Tune up recommendations
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 86
Likes: 11
Tune up recommendations
I will soon be the owner of a 1985 corvette: L98 & manual 4+3. One of my first orders of business is to do a tune up. Normally, I would go to the parts store for OE ac-delco plugs and wires, cap, rotor, and coil (I do not normally replace a coil unless it seems weak, but in this case I will).
Companies like MSD claim their coil makes a hotter spark, their wires have very little resistance, etc... . Has anyone actually noticed a difference with aftermarket parts like that?
The car is completely stock as far as I can tell. In Arkansas we have no emissions testing or car inspections of any sort, yet all of the original emissions equipment is still in place. How much longer it stays stock, I do not know.
Any recommendations are welcome, thanks.
Companies like MSD claim their coil makes a hotter spark, their wires have very little resistance, etc... . Has anyone actually noticed a difference with aftermarket parts like that?
The car is completely stock as far as I can tell. In Arkansas we have no emissions testing or car inspections of any sort, yet all of the original emissions equipment is still in place. How much longer it stays stock, I do not know.
Any recommendations are welcome, thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,121
Likes: 9,429
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
of coarse they are going to claim that. how else will they justify the higher price over OEM. for a street car stick with OEM replacement parts
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 965
From: Communist Colorado
My choices were:
Plugs-NGK
CAP & Rotor-Taylor
Wires-Taylor
Fuel Filter K&N
Air Filter- AC Delco
PCV-AC Delco
If I were to buy/need a coil, just stock is fine. Same with the Ignition Module if needed. The other brands seem like a waste of cash.
Plugs-NGK
CAP & Rotor-Taylor
Wires-Taylor
Fuel Filter K&N
Air Filter- AC Delco
PCV-AC Delco
If I were to buy/need a coil, just stock is fine. Same with the Ignition Module if needed. The other brands seem like a waste of cash.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I will soon be the owner of a 1985 corvette: L98 & manual 4+3. One of my first orders of business is to do a tune up. Normally, I would go to the parts store for OE ac-delco plugs and wires, cap, rotor, and coil (I do not normally replace a coil unless it seems weak, but in this case I will).
Companies like MSD claim their coil makes a hotter spark, their wires have very little resistance, etc... . Has anyone actually noticed a difference with aftermarket parts like that?
The car is completely stock as far as I can tell. In Arkansas we have no emissions testing or car inspections of any sort, yet all of the original emissions equipment is still in place. How much longer it stays stock, I do not know.
Any recommendations are welcome, thanks.
Companies like MSD claim their coil makes a hotter spark, their wires have very little resistance, etc... . Has anyone actually noticed a difference with aftermarket parts like that?
The car is completely stock as far as I can tell. In Arkansas we have no emissions testing or car inspections of any sort, yet all of the original emissions equipment is still in place. How much longer it stays stock, I do not know.
Any recommendations are welcome, thanks.
The coil may or may not make a hotter spark. 2 things need to occur before you make more power. You need to be able to make a hotter spark AND you have to need it. Either or, meaningless. You don't need a hotter spark so as long as it is a blue flame, life is good.
I wouldn't gut it all until you have finalized a plan. Don't do it half way and regret it because of whatever reasons.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,942
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
I know the msd box and blaster coil on the 67 gives a hotter spark... That is a difference you can smell. (Also basically a race car so...)
As for cap and rotor or really anything, it is pretty hard to beat delco. Unless you have a race car stock is more than enough. I've actually cleaned a few caps and rotors with emery cloth, not necessarily proud of that but it has worked...
As for cap and rotor or really anything, it is pretty hard to beat delco. Unless you have a race car stock is more than enough. I've actually cleaned a few caps and rotors with emery cloth, not necessarily proud of that but it has worked...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,801
Likes: 5,630
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Have you ever herd the old saying, if it ain't broken don't fix it.
I had 1989 C4, for 23 years, bought it with 13 miles, sold it with 88,000 miles, and never touched plugs, or wires, no less coil pack, and the person I sold it to hasn't touched it either.
Those L98 are the best engines GM made, can't kill them!
I had 1989 C4, for 23 years, bought it with 13 miles, sold it with 88,000 miles, and never touched plugs, or wires, no less coil pack, and the person I sold it to hasn't touched it either.
Those L98 are the best engines GM made, can't kill them!
Last edited by 1bdvet; Mar 4, 2018 at 09:09 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,121
Likes: 9,429
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Have you ever herd the old saying, if it ain't broken don't fix it.
I had 1989 C4, for 23 years, bought it with 13 miles, sold it with 88,000 miles, and never touched plugs, or wires, no less coil pack, and the person I sold it to hasn't touched it either.
Those L98 are the best engines GM made, can't kill them!
I had 1989 C4, for 23 years, bought it with 13 miles, sold it with 88,000 miles, and never touched plugs, or wires, no less coil pack, and the person I sold it to hasn't touched it either.
Those L98 are the best engines GM made, can't kill them!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
The original poster hasn't given enough information on the car. If you look at another thread you would want to do everything he's doing plus more for the car he's talking about
Last edited by vette196; Mar 4, 2018 at 09:33 AM.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 86
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This guy is right, this car has not been driven in about a year. I am fully aware of all the things, such as replacing almost every fluid it has. Doing a tune up is just preventive maintenance at this point. I figured I would just check to see if anyone would recommend anything other than OEM type parts from the part store. I now see that it's a no.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 965
From: Communist Colorado
This guy is right, this car has not been driven in about a year. I am fully aware of all the things, such as replacing almost every fluid it has. Doing a tune up is just preventive maintenance at this point. I figured I would just check to see if anyone would recommend anything other than OEM type parts from the part store. I now see that it's a no.
I would say that aftermarket parts are fine for certain situations.... Basically, if the car is all stock, then why buy expensive aftermarket parts? If it a purpose built or driven car, then sure, some better performance parts are a good idea.
All that, said, there will be times when an aftermarket part, like spark plugs for instance, are a good idea even for a stock car.... Also, sometimes you might have no other choice and aftermarket will be the only choice....
When you get ready to undertake a job, do what you did here and just ask what everyone is using... you will get pretty good advice.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
This guy is right, this car has not been driven in about a year. I am fully aware of all the things, such as replacing almost every fluid it has. Doing a tune up is just preventive maintenance at this point. I figured I would just check to see if anyone would recommend anything other than OEM type parts from the part store. I now see that it's a no.
