what can a retired crippled person do to an 81 to gain some HPs that won't break the bank. I live in California the ****'s of smog control. I have thought about headers and modified exhaust, and maybe FI. The car has 125,000 miles and runs like a new one because the previous owners took excellent care of the car.
I'd like to get 75 to 100 HP more than the original 190HP.
I live by Disneyland in Southern California. I need a minor amount of body work and matched paint to fix the minor flaws and just paint to cover the body work.
If anybody knows this Vette expert i would appreciate the info.
I just want the HPs and the minor flaws fixed and painted so the car remains stock and looks and runs great. Thanks for any info for this Vette guy

 

If you're looking for the quick, simple fix, you might consider a new crate motor. Between $3,000 and $4,000 should get you close to the horses you need. That's the route I'm taking somewhere in the future. That's mostly because I don't have a lot of free time and would rather just swap engines and be ready to go. Also, I like the thought of a new motor in my 32 year old car.
KC

 

an 81 with that computer controlling your dizzy,carb and loc up converter is no easy hop-up( i got rid of it all ). exhaust is certainly an improvement. i think the answer for you my friend is heads and cam and hopefully that previous owner put in a set of flat top pistons. basscats crate motor is a good idea too. speed is just a question of money , how fast do you want to go?

 

Get an HEI which will get your car off the computer. Headers are a big help, 1 5/8" pipes will be fine. If the engine is in that good of shape, I don't think I'd tear it down, just do a cam swap. Something in the 215 - 220 duration at .050 will give it a good bit of spunk but not make it hard to drive and you won't have to swap the torque converter, should even pass emmissons. Get the carb tuned by somebody that knows what they're doing. If you're still running the highway gears the 81's came with, swap 'em for some in the 3.36 - 3.50 range, that will help a lot. You should be able to do all these without spending a ton of money and you'll get to keep the engine that's in the car now.
Good luck, keep us posted. My '81 is going under the knife in about a month. A new engine, tranny, rearend, brakes, interior and paint are in the works for mine. I'll have a new car when I'm done, don't expect to have to redo any of this in my lifetime.

 

I have to take exception to the suggestions that you should get rid of the computer/ distributor (and you would also have to get rid of the carb, they all three work together). There is ZERO benefit to replacing those items unless you are going for a full out racing car. As a matter of fact, you would be downgrading. I have between 350-400 hp with the CCC system in place and I get great gas milage, and I have not even come close to the Performance limitations of the original carb/ distributor/ computer.

As far as how you get more hp in California, here are some suggestions that don't include throwing money away for nothing:

1. The exhaust is a performance killer, but I'm not sure what you can get away with in Cali. High flow cat and mufflers? Larger pipes, headers? I'm pretty sure duals are out, although I have never understood why. Check around, there are people out there who do good exhaust work cheap. I got a true dual, turbo muffler, ceramic header system for less than $500, huge performance difference.

2. Increase your base timing to 14 BTDC, a few free ponies.

3. Install a Comp Cams XE262H Cam, be sure to use proper break in proceedure, break in lube and use an oil with proper zinc levels. Again, under $500.

4. Read up on Quadrajet carbs and learn how to adjust the throttle plates, Air valve stop/ tension spring etc. for max efficiency. Virtually free.

5. Hypertech Thermomaster chip. A slight performance advantage, not a lot, but it only costs about $150.

God bless, Sensei

 

!! That's where I'm at too!!!

 

The real problem is California smog laws. You may find a crate motor, like a modern LT1 or LS1, with a cmputer and fuel injection that will be approved by the smog police. Most crates will NOT pass smog, ie. the GM 350 HO or ZZ4. Altenatively, you can rebuild and tune your stock motor, conservatively, but intelligently, to get more power and still pass smog. Keep your Q jet and CCC. Add CARB legal aluminum heads, like the Edelbrock Performers, 64 or 70 cc, and 170 runners. You'll need to keep your stock intake, or get a replacement with EGR. Find a mild, torquey cam. Find small dish pistons. You will need to retain the closed air cleaner assembly and AIR pump. You cannot add headers or true dual exhaust. You can replace the factory exhaust with new 2 1/2 diameter pipes and a modern cat, like a 3" Magnaflow, and new mufflers. The Summit and Jegs catalogs. and Chevy small block rebuild books are a good place to start. Good luck.

 

I forgot about the smog issues in Ca., but my main reason for suggesting a crate motor was that you stated in your original post that you were crippled. Things like swapping heads, cam, exhaust etc. could be trying for someone with a disability. Paying someone by the hour to do it could get expensive. I think a crate engine would be the simplest way for you to go, given your circumstances, and get you back on the road in the shortest time. Rebuild or crate, either way it'll cost you a few thousand. You might do some research and see which, if any, crates conform to California standards. Good luck either way. Nice looking car you have. Nothing looks better than a black Vette, except a Red one. lol.
KC

 

Hedman Headers does make CARB legal set of headers. For repair/body work, I like J&D Corvette in Bellflower. There is also Corvette Jacks in Santa Ana I believe.

 

Keep her tuned and leave her alone. She already passes CA smog laws. Keep the rest of the money in your pocket.

 

these long tube headers come with the AIR attachments. along with the heads mentioned above (Performer) with a smaller chamber should get you safely there and remain in the smog ****'s good graces. Also, replace the HEAVY, stock Cat with a smaller hi-perf one along with some perf mufflers. you could go even further and convert to elec fans and underdrive pulleys for a few more ponies.

Like Sensei posted, your CCC can support this HP goal

 

I am just about to pull the comp off my 81 for a couple of reasons. First all of that wiring looks crappy and I can dress it up better without it. The smog is already gone as is the EGR. Second I can tune a non comp motor fairly well, the CCC not so much. It may be possible to pick up mileage with a CCC but I can't find that combo. Most who have made the switch don't regret it, I am glad it works well for some but others like me want to go back to old school, as a matter of fact mine runs great now, but I still plan on pulling it off, I hate that E4ME. And in OK we have no enforcement of squat. :O)