The Chevy Corvette Z06 is an impressive car right out of the box. It sounds awesome, with gobs of power to match. The stock Z's performance capabilities are quite high, but it's in a car guy's blood to make a fast car even faster-or louder, in this case. The owner of this Z06 initially installed a set of headers and a cat-less exhaust with an X crossover pipe, but he retained the stock mufflers. After driving the car in that configuration for a few hundred miles, he decided to further improve its sound quality and reap the benefits of a couple extra horses, too.inline_mediumwraptextright32177187/tech/vemp_1004_chevy_corvette_z06vemp_1004_01_o+chevy_corvette_z06+in_the_shop.jpgTrue

EVER HEAR the old saying, "Give me a Corvette with any transmission, as long as it's a manual?" If so, you already understand one of the greatest feelings one can experience in America's sports car: grabbing the stick, rushing to redline, slamming your left foot mercilessly to the floor, quickly shifting into the next gear, accelerating to redline again, and repeating the process until you finally run out of gears.

RESTORING and modifying a performance car-be it a Corvette or other some brand-involves many complex processes and decisions. From the inception of the project, the end result must be envisioned by the builder in order for the car to meet the desired goals of the build. Being VETTE magazine, our vision for our C3 project car was not foreseen as a run-of-the-mill restoration, but rather as a highly modified, fun-to-drive automobile. With this in mind, we decided to build the car for all-around performance, starting with the basics of safety, and then upgrading the car's systems for an eventual engine swap to a more powerful mill.inline_mediumwraptextrightOur '71 Stingray has come a long way since we began this project. This month we'll recap our progress while looking forward to continuing the modifications to our Vette.26747549/tech/vemp_1004_1971_chevy_corvette_stingrayvemp_1004_01_o+1971_chevy_corvette_stingray+right_side.jpgTrue

Admittedly, it's far from a statistically valid survey, but if I were to judge by the letters and e-mails that come into VETTE Command Central, and the comments and questions I hear at various Corvette events around the country, there are a lot of C5 owners who find the factory-installed Goodyear Eagle EMTs to be, well, less than the greatest. Hey, it's no big deal to switch over to some other brand when the OEM run-flats are due for replacement, right? Only it is a big deal, and a wee bit more complex than that.inline_mediumwraptextright27806155/tech/vemp_0006_c5_corvette_tiresvemp_0006_01_o+2000_chevy_corvette_convertibles+burgundy_c5.jpgTrue

Question:
I have a horrible smell coming out of the vents of my '09 Corvette whenever I use the air conditioning or heater. The smell seems to get better after I drive the car for awhile (or maybe I just get immune to the odor). My daughter Samantha was home for a few weeks in the summer. She asked me to take her car to the service station to fill it up with gas, and I noticed the same smell coming from her air conditioning. She drives an '07 Chevy Cobalt. Is it just me, or is there a problem with the A/C systems on GM products?
Bob
Via the Internetinline_mediumwraptextright26689037/tech/vemp_1004_2009__chevy_corvettevemp_1004_01_o+2009_chevy_corvette+radiator.jpgTrue

Last Month, we told you about a Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) study that pegged wheels as the automotive aftermarket's most popular accessory. It's no wonder. If you're like most Vette devotees, you consider the rolling block of metal connecting your vehicle with the road to be much more than a useful tool first engineered by ancient man. To you, a wheel is an expression of your own personal style-and an opportunity to give your Vette the head-turning look it deserves.inline_mediumwraptextright26505833/tech/vemp_1003_corvette_aftermarket_rimsvemp_1003_01_o+factory_c6_z06_wheels+c3_ss_corvette.jpgTrue

WHETHER VALET PARKING at a luncheon, cruising to the local car show, or racing on the track, a Corvette makes a statement that's difficult to ignore. And while the car is impressive enough even in conceptual form, the real deal can be made all the more striking when the correct colors and paint schemes are applied. Since the paint is the first thing most people notice about our cars (and sometimes the only thing they remember about them), it just makes sense to consider repainting your Corvette-especially if the paint is faded, worn, bubbling, or cracked. Since our '71 Stingray project car suffered from all of these unbecoming afflictions, we decided it was time to professionally refinish it.inline_mediumwraptextright27763798/tech/vemp_1003_1971_chevy_corvette_stingray_project_c3_triple_exvemp_1003_01_o+1971_chevy_corvette_stingray_project_car+paint_job_preparation.jpgTrue

Question:
I'm looking for a good battery upgrade for my Corvette. I'm concerned about "off gassing" into the cabin as well as weight. What are the different types of batteries, and are some better than others?
Jim
Via the Internet

Brute Awakening
Rockland Standard Gear (RSG) has just added to its Tranzilla line-up with an easy-and-much-needed-upgrade for Tremec TK0500 and TK0600 five-speed transmissions. RSG's new Tranzilla High RPM Synchro Rings are uniquely designed and coated to permit smoother shifts at a much higher rpm than stock synchros. Sold in sets of five, High RPM Synchro Rings will transform your gearbox, giving you the confidence to grab that next gear in the heat of competition. No more hung or missed shifts-just positive gear changes. Point your browser to www.rsgear.com for all the details.inline_mediumwraptextright26367911/tech/vemp_1003_apr_performance_rear_spoiler_for_c6_corvettesvemp_1003_01_o+apr_performance_rear_spoiler_for_c6_corvettes+tranzilla_high_rpm_synchro_rings.jpgTrue

Let's face it: Unless you oversee an international opium-smuggling ring or work for Goldman Sachs, chances are that the portion of your discretionary spending once devoted to Corvette modifications has lately been redirected to satisfy other, more pressing needs. Like food.inline_mediumwraptextright31983417/tech/vemp_1003_bbk_performance_c6_long_tube_headersvemp_1003_01_o+bbk_performance_c6_long_tube_headers+red_convertible_corvette_on_a_dyno.jpgTrue

THERE'S AN UNDENIABLE allure to a supercharger. The debate over whether to go normally aspirated or forced induction in building power is a worthy one, but the academic reasons often fall to the simple fact that a blower is cool.inline_mediumwraptextright26530616/tech/vemp_1003_blower_systems_on_c5_and_c6_corvettesvemp_1003_01_o+blower_systems_on_c5_and_c6_corvettes+c6_corvette_on_the_dyno.jpgTrue

With any car we build, restore, or modify, there are certain temptations we must avoid to ensure that the end product conforms to the performance and aesthetic standards we set at the beginning of the project. So while it may be tempting to install a high-powered engine in our '71 C3 at the outset, the fact is that the car itself won't be ready for a big-inch powerplant until we perform some basic upgrades. Adding incredible power to an otherwise factory Stingray is usually a recipe for disaster-since the engine will outperform the other parts of the automobile-so, as you've likely noticed, we're improving various portions of our car's systems to ready them for an upgraded powerplant. Last month we installed an aluminum radiator and other cooling system components to ensure our C3 doesn't run too warm, and this month we'll be upgrading the fuel system with some high-performance components from Summit Racing Equipment.

Question: It seems like there are a lot of conflicting opinions on when to change the oil in a Corvette. I've been changing the oil in my '09 convertible every 3,000 miles; is this too often? Should I just follow the car computer? Do I need to change the filter on every oil change?
David
Via the Internet

If you've been following our C4 project from the outset, you know that the past few years have seen the car make depressingly little progress toward its goal of achieving quarter-mile parity with its late-model kin. There are a number of reasons for this, not least a self-imposed mandate to minimize our theoretical cash outlay along the way. The results of our ministrations have therefore been decidedly mixed, with some highly touted "upgrades" performing well below expectations and other, oft-overlooked tweaks proving surprisingly effective.

What was the first modification you made to your late-model Corvette? If you said, "a cold-air intake," you're not alone. Cold-air intakes (CAI) offer a simple, affordable means of improving your Vette's output by increasing the amount of cool, dense air flowing into the engine. And unlike permanent changes to the motor itself, a CAI shouldn't affect your factory warranty, and it can easily be removed if you decide to sell the car.

Part 1
When introduced in 1997, the diminutive 346ci LS1 was the proverbial tip of the displacement iceberg. GM has since taken the LS1 architecture and developed a whole host of block and head designs for both assembly-line and aftermarket uses. For enthusiasts looking for max performance, the cast-iron LSX block can achieve more than 500 cubes in its tall-deck configuration.

What's the first thing you look at on a Corvette? If you said "wheels," you're in good company. In a recent survey by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), custom wheels were found to be the automotive aftermarket's most popular upgrade. Just take a look at these facts:inline_mediumwraptextrightYour Vette needn't be a SEMA show car to benefit from a set of quality aftermarket wheels.27393223/buyersguide/vemp_1002_american_racing_torq_thrust_ii_wheelvemp_1002_01_o+american_racing_torq_thrust_ii_wheel+c6_corvette_with_custom_rims.jpgTrue

Mounting A New Set of skins on your late-model Corvette will put a big dent in your budget. We kept this thought in mind during a recent tire test at Spring Mountain, Nevada, where we had a chance to thrash Michelin's impressive new C6 Z06 Pilot Sport 2 Zero Pressure (PS2 ZP) tires on the racetrack. Since the Michelins carry a 10-15 percent price premium over OE Z06 replacement tires, we wanted to find out if they were worth the extra cost. To that end, we decided to put them to a real-world road test, including both low-speed city driving and an extended trip at highway velocities (and beyond). Another test on our list involved trying the new tires out on a racetrack. We spoke with Nicolas Goubert, Michelin's brand category manager, who sent us four PS2 ZPs (P275/35ZR18 front and P325/30ZR19 rear).inline_mediumwraptextright31578231/tech/vemp_1002_michelin_pilot_sport_2_zero_pressure_tirevemp_1002_01_o+michelin_pilot_sport_2_zero_pressure_tire+c5_corvette.jpgTrue

MODIFYING AN LT1 Corvette for improved performance can be a trying business. Aftermarket parts are scarce, the work itself is often maddeningly difficult, and even the most intrepid Corvette tuners may be inclined to treat you like an end-stage Ebola victim. Given these hurdles, we were pleasantly surprised to learn of Trick Flow Specialties' new Fast as Cast GenX LT1 top-end kit, which should be available by the time you read this.inline_mediumwraptextrightAn epic shot of an epic package. Trick Flow's new GenX Fast as Cast LT1 top-end kit is said to make an LS3-matching 430 horses without scuttling driveability.26214707/tech/vemp_1002_modifying_an_lt1_corvettevemp_1002_01_o+modifying_an_lt1_corvette+camshaft.jpgTrue

While many of us attempt to rationalize our Corvettes by using them to commute, offering rides to our significant others, restoring them as investments, or even by entering sanctioned racing events, there's no arguing that the money used to purchase, fuel, and modify these limited-use conveyances falls under the rubric of "expendable income." But while a Vette can sometimes be difficult to justify in a strictly fiscal sense, it does offer enjoyable travel and relief from the day-to-day stresses of life, all of which can lead to higher productivity.inline_mediumwraptextright26265773/tech/vemp_1002_project_c3_triple_exvemp_1002_01_o+project_c3_triple_ex+spraying_paint.jpgTrue

Question: I have an all-stock '99 Corvette with 69,000 miles. It won't accelerate past a crawl, whether the engine is completely cold or at operating temperature. It also has a hard time climbing hills. When I try to accelerate, I notice a hissing noise coming from under the hood. There are no current error codes. I suspect a faulty sensor, but I don't know which one. What do you suggest? Derrick Via the Internet

The men and women of Corvette Racing send season's greetings to VETTE readers around the world! Your passion for Corvette and your support of Corvette Racing are what inspire us to keep the world's best sports car ahead of the competition. Whether we're racing in Long Beach or Le Mans, we hope to see you in the New Year!inline_mediumwraptextright26264714/tech/vemp_1002_l84_and_l76_enginesvemp_1002_02_o+l84_and_l76_engines+c6r_corvettes.jpgTrue

There are certain things in life we just take for granted, like the sun coming up in the morning, airlines losing our luggage, and a Corvette that will start when we turn the key.

Just a few short years after Chevy introduced the original 265 small-block, the company followed up by offering a true legend in the form of the fuel-injected 283. Often touted as the first mass-produced motor to offer 1 horsepower per cubic inch, the fuelie 283 started a small-block Chevy performance trend that would continue for decades. The 283hp 283 of 1957 was eventually replaced with Chevy's new wonder motor, the 327. Compared with the 283, the 327 offered an increase in both bore (from 3.875 to 4.00 inches) and stroke (from 3.00 to 3.25 inches). Continuing the performance trend started a few years earlier, Chevy topped the hot 327 with the latest version of its mechanical FI setup. The pinnacle of this combination was the famous L84 fuelie motor that offered no fewer than 375 hp in 1964 and 1965.

Because of their design-and specifically the slanted orientation of the radiator-Corvettes have always borne the unfortunate stigma of running warm or even overheating on hot days. While the angled radiator is not ideally designed for maximum cooling, like much of the Corvette it is a compromise between optimal performance and aerodynamic efficiency. In reality, engineers at GM spent considerable time designing the Vette's cooling system, and given the space constraints of the engine, they did a commendable job. Indeed, most Corvette engines will be adequately cooled with the stock cooling system. Add a hot engine or compromise the cooling system's design, however, and you're sure to notice your car's temperature gauge climbing toward the red end of the scale.