Discussion
I have done the deal and will be p/exchanging my C6 2009 for a 2008 Z06 next week.
I have always loved the 7011cc motor and prefer it to the later SC motors, tbh. Even if they have stupid amounts of bhp, which is nice!
So, tuning a LS7 Corvette.
What are the best-value modifications you can make with parts easily available in the UK?
My own guess, is a full sports de-cat exhaust system from the exhaust ports to the rear bumper.
A decent cold air intake system.
What else is worth doing?
Thanx.
I have always loved the 7011cc motor and prefer it to the later SC motors, tbh. Even if they have stupid amounts of bhp, which is nice!
So, tuning a LS7 Corvette.
What are the best-value modifications you can make with parts easily available in the UK?
My own guess, is a full sports de-cat exhaust system from the exhaust ports to the rear bumper.
A decent cold air intake system.
What else is worth doing?
Thanx.
Might be worth checking out the US Corvette Forum - much larger cross-section of cars and mods given the number sold over there. Not sure how easily you'll get a reliable 600bhp - I seem to remember David Yu had some serious issues when he modded his Z06 (including getting nowhere near the claimed power output!).
Im having prices put together now for a CAI, bent up headers and hi flow
cats out to my Borlas. A canned tune for this may be installed as well,
will see.
Also gonna have the heads off and new valve guides, valves, springs and
trunnion upgrade.
That by all accounts will get somewhere near without a cam methinks, after
my searching about.
Obviously a dyno tune would be preferable, but theres no one near me.
Dave.
cats out to my Borlas. A canned tune for this may be installed as well,
will see.
Also gonna have the heads off and new valve guides, valves, springs and
trunnion upgrade.
That by all accounts will get somewhere near without a cam methinks, after
my searching about.
Obviously a dyno tune would be preferable, but theres no one near me.
Dave.
Been googling again, found this post on corvetteforum.com.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z06-discussion/...
Seems a tune gets the most with those mods.
On top of the above you could add a ported or larger throttle body
and a Fast intake. Will require tuning with those as well.
Dave.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z06-discussion/...
Seems a tune gets the most with those mods.
On top of the above you could add a ported or larger throttle body
and a Fast intake. Will require tuning with those as well.
Dave.
BlackZeD said:
Im having prices put together now for a CAI, bent up headers and hi flow
cats out to my Borlas. A canned tune for this may be installed as well,
will see.
Also gonna have the heads off and new valve guides, valves, springs and
trunnion upgrade.
That by all accounts will get somewhere near without a cam methinks, after
my searching about.
Obviously a dyno tune would be preferable, but theres no one near me.
Dave.
who's doing the work for you Dave?cats out to my Borlas. A canned tune for this may be installed as well,
will see.
Also gonna have the heads off and new valve guides, valves, springs and
trunnion upgrade.
That by all accounts will get somewhere near without a cam methinks, after
my searching about.
Obviously a dyno tune would be preferable, but theres no one near me.
Dave.
BlackZeD said:
The usual, AAS in Newcastle, went and seen Stu on Sat and went thru what I wanted. Just waiting
for the price now !!
Nice one mate, let me know when your around its near me..for the price now !!
I have had an SCT tuning install off them for assessment , hoping to custom tune all the mods
Still want a ride in yours remember ! ;-)
also is that valve guide work to prevent the possible issue with some, did i read somewhere, that some are prone to valve problems?
Edited by Corv99 on Tuesday 22 July 12:30
I have just finished "tuning" my C6 Z06.
The first lot of tuning was a Cold Air Intake by K@N, a pair of LG Motorsport Long Tube headers, and race cats. The standard ECU settings remained because a cam was on its way, but these mods certainly gave a noticeable difference, not to mention saved a lot of weight as the standard headers (manifolds sorry been spending too much time playing with American cars), weigh a ton.
Round two involved the installation of a LG Motorsports cam, double valve springs, colder running plugs, and a full remap using EFI Live software. This yielded 536bhp at the wheels on a dyno dynamics rolling road, which I am told, is over 600hp back at the crank. Needless to say it was a lot faster than standard.
Round 3 was only initiated due to the reports of LS7 motors breaking very frequently through broken exhaust valves in the states. It appears the exhaust valves are poor quality and the guides are not ideally machines resulting in a lot of "wiggle". GM have a maximum tolerance in their servicing guides which when we checked the guides in my engine and at 25,000 miles the engine had already reached them. Seeing as the heads needed to be removed to allow new stainless steel valves and phosfore bronze guides to be installed, we took the chance to raise the compression ration and clean up the heads (They were amazing already so we did very little).
As the car was apart we installed a full A.R.E dry sump oil system which get around the long left hand corner oil starvation issue and a electric oil heater so I can pre heat the oil before driving as it takes forever to warm up. We also installed a lightweight drive pulley and engine damper and a new clutch and flywheel, which saved over 25kg of rotating, mass from standard and can cope with over 1,000hp. To make the most of the cam a F.A.S.T LSX inlet manifold was installed with a Nick Williams 102mm throttle body. Saving a further lot of weight we installed a LG Rear exhaust system, which sounds amazing!
The car was taken Torque Development International in Essex and setup on their amazing hub dyno system. The numbers were lower than the first time on the dyno dynamics despite all the further modifications to the car, at 523 rear wheel hp, however it is a LOT faster than before, making me wonder just how inaccurate these chassis dynos like dyno dynamics really are?
The car is a monster now! I have had to buy Recaro seats, as the standard seats can't cope with the forces involved. The car is also on LG bistien coilovers, drop links, and running on Michelin Pilot Supersports, which do an amazing job of putting all the torque to the road.
For what the car owes and the performance it now delivers both in a straight line and around the corners I can think of anything that would get close. I love the fact you have to be measured in your approach to the throttle even into 3 figure speeds and that it makes my new E80 M3 feel about as fast as a 50cc scooter, whilst shooting blue flames from the exhaust!
If you would like any tip or advice please to let me know as we have found very few people in the UK who have been involved in tuning these cars and have to find out many things for ourselves, which I would be happy to pass on.
The first lot of tuning was a Cold Air Intake by K@N, a pair of LG Motorsport Long Tube headers, and race cats. The standard ECU settings remained because a cam was on its way, but these mods certainly gave a noticeable difference, not to mention saved a lot of weight as the standard headers (manifolds sorry been spending too much time playing with American cars), weigh a ton.
Round two involved the installation of a LG Motorsports cam, double valve springs, colder running plugs, and a full remap using EFI Live software. This yielded 536bhp at the wheels on a dyno dynamics rolling road, which I am told, is over 600hp back at the crank. Needless to say it was a lot faster than standard.
Round 3 was only initiated due to the reports of LS7 motors breaking very frequently through broken exhaust valves in the states. It appears the exhaust valves are poor quality and the guides are not ideally machines resulting in a lot of "wiggle". GM have a maximum tolerance in their servicing guides which when we checked the guides in my engine and at 25,000 miles the engine had already reached them. Seeing as the heads needed to be removed to allow new stainless steel valves and phosfore bronze guides to be installed, we took the chance to raise the compression ration and clean up the heads (They were amazing already so we did very little).
As the car was apart we installed a full A.R.E dry sump oil system which get around the long left hand corner oil starvation issue and a electric oil heater so I can pre heat the oil before driving as it takes forever to warm up. We also installed a lightweight drive pulley and engine damper and a new clutch and flywheel, which saved over 25kg of rotating, mass from standard and can cope with over 1,000hp. To make the most of the cam a F.A.S.T LSX inlet manifold was installed with a Nick Williams 102mm throttle body. Saving a further lot of weight we installed a LG Rear exhaust system, which sounds amazing!
The car was taken Torque Development International in Essex and setup on their amazing hub dyno system. The numbers were lower than the first time on the dyno dynamics despite all the further modifications to the car, at 523 rear wheel hp, however it is a LOT faster than before, making me wonder just how inaccurate these chassis dynos like dyno dynamics really are?
The car is a monster now! I have had to buy Recaro seats, as the standard seats can't cope with the forces involved. The car is also on LG bistien coilovers, drop links, and running on Michelin Pilot Supersports, which do an amazing job of putting all the torque to the road.
For what the car owes and the performance it now delivers both in a straight line and around the corners I can think of anything that would get close. I love the fact you have to be measured in your approach to the throttle even into 3 figure speeds and that it makes my new E80 M3 feel about as fast as a 50cc scooter, whilst shooting blue flames from the exhaust!
If you would like any tip or advice please to let me know as we have found very few people in the UK who have been involved in tuning these cars and have to find out many things for ourselves, which I would be happy to pass on.
Not a C6 Z06 owner (a big cube 528 bhp 68' Vette myself) looking from the 'outside' I have seen a few of the guys having problems with these cars. Its good to see someone 'on top' of some of the issues and getting some of the power that perhaps GM should have got in the fist place - respect!
If anybody would like a polished stainless LG Motorsports GT4 exhaust system [11Kgs weight saving + circa 10 RWHP] please pm me. Came off a 2011 Z06 with over-axle connectors. See youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
roughrider]If anybody would like a polished stainless LG Motorsports GT4 exhaust system [11Kgs weight saving + circa 10 RWHP said:
please pm me. Came off a 2011 Z06 with over-axle connectors. See youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
I can recommend this exhaust, its the one I have fitted to my car. It sounds amazing!
JM,
Just a few questions......;)
Any particular reason you went with the K&N intake as opposed to others, I
have been looking at the Airaid intake, sounds good and cheaper.
What type of springs did you use ?
Where did you get the valves from and did you have them polished?
Colder plugs you say, which ones, are they necessary? (plug leads as well)
Did you do a 160 deg thermostat and/or change fan turn on temps?
Cheers;
Dave.
Just a few questions......;)
Any particular reason you went with the K&N intake as opposed to others, I
have been looking at the Airaid intake, sounds good and cheaper.
What type of springs did you use ?
Where did you get the valves from and did you have them polished?
Colder plugs you say, which ones, are they necessary? (plug leads as well)
Did you do a 160 deg thermostat and/or change fan turn on temps?
Cheers;
Dave.
OP if you are pulling the heads off anyway you would be silly not to fit a mild cam IMO
You dont need to go overboard and it will cost WAY less than a throttle and intake and give you WAY more power than they ever will.
The comp 227/243-114 LSR is fairly small. I run this in my heavier vxr8 and it will pull the car along in 1st at idle so manners are also good.
But avoid the larger US cams expecially for UK traffic.
At SurreyRR the z06 stock does 405 so over 500 is a very good gain.
Also never compare different dyno's its pointless. Use the same one or you wont get any useful info.
You dont need to go overboard and it will cost WAY less than a throttle and intake and give you WAY more power than they ever will.
The comp 227/243-114 LSR is fairly small. I run this in my heavier vxr8 and it will pull the car along in 1st at idle so manners are also good.
But avoid the larger US cams expecially for UK traffic.
At SurreyRR the z06 stock does 405 so over 500 is a very good gain.
Also never compare different dyno's its pointless. Use the same one or you wont get any useful info.
BlackZeD said:
JM,
Just a few questions......;)
Any particular reason you went with the K&N intake as opposed to others, I
have been looking at the Airaid intake, sounds good and cheaper.
What type of springs did you use ?
Where did you get the valves from and did you have them polished?
Colder plugs you say, which ones, are they necessary? (plug leads as well)
Did you do a 160 deg thermostat and/or change fan turn on temps?
Cheers;
Dave.
Hi Dave,Just a few questions......;)
Any particular reason you went with the K&N intake as opposed to others, I
have been looking at the Airaid intake, sounds good and cheaper.
What type of springs did you use ?
Where did you get the valves from and did you have them polished?
Colder plugs you say, which ones, are they necessary? (plug leads as well)
Did you do a 160 deg thermostat and/or change fan turn on temps?
Cheers;
Dave.
We went for the K&N just because at the time LG Motorsports recommended it. I think their are plenty of options available that are all about the same in terms of performance.
The Valves are a Manley severe duty exhaust valve kit (16 CHE guides, 8 exhaust valves) stainless steel and come ready to go. We bought them from LG Motorsport. These valves are very high quality.
Dual spring kit, seats, retainers, seals all came from LG Motorsport, I am not sure what brand they are, but will find out for you.
The colder running plugs are only required due to the cam change as otherwise you can end up melting the pistons apparently. The plugs in the car now are NGK BR7EF, we did also replace the plug leads but only for new standard ones.
The original thermostat is still in the car.
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