10 Corvette Mods You'll Love

Last year, almost 30% of Z06 buyers opted to have the Z07 performance package. This package boosted the horsepower and performance capabilities of the car.

However, that means that 70% of the Corvettes sold do not have this performance boost. If you’re one of the many that decided to not opt for the upgrade, you may be looking for ways to improve the performance of your car.

The answer to your quest is Corvette Mods. We have a list of 10 mods you can do to increase horsepower, performance, and looks of your Corvette.  

1. Supercharger

For a serious boost in horsepower, you need to look at a supercharger. This mod will increase the density of the air going into the engine.

The increased air pressure means that there is a higher concentration of oxygen. This means that more fuel can go into the combustion chamber too. The bigger combustion results in increased engine efficiency and output.

A supercharger works by mechanically connecting to the front end of the engine. A belt or gear drive connects the supercharger to the crankshaft.

While this mod is a financial investment, C5 owners can get their car into the 650-700 horsepower range.

2. Turbocharger

A turbocharger does essentially the same thing as the supercharger but connects to the backend of the engine. It is a turbine driven forced induction mechanism.

A turbocharger is considered a cleaner method of boost because it uses the engine's exhaust gas to power its operation. The downside of this is that there is a delay in response.

Install a turbocharger correctly and you can double a C5's factory output of the LS engine.

For the ultimate in boost, install both a supercharger and turbocharger. Cars that use both are referred to as "twin turbo". Keep in mind that if you make these mods to your Corvette, you'll want to do the number six mod on this list.

3. Short Throw Shifter

This mod isn't going to increase your horsepower. What it will do is increase the performance of the slowest variable: you. A short throw shifter is a mod that is both affordable and easy to do yourself.

By installing one, you shorten the distance the gear lever travels when shifting between gears. The idea is that when you shorten the distance of movement, you increase the speed of shifting.

You'll enjoy the sportier feel of the new shifter.

4. Cold Air Intake

As the temperature of the air drops, it becomes denser. The denser the air becomes, the more concentrated the oxygen molecules become.

By replacing the stock air filter with a cold air intake, you introduce denser air and more oxygen into the combustion chamber of the engine. This will aid in producing a bigger reaction, which leads to more power production.

This bolt on mod probably won't produce noticeable results while driving around town. Where you will notice the 15-20 horsepower gain is at the track. Every little bit will shave time off of your drag strip times.

Look for a filter that draws air in from the outside of the car. This air is cooler than the air inside the engine bay.

While you're at it, make sure the filter used is a high-quality one. Ditch the paper filter and buy a washable one. These filters clean the air better and allow for higher air flow.

5. Change Up the ECU

The ECU is the computer nerve center of your Corvette. All cars these days have an ECU.

This is a mod that most owners look at doing after they've made a few other performance mods on this list. As you improve other components, you need to adjust the ECU so it can accommodate the improvements.

If you decide to retune your ECU, you'll notice that there are two options, programmers and tuners. A programmer will help you optimize your ECU's current performance.

A tuner, on the other hand, will reprogram the ECU with a completely new script. This option tends to be more expensive since it is a whole system and not just tweaks.

Make sure you research your options. By performing this mod, you are messing with your car's operating system. You only want to buy and use a reputable company for this.

6. High Flow Catalytic Converter

A catalytic converter is a component between your headers and the muffler. This piece of the exhaust system "cleans" the exhaust gasses.

This makes them safer for the environment and for us by removing the harmful gasses. While this is a good thing, it also restricts the flow of air out of the engine.

You could completely remove the catalytic converter, but we don't recommend that. Many states have strict laws about emissions.

A smarter option is to replace your stock converter with a high flow one. This way you can stay in compliance with the law, but gain some of the performance back in your car.

7. Larger Exhaust

While it is debatable how much horsepower you'll gain, there are a few benefits to installing an aftermarket exhaust. Your new exhaust will be less restricting on the expelled air.

The better the outflow of air, the less back pressure there is on the engine. This translates to increased horsepower because the engine is freed up to produce more power.

The gains you will see will depend on how much of the exhaust system you change. It will also depend on the size of the exhaust you choose. Just don't go too big, your engine needs a certain amount of back pressure to function well.

The other benefit of getting a new exhaust is the change in sound. Listen to different mufflers and resonators and find one that has a sound you like.  

8. Rear End Gearing

This mod is for those who are looking for more than the other bolt-on options on this list. The net gains you'll get from this mod are significant.

This mod requires you to replace your gears with aftermarket ones that have a more aggressive ratio. To know what gears you want to replace, you need to understand how gear ratios work.

Your Corvette uses two different ratios. The transmission and drive axle both have ratios that get used to multiply power. Multiply these two ratios together to get your car's final drive ratio. For most cars, 3.73 and 4.10 are a common gear ratio.

For this mod, we are looking at the rear end gear ratio. This means we are looking at the relationship between the pinion gear and ring gear.

You need to divide the ring gear tooth count by the pinion gear tooth count. The resulting number is your axle ratio. Use this number along with your rear tire diameter to increase the performance of your Corvette.

As you increase the diameter of your tire, your engine RPMs will change. Decide how you want to use and drive your car. This will help you decide what ratio is right for you.

9. Wider Tires and Wheels

In the previous mod, we mentioned that a bigger diameter tire affects the gear ratio you choose and the RPMs your car produces. The size of the tire you choose also affects the handling of your Corvette on the road.

Don't feel pressured to go bigger with your wheels and tires. Sometimes all you need are some custom wheels to spice up the look of your car.

Consider the color, style, size, and weight of the wheels you want. A common look on Corvettes is chrome, but black is quickly becoming a popular color.

For newer Corvettes, the wheels are already pretty large. You can go bigger if you want, just make sure the bigger size doesn't result in rubbing on the wheel well.

When it comes to style, most owners choose to go with a sporty style. This doesn't mean you have to go with this style though. Choose wheels that speak to you.

10. Interior Lighting

A popular mod for car owners these days is to install LED lighting. You can install lighting in the interior of your car for a custom look and feel.

There are plenty of kits on the market that come with everything you need. All you need to do is decide on your budget and the color lights you want.

When shopping for LED lights, keep in mind that the quality of these kits can vary greatly. If you invest in a good quality one, your lights should last for years to come.  

Common places for LED lighting are under the seats or in the footwells, the doors, and cup holders.

EL Wire

Want to be on the cutting edge of lighting? Then you need to look at electroluminescent wire. This soft glow wire comes in a variety of colors.

Not sure what EL wire is? Think of the lighting that was in Tron. Car owners these days are using it to create a unique look on the inside or outside of their cars.

You could trace the seams on your dash. Or you could do the same on the body panels on the outside of your car.              

Start Your Corvette Mods

So which one of these Corvette mods will you do to your beloved car?  If you're looking to improve upon your cars looks then LED lighting and new wheels are a great choice.

If performance is your focus, then turning your car into a twin turbo will give you the biggest boost in performance.

We can help you get started. Browse our store for everything you need.