0Chuck CoW

Here's the simple answer given your budget....and it's hard to argue.

VARARAM, STAT, TUNE, 4.10 REAR END. Done. And maybe a used cat back....

Here's the deal... WE LOVE AMERICAN RACING HEADERS! GREAT MOD.

But, for your budget.... Headers installed and my 4.10 rear are almost exactly the same price.

The headers will give you a small gain in HP and mid band torque....

On the other hand, the 4.10 rear will make the car drive much nicer...easier....FASTER...Won't BOG in 6th on the highway....

and will pretty much feel like a 100hp boost all the time.

Plus, we all know that you get more power in the higher RPMs, so....

When you're always about 450 RPM higher than before....

You're ALWAYS driving around with more power in all gears all the time....

We've clearly sold more 4.10s than anyone out there and for most guys

driving around on the street..They would NEVER go back after driving 4.10s!

Take it for what it's worth... If your budget is 3K...

That's what I would do!
Chuck CoW

Joe_G

I agree with Chuck 100%. First mods to my 05 were a Vararam and gears. Gears make the car feel like it lost 500 lbs. I track all gas mileage and I lost exactly 1.0 mph combined city/highway daily driving. Still was avg 20 mpg with gears, mostly city. I put on headers too, but I knew a cam was in my future.

You feel gears from 5 mph to 185 mph. The car just feels snappier and more powerful all the time. Most other mods don't show their benefit until 3500+ rpm, and you don't feel that putt putting around town.

C U IN REARVEIW

what gears come stock in 05 ls2 z51? how do they compare to the 4:10's?

Joe_G

3:42's.

It's a dramatic difference.

Boomer111

I have the 4:10's, Vararam, stat and tune with headers, cat/ back too. Love the combination. The gear change is dramatic and makes the Vette more fun. I feel safe too in regards to limiting punishment on the motor.

If you might go Forced Induction I would not do the 4:10's. No hp gain bragging rites with the gearing but be rest assured performance is present.

dboelens

You guys say that intake is one of the best early mods because the LS2 intake is so crappy. But which one to get is the question. I don't want to cut a hole in my firwall in order to put a FAST intake in. Which one is a good intake with out chopping up my car?

Joe_G

The FAST 102 fits without cutting the car or the intake.

But I wouldn't consider a FAST a first mod. There is lower hanging fruit.

The cheapest mod, which is effective, is the free "prop rod" mod where you prop your shroud open so that cooler air can get into your air filter.

But after you start modding more seriously, the ls2 air filter is a restriction I understand so you'll eventually want a proper CAI.

FloydSummerOf68

Generally speaking, most (if not all) were talking about the actual air intake with the filter element...not the intake manifold.

HOWEVER, the LS2 intake manifold is also a piece of junk in comparison to both the LS6 manifold and LS3 manifolds that came before and after it, but it wouldn't be one of my first mods without first at least getting a high-flowing air intake in front of it.

0Chuck CoW

Yeah man... Anyone who tells you 4.10's are too much just simply has NEVER owned 4.10s.

Chuck CoW

Joe_G

Chuck is right. I used to wave the 3.90 banner...but 4.10's are better. Its a surprising difference, particularly on the drag strip.

FastGhost

Man up and put a A&A SC kit on it with methanol.
I'm running a Vortec on an A&A bracket. A 3.8 pulley, 50/50 meyhanol and tune.
I'm putting 561 RWHP/497RWTQ through the A4.
The car is a beast on the street.
Handles like stock until I go WOT...

Wass

I agree with the 4.10 gears. That was my first, quickly followed by additional mods. Chuck's recommendation is good for what you want to spend on your 05 LS2. Joe G knows his stuff too.

EuroRod

Don't know what your budget happens to be, but there are some cheap supercharger packages being offered right now, and there is no argument that this is the best bang for your performance dollar.

Vte85

Great Advice, makes perfect sense. Can someone help me with what chuck means by "STAT" above? Im only 25,and just learning about all of this. Really looking forward to making these purchases and mods. Thanks

da vette guy

I think he means a 160 degree thermostat.....

Wass

160 degree thermostat is correct.

Joe_G

Yes. Most tunes that I've seen are based on using a 160 degree thermostat. You can tune for a hotter stat but most experts agree the cooler stat is better. The car will run 185ish with the 160 stat on the highway and 192 in stop and go (192 is the lowest temp you can turn the fans on with the stock OS.

BTW thanks for the kind words Wass. I think you should change your avatar legend back...I always laughed each time I saw that.

Ragtop 99

If you're going that direction (i.e. VARARAM, STAT, TUNE, 4.10 REAR END. Done. And maybe a used cat back....), skip the catback and buy some good rear tires. Ditching the runflats will help a lot with your performance below 60 mph.

099blancoss

The only thing I dont like about gears is the loss of gas mileage and they reduce first gear to be almost useless. I like to run out a little longer before I have to shift, call it being lazy if you want..LOL

Joe_G

1 mpg in my fuel mileage logs. IMHO worth every penny.