For your situation, I'd honestly focus on the most cost-effective cooling mods before chasing more PSI. In my experience, the C7 platform is basically a heat sponge, right? Since you're on a $5-7k budget, I'd definitely grab the DeWitts Direct Fit C7 Z06 Auxiliary Radiator for the manual cars or their upgraded main unit if you're auto. It's way more effective than just adding a bigger tank tbh.

For power that actually sticks, skip the fancy intakes for a second and look at the AWE Tuning Touring Edition Axle-Back Exhaust—it sounds insane and saves weight. For the aero, highkey just go with the EOS Stage 3 Front Splitter and Side Skirts in flash-painted carbon flash. It looks identical to the OEM carbon fiber from five feet away but costs *way* less, leaving you more cash for tires. Basically, spend on cooling first or you're just paying for power you can't even use... gl!

Honestly, I was in your exact shoes last year with my C7. I went the pulley route first and it's a blast, but yeah, the heat soak is REAL. I actually had a scary moment on a mountain run where the car pulled timing so hard it felt like I hit a wall. So, I’ve learned to be a bit more conservative with the build to keep things reliable.

For your budget, I'd definitely prioritize cooling before adding more boost. Here’s what I’d grab first:

* LG Motorsports Super Cool Z06 Intercooler Reservoir – This adds much-needed fluid capacity to combat that heat soak you're worried about.
* Halltech Stinger RZ Cold Air Intake – This is basically the gold standard for C7s; no tune required and it actually breathes.
* GripTec Upper Supercharger Pulley 2.30 – Gives you that extra kick without going totally overboard on the blower speed.

For the exterior, the EOS Stage 3 Carbon Fiber Front Splitter and Side Skirts is lowkey the best bang for your buck. Carbon fiber looks amazing but it's fragile, so maybe stick to the painted flash if you're worried about rock chips. Just be careful with those steep driveways! gl with the build!

Seconding the recommendation above. Honestly, in my experience, if you dont fix the heat issues first, youre basically just throwing money away cuz the car will just limp anyway. I've tried many setups over the years and safety is highkey the most important thing if you're actually gonna push it.

My top picks for a safe/fun build:
* **Cooling:** Just get a big radiator and maybe some upgraded lines from any of the big names like CSF or DeWitts. It saves the engine.
* **Brakes:** You gotta upgrade ur pads and fluid. Look at stuff from Hawk or Wilwood... seriously, dont ignore the stopping power!
* **Aero:** For the exterior, I'd go with any carbon fiber kit from a brand like APR Performance. It looks sooo much better than the flash-painted stuff and holds up better to road debris.

Basically, bulletproof it first then chase the PSI later. gl with the build!

For your situation, I'd definitely lean toward a more conservative approach because those C7s get hot SO fast. If ur worried about heat soak, instead of just a reservoir, I'd look at the LG Motorsports Super Cool G-Series Heat Exchanger. It’s a bit of a beast to install but basically keeps the temps way more stable than the stock unit during long drives.

I honestly think u should compare a bigger heat exchanger vs a secondary radiator. Option A (Heat Exchanger) helps the supercharger coolant directly, which is great for power consistency. Option B (Secondary Radiator), like the Dewitts C7 Corvette Z06 Secondary Radiator, focuses on the engine oil and water temps, which is safer for the motor long-term. Personally, I'm super happy with just doing the cooling first before adding more boost!

For the look, the ACS Composite Stage 3 Front Splitter in Carbon Flash looks amazing and matches the factory trim perfectly... plus it's way cheaper to fix if u scrape it than real carbon fiber lol. Gl with the build tho! 👍

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Building on the earlier suggestion, the cooling-first approach is 100% the way to go. Everyone here is totally spot on about the heat soak issues! Honestly, if you are doing the work yourself, you can stretch that $7k budget really far without buying stuff you dont need.

• Weapon-X Track Attack Heat Exchanger
• Incredible surface area for cooling and fits the stock mounts perfectly. DIY install is a bit tight but manageable.
• Katech Ported LT4 Throttle Body
• Fantastic for getting rid of that initial lag, and it is a super easy 20-minute job in the garage.
• ACS Composite Z06 Rear Spoiler Wickers
• These look mean as hell and give you that aggressive stage 3 look for way less than a full wing swap. Tbh I love the idea of a ported throttle body because it makes the car feel way more alive without stressing the engine with extra boost yet. Definitely stick to carbon flash for the aero if you are gonna actually drive it hard... it is way easier to touch up than raw carbon fiber if you catch a rock on the highway. Let me know if you need the torque specs or a tool list for the install, glad to help out a fellow owner!