Getting started with a bone stock Z28
I agree!! I have a 97Z also (M6) that has all the bolt-ons, IMO, the weakest links too these cars are the exhaust & rearends, meaning the exhaust is too choked up & don't breath & the rearends are too weak, you may not want to hear this, but i'll say it anywho, the BEST bang for the buck is nitrous plain & simple, these cars respond VERY well too the bottle, if i ever ran across (& bought) another one that was in stock trim, it would get a 100 shot & stickier tires, would cost less then a grand (with all the goodies) & bust off mid 12s @ over 110 mph ALL DAY LONG with the ONLY exception being the rearend as the weak link, but it can still be done with an M6 if you don't get crazy, i've seen mid 12s out of these cars in pretty much stock trim on a good 100 shot, & it was an M6 car. The 1st. thing i would do is change ALL the fluids/filters/fresh tuneup & flush the coolant, run synthetic 10-30 from now on as a starting point, where you go from there is your call, depending on what you want to spend.
I have yet to a well done, nice looking side exhaust. Everyone i have seen i would call "taco" or something else not too nice.
First place i would start on a 100% stock car would be sub frame connectors. They will make a night and day difference. Umi 3pt. ones are what i would go with.
Next would be a cold air intake. Find one used or make one, they cost so much new its stupid. Be smart and watch the FS section or fab one up from pvc and a large air filter.
Next would be a pcm tune. It will take care of you cooling fans, shift pts, skip shift, rev limiter. Really endless stuff and its only 100, pretty good deal if you ask me. I use Pcmforless.com, talk to brian, hes the best.
Third, pick up a muffler for 100, wait till headers to buy a catback or build a true dual setup. The $100 muffler will give you great sound and 5-10 hp over stock.
Fourth, a set of great tires will do so much for the car. Dont cheap out here, you will be wasting money otherwise on other items.
Good luck.
First place i would start on a 100% stock car would be sub frame connectors. They will make a night and day difference. Umi 3pt. ones are what i would go with.
Next would be a cold air intake. Find one used or make one, they cost so much new its stupid. Be smart and watch the FS section or fab one up from pvc and a large air filter.
Next would be a pcm tune. It will take care of you cooling fans, shift pts, skip shift, rev limiter. Really endless stuff and its only 100, pretty good deal if you ask me. I use Pcmforless.com, talk to brian, hes the best.
Third, pick up a muffler for 100, wait till headers to buy a catback or build a true dual setup. The $100 muffler will give you great sound and 5-10 hp over stock.
Fourth, a set of great tires will do so much for the car. Dont cheap out here, you will be wasting money otherwise on other items.
Good luck.
side exhaust as in ported out the side in front of the rear tire ? my 82 impala has a set up like that and it sounds good. on an F body car tho you might loose some ground clearance depending on how your going to have the pipe come out. i dont particularly like having duel exhaust on a single 3" camaro so when i built mine i went single single. but the GMMG exhaust sounds the best right next to magnaflow. either will do tho 
