Hey guys. It's looking like I very likely will take over a lease on an F56 JCW. As Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, and my family is asking me what I want for Christmas, I figured no reason not to start buying mods.

What are the essential low hanging fruit mods for this vehicle? You can see in my sig the mods I had on my R56 JCW. For example with the Z06 it was Xpipe, throttle body, short throw shifter, and Terry Burger Filter as a ton of testing showed that aftermarket intakes were more or less a waste of money that made the car eventually lose more power than it gained. This F56 has been out a while so I'm guessing there's a certain set of standard mods to be had. I want to keep the warranty and I want the car to be reliable and drivable....although I've never a met a car that was too harsh on the road. Car is coming with a set of aftermarket wheels with proper tires on them so I'm good there.

Handling, power, and making it look even better is important to me. It's a green M6 2017 JCW with red roof, sport suspension, and second set of wheels with pilot sports. I'm not one for changing catbacks as sound without power [let's be real here] is silly to me.

Sway bars still a thing with these? Is there a "right" one to get? Lowering springs? Already ordered a V1 to hardwire as mine is going with the old car. What's warranty friendly and what's not?

Thank you all! I'm beyond excited to be getting rid of my 700hp supercar for a 220hp Mini.

Best,
Gene

p.s. I posted this on JCW but got zero replies in days which is why I'm reposing it here.

 

Black Friday discounts on plug-in modules will give your car an extra kick.

NM or Dinan single sensor boxes are well under $300 and provide a lot of bang for the buck, and the new Dinan Elite can be had for 10% ~ 15% off, or maybe more, and those who have gone the Elite route report satisfaction for the extra loot spent.

Congratulations on getting the car.

 

Thanks man. Just ordered the Elite from WMW. Now I had better get this car!

Best,
Gene

 

CravenSpeed Big Pair
CravenSpeed adjustable short shifter and Pro Clip
Shift **** of your choice (I like the S4S Billy Club)
NM rear sway bar and end links

Since you have the Dinan,and wheels and tires covered I think this would be a good start.
Shifter combination makes it feel 100% better.

 

Recommend the JCW Pro suspension. It made my car much better than it was with the sport suspension. The ride, though stiffer, is still quite agreeable.

 

VIP rear bar on sale $225
I actually have one on my F56.

http://www.vipcustomparts.com/F56%20parts%20page.htm
23mm, Ive had mine set on low for the past 2 months, will be setting it to the stiff tomorrow, haven't seen the rear in front of me yet!!

Just to be fair NM has a 22mm,.

Cant go wrong with either.

You could wait until H&R releases their 23mm in the states, should be anytime.

 

Actually NM has a 22mm solid bar and a 25mm hollow bar. I have been running the 22 set on firm for the last 18 months with no ill effects. Other than getting a little queasy in the twisties.

 

You or the car??

Mine (23mm) has not been squirrly set at soft.
Will try firm now!!

 

Hey guys. So the car is a lease that I'm taking over. I did have the upgraded JCW suspension on my R56 but that was a purchase.

Of these mods, what are easy[ish] to install and remove? I'm hesitant to install the JCW Pro because I know at lease end I wont remove it and it will be a large amount to say goodbye to. If I went with the NM 22 RSB I presume end links are a good idea? As long as the mechanic is in there is there any sense on lowering springs? Do they help the fun to drive aspect or simply make it look cooler/lower? I'm rushing this ***** because of all the deals going on today. lol

Thanks!

Best,
Gene

 

I'm running the 22mm NM and end links and the NM springs. You wouldn't regret any of them. I like the steel vs plastic end links plus there's more adjustability if you need it. The springs lower the car which looks good, but they also improve the handling especially with the sport suspension which happens to be the standard JCW suspension.

 

Thank you. Your car looks phenomenal by the way. Is there essentially no downside to those springs? I remember on the R56 I never went for them and did the JCW instead because of some issue there was with them. I guess the 22mm, end links, springs, and big pair should do the job and it's not so over the top price wise that I'll mind leaving it all on the car when I turn it in. A lot of labor for a shop to do that all?

Thanks!

Best,
Gene

Offtopic what Corvette's did you have? I just sold my 2015 Z06/Z07. Had a C5Z06, C6Z06, and trying to sell my dad's 96 GS. She's still sitting in the garage waiting for the truck....

 

Thanks. I haven't found a down side to the springs and I've had them for ~19 months. Depending on what you're asking for the GS, I have a friend in CO that might be interested. Sounds/looks like you've had some nice Vettes.
I still have my '96 GS clone that I bought new. Did all the clone work myself using OEM parts. Car came with the LT4, 6 speed, and Z51 suspension so it was effectively GS equipped except for some cosmetics, wheels, and the special serial number. I still get asked if it was a factory option. I spent so much time and money on it I doubt I'll ever get rid of it even though it's darn near impossible for me to get in and out of it any more.

 

Whitey, when did you get the Tattoo? I kinda like it...course I'm into those little subtle distinguishing additions.

 

That's me! Subtle are my middle name. It was put on before the last MOTD by the guy that did my roll cage, rear seat delete, and front splitter.

 

Ok guys. I'm going to wait on the springs because my gut tells me I'll eventually go with some coilovers.

Currently I'm stuck between the NM 22mm and NM GT25mm. I read all the threads I could find but it seems there's not a lot of feedback yet. I want it to turn in really nice but I don't want snap oversteer. I want it to be neutral but definitely a little more oversteer than under. That said I am a very experienced driver and used to drive the 700hp car you see above in the snow without incident. Reminder car has the sport suspension so maybe the front bar is thicker as well.

Thanks!

EDIT F it I bought the GT bar with the end links. So I've got those, an Elite, and NM SS brake lines coming. Hopefully I get a Mini to put all this into soon. Next up, shifter and big ***** kit or whatever it's called.

Thank you all! I'll reply to others when I have a moment. Rushing before Cyber Monday is over. lol

 

Awesome vette clone! I had an extra set of GS stripes that I just sent to a friend who made a GS "flip" clone where the stripe is blue and car is white.

As far as the GS I'm asking somewhere around high 20s because the thing has ~7k miles. It's a Z51 suspension car. If you want more info on the car, good and bad, let me know. I'm looking forward to talking vettes and Minis with you.

Best,
Gene

 

Ha! Big *****? I think you mean the Cravenspeed Big Pair. Good mod and only takes a few minutes one you get under the car. As far as the shifter, I would highly recommend the CravenSpeed Adjustable Short Shifter and the Pro Clip. The shifter is available directly from CS or through several of our site vendor/sponsors. There are a lot of pretty, high quality shift ***** available, especially with this shifter. It can take a standard Mini mount type or a threaded ****. I went with function over form and installed a S4S Billy Club **** because even when the shifter is set at it's lowest point the **** is still comfortably close to the steering wheel allowing you to keep both hand on said wheel longer. On the street, not a big deal, but on the track or in the twisties you want both hands on the wheel as much as possible. I sure you know that, but there may be some new guys that don't. If you want I can post a pic of the setup. After the first of the year I'm going with a CS stainless brake handle and changing my Delrin **** to a billet aluminium ****. Let me know if you might be interested in the Delrin ****.

 

If it hasn't been said already... Burger clutch pedal stopper. If you have a manual, that is. Great way to spend $10. My shifts are so much smoother now =)

Craven Speed phone holder.

Jack point pad, if you're doing any of your own work. I have a Burger unit, and just got one off eBay that has a rubber o-ring to keep it in place (haven't tried yet though).

I have the Big Pair, and while it is nice, I don't think it's a "must-have". Not in the same league as springs, rear sway bar, tuner box, shifter.

Oh, black / red vette is sick. Batman level.

 

Thanks guys!

How difficult/easy is the shifter install? I did one on the vette and it took the afternoon but the results were wonderful. Does it improve the feel much? Turn it into more of a bolt action rifle kind of thing? I'd want to keep the factory **** as again this is a lease and I'd rather not have to remove the shifter later on.

So far, before having the car , I've got the following:

stubby antenna
NM SS brake lines
NM 25mm RSB with end links.
Dinan Elite
Pro Clip cell phone holder
I have jacking pucks from the Z06 hopefully they fit the holes.
I've got a ton of black vinyl that I can use to wrap the chrome pieces.

I guess no rush on the big pair as that's a very easy install to do and I can do it whenever.

My only concern is springs. I want zero downsides. I don't want it to be floaty and cheap feeling. I don't want to be slamming bump stops when my wife and kid are in it with me. I'd get the JCW Pro setup but again it's a lease. I would pass on the springs but my concern is I'll be bringing it to a place to install the bar and SS brake lines is it stupid to not change the springs out at that time? I think they have to remove the rear springs to do the sway bar anyway.

Other question is when they do the SS brake lines is there a particular brake fluid I should give them to put in it?

Thanks!
Best,
Gene

p.s. thanks for the compliments on the Z06. The transporter came to my place and took it yesterday. It was sad to see it go. I'm sure once I get this mini the frown will be turned upside down.

 

I believe they started gluing the **** to the shaft at some point, making it very hard to remove. I'd search up on that. I think if you're replacing the lever, might as well do the **** too. Another route- just do the little shaft extension nub. NM makes one, and I think Craven does too. The shifter is a pretty easy thing, took me maybe 2 hours. Yes, the feel is much better! If you're after total precision, you can also do the rear engine mount. That's like $80, and 30 min job.

Springs... well you'd have to go back to stock at the end of the lease anyway, right? So why not go JCW coilovers? (or KW v1, or ST- all are essentially the same design, so they say). And yeah, I'd be inclined to do it while I was up in there, though in reality it's probably only an extra 10 min for the shop to get the car on the lift and wheels off again.

 

Easier to let the car go at lease end with a set of <$300 NM springs than have to swap shocks or as in my case pay someone to do it. Swift now makes springs for the 3rd Gen. That's the route I would have gone if they had been available at the time.

 

Ive never leased a car before but are you even "allowed" to mod a car? Or is it a dice roll like owning a car in terms of warranty etc...

 

Right, I assumed you'd have to take it back to stock yourself. I'd think they wouldn't want to sell it with aftermarket mods on it, or take the effort to bring it back to stock. But I've never leased and have no idea.

 

Personally (not that you asked) why invest the time and money in modding a car you have to give back in 3 years? I mean small things, are ok but why go into suspension work, sway bars, etc... if you know you will have to spend more money to bring it back to original state.

At least with cars you own, you have a remote chance of selling it as is but it doesn't sound like that is the case with a lease.

Im not trying to be a jerk, but it just seems like a lot of wasted money to me.

/beinganadult

 

Well I'm not one to lease cars either, but...

If you buy a car and modify it, it's not like you'll see that money back when you sell it. Maybe, MAYBE you'll get 25-50% of the value of mods, if you find the perfect buyer somewhere like NAM. But then again, a lot of people here would want a totally unmolested car. If you take it to a dealer (I've gotten great offers at CarMax), then for sure you get $0.

And if you're paying a shop to remove parts, you probably just spent the earnings in shop time.

So DIY wins again =)

Or buy a higher performance car to begin with... JCW with Pro exhaust and suspension would tick most of the boxes.