Corvette Aftermarket Mods: Top 12 Performance Mods for Corvette

Want to add some extra juice to the tank? Check out the 12 best Corvette aftermarket mods to upgrade your car's performance on the road. Read more here.

Keyword(s): aftermarket mods

Some Corvette owners take their modding seriously. For example, one owner has succeeded in having his Corvette produce 2,000 horsepower. He hopes to one day succeed in making his car the fastest car in the world in completing the mile.

Aftermarket mods are the answer to increasing your Corvette's performance and horsepower. You don't need to go all out and aim for 2,000 horsepower though. 

Use this guide to help you get started modding your Corvette to increase both your car's performance and your enjoyment of your Corvette. 

1. Change to Cold Air Intake 

By changing the air intake to a cold air intake you not only increase horsepower, but you also help your engine to breathe easier. Plus, it adds a rich, throaty sound to the noise coming from under your hood. 

Look for a quality cold air intake that brings in the cool air from outside the engine bay. (This air is cooler than the hot air already in the engine bay.) 

Also look for an intake system that has a washable filter. This will save you money in the long run as you won’t have to buy new filters. 

2. Add a Supercharger 

A supercharger will increase the density of the air going into your engine. It does this by forcing more air into the combustion chamber. (This and the next mod can help take your Corvette into the 600-750 range in horsepower.) 

Packing more air in, means that more oxygen is present, which allows for larger combustion and a more efficient engine. This mod is one of the more expensive ones on the list, but you can also expect to see the most gains. 

Superchargers attach to the front of your engine via a belt, making them quick to respond, but it’s not the cleanest method for a power increase (see below). 

3. Add a Turbocharger 

Just like the supercharger, this mod is only for those serious about upgrading their Corvette. You can use the supercharger and turbocharger together or individually. When used together you hear corvette owners refer to their cars as "twin turbo." 

A turbocharger forces induction by pushing air into the combustion chamber. The difference with a turbocharger is that it is a turbine driven by the engine's exhaust gas. (This makes it more efficient than a supercharger.)

Whether you choose the supercharger or turbocharger, do your research on the exact model you intend to buy. You need to make sure that your engine can withstand the increased pressure and heat that comes with installing this type of mod.

4. Consider Chip Tuners or Programmers 

One of the easiest ways to unlock horsepower and performance is to reprogram the ECU in your Corvette. For those unfamiliar, this is the computer that controls the running of your car.

When cars are built and come off the production line, they must comply with certain standards put in place for environmental regulation. There is also the concern about getting a decent mile per gallon ratio. 

By adjusting your ECU settings, you increase performance at the sacrifice of MPG. But, keep in mind that making these adjustments may void your warranty. 

It is also important to note that there is a big difference between a tuner and a programmer. Prices between the two vary greatly because a tuner will completely reprogram your ECU based on a performance script that comes with your tuner. 

By comparison, a programmer will aid you in optimizing the current performance script, make sure you pay attention to which one you choose because it may change based on your budget and the other mods you decide to do. 

5. Carbon Fiber Body Kits 

Replacing the body panels on your Corvette doesn't directly increase the power output from your engine. What it does do, however, is increase the weight to power ratio. 

Replace the stock body panels and hood with carbon fiber. This will reduce the overall weight of the car. 

High-quality carbon fiber parts can be expensive, but the benefits make it worth it because they won't rust. It’s also five times stronger than steel even though it weighs significantly less. 

6. Bigger Wheels and Tires 

Increasing your Corvette's power and performance is useless if you can't maintain contact with the road. Upgrade your wheels and tires to wider ones. This will increase the surface contact with the road. 

Wider tires will also give you increased performance during turns, acceleration and deceleration. You'll notice that you "stick to the road" better during these maneuvers at higher speeds. 

Keep in mind that bigger wheels and tires also means increased weight. So, while you're increasing performance, you are also decreasing your weight to power ratio. 

7. Brakes and Brake Pads 

When you increase the speed and power capabilities of your Corvette, you also need to increase your braking power. Otherwise, how do you expect to control or stop your car effectively? 

Look for high-temperature brakes and vented rotors. These performance brakes dissipate heat faster than traditional brakes. 

When brakes get too hot, a gas layer forms between the rotor and brake pad. This layer reduces your brake responsiveness. High-performance brakes reduce or eliminate this gas layer. 

Keep in mind that these performance brakes work well in high heat and dry climates. That means that they will not work as well in the cold or wet weather. You'll likely hear a loud squealing noise due to the harder materials used for the brakes in those climates. 

8. Short Throw Shifter 

This mod isn't going to change the performance or horsepower of your Corvette. But it does completely change your driving experience by shortening the distance your gear lever travels.

By reducing the angle, you reduce the distance the lever has to travel. The theory is that by reducing the time it takes to shift, the faster you shift and therefore have improved performance. 

But it should be noted that the improvement in performance is largely dependent on the skills of the driver. 

9. High Flow Exhaust 

Some will debate that you don't receive true power gains from changing out the exhaust. They are technically right in that most of your gains will come during your engine's high-end RPMs. 

The biggest reason for gains are the lower restrictions on the engine. So if you put performance headers on your engine, then you'll want to upgrade your exhaust, too. Otherwise, you increased flow out of the engine only to restrict it again. 

The other big reason to change your exhaust is the noticeable change in sound. Before you make a decision, review all of your options and find the one that speaks to you. 

10. High Flow Catalytic Converter 

The catalytic converter is there to "clean" your exhaust fumes. This makes them safe for the environment and us (It works to remove the harmful gases in the exhaust.)

While this is a great thing, the downside is that it restricts the outflow of exhaust from the engine. To address this, you need to start using a high-flow catalytic converter. 

11. High Flow Headers 

This bolt-on upgrade will create maximum flow efficiency which improves the engine's performance. The easier the flow, the better your engine pushes the exhaust gas out of the cylinders. 

The manifold back pressure decreases because it gives each cylinder its own exhaust pipe. Then each cylinder's pipe is cut and worked, so they are all the same length. That way the exhaust from each cylinder arrives at the same time, so there is no back pressure to one of them. 

For the greatest amount of benefit from your performance upgrade, coordinate your headers, catalytic converter and exhaust so that they all work together for the overall benefit to performance. 

12. Performance Suspension

For those who are serious about improving the performance of their Corvette, suspension mods are the way to go. Stiffening up your suspension will help your car perform better through high-speed turns. 

You can lower your car. This won't necessarily give you a noticeable performance improvement, but it will make your car look a lot cooler. Just be careful how low you go, or driving on city streets will become impossible. 

Start Your Aftermarket Mods

Before you start modding your Corvette, you need to consider your end goal and your budget. You can save money on some of these mods by doing them yourself, like the ECU tuners, short throw shifter and even the cold air intake. 

There are other aftermarket mods that are best left to the professionals, however. Those would include the super and turbocharger, headers and performance suspension. 

Let us help you increase the performance and horsepower of your Corvette! Visit our online store today!