I resemble that remark about "older gentlemen... ' What's that got to do with anything? I chose my three Corvettes because of their styling and don't give a hoot about the looks I do or do not get when cruising. The only look that matters to me is the big smile on my face. For a well-spent $100, keep you '82 in tune. You'll still look good and be turning more horsepower than the ricer in the next lane.

 

that's a hell of a lot of work and you still don't have state of the art fuel injection. [Ronald Reagan voice] There you go again, beating your head against the wall when there is an easier way.

 

For $100 you can get a ton of "Go Fast" decals!

 

But it sure was fun, and what was not state of the art about it? it's not any different from all the current TBI systems out there now.

I gave it up because I wanted more power but it sure was fun tinkering with it and isn't having fun a major part of what the hobby is about? I also learned a lot about GM fuel injection...and there's just something about people seeing that it actually was a lowly CFI that just handed them their behinds

 

the fact that it is a throttle body injection unit. You can pick up a bosh port injected system off a camaro or vette for cheap money.

 

you will be surprised at how minimal the performance gain is of a port fuel injection system over the tbi system, the most of the performance is made w/ the heads and cam, even the tpi only had a minimal performance advantage and that was mostly due to the cam and later the roller setup and aluminium heads.

 

The TBI system is much like a carb in that the fuel mixture can be overly lean on some cylinders and rich on others. Its a compromise. But you are right the gains are minimal.

I'm just saying if i say a tbi system for 400 bucks and a sequential port fuel injection system for 400 i would go with the latter.

In your case someone who is knowledgeable can make anything run good.

 

as for throttle bodies, check out ron's flying toilet...also a lowly TBI ?

here's some more lowly TBI's

 

Id make it lighter get a cam and port the heads out yourself

 

There are plenty of things you can do for $100 ish - each though. Headers were already mentioned. If you vette is one of the "computer controlled" ones - i think it is, then a chip might be helpful. If you are able to ditch the computer controls, you can do a cam/lifter change fairly cheap, I'd keep the FI though, and it may/maynot work with a cam change. I replaced the springs/weights in my HEI for some seat of the pants power improvement, cost $9.00, but the computer may control this and not allow for centrifugal advance adjustments. Dual exhaust if your state allows, Junk yard pards are always good if you know what your looking for. If you really search, you can find a good pair of heads, or intake etc. Maybe even used headers. remember, a small block chevy is a small block chevy. the only "corvette only" part may be the air cleaner/intake to fit under the hood. The rest of the parts came from the same parts bin at the General's warehouse.

 

$50K a year right out of HS? Wow. I barely make that now and I'm...well...I'm 29++++++.... $25/hr equiv....wow.....

Jobs here for straight out of HS are $6/hr if you are VERY lucky....$250/wk.

Glad FL is an NFA & carry state! I see I'll be headed your way!!!!

 

I don't know how long you've had the car or what your mechanical knowledge and abilities are, but if you're not fairly experienced in this, I would recommend spend your dollars first on books-- the OEM GM shop manual, a Haynes manual (I like it better than the Clymer or other books, but sometimes the differences between them can be helpful),
definately the Assembly Manual. David Vizard and others write some real good books for general performance, and there are some real good 'Vette restoration & modification books, too. Learn your car first, before you dive into it. Get it tuned and running well, leave it stock and just drive it for a season. You'll come to find your ideas about what you want to do may change in priority, maybe from desire or maybe (maybe??? hahahahahah) from need as you find what's worn out. Talk to everybody, watch here often (the first visit is free, kid, don't worry--you can stop visiting here whenever you want--bwah-ha-ha-ha), read lots, absorb lots, let it compost a while as you save money. It's a black hole and once you open your wallet, the money begins to hemorrhage. But if you have a long term plan it'll be cheaper in the long run....Just ask some of these gezers how much they've saved by having a plan!
Have fun , but don't try to cut corners or go cheapest or you'll regret it later.
John
(p.s.- I too just turned 18--34 years ago....)
(pps- If anyone gives you a hard time about its pathetic power, just quietly smile and say, "Yes, I know. But I'm still driving a Corvette and you're not. Just give me a year or two and then we'll see how it runs, OK?" Then ask his girl to jump in and drive off with her...)

 

I think you need to start thinking like an old (there's that word again) hot rodder. Go to a good library and find a parts interchange book and learn what you may be able to swap out of a junk yard. You can find anything you need to build a better engine if you know what to look for. You can be creative or you can spend a lot of money. You will also learn a heck of a lot more than if you just started putting on after market parts. Where do you think the first stroker motor came from?

 

He probably thought he was posting in the C5/C6 section...

 

 

Your 1st mistake was buying an anemic year

I would change the cam. Thats about your budget and this controls where your power is & how much its going to make, make more lower if streetin around is what you do. Don't get caught up in numbers.

You could also put 4.11s in

 

lol, that's just the problem. Sure i can beat a stock jetta or honda. but a Dodge SRT-4 runs a 13.7. My friends Eclipse GS-T runs 14.1. Everyone else can hang with them, and i defiantly can't. I may have the sex appeal, (Which works wonders, don't you guys wish you were 18) but i defiantly do not have the speed.


p.s. I'm going to college, so the "$100 mods" are gonna be there for about 4 years..

 

It's not the size of the weapon kid,it's the ferocity of the attack....

 

Here you go, put true dual exhaust on it and be done with it till your out of college. I love V8s and the sound of a true dual exhaust system. My vette is by no means modded or super high HP, but SOUNDS like "blub blub blub blub" instead of the ricer next to me like "zzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzziiiiii iii" when he revs. I look over and . Even though he'd toast me off the line.......... They'll never know, nor have the satisfaction. Mine would probably run mid to upper 16's in the 1/4 stock, I've made minor mods but havn't taken to the strip yet. now is probably low to mid 16s.

 

if you want something simple you can get an underdrie crankpulley, dont forget the headers

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