Calderone

how about the camry v/s vette statement above

stranded

quitter

85L98-84L83

camry not cool
vette cool, nuff said.

85L98-84L83

People make fun of me, "why do you have two cars that are the same".

Response

Then I say I have two of everything. The ladies like that, but I don't get it

85L98-84L83

Is this topic dead

85L98-84L83

Oh thats me:o

85L98-84L83

L98 can beat a L83, I know because I make the wife drive the L83, I win every time.

RogerZ06

The reason they get no respect is because low hp from factory.

Calderone

im still waiting

Dale1990

OK...

Some of us have jobs that require we rest periodically and can't spend all night on the Forum.

To answer:

I said the Vette would barely beat the Camry and 268/248 is pretty damn close to 250/350 as far as usable performance in the real world. Its nice that people can come here for a nice ego-stroking but in the real world the L98 is far past its prime.

There is, of course, potential to mod the L98 past a Camry fairly inexpensively but then it ceases to be an L98 and becomes just another hopped-up SBC.

Obviously, the handling and suspension of the C4 is still somewhat competitive, but the OP was about the engine.

Calderone

You are right Dale,but nowadays ..who has a stock stock L98 ?
even myself ...im modifying to add a little punch to it
i hope so
Im not an egomaniac but i defend my L98 it feels strong
Camry didnt feel strong when i test drive it
i dont know why,different sensations night and day differences !!!
i really hope to make a nice respectable L98 out of mine

zr1fred

Best answer yet! When you mod a L98, it ceases to be a L98.

silverja

Dale, I agree. I cannot think of any 20 year old motor that cannot be past its prime. The L88's that some folks pay over $500K for in 67 Corvettes is a great example. Today's stock Corvettes would easily beat them in performance. Just the nature of design evolution. Twenty years from now this same conversation will likely be conducted concerning the C6 motor. My intent with this threaad was to say not to judge the past performance by later date entries especially with Corvettes.

Enough has been said and it is probably time to stop this thread.

dclafleur

Amusingly enough a new V6 Camry lists for about the same price as a new '85 vette listed for...

Red Tornado

why not judge yesterday's engine. both L98 and LT1 are inadequate. if you're driving it today, count it today, it has to be compared today, and whether you like it or not, it will be judged as of today. i always laugh at someone who starts talking about "back in its day". WTF cares -- its an inapplicable, hilariously weak argument. you base your judgement are on you drive NOW.

the basic answer is the L98 was broken, fresh out of the factory. it should have been more, but it was choked with an inapplicable intake and band-aided exhaust configuration. 50chp was left on the table, and there's absolutely no excuse for it...........then again the upcoming LT1 had to have its existence justified.

the only way i'll ever own another C4 down the road i if the engine was already fully, extensively modified, including plenty of cubes. 'cuz stock base C4's are slow, and slow should never be the defining feature of any corvette. that's why the mid and late stock C3's have always been laughed at.

dclafleur

Is that Hot Rod underneath that name Don't forget the compromised bastardization of a manual transmission. Most cars come from the factory with a lot of compromises built into them. That's why there is money in aftermarket parts and performance.

I like my L98, it does exactly what I expect it to. I think using the technology of the time they did a darn good job of meeting federal emissions, fuel efficiency, and safety requirements while producing an affordable sports car that outperformed most sports cars of the time.

I also know that I'm not going to line up against a new Mustang GT off the showroom and beat him at the track if the driver is any good.

INaband

I like mine, ...it's fast enough for me

capevettes

I have a little different take on the L98. It will not keep up with anything after it but it does make great low end torque and is fun to drive in almost any regular driving situation except flat out. It simply runs out of breath over 4500 RPM's. I have owned a C5 and a C6. They were both faster but I really consider my 85 Z51 4 speed more fun to drive. The handling is terrific and the low end torque in about 80 percent of NORMAL driving is terrific. Hey the first Corvettes were 6 cylinders and nobody is putting those cars down.

dclafleur

Those early corvettes look dated and old, their appearance doesn't compare to the other cars on the road. Aerodynamically they have way to high of a drag coefficient compared to a new Camry and the suspension and braking is downright primitive.....

Red Tornado

indeed thanks for noticing

you must mean the 4+3. i like the ZF, at least mine anyway since it feels solid and shifts true (the hurst shifter really helps, the stock one SUCKED). i cannot comment at all about a 4+3, never drove one.

but you're right, factory stock is all about a potpurrie of compromises, tied to budgets. the bean-counters own every process. then you have tolerance stack, but thats pretty minor. indeed, the aftermarket is there to fix the broken factory crap.