For all you afraid to drive your C3's
03-24-2017, 12:20 AM
#61
Le Mans Master
you don't need race gas, you need higher octane rated fuel. You can find 93 octane at some Sunocos and if that doesnt do it you can mix the 108 octane maybe 4:1 or 6:1 to get a 96 to 98 octane mix which should prevent detonation. You can do a search in the forum for a better ratio mixture formula. There was a post that someone had done all the work and had a spread sheet. Someone may remember the post. Hopefully you can get it running without breaking the bank for weekly cruises
Race gas comes in several octanes. He can get 100 octane in unleaded and usually around 110 and up in leaded. While the 100 unlead would work, the lack of lead will probably let his aluminum heads wear too much and so he would need to limit the amount of unleaded gas time compared to leaded gas time.
Using an octane booster may be possible, but most of what I have seen recommends race fuel with the 13:1 compression ratio the stock L88 runs. The engine needs a full rebuild either way. The big question is whether to run the L88 pistons or a set that opens the chamber up some to drop to a 10.5:1 ratio. All the changes would be internal and wouldn't be a huge loss of power. Just hard to change up that legendary engine, but it's also not very street able in the stock configuration.
Also, with regards to the racing fuel, since 1996, it has been illegal to have it in your car.
On January 1, 1996, the Clean Air Act completely banned the use of leaded fuel for any on road vehicle. Should you be found to possess leaded gasoline in your car you can be subject to a $10,000 fine.
If you drop the compression, it will not be any fun at all. While you may not notice it, you'll lose probably 30 horsepower if you are running stock exhaust and about 60 hp if you are running headers.
I would consider either keeping it for local driving if you keep the L88 in there or I would build a more modern one that looks like an L88 but is more along the lines of the really big Big Blocks that will run on pump gas. Set the L88 to the side in the garage and still have a car you can drive.
03-24-2017, 03:23 PM
#62
Le Mans Master
Using an octane booster may be possible, but most of what I have seen recommends race fuel with the 13:1 compression ratio the stock L88 runs. The engine needs a full rebuild either way. The big question is whether to run the L88 pistons or a set that opens the chamber up some to drop to a 10.5:1 ratio. All the changes would be internal and wouldn't be a huge loss of power. Just hard to change up that legendary engine, but it's also not very street able in the stock configuration.
Lower the compression, leave everything else the same...Cruising around town, you won't notice much difference anyway, other then you can afford to drive it.
We recently built a 65' 396/425hp and had Autotec(RaceTec) build a custom piston to work with our oem closed chamber heads. We made 445hp (20 over stock) with a bit over a full point less compression....That was with stock intake and exhaust manifolds and a way too small 650 cfm carb pulling 1.7hg of vacuum at WOT. Probably would have made 460hp with a 750 carb. Those pistons aren't cheap tho...
If you do resort to building the high compression engine, look into using Torco or Boostane octane boosters...Those are the only two that actually do something. I still doubt it would be enough to safely run a 13-1 engine at wot though.
Last edited by ajrothm; 03-24-2017 at 03:27 PM.
03-24-2017, 07:09 PM
#63
Racer
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03-25-2017, 07:59 PM
#67
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
First t tops off drive of the season today in ours. We went to a local car show and had a great time. Probably racked up 75 miles today. The cool thing was I parked next to a guy with a Ferarri 328 that has the same philosophy about driving them. He even let me sit in his, which made my day. I've never sat in a Ferarri before.
03-25-2017, 09:26 PM
#68
Dementer sole survivor
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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A guy let me sit on 2016 Vette brand new last summer. It was like a body glove. That made my day. A FERRARI or Lamborghini would be very awesome. Still snow on the ground here and it rained all day. It isn't looking good for the northeast yet. I hope it warms up, I have a ton of work to do on my68
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; 03-30-2017 at 10:24 AM.
03-29-2017, 09:43 PM
#69
Le Mans Master
First t tops off drive of the season today in ours. We went to a local car show and had a great time. Probably racked up 75 miles today. The cool thing was I parked next to a guy with a Ferarri 328 that has the same philosophy about driving them. He even let me sit in his, which made my day. I've never sat in a Ferarri before.
She got to because the guy was impressed she was respectful enough not to lay on/lean on/sit on this other one.
You think that I'm exaggerating, but there were people doing just that who the owners had to chase off. There was one 250-lb "model" who thought she was in a glamour shot while the hood was flexing under her weight and while the owner yelled at her to "Get off my car!" He had to walk over and physically remove her.
Notice the stroller in the above picture.
03-29-2017, 10:02 PM
#70
Burning Brakes
I drove an F40 around a track once, it was glorious. Las Vegas Exotic Racing. Vendor paid for it - one perk of being in IT.
Last edited by AboveTheLogic; 03-29-2017 at 10:02 PM.
03-29-2017, 10:17 PM
#71
Drifting
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Location: NSW, Australia
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C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Lucky bastard! I feel spoilt having had the opportunity to drive a 360 Modena around Maranello, but I'd have given that up in a second for the chance to drive an F40!
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Metalhead140 (03-30-2017)
03-29-2017, 10:44 PM
#73
Pro
I've been daily driving my 79 for 5 years now, and reliably putting 10,000 mils per year on it. This includes multiple trips from MD to Ohio, as well as many other road trips. I took it to NY last week and was having some fun on a section of highway with a 70mph speed limit. It has 3.70 rear gears and a 4 speed behind the original block now making 400+ horsepower. It doesn't matter if it's raining, snowing, or sunny out, that car is on the road.
My 61 is my sunny weather fun Corvette.
My 61 is my sunny weather fun Corvette.
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03-30-2017, 09:26 AM
#76
Have to ask , where did you get that tach? I have the same set up in mine..I have a small tach mounted in the same place...I swapped the original motor on my 73 so the stock tach is useless...
03-30-2017, 10:29 AM
#77
Dementer sole survivor
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They usually have adjustable shift points and light up when its at the determined shift point. I know a lot of drag racers use them because you see the bright light, and you're usually to busy to read what it says
03-30-2017, 04:37 PM
#78
Team Owner
Just thought I'd share a home movie my Dad shot in Super8 in 1973 of a Corvette in a snow storm when we were kids. Fayetteville, NC. I was 10 years old and I still hear myself ask my Dad to "play the Corvette movie" every time he'd breakout the home movies. Yes, I started young.
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AboveTheLogic (03-30-2017)
03-30-2017, 06:12 PM
#79
Le Mans Master
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...FdYvgQodoXALvw
