10 Awesome Ways To Modify Your Chevrolet Corvette

While Chevrolet offers a great package with the Corvette, here is a list of upgrades you can apply to extract the best from your sports car.

The Chevrolet Corvette is often regarded as one of the best American performance cars and is appreciated for its sporty package, power-packed performance, stellar looks, and a no-nonsense package. The Corvette has drastically evolved over the years as the brand launched new and better generation models. What remains common to all generations of the Corvette are strong dynamics, impressive figures and a bold character. Despite a performance-oriented package, the Corvette also scored impressive Quality and Reliability ratings from platforms like JD Power.

While the brand is offering a great package for buyers of the Corvette in the market, a long list of modifications and upgrades are available for those looking to extract the best from their machines. From as basic as replacing stock tires to as complex as re-tuning the engine, tuners and modders have multiple options to increase the performance and dynamics. Here are 10 awesome ways to modify your Chevrolet Corvette which have a significant effect not only on the performance but also on the way the car feels and handles.

The Chevy Corvette is one of the fastest cars in the segment and to handle this power, upgrading to better tires is an easy choice for owners. Better tires not only offer improved grip and braking performance, but also improves the handling of the car by a fair margin. Replacing stock tires with performance tires should be one of the first modifications you would want for your Corvette.

Multiple brands like Pirelli, Michelin, and Continental are well-reputed in the market and have a number of high-performance tires on sale for buyers with different requirements. High-performance tires are made of special material and feature a unique tread pattern, which offers improved grip and better acceleration. It is also important to replace tires at regular intervals to get the best possible performance.

An air-intake is a crucial part of the powertrain, and upgrading to a better unit can result in significantly better performance and acceleration. A cold air intake is a worthy Chevrolet Corvette modification and helps in increasing the airflow to the engine. Cooler air also results in better combustion, all thanks to its rich oxygen concentration. Such setups also include a free-flow air filter to enhance the airflow and reduce restrictions.

Modifications like a cold air intake not only improve the performance and power output of an engine, but also improve the fuel economy by a fair margin. Installing a new cold air intake is a simple and affordable option for those looking to increase the power output from an engine without making a complex or expensive modification.

While the Corvette boasts a practical and a well-laid cabin, upgrading to better and more comfortable seats can be a great choice for those looking to use the Corvette as a daily driver sports car. A number of aftermarket seat options are available, including bucket seats with a variety of upholstery options. Owners can also opt for aftermarket seats with power adjustment for increased comfort and practicality.

In addition to this, a number of other seats are also available in the market which are fit for track use and offer improved support and side bolstering for the occupants. Bucket seats are usually appreciated for their looks and impressive cushioning and support. For the hardcore enthusiasts, light-weight seats are also on sale, which contribute to significant weight-reduction.

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With great power comes greater responsibility, and upgrading to better and more powerful brakes is something which buyers and owners of the Chevrolet Corvette should definitely consider. While the stock braking setup offers impressive performance, it is prone to wear-out fast when used aggressively. A number of aftermarket braking kits are available which offer improved performance and boast minimal brake fade.

As standard, a brake kit includes components like calipers, discs, and performance brake pads. Installing an aftermarket Chevrolet Corvette brake kit is an easy and simple process and does not require a lot of time. Better performance brakes will improve the overall control over the vehicle.

For those looking to increase the overall power output by 15 to 20 hp, upgrading to long tube headers can be a great choice. Long tube headers contribute to a free-flow setup that offers better combustion and increased air supply to the engine.

Long tube headers create a negative pressure in the pipe and pull more exhaust gases out of the combustion chamber (cylinder). This results in reduced backflow pressure, which in turn helps in increasing the air-fuel supply to the engine for the next combustion cycle. It is however important to invest in high-quality and reputed long tube headers to extract the best performance out of the setup.

Aerodynamics play an important role in the way a vehicle drives and handles around the corners. Adding an aerodynamic kit to a Corvette will not only make it look more sporty and aggressive, but will also improve the aerodynamics of the car by a fair margin. Most of the kits consist of various components like a rear spoiler, front splitter, side skirts and rear diffusers.

Installing aero kits is one of the simplest and most effective ways of improving the dynamics of the car. For those considering investing in an aero kit, it is important to note that a number of factors like kit design, build quality, surface finish and mounts play a crucial role in improving the aerodynamics.

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Just like long tube headers, a free-flow exhaust is also a valuable and effective modification for those looking to extract maximum performance from the powertrain of their Corvette. As the name suggests, a free-flow exhaust creates an easy passage for the exhaust gases and a negative back-pressure. These setups are claimed to be lighter and can be an effective option for those aiming at weight reduction.

Increased negative back pressure contributes to better air supply to the combustion camber, thus improving the air-fuel ration and overall power output of the engine. In addition to this, a good free-flow exhaust will also help make your Corvette sound better and sporty. High-quality and effective exhaust systems, however, are expensive and difficult to install.

To further enhance the overall dynamics and control over the vehicle, in addition to improved steering response, owners should also consider upgrading to better sway bars (anti-roll bars). Stiffer sway bars are known to keep a car flatter around corners and result in better handling.

It is also advised to purchase adjustable front and rear sway bars as it offers better control over the vehicle and flexibility as per different driving conditions. It is not only a pocket-friendly option but also a must-have mod for all the Chevy Corvette models. In addition to this, upgrading to better suspension with stiffer dynamics and more effective dampers also complements stiffer sway bars and improve the handling.

Over the years, Corvettes have earned a reputation for being power-packed and fun streetcars that not only boast strong dynamics, but also offer a refined and smooth experience for the occupants. To keep up with the customer needs and expectations, the brand focuses on improving the NVH levels and vibration levels.

Rubber bushings, however, are known to deform under load and thus are infamous for offering less predictable handling. To prevent this from happening, installing urethane bushings is one of the most effective modifications. Urethane bushings are cheap to source and easy to install, while offering noticeable improvements in handling and steering feel.

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For those looking for a better throttle response and controlling the air entering the engine, upgrading to a better throttle body is a great choice. While the stock setup is good and offers impressive performance, a better and more effective throttle body can be a great modification.

A performance throttle body offers better and free airflow, thus allowing more air to enter the cylinders and intake system. A well-executed throttle body upgrade results in noticeable acceleration improvements and significant power increase.

An engineer by education and a motorhead by heart, he loves spending time behind the wheels. In the age of SUVs and crossovers, he still adores old-school low-slung sedans and drools over the Mustang '69.