Air intake mods....

[VAmagred01]

Looking to switch my stock C5 airbox/filter with the Z06 box/K&N filter and change out the accordion coupler with a straight flow silicone one. Will these affect my computer/OBD II sensors? Are these no adjustment mods?

Also, I want to remove the black housings that hold the fog/driving lights (if equipped) for better/cooler airflow. I already have the Z06 grills on to keep debris out but wondered if this is too much airflow. Also, do I need to remove the front facias to access these? I don't have the driving lights so these aren't anything but annoying air-traps.

I'm looking at exhaust systems as well but I haven't settled on a brand. I've seen a lot of threads on exhaust concerns/reviews so I will take those comments into consideration.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Tuna]

Looking to switch my stock C5 airbox/filter with the Z06 box/K&N filter and change out the accordion coupler with a straight flow silicone one. Will these affect my computer/OBD II sensors? Are these no adjustment mods?

Did this already - seems to help. I didn't do anything to the computer. Everything is running fine.

 

[VAmagred01]

Sounds good. Thanks.

 

[torchred]

From where did you purchase your Z06 grills and where they hard to install?

I am also interested in removing the black air traps in favor of getting better air flow over the engine. Have you done this yet?

Matt

 

[VAmagred01]

I purchased my grills from MID America. They were $100 and took about 2 mins. to install. Just peel & stick 3M tape already applied to the housings. They give a great, finished look to the front end (see avatar). I haven't purchased the Z06 rear-brake cooling ducts but those are coming soon. These I will have installed at a local Corvette shop. I don't trust myself cutting and drilling on my car.

I have yet to remove the black fog light housings because I'm assuming that I need to remove the entire front facias. I was hoping that I could jack the car up and remove them from beneath. Hopefully someone here will give me that good news! If not, it's off with the front I go.


-Kenny

 

[VAmagred01]

Torch Red...

Don't know if yours is equipped with the fog lights but if so, MID America also sells the cold air induction grills which are the same housings that are already on the C5 but with air-slots formed in. This way you won't lose the integrity but push cooler air into your intake. They're $70 but they also have a package deal where you get both the Z06 grills and the said housings for $140. I'll try to leave the link below.

http://www.madvet.com/shop?store=2&frame=597

-Kenny

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

or you can save time and money,after drilling in my plastic,i eventually went in with a dremel and cut around the edge close to the body,left the little part that holds the fog light,time 10 minutes.i might fabricate some screens that fit from behind,i dont like the ones that stick out almost flush with the nose,i like that deep cut-out that the light sits in.later,Todd.

 

[johnl]

FWIW, I hit a large piece of PVC that had fallen out of a truck I was following and it hit right at the fog lamp. It did not break anything but it pushed the foglamp back into the recess a ways.
I got under the car and remved the access panel. I coould reach in there and push the lamp back into place but it was tight and could not really do any work. I was going to replace the entire mount, (The foglamp is mounted on this little L bracket that allowed it to give) but that would have required removing the facia.

BTW, C4C5 I searched your collection of diagrams and did not see an expanded picture of the facia. Did I just miss it? Or if you happen to think about it sometime could you post it up?

 

[vettegirl]

Plastic fog light bezel thingy...

My husband cut holes with a hole saw, 3 on each bezel which mimic the fog light. It looks really good, and it was free!

Lauren

 

[VAmagred01]

I should have cut holes in it before I put the Z06 grills on.:duh I was so excited when they came in, without thinking, I ran in the garage and threw them on.

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

ZO6 filter box

The ZO6 filter box is not going to do anything for you. The removal of the fog lamp plastic housings is not a bad idea, as long as your filter is protected. I did this on my 99 Hardtop and it helped with airflow and engine temperature. I know of two guys that did this and sucked in water and destroyed their engines. One of the cars was a brand new 2002 ZO6, the guy removed the screens, went through a big puddle and that was it. Also, remember to protect any wiring that may have an open end plug exposed. Especially the one on the passenger side front for the fog lights. When I did this I also cut 75% of the radiator shroud away and took air in from underneath too. It will give you a good escape route for any large amount of water. You don't want to ingest any water, you will be stopped dead in your tracks. $$:eek

 

[VAmagred01]

To "TODD L GRIFFITH"

Thanks for the info. I don't drive in the rain so that's not an issue for myself. The only time my car gets wet is during a bath. Why will the Z06 airbox cover not help any? I read an article in Car and Driver back in '97 that when Lingenfelter cut a opening in the stock C5 cover, it yielded 3-4 HP. Now, you can purchase that same type of cover but the Z06's has more open area so I assumed one would gain even more than the modified C5-stock. Is that not the case? I'm of course adding the K& N with, so I know that's going to help. Are you saying that it's not worth buying the Z06 cover?

-Kenny

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

hey Kenny,
i went throught the same thing you are,i drilled a bunch of big holes in my 99' cover,put a K@N filter in,i wasnt sure if i could feel a ny change.1/4 mile time was about the same.if you gain 5 or 10 horsepower,thats really hard to feel in the"seat of the pants",
i later bought the Halltech T-1 intake,it goes all the way to the throttle body to replace the other restrictions.then cut out the plastic in the fog-light area,leaving enough to hold the light.i also cut the fan shroud around the filter.that made a seat of the pants difference.i cut .2 off 1/4 mile and gained 2mph.i have driven in heavy rain many times with no problems.the halltech filter is also an oil filter,helps keep water out.but if you get a filter similar to this,it helps to clean the MAS wires with electric cleaner after oiling the filter.oil on the wires can cause idle and lean conditions.im always scanning my car.sorry if im cutting in,just thought i would share my K@N experience.my car is also very low(spoiler 1 inch off ground)no issues.heres a picture.later Todd.

 

[VAmagred01]

Thanks, Todd. Nice engine bay! I think that I'm going to bag the upgrades, though. I've decided to put my baby on the market. Hopefully she'll sell quickly. Thanks for the info everyone.

-Kenny

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

thanks Kenny,
painted and polished everything myself.why are you going to sell the ride?
Todd.

 

[VAmagred01]

Impressive, Todd.

Unlike most Vette owners (well-off) I didn't pay cash for mine so I'm financing. For some reason, it just occured to me (after over a year) that I'm dishing-out a large sum of money per month for something that sits in the garage 99% of it's life.:duh It's not practical so I'm thinking of letting it go. I have to say, after looking at it last night, I might not be able to do it.....it's just too nice!:cry Wish me luck.

-Kenny

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

thats to bad,
i make a decent payment per month also.im lucky enough to be able to drive it 4 or 5 times a week with no winter.keeps me lovin the c5.i would have a hard time selling.good luck with your choice.
Todd.

 

[vettegirl]

Save the Vette!!

Can you re-arrange things to get more use out of it? I too am making payments, but I drive it every day. I did the sensible thing and sold my Ford Explorer!! :L :L

 

[VAmagred01]

I could drive it everyday if I wasn't worried about it getting dirty or gaining miles and depreciating it to oblivion. They're just so delicate. I don't want one bug on the front so I don't drive it at night. I don't want it dirty so I don't drive it in the rain. And I don't want to depriciate it too much so I drive once a month. What am I to do? It's not the money per say....I guess I'd rather be spending the money on something that's more useful and less precious. Maybe I should have waited to buy a Vette when I could pay cash for it.

As I mentioned before......I might not be able to let it go.....I enjoy looking at it too much.:eyerole

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

VAmagred -- You just have to decide what is important to you in regards to your vette. One thing to keep in mind, even if it sits most of the time it will still depreciate. Not as fast as one that is driven but it will nonetheless.

After I got back from my deployment, I drove my car over 1600 miles in 2 weeks just because I could.

Maybe sell this one and buy something a bit older that has already depreciated in value so that you can enjoy driving it in the rain, at night and as much as you want to drive it.