Corvette Bolt-Ons - C5 On A Shoestring

Fortunately, there was plenty of clearance around the header tubes for the wires.

Changing the thermostat to a 160-degree unit, such as this Hypertech piece, is essential to reducing engine temperatures and maximizing overall performance. It's also highly recommended when installing the Power Programmer III tuning.

We had to drain the coolant system in order to replace the thermostat. The Hypertech comes as a one-piece unit with an integral housing.

To ensure maximum fuel flow to the engine, we replaced the fuel filter. It's located just ahead of the differential on the driver side.

Most agree that the C5's Computer Aided Gear Selection (CAGS) is a major hindrance to driving enjoyment. Also known as "skip shift," CAGS forces the driver to shift from First directly to Fourth when accelerating slowly from a stop. This bypass unit puts the driver back in control.

Installing the CAGS bypass is simple. There's a harness with a plug next to the gearbox. Disconnect the plug, install the bypass, and you're done.

Since we had added a completely new headers-to-tips exhaust system, we decided to also install a fresh set of O2 sensors. They come in pairs: two for the front and two for the rear.

When installing O2 sensors, it's important to make sure the wires don't touch the exhaust. We tucked them inside a heat shield located on the outboard side of the pipes.

While we were at it, we decided to perform an oil change using the factoryrecommended Mobil 1 synthetic and a Mobil 1 Extended Performance oil filter. Remember that just because an oil is synthetic doesn't mean it should be changed any less frequently.

Once our modifications were complete, the final step was to reprogram the LS1's PCM. The Hypertech Max Energy Power Programmer comes with a USB cable that connects via the car's diagnostic port. Also included are an instructional CD and manual that guide you through the process of downloading the correct vehicle specific parameters.

The C5 diagnostic port is located beneath the instrument panel, near the top of the clutch pedal.

Once connected, the Hypertech programmer runs through a series of questions pertaining to tire size, fuel octane, thermostat temperature, and other factors. Once this data has been input, it takes approximately two minutes for the new programming to be installed. The programmer will store the PCM's factory parameters in the event you need to return to the original settings in the future.