Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - Is this a good setup for modest HP gains?

slvr02 · 01-20-2004, 12:11 PM

21st Century Musclecars quoted me a good price on some mods. I've been to their shop a couple of times and they are a top notch organization. John is really on top of things and it's obvious that people trust them when you see what cars are getting what done.

Here's what he has told me I should do on my currently stock 02Z:

FLP Headers, X-pipe, off road pipes, and high flow cats, 160 degree thermostat, Vortex intake, and dyno tune.

Is this a good set up? Are there any concerns with any of this, especially the Vortex?

(I know a lot of people opt for the LGM LT's, but those are outside of my budget range.)

What can I expect from a computer tune only to start? Thanks in advance for your replies.

tdzee · 01-20-2004, 12:27 PM

There is a lot of data on this site, which requires the time to look. It is bad if you only have dial up. Otherwise, look around in "Perf Data Center" and check the listed mods. The list they told you appears to be the basic first round of mods which are generally suggested. Over the last year, I have purchased essentially that very same set up (with some different brands) and am waiting for an opportunity to install (read as "get off my lazy a$$ and do it"). Based on data here, I would guess that you could probably get about 10 rwhp and 5-10 rwtq with just a tune (no mods). With a re-tune, those mods should add about another 15 rwhp and 10 rwtq, to the results above (or a total of about 20-25 rwhp and about 15-20 rwtq over stock). FWIW Good luck!

**jub jub** · 01-20-2004, 01:13 PM

20-25 hp was about what I was thinking depending on your current state of tune. Don't know if I'd be willing to fork out 500 big-uns for a tune with just the couple of bolt ons. I would go ahead and stick me a nasty bump stick in there while I was at it. Just my $.02

z62jag · 01-20-2004, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slvr02
21st Century Musclecars quoted me a good price on some mods. I've been to their shop a couple of times and they are a top notch organization. John is really on top of things and it's obvious that people trust them when you see what cars are getting what done.

Here's what he has told me I should do on my currently stock 02Z:

FLP Headers, X-pipe, off road pipes, and high flow cats, 160 degree thermostat, Vortex intake, and dyno tune.

Is this a good set up? Are there any concerns with any of this, especially the Vortex?

(I know a lot of people opt for the LGM LT's, but those are outside of my budget range.)

What can I expect from a computer tune only to start? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Howdy neighbor!
Your contemplated mods are very close to my first mods.
The Vortex is a bottom feeder and you will need to be careful not to drive into standing water (not that you'd normally want to do that anyway). Doing so my cause the engine to hydro-lock.

I'm not sure what you mean by off-road pipes AND high-flow cats. Most off-road configurations I am familiar with are essentially straight pipes without mufflers or cats. Maybe I am just getting confused with the terminology?

Anyway, the new exhaust will be louder than stock so you may want to listen to someone's car that has long tubes and RT cats to see if it is acceptable for you.

I wouldn't do an LS1Edit until after the 160 thermostat is installed as you will also likely want to reset the cooling fan turn on points.

Hope this helps a little.

slvr02 · 01-21-2004, 08:10 AM

Thanks for the responses so far.

To answer your question Jim, the offroad pipes can replace the cats when not worried about emissions.

Based on the responses so far, this seems like a reasonable setup to start. I'm planning on cam and maybe head package down the road.

ambleZ06 · 01-22-2004, 07:35 AM

My setup is very similar to what you are looking to get. I gained 34.5 RWHP and 33.8 RWTQ.

EnzoM · 01-22-2004, 08:45 AM

I have the same sort of mods that you are looking at, albeit different manufacturers, and I picked up about 40 rwhp and about 40 wrtq over stock. I do have a cat-back exhaust also. That was worth 11 rwhp and 11 rwtq on its own over stock. But I think that if I swapped a stock cat-back in its place, it would cost me less than the 11.