How would YOU increase HP?

[roxeye1]

A chance to share your goods! If I only had between $2000 & $3000 bucks ready to be blown on the most power possible for my C5 , what is YOUR recipe to achieving this objective - sans nitro.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Even though you said "nitro" (nitro-methane), I assume you meant sans "nitrous" (nitrous oxide)? If so, this is a tough question to answer. $2-3K is not enough for h/c or an entry-level blower. The money will go especially quick if you are paying labor too.

In no particular order, here are some things you could look into:

• Have your stock heads milled and ported (porting will improve flow; milling will increase compression ratio)
• Long tube headers
• High-ratio roller rockers
• Replace stock air box w/ something freerer flowing
• Full dyno and/or street tune

GL!

 

[Chemdawg99]

Even though you said "nitro" (nitro-methane), I assume you meant sans "nitrous" (nitrous oxide)? If so, this is a tough question to answer. $2-3K is not enough for h/c or an entry-level blower. The money will go especially quick if you are paying labor too.

In no particular order, here are some things you could look into:

• Have your stock heads milled and ported (porting will improve flow; milling will increase compression ratio)
• Long tube headers
• High-ratio roller rockers
• Replace stock air box w/ something freerer flowing
• Full dyno and/or street tune

GL!

I agree with the above, I would also add a mild cam to that list.

Real HP gains (not the crap a lot of aftermarket vendors try to sell you on, the Granatelli MAF comes to mind) are going to cost you about $70-$80 per RWHP gained. If you want to add 100 HP to your Vette it will cost $7000-$8000 or more to do it.

 

[Chemdawg99]

BTW, the example I gave above is just that, an example. REAL HP gains are not cheap for this car.
The real question you have to ask yourself is:"what are my intended uses for my Vette?"
Drag, autocross, recreation, bragging rights, daily driver, etc.
For $2k-3k you can upgrade your exhaust and either get a Z06 air box lid ($50), drill holes in the OEM lid (free), upgrade to a performance filter system (Blackwing, dual-cone, Halltech, etc.). The exhaust (in theory) might buy you 0-8 HP (if only getting a catback). The filter might buy 5 HP more (maybe).

 

[roxeye1]

Even though you said "nitro" (nitro-methane), I assume you meant sans "nitrous" (nitrous oxide)? If so, this is a tough question to answer. $2-3K is not enough for h/c or an entry-level blower. The money will go especially quick if you are paying labor too.

In no particular order, here are some things you could look into:

• Have your stock heads milled and ported (porting will improve flow; milling will increase compression ratio)
• Long tube headers
• High-ratio roller rockers
• Replace stock air box w/ something freerer flowing
• Full dyno and/or street tune

GL!

Yes, I meant nitrous oxide. Thanks for the correction. I'd imagine just to have the heads milled and ported would probably absorb most of the funds. Perhaps this needs to be a long-term project. Have to start somewhere though. Thanks again!

 

[roxeye1]

BTW, the example I gave above is just that, an example. REAL HP gains are not cheap for this car.
The real question you have to ask yourself is:"what are my intended uses for my Vette?"
Drag, autocross, recreation, bragging rights, daily driver, etc.
For $2k-3k you can upgrade your exhaust and either get a Z06 air box lid ($50), drill holes in the OEM lid (free), upgrade to a performance filter system (Blackwing, dual-cone, Halltech, etc.). The exhaust (in theory) might buy you 0-8 HP (if only getting a catback). The filter might buy 5 HP more (maybe).

Ya know, you're right. Do i really need a 450 HP motor in my car - just to pick my son up from baseball practice and run errands? I think a throatier exhaust along with your other suggestions will suffice. It's pratical. And the ego will just have to be content with the puny gains!

 

[Chemdawg99]

Ya know, you're right. Do i really need a 450 HP motor in my car - just to pick my son up from baseball practice and run errands? I think a throatier exhaust along with your other suggestions will suffice. It's pratical. And the ego will just have to be content with the puny gains!

I'll take a 350HP beast that can smoke 99% of the cars it comes across (and built in America) anytime. BTW, don't forget the best mod you can ever make on a Vette is the driver (advanced driving school) you'll find that the HP you have is more than sufficient. Be safe

 

[edram454]

horsepower

You dont need to spend 8 to 9 grand for horsepower to have fun. I have had a few very powerful cars and I can tell you it will cost you lots of money and be less reliable. You want to upgrade your power output a bit so you can have an advantage over stock. May cars have had superchargers, nitrous and turbos. My fastest car had 1200 hp on the dyno. I also have a 7 second NHRA license which I received at the Frank Hawley drag racing school in Gainesville. I will tell you what I did to improve my 2000 a/4 coupe. First I purchased a Predator Diablo programmer and loaded the performance tune. I made some minor changes suggested by the moderator Mike Mercury and felt the car more responsive just with this. I then bought the slp power flo cat back system and also felt much less restriction on the exhaust side along with more seat of the pants feel plus awesome looks and sound. My last mode is the vararam b2 intake with new air bridge/coupler/velocity stack.... the whole kit and it along with my two other mods has made a nice difference in my performance output. I smoke the tires easily and my tranny shifts firmly. I know this is about a 35 to 45 hp upgrade. I would not waste my money on a supercharger or expensive engine head/cam etc.. modifications unless you are a hardcore street racer. I have never been a proponent of nitrous oxide but I have learned that it is the best bang for the buck by far!!!! I plan to add a wet nitrous system in about 6 months that will add about 150 horsepower on special occasions. It is completely safe if used prudently. Technology had come a long way and nitrous systems do offer a very high level of performance without the expense and without internal modifications. You gas mileage will remain the same and all things will work as the factory intended because your mods are not permanent. Nitrous will give you that edge when you need it!! With my minor mods and my nitrous system I expect at least 500+ horsepower when used. your 3000 bucks should be enough for these mods and you wont regret them. good luck, edram

 

[Chemdawg99]

You dont need to spend 8 to 9 grand for horsepower to have fun. I have had a few very powerful cars and I can tell you it will cost you lots of money and be less reliable. You want to upgrade your power output a bit so you can have an advantage over stock. May cars have had superchargers, nitrous and turbos. My fastest car had 1200 hp on the dyno. I also have a 7 second NHRA license which I received at the Frank Hawley drag racing school in Gainesville. I will tell you what I did to improve my 2000 a/4 coupe. First I purchased a Predator Diablo programmer and loaded the performance tune. I made some minor changes suggested by the moderator Mike Mercury and felt the car more responsive just with this. I then bought the slp power flo cat back system and also felt much less restriction on the exhaust side along with more seat of the pants feel plus awesome looks and sound. My last mode is the vararam b2 intake with new air bridge/coupler/velocity stack.... the whole kit and it along with my two other mods has made a nice difference in my performance output. I smoke the tires easily and my tranny shifts firmly. I know this is about a 35 to 45 hp upgrade. I would not waste my money on a supercharger or expensive engine head/cam etc.. modifications unless you are a hardcore street racer. I have never been a proponent of nitrous oxide but I have learned that it is the best bang for the buck by far!!!! I plan to add a wet nitrous system in about 6 months that will add about 150 horsepower on special occasions. It is completely safe if used prudently. Technology had come a long way and nitrous systems do offer a very high level of performance without the expense and without internal modifications. You gas mileage will remain the same and all things will work as the factory intended because your mods are not permanent. Nitrous will give you that edge when you need it!! With my minor mods and my nitrous system I expect at least 500+ horsepower when used. your 3000 bucks should be enough for these mods and you wont regret them. good luck, edram

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I think the power output of the C5 Corvette in stock trim is more than the average owner will ever use. Some people just want the extra ponies for bragging rights, which is a waste of money in my book. If you are not tracking that extra HP, why have it.

I have mentioned having 21st CMC (Lingenfelter) rebuild my engine to 430HP and I still might. However, that is more or less a long-term goal contemplated more to satisfy my ego more than anything else, so I probably won't do it.

The previous owner of my Vette had the dealer install the Corsa Touring exhaust and he dropped a K&N factory replacement filter in the stock air box. I will improve on that putting on a Z06 lid and custom tune. Those "upgrades" are more to improve responsiveness and fuel efficiency more than HP. I also think I will go to an advanced driving school to better utilize what HP/TQ I already have.

 

[MagikDraggin]

A chance to share your goods! If I only had between $2000 & $3000 bucks ready to be blown on the most power possible for my C5 , what is YOUR recipe to achieving this objective - sans nitro.

Not knowing exactly what your Vette has for a tranny and rear end gears......forget the "horsepower" idea and invest your money in a different set of rear end gears and/or a higher stall torque convertor if it is an automatic.

Doing so will not compromise the internal integrity of the motor and potentially shorten its long-term reliablilty, but will provide you with a dramatically noticeable difference in how the Vette accelerates.

 

[edram454]

gears with a compromise

A higher stall converter is big bucks to install and purchase. True it will give you a more agressive launch but you will blow off you tires and lose a match and rear gears will certainly cut your quarter mile times with a trade off in top end speed. just depends what a person wants. I know people with just a improved induction system and improved exhaust and timing with a 100 hp nitrous shot in the high elevens with stock tranny and rear end 273 ratio. food for thought. edram454

Not knowing exactly what your Vette has for a tranny and rear end gears......forget the "horsepower" idea and invest your money in a different set of rear end gears and/or a higher stall torque convertor if it is an automatic.

Doing so will not compromise the internal integrity of the motor and potentially shorten its long-term reliablilty, but will provide you with a dramatically noticeable difference in how the Vette accelerates.

 

[MagikDraggin]

A higher stall converter is big bucks to install and purchase. True it will give you a more agressive launch but you will blow off you tires and lose a match and rear gears will certainly cut your quarter mile times with a trade off in top end speed. just depends what a person wants. I know people with just a improved induction system and improved exhaust and timing with a 100 hp nitrous shot in the high elevens with stock tranny and rear end 273 ratio. food for thought. edram454

Of course, there are many ways and means of making the Vette go faster, and nitrous is certainly one of those ways.....but the fella specifically mentioned, "No Nitrous".....therefore I omitted any reference to nitrous.

Sticking an intake and some aftermarket cats on is not going to make an appreciable increase in useable horsepower....especially not to warrant the expense of doing so. Headers will however, to some extent, but simply by themselves, hardly worth bothering with.

The man only has 2 or 3 grand to play with and from the sounds of it, all he wants to be able to do is accelerate faster when he feels like it on the street. Gears and a convertor (if his is an automatic) will give him just what he wants.

And creates a decent foundation for future and more aggressive modifications down the road, when he gets some more money to fool around with.

 

[Scoob]

• Long tube headers
• Replace stock air box w/ something freerer flowing
• Full dyno tune

Those three plus high-flow cats = $3k and yields a very nice increase in real HP.

 

[jwawhite]

Long Tube Headers

do they interfere with the smog controls? Are they an improvement over stock? with aftermarket exhaust and improved intake?

 

[cntrhub]

If I am after HP and dependablility, for sure I will speed the air with nothing more than trigger the injector time, port the heads, intakes, exhaust the wait.... Better flowing A/Cleaner element. Do I?... Step up the ECM on the jetcor-triggor is the vigor or do eye ball the big buck$ that exhaust pipe one after tear full list aft tear the other. I gots the HP covered up the intake is smooth as fast.

So, say I am hardly bucks up.

cntrhub, please limit yourself to the topic at hand, which is recommendations for performance enhancing C5 mods on a budget. And you'll have to do that without personally attacking another member. If you wish to discuss this further please feel free to PM myself or any other member of the CAC Staff. - Jane Ann

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Cam, pushrods, springs & locks $1000
Long tube headers. $1300
Fast 90 Intake w/ LS2 throttlebody $1000
You'll need heads, so save up more cash.

With a good pair of heads, you'll be pushing +500 crank hp.
Boy I spent that like a drunken sailor.

 

[6 Shooter]

YEP - Ya got to love Superchargers...

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[TODD L GRIFFITH]

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Me too but it seems to blow the budget :eyerole

 

[Bonnell]

If you can do the work yourself...

http://www.lgmotorsports.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=342_221_320&products_id=1399

I can't. I have to have someone else do it.

 

[Hib Halverson]

A chance to share your goods! If I only had between $2000 & $3000 bucks ready to be blown on the most power possible for my C5 , what is YOUR recipe to achieving this objective - sans nitro.

Well....for 2-3 grand, the most performance gain will come from a properly selected, installed and calibrated nitrous oxide injection system.

But, if nitrous oxide is not what you want, I'd do the following

1) convert all lubricants to synthetic
2) Install a Crane "Quick Lift" 1.8:1 rocker arm kit and Crane dual valve springs (see http://www.tomhenryracing.com/parts/features/Quicklift/default.htm for more info on this)
3) Install a set of true ("long-tube") 4-into-1 headers.
4) Install either stock 02-04 Z06 cats or aftermarket cats
5) Install an aftermarket exhaust system which works, ie: Flowmaster or Corsa
6) Install a low restriction air filter assembly and a Green Filter.
7) Have the ECM cal reprogrammed by someone who knows how to do that.



Things not to do
1) Don't mill the heads. The compression is already high enough.
2) Don't waste money on an aftermarket MAF