Hi there

I just aquired a Ruby C4 and would like to do some mods to the car. The car currently has 100K miles and will be a "fun driver", not a show car. I was thinking exhaust and suspension...any advice.

Thanks Chris

 

Well don't expect a real performance gain from any cat-back exhaust systems, the factory isn't all that restrictive. That will be for sound pleasure more than anything. It's not to say that there is NO performance to be found in exhaust, just very little.

Long tube headers will help the engine breath easier but that makes emissions a little more tricky so do your homework first. Even then the gain is marginal if the rest of the engine is stock.

Suspension can certainly use work. Poly bushings will stiffen it up, better shocks will help as will different springs and sway bars. You can make it ride any way you want to

For faster drag strip times you can't beat a torque converter and gears for an auto trans. For a manual the single best modification is to learn how to drive it effectively. If you want to start making more HP roller rockers are cheap enough and a fairly decent first project if you're not the most mechanically inclined.

You just have to ask yourself what you want to do. Do you want it to handle better? Go faster in a straight line? Make more horsepower?

The one thing that you can absolutely count on though is to throw away anything you can find from Ecklers, Mid America, Corvette Central, etc. Air foils, MAT relocations, throttle calibrators, etc are all useless junk.

If you want some interesting reading check out my website http://www.wku.edu/~nathan.plemons/h...rformance.html

Oh yeah, WELCOME TO THE FORUM. There are some great people here, and there are a few trolls. Basically if anybody wants to just argue with you for no apparent reason, just let them be. If we all ignore them they'll eventually go away.

 

using my results from my 84', the muffler eliminators yeilded a signifgant drop in et for its 205hp. sound was a improvement too.probobly one of my cheapest mods to date (under $100!)

 

A University in Kentucky??????????? P=W/t.

 

I guess the link doesn't work does it? It's all good now.

 

One of the best things you can do is ensure that there are high quality tires on the car. - Nothing that is done in the engine, by the suspension, or by the brakes has any affect unless the tires transfer it to the road. Start there.

This forum has an 'autocross & roadracing' in addition to the 'wheels and tires' section in the 'general corvette' section. Most of the tire guru's hang out in either of those sections and can give you better advice as to which ones would be best for your application.

After that, I would have to agree that a bit higher stall TC and a bit higher gears do a wonderful job of 'pepping-up' an automatic vette. Don't go too high however. Our engines were designed to opperate in the lower RPM ranges and revving them higher doesn't help much without some major engine modifications.

As for exhaust, I am doing that this weekend. I'll let you know.

 

The cars an auto and totally stock - basicly the car is going to be a commuter and weekend fun. I was thinking gears, suspension,shocks and maybe exhaust - with the car having 100k miles - I really don't think right now's the time to get into the motor.

Advice on gears and suspension...?

-Chris

 

Headers and exhaust for me, best bang for the buck. Good place to start.

 

I have to agree with Fozzy Bear. New tires and new shocks turned my '93 into a whole new safe feeling car. Then I did the gears and exhaust at the same time. Welcome and get that credit card ready.

 

gears where a big help with my car too. if price isnt' a concern then a rearend gear change should give you a big grin. since your an LT1, your car would like what i have which are the 3.54's. if you have 2.59's anything higher would be a great mod!!