We don't get good air here.
Ron
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 371
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Ontario
Here is my basically stock FRC combo
TSP228 Cam
LS6 intake
Catback (probably does nothing)
6speed
Hoozier drag radials.
I ran 12.45@114mph as a best. mainly being consistant 12.7 (I ran a 12.717 and next race a 12.718 lol)
I am also a new stick driver.
I say toss some longtubes on and a mild cam, a convertor will wake up an Auto HUGE also. Stay around a 3K stall and you will be perfect on the street. I ran a 3k and a 3600 on the street no issues on my iroc. DD'd the 3k stall for a year
EDIT*** just noticed u wanna do bolt ons.
Then I say
Longtubes
LS6 intake
Vararam
Jay
TSP228 Cam
LS6 intake
Catback (probably does nothing)
6speed
Hoozier drag radials.
I ran 12.45@114mph as a best. mainly being consistant 12.7 (I ran a 12.717 and next race a 12.718 lol)
I am also a new stick driver.
I say toss some longtubes on and a mild cam, a convertor will wake up an Auto HUGE also. Stay around a 3K stall and you will be perfect on the street. I ran a 3k and a 3600 on the street no issues on my iroc. DD'd the 3k stall for a year
EDIT*** just noticed u wanna do bolt ons.
Then I say
Longtubes
LS6 intake
Vararam
Jay
Last edited by Jay_Rich; Feb 10, 2012 at 08:45 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Fredonia Wisconsin
All 01-04 LS1s have the LS6 intake manifold. Halltech makes a real nice
CAI but there is a budget alternative :http://ls1tech.com/forums/corvette-p...p-tie-mod.html
Also here's a suggestion for longtubes :http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...y-special.html
These are so easy to put on yourself and save a thousand bucks !!!
1 last link you might be interested in :http://ls1tech.com/forums/corvette-p...-few-mods.html
Happy modding.............
CAI but there is a budget alternative :http://ls1tech.com/forums/corvette-p...p-tie-mod.html
Also here's a suggestion for longtubes :http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...y-special.html
These are so easy to put on yourself and save a thousand bucks !!!
1 last link you might be interested in :http://ls1tech.com/forums/corvette-p...-few-mods.html
Happy modding.............