10 Chevrolet Corvette Upgrades You Should Consider

These Chevrolet Corvette upgrades can help owners get more performance while improving the Corvette's looks.

Chevrolet introduced the Corvette in 1953 at the General Motors Autorama in New York City. Since then, the iconic Corvette nameplate has evolved to become one of the best sports cars money can buy. Chevrolet reinvented the modern Corvette in 2020, moving the engine from the front and placing it behind the passenger cabin.

The result was an impressive sports car with supercar performance and an affordable price tag. Behind the driver sits a punchy 6.2-liter V8 with 490 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. While this is impressive performance, there are a few upgrades that one can do to make the Chevrolet Corvette better. These upgrades are ideal for all Corvette models, and they can help owners get more performance while improving the Corvette's looks.

Before upgrading your Corvette, it's advisable to remember that GM mainly builds cars for people who want a fun street car. Therefore, the brand gets to focus more on factors like vibration and noise rather than lap times. Due to this, some Corvette models end up with rubber bushings for a squeak-free experience. These bushings can easily soak up vibrations while soaking up most road imperfections.

Despite offering a great driving experience, these rubber bushings deform under load, leading to less predictable handling. Upgrading to urethane bushings is among the less expensive mods for a Corvette. The urethane bushings are easy to install, and unlike their rubber counterparts, they won't deform under load. This results in a noticeable improvement to the Corvette's turn in feel and steering.

When new, the stock Corvette seats are better at holding the driver in place. However, as the car ages, so do the seats. Most of the standard Corvette seats aren't ideal for track use. Upgrading the seats for a more supportive option can help offer a better driving experience. They can hold you in place while racing or driving aggressively around your favorite twisty roads.

Most aftermarket seats have heavy bolsters, helping hold the driver firmly during high-g maneuvers. Some aftermarket seats will also have pass-throughs for a harness system. Adding a harness helps anchor you to the car, thus allowing you to focus 100% on driving the Corvette.

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Installing aftermarket wheels on your Corvette can help lower the rotational mass. Most aftermarket wheels are lighter, thus improving the driving experience of the Corvette. Opting for forged wheels can help ensure that your Corvette can easily handle track use and aggressive on-road driving.

In addition, most aftermarket wheels allow you to perfectly dial in your offset. With this, you can run different tire options, helping you get the desired grip levels. Having total control of your wheels and tires can also make your Corvette look good.

One of the simplest mods for the Corvette is getting new performance rubber. Fitting high-performance rubber on the Corvette can help improve the overall performance. It's advisable to get rubber from reputable brands like Continental, Pirelli, or Michelin. These brands use cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-art modeling to produce high-quality performance tires.

When choosing the ideal performance rubber, you need to consider your driving requirements. Thanks to the use of track technology, most tire options will offer superior traction, a quiet ride, and precise cornering on the street and track. These tires also have excellent resistance to heat buildup, leading to a safer ride.

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Having stiffer anti-roll bars has been a common performance modification for decades. This modification works by keeping the Corvette flatter in the curves. The result is a great handling sports car with better turn-in at the track or on your favorite twisty roads. When choosing a sway bar option, consider getting adjustable front and rear versions.

Having an adjustable sway bar allows you to dial in the roll stiffness depending on the preferred driving style. Luckily, this is among the easiest upgrades to conduct on a Corvette. It's also a wallet-friendly option, making it a must-have mod for all Corvette owners.

Upgrading the suspension is one of the best ways of giving your Corvette a good foundation. The suspension helps determine the handling gains that you'll experience. Therefore, it's advisable to consider how you'll drive the Corvette before splurging on a suspension upgrade. For example, you can find two spring options for the Corvette, soft or stiff.

Soft springs give a better daily driving experience by making the Corvette smoother. A stiff suspension leads to a harder ride but improves the aerodynamics of the Corvette by increasing the downward pressure. Going somewhere in between can help ensure that you remain with a comfortable sports car that you can comfortably push around a track.

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A cold air intake is among the best modifications you can make on a Corvette. It helps control the amount of air that gets into the engine since combustion requires a reaction between air and fuel. As the name suggests, a cold air intake allows cooler air into the engine, thus increasing the oxygen density. The result is a volatile reaction in the combustion chamber, helping the engine produce more power.

Generally, a good cold air intake can result in a five to 20 hp bump. A good option can cost a few hundred dollars, but it's among the best ways of increasing power compared to turbochargers and superchargers. In addition, a cold air intake is easy to install compared to other engine upgrades.

After modifying the air that comes into the engine, it's advisable to also compensate by upgrading the exhaust. An aftermarket exhaust helps increase the exhaust capacity. It controls the air output of the Corvette, thus impacting its performance. Failing to upgrade the exhaust system after making air intake mods can lead to backpressure.

The backpressure restricts the power you can get from the engine. Fortunately, there are plenty of aftermarket Corvette exhaust systems, most of which will reduce backpressure and improve engine performance. Before installing an exhaust system, it's advisable to check the lows in your state and ensure that the modification is legal.

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If you're looking for the most power gains from your Corvette, adding a turbocharger or supercharger is the answer. For more power, the engine needs more air. Adding a turbo or supercharger helps increase the air intake capacity, thus resulting in more power. Both modifications can help boost the Corvette's power, despite the intense debate about which is better.

While turbochargers insert air into the engine using exhaust gases, superchargers use the engine's power to get more air in. However, turbochargers are synonymous with turbo lag, while superchargers are a bit inefficient. No matter the option you choose for your Corvette, both will comfortably increase the power output. Luckily, you can also opt for a twin-turbo setup.

To get the most out of your Corvette, you will need an engine tune. An engine tune helps ensure that your Corvette ends up with the best optimizations for more performance. It also helps ensure that you can take advantage of modifications like the cold air intake, exhaust, and turbo or supercharger. The tune ensures that you will end up reaping the maximum gains from the engine.

To tune your Corvette, you can go to a dyno, use engine tuners or even have the ECU tuned by a specialist. The dyno option can be expensive for most people but produces the best results. Having the ECU reprogrammed by a specialist or a tuner can also achieve the desired results but at a lower price.

Brian is a husband, father and freelance writer. He's also a tech and automotive junkie passionate about cars and motorcycles. Brian is also an F1 fan - team Mercedes (LH). When he's not writing, Brian goes for impromptu drives and walks.