Corvette Parts Blog

1999-2008 Corvette Programmer

Whether you need power, performance, or improved drivability; Cortex from Superchips can provide it. The 1999-2008 Corvette Superchips Cortex Programmer includes multiple tunes with dyno-proven power and advanced data acquisition, plus it is the only programmer on the market that comes with an industry exclusive two-year vehicle powertrain warranty. For more information on how to use the Cortex programmer on your Corvette, click to download a pdf version of the Cortex Programmer Instruction Manual.

Proven to add 11.7 horsepower and 11 lb-ft of torque on the stock C6 LS2 Corvette engine, the Superchips Cortex Programmer provides you the ability to safely tune your Corvette without the risk of lowering the overall performance of the car. Some tuners are only recommended for professionals, but the Cortex offers an advanced tune without risking damage to your Corvette. In the event that damage to the engine or transmission is a direct result from the programmer all problems will be covered in Cortex’s 2 year powertrain warranty, which only includes vehicles that have less than 100k miles.

Cortex Dyno Test - LS2

Features of the Cortex Programmer include:

• 2 year powertrain warranty
• Diagnostic library retrieves, displays and clears DTC’s
• Easy installation
• Internet updates
• Supports wheel, tire, and gear swaps
• Log performance times and speeds
• Enhance shift firmness
• Adjust shift points
• Eliminate speed limiter
• Recalibrate speedometer for larger tires
• Adjust RPM limiter
• Choose between three tuning levels

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We have recently added 1963-1969 Corvette Bellhousing Front Inspection Covers to our C2 and C3 Corvette Parts inventory. These bellhousing inspection covers are an exact reproduction of the the original covers installed on 1963-1969 Corvettes. These covers are designed to work with 10.4″ Corvette Clutches and a 3.25″ starter hole. Some replacement bellhousing front inspection covers have been available for a while. We are proud to say that we now offer the most correct 1963-1969 Corvette bellhousing inspection covers the Corvette Parts industry has to offer. Another new Corvette part from Zip!

1963-1969 Corvette Bellhousing Front Inspection Cover

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We have carried 1958-1962 Corvette Park Light Assemblies for a while and we are now proud to offer them for 1953-1957 Corvettes. The 1953-1955E and 1955L-1957 Corvette Park Light Assemblies include pre-assembled lenses, bezels, gaskets, reflector cups, bulbs, sockets, and grommets with the correct wiring harness and mounting brackets. Both kits come as a car set and will restore that brilliant showroom look to the exterior of any C1 Corvette. Visit our 1953-1962 Corvette Headlight & Lamp section to see all of our C1 Corvette headlight components, bulb kits, park light assemblies and more.

1953-1957 Corvette Park Light Assemblies

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2006 and up C6 Corvette owners can now install a high performance air filter without swapping out their factory Corvette intake. The new low restriction, washable, O.E. replacement C6 Corvette Attack Blue Air Filter fits LS3, LS7, & LS9 equipped Corvettes. Zero modifications are required to install the air filter as it is simply a high performance replacement for the stock air filter.

C6 Corvette Attack Blue Air Filter

The Attack Blue air filter is an excellent alternative to aftermarket C6 Corvette Air Intake Systems because it will not void your Corvette’s warranty. Its patent pending low restrictive open design and narrow back, allows the greatest amount of air to rush through the air filter with the least amount of turbulence over any O.E. replacement filter on the market! More free flowing air results in quicker throttle response, more torque & power to your Corvette’s rear wheels. Stock Corvette air filters can clog over a short period of time, resulting in a loss of power. The cotton media used in the C6 Corvette Attack Blue Air Filter helps keep your Corvette breathing freely. Fits C6, Z06, Grand Sport & ZR1 Corvettes.

C6 Corvette Attack Blue Air Filter Quick Facts:

• Flows 45% more air than stock air filter
• Narrow back design helps eliminate “power robbing” turbulence
• Quicker throttle response plus an increase in torque & horsepower
• Filtrates down to 5 microns (a human hair is 50 microns!)
• Washable and reusable for extended use
• Reinforced base prevents warping and leaks
• Sturdy stainless mesh designed for high CFM.
• Direct fit in your stock GM intake
• Made in the USA!

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C5/C6 Carbon Fiber Driveshaft

Stock C5 & C6 Corvette aluminum driveshafts can “whip” at high RPM’s, which can eventually lead to a bent or broken driveshaft. By upgrading to a carbon fiber Corvette driveshaft you will not have to worry about bending or breaking your Corvette’s stock driveshaft as the carbon fiber will not change shape at high RPM’s. Zip’s new carbon fiber driveshaft is stronger and lighter than the stock driveshaft and unlike the factory setup, you will not have to worry about vibration issues caused by bends or breaks. In the event of a driveline failure the carbon fiber driveshaft will “broom”, which will just polish the inside of the torque tube instead of causing a complete failure.

Our carbon fiber driveshaft will bolt-in to a 2001-2010 C5/C6 Corvette with a manual 6 Speed Transmission and provide instant reliability and safety for any C5/C6 Corvette owner who enjoys pushing the limits of their Corvette. If you own a 1997-2000 Corvette and would like to upgrade to a carbon fiber driveshaft you may do so but will have to upgrade your Corvette’s 10mm torque tube to the newer 12mm tube found in 2001 and later Corvettes. The carbon fiber driveshaft is a must have if you are involved with any type of racing or are looking to add impressive acceleration to your Corvette.

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This week’s Corvette question comes from Mike who owns a 1993 C4 Corvette.

How do I adjust the windshield wipers on my 1993 Corvette?

C4 Corvette Windshield Wipers

Despite their notoriety as a high-performance car and their innovations in design and technology, the C4 Corvettes had their fair share of imperfections. One common problem is with the C4 Corvette Windshield Wipers. Although only a minor flaw, the wipers on many of these Corvettes are not properly adjusted to rest beneath the hood when turned off. When the wipers do not park correctly, they can scrape the black paint on the window trim, resulting in unsightly scratch marks on the trim and blemishing the aesthetic appeal of the  vehicle. Fortunately, this minor problem can be easily corrected. All you need is a ratchet, 10mm socket, a flat-blade screwdriver, and no more than 20 minutes of your time. This simple adjustment will allow your Corvette’s wipers to rest below the hood line and prevent your Corvette’s window trim from being scratched again.

C4 Corvette Wiper Access Plate

After opening the hood of your Corvette, look in the direction of the wipers where you will see the wiper transmission access plate. Remove the plate with a flat-blade screwdriver by carefully prying up on it. Not all C4 Corvettes have this plate, if you don’t simply remove the entire grill. Once the access plate or grill is removed you will have access to four retaining nuts. Loosen them with a 10mm socket but be sure not to remove them as reinstalling the nuts can be very difficult. Last, gently push the wiper arms towards the firewall. You will need to adjust both arms to avoid interference between them. Adjust the arms until they do not hit the windshield molding or they are below the hood line.

Once you have your Corvette’s windshield wipers adjusted properly you can tighten them down. Be sure not to over tighten or you could snap the stud on the linkage. Now check the adjustment. Close your Corvette’s hood and have someone spray water on the windshield while you operate the wipers. (Don’t operate the wipers without water on the windshield or you could permanently scratch the glass). Make sure the wipers are no longer hitting the windshield molding. Switch the wipers to high to check that they are not contacting each other or binding up. If they are contacting, then readjust them until they no longer contact each other. The same applies if they are still hitting your Corvette’s windshield molding. Once your adjustment is satisfactory, replace the access plate or grill and your job is done.

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In 1965 through 1967, Chevrolet gave customers the option of adding side exhaust to their Corvette. Though there were over 70,000 Corvettes produced during this time period, only 11% left with the factory installed Corvette Side Exhaust Package. If you’re thinking it is time to replace your already installed Corvette’s side exhaust or you would like to swap your 1963-1967 Corvette’s Exhaust for a side exhaust package, we can point you in the right direction.

Corvette Side Exhaust Diagram

First you will need to decide whether you would like to go with the carbon steel mufflers, aluminized mufflers, or stainless steel mufflers. All muffler systems are authentic in looks and are proudly made in the USA. With carbon steel you will be getting the closest to factory original as you can get. Carbon systems include jig welded header pipes with an aluminized steel 2.75″ chambered section as original, and correct 2.75″ chrome plated exhaust tips. Aluminized mufflers are an excellent choice if you want an OE style muffler but much longer life than true originals. The aluminized steel header pipes are jig welded and include an aluminized chambered center section. Exhaust tips are 2.75″ of polished stainless steel for lasting good looks. The stainless steel systems will produce near forever performance. The jig welded 304 stainless header pipes include a stainless (inside and out) 2.75″ chambered section and 2.75″ polished stainless exhaust tips.

Corvette Side Exhaust

If you are looking for aluminized or stainless mufflers and want to replace your Corvette’s Side Exhaust System or add side exhaust to your 1963-1967 Corvette we have pre-assembled packages that will provide all the necessary components to get the job done. All Corvette Exhaust Packages include new reproduction exhaust covers, trim moldings, aluminized or stainless mufflers, and all mounting hardware. If a package like this is what you want but in carbon steel, we can easily put together a package that includes the carbon mufflers as well. For more information on a Corvette side exhaust package with carbon mufflers contact customer service here and we will provide you with the details.

Aside from complete Corvette exhaust packages, we also have individual side exhaust components for those who need to replace a few mount brackets or missing bolts. These items can be found in our Corvette Parts Catalog or our C2 Corvette Exhaust section on our website.

If you have spent time and money making your 1963-1967 Corvette’s Exhaust look and sound just right, adding our Corvette Side Exhaust Cover Protectors may not be a bad idea. They will help protect the front most edges of your Corvette’s Side Exhaust Covers from scratches and road rash that are very common on 1963-1967 Corvettes with side exhaust.

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C6 Corvette Clutch Assembly

The LS9X Corvette Clutch Assembly is your answer to any C6 Corvette clutch woes. The new high performance yet dependable twin disk clutch assembly utilizes an aluminum flywheel with a stock ZR1 twin disk clutch. It has been rated to handle 700 rear wheel horsepower and is as drivable as your stock Corvette clutch. In the past you would have to make do with poor drivability so that your Corvette’s clutch could handle more power, with the C6 Corvette LS9X Katech Twin Disk Clutch Assembly you get the best of both worlds. The LS9X is 8lbs lighter then the stock Z06/LS7 clutch and will not produce the rattle associated with other clutches while your transmission is in neutral. By utilizing an aluminum flywheel every C6 Corvette owner, excluding ZR1 owners, can bolt this twin disk clutch assembly in without any modifications.

Features of the C6 Corvette LS9X Katech Twin Disk Clutch Assembly:

• Fits C6 Corvettes including Z06 (excluding ZR1)
• High performance twin disk clutch assembly
• Clutch disks and pressure plate from the C6 ZR1
• Aluminum flyweel with 6 bolt pattern for standard LS engines
• Includes slave cylinder
• Includes pressure plate bolts
• 8lbs lighter than the stock Z06 clutch
• Drives like a stock ZR1 – stock pedal feel
• Proven to hold 700 rear wheel horsepower
• No neutral noise or chattering

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C6 Sprint Booster

We are always looking to take advantage of every square inch of the C6 Corvette. One way to see that this happens is to install a Corvette Sprint Booster Power Converter. The sprint booster will eliminate the delay between your gas pedal and the throttle body that is common on all drive by wire systems. The sprint booster changes the opening rate at which your Corvette’s Throttle Body opens in relation to the gas pedal operation and decreases the amount of time to achieve full throttle. This helps reaction times at the drag strip, and also helps to accelerate quicker out of turns on the road course. The C6 Corvette sprint booster gives real time control over the acceleration of your Corvette’s Engine and the best part is that it fits all 2006 and later Corvettes including the Z06 and ZR1.

Sprint Booster Graph

The sprint booster requires a simple plug-n-play installation that takes just a few minutes and delivers instant response throughout the C6 Corvette’s power band making accelerating and rev matching incredibly more fun. In the data graph to the right you can see the test car in red, which had the sprint booster installed, accelerated at a much faster pace then the same test car without the sprint booster through each test run. There is no doubt that by adding this sprint booster to any C6, Z06 or ZR1 Corvette that the car will reach full throttle at a significantly faster pace then the stock setup, allowing you to take off and accelerate out of turns at a much faster pace.

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Corvette CV Joint Boots

Though they may not seem like much your C5 or C6 Corvette’s Inner & Outer CV Joint Boots play a key role in keeping your Corvette on the road. They are prone to cracking or splitting, which can have multiple negative effects on the drive-ability of your Corvette. Besides allowing contamination into the CV joint itself and causing premature wear of the bearings, cracked CV joint boots allow grease to be slung out of the boot, which can saturate your Corvette’s Brakes.  This would not only cause an increase in braking distances but can also ruin your Corvette’s brake pads and rear rotors. If you have replaced your Corvette’s rear brake components or upgraded to performance brake pads & rotors, you know that brake rotor and pad replacements can get very expensive.

Until now the only sure way to avoid damage from bad CV joint boots was to replace the expensive CV axle shaft, which comes with new inner and outer CV joint boots. With the recent addition of our C5 & C6 Corvette Inner & Outer CV Joint Boot Kits you can now replace your Corvette’s CV joint boots without spending hundreds of dollars for the entire axle shaft. We have inner and outer CV joint boots for all C5, C6, Z06, Z51, Grand Sport, & ZR1 Corvettes. Each kit includes one inner or outer boot, clamps, & the correct amount of grease to replace a single boot.

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