This is probably duplicated 10,000 times over in the back pages here in the C4 forum area, but I need a quick answer, so sorry for the repetition.

A sort of low mileage (58K) 85 4+3 coupe has turned up in Michigan that I might like to go see (about a 2 1/2 hour drive).

I have spent my time focusing on how to up the performance on my '96 LT1 so I have not really paid much attention or done any research (as to the availability of solutions) on the older engines other than reading threads about intake manifolds.

So, are products still available to tune the 85's (regardless of what the technology is, just is it available) etc without having to pull the EFI and go back to a carb or change it to one of the more modern, stand alone EFI setups ?

I still have a desire to get a stick shift car. The '96 I have is too nice to sell (wouldn't get anything near what we have into it). The '85 is at a car dealership and has been sitting there for months. If there is the ability to up the performance without spending the proverbial arm and a leg (now I don't mean chump change just not the price of another car).

The engine is just a small block. Doesn't have the limitations/issues the 2nd gens do. It is the electronics/fuel induction system I lack in knowledge of. (not air induction, just the fuel, I will have an extra LT1 manifold that can be converted, or just buy one of the newer Edelbrock's that came out recently etc)

Thanks

 

Where in Mi ?
If its in Lansing, Ill go take a quick look and at least tell you if its a total waste of time to drive up ...

 

It is in Troy. I have been wanting to go on a day trip. Cabelas is on the way in Dundee. (I live outside Akron, Ohio).

 

Yeah with traffic, you are almost closer than me.
Good luck if you decide to move on it.

 

How much is an arm and a leg? Supercharging is probably the best bang for the buck. Heads/Cam/exhaust might be the best option.

 

That is the mechanicals. I need to know about the electronic standpoint. As for a blower, for the cost of those I can convert the '96 to a stick.

Cams are cheap, headers can or cannot be. I have built a '65 327 in the past, the mechanicals I know about. Underneath that parts that squirt the fuel, it is just a Gen 1 small block.

Getting around/working with the electronics of a 1985, that is what I don't know about yet.

 

For tuning take a look at Moates.net site. They have the cables to connect to the car and the devices to burn a new chip. It is not too expensive and can offer you a lot of flexibility.

For performance upgrades, there are probably many thousands of ways a small block can be modified. I would take a look at Scoggin-Dickey parts for a set of Vortec heads and an intake manifold to fit them. That combination should get you to about 300 hp or similar to the LT1. Adding a cam and headers will up it more. The stock '85 exhaust manifolds are horrible so headers will help a lot. Just my $0.02

I had an '85 4+3 for about 25 years so I am partial to them an like them a lot.

Good luck.

 

that is what I was asking about. Thank you !

the rest of it is just a small block.

 

I'm not sure if it will help you or not, but I have an 85 with 4+3 you are welcome to come look at. I live in W. Akron. This weekend I plan to change the filter and fluid in the OD pan and drain and refill the trans and differential.

 

that would be cool, look at your PM's

 

The 85 L98 just lasts. Heads suck and exhaust sucks. To get some HP out of things, your either going to have to add cam, headers, heads, might want to convert to a roller lifter (but almost cheaper to get a lifter block) and go to dual exhaust. One of your roadblocks will be finding a good intake. Then the critical part will be the tune.

My son took my 85 with the ZZ4 that I built and added long tube headers. Then replaced the AFR 180 heads with the AFR 195's. It still needed to be tuned. But he was running 12.6 thru the quarter on the setup with automatic and 3.07 gears.

 

Drcook,
There are still several options regarding the L98 platform and lets be serious my arm and leg maybe worth more then yours or vice versa. If the C4 your looking at is a manaul transmission car you just helped your performance needs greatly as it should have a Dana 44 diff.

The performance restrictive flow area of the stock L98 engine is the long tube intake system, which can be overcome by using better heads and the TPIS miniram intake which will provide Hp gains all the way through 6000 rpm, the stock L98 is flat at 4800 rpm.

Injection and programing... You can place whatever Bosch injector you choose for yor needs i.e 30 lb injector on the intake, once you get the vehicle running a good performance shop can dyno and tune the engine ecm / car providing you with max hp and reliability at the wheels.

I have around 375 hp at the wheels using my L98 platform which is now confrigured to a 383 with, ZZ409 roller cam, dart Pro1 200 aluminum heads, TPIS miniram intake and long tube headers etc etc.

If you have any questions regarding the L98 contact the fellows at TPIS in Chaska MN, they have built several high performance L98's over the years and have a wealth of knowledge in which they are willing to share,

And believe me.. sometimes both arms and both legs hurt, but gush damb we are having fun!!

 

Everybody's conception of an arm and a leg is different. I spent a bunch for a better flowing Charge Air Cooler (intercooler is the other term) for my truck, bought a DeWitt's radiator for the '96, along with a Banski suspension, new Bilsteins, and on and on since we got it a year and a half ago, etc, so I understand that things cost.

As Meat Loaf said, "there ain't no Coupe De Ville hiding in the bottom of Cracker Jack box".

It is the same with performance for the most part, it is going to cost to go fast, ever since I got into cars and motorcycles 45 years ago, it has always been and always will be cubic bucks.

What I was making sure is that it wouldn't cost a tremendous amount just to get around / work with the electronics.

I just wish these cars were as easy to get horsepower out of as my diesel truck is. I added 100 hp for $600.00 and it was all plug in. However I don't use all that 100 HP as I could lift the heads and blow the hg due to a design issue that was later corrected, but still.....

I did do some other changes in the intake/cooling/exhaust systems that would mitigate the issue, but it gets REALLY expensive to replace the head gasket in a diesel. $1000 give or take just for new head studs and gaskets. Then you add in breakage, etc. Too much cylinder pressure and the infamous blown hg appears.

 

Here are the RPO codes from the car. I never did get to go see it, but since it is a Z51 package, it is a bit more interesting to me, especially since Tom's thread talked about the frame and the early Z51 frame braces, etc.

 

Hi Re the 85
Long tube headers will bring your car from mid 14 sec to mid 13 sec quarters, A blower depending on boost level will knock a couple of seconds of the stock standard quarter mile time sending you to 12s

 

Any chance you'll be heading up to check the car out? Would be nice if you could bring it home!! Sounds like a great car honestly!

 

We are going to try again this weekend, I am in need of a road trip. We are going to stop by Cabelas if we do, however, the Cabelas in Wheeling has gone a bit down hill since the buyout.

It being a Z51 car is why I am more interested, plus being a stick. I do not believe that they will want to sell it for what I want to pay for it. It has been sitting there a while, and most likely will be for a while. Our cars truly are for a niche market, especially a slowpoke that is 33 years old.

It is a nice, relatively low mileage car, and appears to be well taken care of.

A friend of mine lives there in Vermillion. We were up that way a couple weeks ago. I was trying to also get him interested in it.

 

If you buy the first thing I would do is a Tremec TKO600 5-Speed swap and lose that 4+3.

 

Next time you're out this way or want to head out here, we should get in touch and meet up. You're welcome over or we can meet for dinner as my wife would love that as well!

 

here's an 85 z51.....great car.....hauls ***...