Keeping your '97-'03 stock.

[Don&Kelly]

They are very good stock, but a few mods & they are even "gooder" mod away ... it is fun to see & feel the results ...

 

[CorvetteSS]

Personalizing my Vette is half the fun of owning it. I'm glad that there are those that keep them stock as I may want to buy a pristine used one in the future.

 

[1g1yy]

GM sells us the basic car -- but it is up to us to make it all it can be! Let's face it, GM is in business to make money. GM is not going to spend millions on primo parts for our cars if lesser parts will suffice. In addition GM needs as large a market as possible -- some people may not want the somewhat stiffer ride of a performance optimized suspension, the louder bark of a free flowing exhaust, the rougher idle of a peekier cam, or the more cluttered ( and often tacky ) look of appearance "enhancements" or mods.

GM simply wants to sell a lot of cars for the most money with the least investment ( don't believe this -- ask any stockholder! ). GM did not spend the extra money it would have cost for; better wheels, better shocks, lighter slotted brake rotors, forged steel crankshaft, forged pistons, better valvetrain, headers and exhaust, beefier tranny and converter, greater selection of stock gear ratios, etc., etc., etc.

While a stock Corvette is a nice sports car, there is a huge difference between a stock Corvette and one with some well chosen performance modifications! It just depends on what you want -- or have the money to do. I have always felt that a Corvette of any year could be made better -- even classic Corvettes look, run, and handle better with the period mods which were popular at the time. ( Just say no to the "appearance" mods though, PLEASE. I don't know anyone who likes the look of a new or old Corvette with a bunch of tacky junk glued to the interior or exterior! In modifying a car the idea is to replace, or modify, stock parts with better made and performing parts. Just my not so humble, but correct, opinion!! )

 

[Denney]

I plan on keeping my 02 stock. The only "mod" I purchased was a new set of logo floor mats so that I can keep the original ones in nice shape.

 

[nucferr]

GM sells us the basic car -- but it is up to us to make it all it can be! Let's face it, GM is in business to make money. GM is not going to spend millions on primo parts for our cars if lesser parts will suffice. In addition GM needs as large a market as possible -- some people may not want the somewhat stiffer ride of a performance optimized suspension, the louder bark of a free flowing exhaust, the rougher idle of a peekier cam, or the more cluttered ( and often tacky ) look of appearance "enhancements" or mods.

GM simply wants to sell a lot of cars for the most money with the least investment ( don't believe this -- ask any stockholder! ). GM did not spend the extra money it would have cost for; better wheels, better shocks, lighter slotted brake rotors, forged steel crankshaft, forged pistons, better valvetrain, headers and exhaust, beefier tranny and converter, greater selection of stock gear ratios, etc., etc., etc.

While a stock Corvette is a nice sports car, there is a huge difference between a stock Corvette and one with some well chosen performance modifications! It just depends on what you want -- or have the money to do. I have always felt that a Corvette of any year could be made better -- even classic Corvettes look, run, and handle better with the period mods which were popular at the time. ( Just say no to the "appearance" mods though, PLEASE. I don't know anyone who likes the look of a new or old Corvette with a bunch of tacky junk glued to the interior or exterior! In modifying a car the idea is to replace, or modify, stock parts with better made and performing parts. Just my not so humble, but correct, opinion!! )

I do not believe the above is true for the Z06. My 2003 Z06 is stock and will remain stock because I believe GM produced the most HP from the LS6 as you can when you factor in longevity and reliability. Also the Z06 is a "package". When you go out and by "bolt-on" HP and don't modify the rest of the drive train or suspension you have really not done anything.

 

[justafamilyman]

Hi Oldgeezer,
I have a 2003 non dressed up Vette. The only things I plan to change are the tires (of course) and the lights (ie bulbs). I find the bulbs to be too weak. The Vette is too beautiful to change or otherwise dress up.

 

[Canada]

I plan on keeping my 97 6 speed stock

 

[genebgood]

Stock C5

I plan on keeping my '01 convertible pretty much the way it came out of the factory. If I do decide to upgrade the air intake or exhaust I plan on keeping all of the OEM parts somewhere in the garage.

 

[Vanity Plate Bob]

All mine are stock except the one we painted orange, the Advanced auto, decaled red one and the red, the blue and the yellow Daytona race pace cars. 1/18 scale.
Everyone stock? Not for me. 1/1 scale that is.

 

[Rob]

All mine are stock except the one we painted orange, the Advanced auto, decaled red one and the red, the blue and the yellow Daytona race pace cars. 1/18 scale.
Everyone stock? Not for me. 1/1 scale that is.

I didn't realize the topic of this thread switched from a real production based Corvette that we sit in, to something I can push across my desk????:confused

 

[Vanity Plate Bob]

The last line is an exact reply to the thread.

Had you dad "honey I shrunk the kids" you could ride across your desk in one.

 

[Duntov-097]

I bought my car as a driver planning to just drive it and keep it stock So I could concentrate my time and energy on the old ones. This did not last me a week and I've been modding ever since.
Only made a few small enhancements.
Cartek "X" package LS6 heads and cam upgraded from the stage 2 LS1 heads, headers, ported LS6 intake, Cold air induction, ported MAF and TB, power duct, underdrive pulley,complete exhaust. Cartek clutch, 4.10 rear, BBS wheels, B&M shifter, line lock, taillights, hood, tinted windows, Bilstein shocks, Z06 sway bars, and I'm sure a few other things:s

As far as reliability goes I've got over 50k miles on one Cartek package or another and 80k on the car. I think GM has to make a lot of compromises I don't. The car still gets almost 30 mpg on a trip and ran 11.03 the last time out.

 

[smook]

keeping it "bone-stock"

No time for mods and such. Costs too much. Might screw up my car. I don't know what I'm doing. Leased car, can't touch it.

I like "bone-stock". Brings back more money when trading...

-costs big money.


-less hassles too. Do you guys have all that time to play with the car ?

I've gone to work to do to pay it off. Hehe.

Bill.

 

[C_Dogg]

Yep... my '97 is stock except for the air filter. I appreciate everything about it, just the way it is! It's great!

 

[BlueL36]

Only thing I've done is add the '01 style chrome exhaust tips

 

[Chemdawg99]

Here I go again

Reviving a 4 year old thread (intentional this time:L)
Just wanted another take on a notion that I developed in researching the best way to improve the power output of my '04 Coupe without compromising dependability, reliability, creating NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) and I came to an interesting conclusion. There are very few things one can do to improve on this car without spending $6000- $15,000 to do it right.

I want to eventually have Lingenfelter rebuild my engine, but until I have saved enough to do it comfortably, I will do nothing more than buy a Z06 air box to go along with the Corsa Touring and K&N filter already on the car.

IMHO, GM does not leave a lot of HP on the table with these cars. In reading the various forums, a lot of people fall prey to aftermarket companies that sell you a bill of goods for a pretty penny and deliver nothing. Thank God for CAC. I have gotten a lot of actual and factual information on this site (no BS, just good info).

Until I get a pro to do the job right, I'll keep my mostly stock.

 

[04 Commemorative]

I did a few things,nothing huge but I changed to the Corsa cat back, just hated the "Caddy exhaust tips"...oh and the corvette letters front and back look so much better to me filled in in red.

 

[Chemdawg99]

I did a few things,nothing huge but I changed to the Corsa cat back, just hated the "Caddy exhaust tips"...oh and the corvette letters front and back look so much better to me filled in in red.

I hated the "Caddy Tips" as well! Exhaust and the Z06 air box or Blackwing are all one really needs to do to a Vette unless you are a racer, motorhead that does his/her own work, or you are saving to have things done right. There is no cheap performance upgrade that will truly give you HP beyond exhaust and opening up the airbox unless you spend some serious coin to do it.

This car will give the average owner about all you want or need right out the box. IMHO, the above referenced changes are quite sufficient.

 

[bwing]

I've been "modding" my cars since I was 16 yrs old and still can't leave them original although I'm more select in my selections. I've added a forced air system, Hurst shifter, CCW wheels (18x10 and 19x11.5), Michelin PS2's, throttle body, carbon fiber air bridge, silicone air coupler and shorty antenna. I enjoy "personalizing" my vehicles. I did retain all the OEM parts to restore it to stock.

 

[Vetteforfun]

I've had my car for 1 1/2 years now. It's stock except for wheels, air filter and exhaust tips. Air induction and exhaust are on my mind right now. It's a weekend driver so I've got time to think about what I want to do and when. :cool