I am looking at buying a 1981 Corvette in a while. The asking price is $11000. Everything is in good condition, and it drives just fine. It comes with the stock engine, in good condition. The one issue I have with it is the fuel economy. I have heard that the stock engine gets 10-14 MPG. Since this will be my everyday car, what can I do to improve this number? I have heard people talk about replacing the engine with a LS1 or LS6.
I would like to get it to at least 18 MPG, but don't really need any performance increases. The stock performance is fine for me, just not the economy. I am a fairly conservative driver and would not be racing the Vette or taking it to shows. I currently have a POS 1991 Camry, and anything is probably better than that, performance wise.
For the two routes, upgrading the engine and stuff, or replacing the engine and stuff, what are the average costs? (Taking into account that my dad and I will be doing as much of it as we can, and leaving the rest to the pros.)
For the first option, upgrading the various parts of the engine, what would y'all suggest and how much would it cost (guesstimate)? The most I have ever done under the hood is put oil in. My dad, on the other hand, rebuilt a few cars way back in the 70s. Needless to say, he will be showing me how to do this stuff.
For the second option, replacing the engine, what do y'all suggest and how much would it cost (guesstimate)? Keep in mind that I don't need a beast of an engine(the stock performance is just fine for me), and just want around 18-26 MPG.
Thanks for y'all's time. Sorry if any of these questions are stupid. I am a complete newbie when it comes to Corvettes and building cars. Also, since I know next to nothing about how engines and stuff are put together, please take the time to explain some of the more *technical* aspects of it if you talk about them. Again, sorry for sounding like an idiot.
By the way, I have looked at the LS engine replacement forum and didn't get too much out of it other than that they get a heck of a lot better economy than the stock engine.

 

Your going to spend no less than $8000 that will buy 2600 gals. of gasoline.I think you could get 18mpg out of that 81.
tiasd

 

A fully stock and operational '81 will get 18 - 20 on the highway.

 

I agree, it will get near 20 with a good tune. Now, the price...
for $11k it needs to be in GREAT shape...No rust, 10' paint, good interior, no rust or at least very little. How many miles?

Upgrade or swap?
Upgrade, no question.
Where are you located? Do you have to do emissions testing?
Some of the best, easiest, most bang for the buck mods is exhaust. Even just replacing the existing cat will help. If you do not have to do smog, you can delete the cat and its associated hardware and go with true duals to get the system breathing better.
If you DO have to smog, then I would go with either true duals with dual Hi Flow cats or a single Hi Flow cat and a stock type system.
I am doing ALL the work on mine and my exhaust system will cost me just under $400. Same thing at a custom exhaust shop would likely run $700 to $800, maybe more.

Post some pics of this thing

 

Best performance increase with an '81 is definitely done by fixing the exhaust. After that you pretty much have to do heads and a cam.

 

Sorry, I don't have any pictures of it. Went out there last night to look at it with my dad, and it looks fine--didn't notice any problems with it except a small rip in the leather on the driver's seat.

I am prepared to spend up to $20000 on this, so repairs/upgrades, etc shouldn't be a problem. I would still like to get a newer engine, as I would think it would be more reliable, as well as having more parts readily available for regular car shops. Plus, a lot of the newer engines, according to Chevy, get around 18 city and 24-26 highway MPG. That is a big factor for me, but not the deciding factor, though.
Where I am right now, there is no emissions testing. However, once I graduate, I will be moving to where there is emissions testing.

Please correct me if I am looking at this from the completely wrong angle.

 

If you buying a daily driver. Pick another car. If you have plenty of cash, don't worry about the mileage and enjoy or put a 5 speed in it, if it has a manual trans. You can also put stick in it, if it's an automatic. About $2500.00

The overdrive is fantastic

 

Maybe I'm a little biased, but I think you're making a good choice with an '81.

I've had my auto '81 just under 3 years, with a stock engine and exhaust system (new, but stock from Corvette Central). I get 17-18 mpg around town (lots of stop & go) and 20-22 mpg on the highway. All the engine & related components are cleaned/rebuilt/new (carb, plugs, plug wires, fuel pump, etc) so I'm not hindering the mpg with inefficient parts.

Upgrading the exhaust system as the other forum members are suggesting would improve the horsepower and mileage (if you can resist the urge to exercise the extra horses). That would be a less expensive first step; you could always replace the engine later.

Good luck!

 

Heyyyy my '81 is a daily driver!

However it kinda sucks as one. Everything I do to mine is to make it better for racing and man does it suck for daily driving. However I live 2 miles from work so I could never justify an overdrive, also I'm getting about 20mpg on the highway right now even with the shorter and wider tires, heavier wheels, and going 70mph at 3000 rpm.

 

I think that most of the above posts have it right. First of all, a properly functioning 81 should be getting much better mileage that what you've found. In all likelihood,, the problem is with the carurator or the computer system and is running full rich.

Second, although the 81's a re pretty reliable in relative terms, it's still a 26 year old car. If you want reliability, a Camry is a better choice.

After all of the above, if mileage is your only concern and you've updated the exhaust (makes a huge performance improvement) you'll get way more bang by changing the transmission to a 4 speed auto (200 4R is my choice but 700R4 works great too) than by either changing to a 4 sp manual or updating the engine.

My .02

 

MPG improvements are more easily obtained by replacing your trans w/an overdrive trans. Gen I small block engine parts are readily available, and a lot cheaper than the LSx engines, and there are a lot more options for Gen I engines. If you want the ultimate C3 daily drive, then the LS6 or LS7 are where you might ultimately want to go. Just remember that their mileage figures are based on vehicles with an overdrive trans.

 

Aight, thank y'all for your suggestions.

So, if I replaced the stock carb and other performance parts like the exhaust system and stuff with new(er) stuff, about how much would that cost? I don't know all the parts involved, or I would just go look it up myself. If I did all those replacements, do you think it would increase the economy to around 18 city and 22+ highway?
Also, how much would the upgraded transmission cost?

By the way, I personally think that the only Vettes worth looking at are the C3 ones. I dunno why, but it might be because the Batmobile is ingrained in my mind as the ultimate badass car.

If it is not too much trouble, could someone list all the parts that could be optimized? I was looking at parts catalogs, and they have a whole heck of a lotta parts that I don't know if they are worth upgrading. Also, could you upgrade the stock exhaust with that from a later model Vette, for example? In case you haven't noticed, I am pretty much just guessing here.

 

This is a good place to get information about your Vette, but don't forget to ask on http://www.eggxpert.com/ for some additional advice.

 

Haha. Yup, I was asking around there first, and they referred me here. Whoulda thought?

 

You'll find the amount of information the members here have is staggering. And they are all more than willing to help out a fellow Corvette enthusiast. You've come to the right place.

 

There is no reason to change the carb. It is an electronic carb and does a very good job. It works with the CCC and the distributor.
With all the work I am doing on mine I am expecting better than 20mpg
And I am expecting it to be fast.
Was it me, I would get the car and drive it for a while before ripping into it.
Figure out what you want to do with it and go from there.
I like the auto trans and built a 2004R for mine, its a 4 speed auto with overdrive.
As far as mods, you can do the exhaust (required for any performance with this engine or any other) $400 to $800
Better heads $700 to whatever..AFR180 is an excellent selection at $1500
Better cam/lifters $180
2004R..$700 to $2000 depending on what you want

The computer command system with the carb and distributor will hang in there for better than 300hp

But I would do the exhaust and drive it a bit, then start mods

 

I was looking at this page, and kinda got lost. I know I am probably just a retard, but I didn't know where to look to find heads or cam. For one thing, I don't know what part of the engine to look under. Also, I don't even know what they do. :o I know, sad, isn't it.

If anyone could help with this, that'd be great

 

your not retarded, just young and confused. Thats the wrong place to look for heads ans cam.
http://www.summitracing.com/
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...10001_10002_-1
try these guys
Don't worry about looking for something Vette specific. Look for V8 350 compatible stuff
Good Heads:
AFR
Brodix
Dart
Vortec

Cams;
Comp
Crane
Lunati


there are others

This WILL get very comfusing if your not an engine guy.
Read, ask questions...don't spend any $$ yet
LOL

 

With the first website, what would you recommend for the parts to buy right off? I have been recommended to just upgrade the exhaust first. Which one would you pick out from the Summit website? How about cams and heads? Also, what exactly would be the benefit of getting a kit instead of just the part? Preferably, I would keep this on the budget side of things--I do have some money to spend on this, but don't want to blow it all on some drag racing quality parts, for example.

Sorry if I am getting annoying. Like you said, I am just young and confused.

 

Wow, everyone, I just realized how much of a dumba*s I actually am. I have been saying it is a 1981 Vette, when it is actually a 1982.

Haha, sorry about that.