454_71Stingray

That one mod that, had you known what what s difference it would make you would have done it first. For me it was the control arm bushings. What was yours?

TheSkunkWorks

Mine was converting from an auto to manual transmission, but I can't say I regret going BB or doing any suspension mods.

Eddie 70

I am really happy with my 5 speed. It really makes driving the car much more enjoyable.

Gordonm

5 speed

Matt Gruber

4 hole carb gasket. who wouldn't want 18 mpg at cruise instead of 11? http://community.webtv.net/MATTGRU/carb

redwingvette

Putting the OD trans, better match for the 3.55 gear I put in 8 years earlier. Better low end gears, improved gas mileage when on long trips, and less motor noise when cruising at 70, (more then 1000rpm's less then before).

KevinK

Recurved the distributer. Litteraly, I did the true duals and full length headers, and got less results that a 4 dollar recurve kit from auto zone. Ran so much better, too.

Billysvette

supercharger by far is my best mod its like putting 2 engines in the car

mrvette

Since i'ts spread out over time hard to say...but here goes....

Wheels/tires 50 series/17" is easy number ONE....

then it's

rack steering, HB brakes, plastic rear spring, Bilstein shocks, that's all in the chassis dept....

DPFI for the engine, and O/drive 200 4r tranny....


the rest is bells and whistles the above is gut level performance....

Matt Gruber

Don't hijack this thread. He is asking for ONE mod, FIRST, ahead of another mod that didn't do the trick. Like the recurve that impressed more than full dual exhaust.

AH HA (defined as unexpected results!)

i changed the jets to 55 from 60, and mpg doesn't go up(no ah ha even if it worked, as good results are expected),
then AH HA, i change the base gasket and it gos up 60% AH HA!

SanDiegoPaul

Finding the 4-bolt main block and building the 383.

Next I'd say it would be the dual spal fans. I tried lots of things to keep the stroker cool when using the A/C and none worked well enough for me. I even tried a single 16" electric fan and built a custom shroud for it. It ran warmer than with the OEM fan/shroud combo.

Now it runs right at what the thermostat is set to: 180*F or, with the A/C on it runs at 195* and I can definitely live with that!

CA-Legal-Vette

I replaced the TH350C in my 81 with a 200 4R because the original transmission was shot and I figured the extra gear was worth the extra cost. Turns out that everything about the OD transmission works better.

An enormous improvement in the feel, acceleration and drivability of the car.

mxscooter

Hey everyone
700R4 and 2200 converter! It's a completely different car - absolutely the single best thing I did, and I did a LOTTA stuff to this car. I even helped build it (well, I disassembled the donor cores and cleaned parts and handed tools around, but I learned a lot about it - it helps to have a friend who owns a transmission shop LOL). Gas mileage is in the low 20's, first gear will spin the rubber off the tires, it will pull almost a whole car length shifting from 1st to 2nd, and overdrive and lockup lets me cruise in the left lane on the way to work, just like a regular ol' stiff
I rebuilt my car from a bunch of boxes and parts, including all the body and paint work - if I knew back then what a difference this would make I would have swapped it out waaayyy long ago.
Next on my list is the hydraulic brake setup from Durangoboy, but that's on the winter project list lol....

rcread

The front differential mount bushing. That think clunked around for a good two years before I replaced it.

navydolfin

hi matt

do you have any pic's of the way you did the spacer/gasket

thanks m8

Jason Staley

3 speed auto converted to 5 speed manual

Matt Gruber

it looks almost like the holley 108-51 or 108-53 (use google for pic)

Brown78

5 speed and Steeroid rack/pinion

Jeff_Keryk

Summit Mini-Starter. The L36 ate a rebuilt starter every year.

couperdecar

OD tranny. TOTALLY different car. Always looking for an excuse to take it out on the highway now. Used to hate it.