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I have an 85 vette. Stock besides the free stuff and exhaust. Auto trans with a shift kit (unknown brand, was in it when I bought it). I plan on getting long tubes, 3.07 gears, and a 2300 stall. I was wondering if anyone has a similar setup, and if so does it stand a chance with the modern muscle cars (say a Mustang 5.0, etc). It might be a dumb question because I know the power put out by modern muscle, but i was wondering after the stall and gearswap if it might have a chance off the line. Also for ones that might have a similar setup, what increases did you get in the 1/4?
Eventually I'll be running spray after I get the money to be able to refresh/build it up some, which I'm for sure will be tough for stock modern cars to beat because the power:weight ratio.
This is my second post on here, first being the introduction 10 mins ago!
Thanks for any replies, sorry if I sound dumb! haha
I hate to break it to you, but a V6 Accord would probably beat you in a drag race, let alone a new Mustang. The C4 was an amazing car for it's time, but that time was 30 years ago. I love my 89, but not for the speed. It is quick enough to be fun and handles the twistys like it is on rails. Now if you do a LSx swap that is a whole different story.
With it being a L98 and all, id go for more gear than just a 3.07. What are you now 2.56?
I agree, you are going to be chasing your tail trying to keep up with the newer cars. You will prob have to ditch the tpi if you want serious power. L98s can make good power with FI tho.
Well I raced my buddy's 14 Camaro RS from a 40 and I pulled ahead by half a length, so I really had no clue what I was looking at to put all my friends to work haha. Thank you for the reply!
I like your thinking!
I plan on building the engine once I get the money and run a wet 100 on a progressive controller. My goal out of it is 350 HP. Reasonable for a 19 y/o? Probably not. Am I gonna try? Definitely.
Thanks for the feedback!
Save your money, drive the car, then sell it for something else. Seriously, you're down 16+mph from a stock 5.0. That would require you to do at least 150 shot to try to keep up.
By the time you throw all this money into an aging car to try to keep up with newer cars, you'll wish you'd have just bought something else. I'd much rather start with a C5 or C6.
Well, the L98 was borne out of the IROC racing with Camaros with 305 cid V8s. The TPI fuel injection was designed to get at least some performance out of that engine. Bosch designed the TPI, a fundamental frequency tuned input runner that peaked engine torque at approx 3800 RPM (stock). Peaking around 3800 rpm in conjunction with the gearing produces a motor best suited for road course (twisties) type of driving. Drag racing...without cams and headers and dual, free flowing exhausts and lo resistance (or NO) catalytic converters, and your still fighting the physics of the TPI manifold.
So, the suggestion would be to play toward the TPI's strength: ROAD COURSES (twisties)! There the TPI shines, Oh, AND, stoplight to stoplight - long as you keep the rpm below 4300 rpm or so.
Enjoy the car in the region it was built to excel at - grinding the curves. Leave the drag racing to other setups. Better to play toward the L98s strength than trying to make it what it ain't!
Proud of you OP. A 19yr old who's into cars? That's awesome and rare these days. I just picked up a 96 LT1. My highschool "when I can afford one, I'm getting it" car. It was a king in it's time, but that time has passed. Enjoy it for what it is buddy, otherwise it's a lot of money for not a whole lot of results. Or as others have mentioned, get into what the car was good at back in it's prime. I've put about 500 miles on mine since I picked it up last week, and haven't floored it yet. What's the point? It's today's V6 Camaro, at best. I enjoy it a different way. Just cruising and grinning.
I also agree with what everyone else has said. Enjoy the car for what it is. It's a great handling car, even by today's standards....but not fast compared to today's muscle. The TPI intake is pretty much limited to 400 or so hp. An LS swap is your best option if you want some speed to go with your handling. And, from experience, nitrous oxide isn't really a great mod on a stock setup. I ran it for a while about 25 years ago on a Trans Am GTA and although cheap horsepower to begin with, it became very expensive refilling the bottle a couple times a week. A 10lb bottle is only good for about 6 1/8th mile passes with 150hp jets. In hindsight, I would have much rather spent the money elsewhere.
Not to mention you have your C7Z if you want to go fast... Or even pick on a new Mustang 5.0... lol
Originally Posted by LT4CMG
Proud of you OP. A 19yr old who's into cars? That's awesome and rare these days. I just picked up a 96 LT1. My highschool "when I can afford one, I'm getting it" car. It was a king in it's time, but that time has passed. Enjoy it for what it is buddy, otherwise it's a lot of money for not a whole lot of results. Or as others have mentioned, get into what the car was good at back in it's prime. I've put about 500 miles on mine since I picked it up last week, and haven't floored it yet. What's the point? It's today's V6 Camaro, at best. I enjoy it a different way. Just cruising and grinning.
Not to mention you have your C7Z if you want to go fast... Or even pick on a new Mustang 5.0... lol
I’ve been picked on a couple times by unsuspecting guys mistaking the widebody for a GS, but the howl of the supercharger under load usually makes them sheepishly smile and wave when they catch up.
How fast will it be?
