Tom, the TPI saga was detailed in one of my "coffee table" Corvette books - and if I find it I'll post it: interesting reading. But, IIRC, the TPI was developed initially for the 305, but (again according to my source TBD) negotiations with the Edlebrock to expand the dimensions for use in the 350 cid dragged on until there was no choice but to carry over the Crossfire TB induction. Fascinating read, and well worth digging it up.

 

For sure! If you can find it, that would be something that I would love to read about.

 

Did you ever get a feeling about a specific car when looking through the ads?
I mean the one that, for whatever reason(s), you keep turning back to the ad even when you have looked at MANY MANY others....
I would try and see if that one finds me, regardless of year/engine/transmission, and drive that one to see if it's the right one FOR YOU...

(L98, LT1, LT4.....Ya can't go wrong with any of them....)

 

Wow....I've been on here since what....2003? I don't think I've EVER seen a picture/post showing this. I guess it's true....You really can learn something new every day. Thanks for posting! Actually, I'm so stunned, I wonder why this hasn't been posted before? Did I really miss this for 17-18 years?!?! LOL

Does anyone actually own one of these? Where'd you get the pic? Looks as big/nice as a FIRST intake.

 

I missed this post somehow. Pretty interesting. What happened to these? Why didn't they make production? Lot's of questions surrounding these...more info would be great. If they were made in '86, I can't see how they are responsible for "holding up" the introduction of an intake that came out in '85.

 

Two and a half years ago I began looking for an '89 vert with MN6 with "low" mileage. Early on I found one near me that was red/red with a white top. After watching many similar vehicles come/go the price on the "near one" dropped enough enough for a test drive. After a brief discussion the price dropped another $1k and I put a down payment on it.

The car is nearly pristine and well worth the effort to find it. Really love rowing through the gears and top-down it is brilliant.

Good luck with the search for your next Vette, enjoy the adventure.

 

Physics raises its ugly head: Increasing the cross sectional area of the tubes no doubt reduces "impedance" (to use an electrical term), however the length of the tubes determines the resonance frequency - the frequency of the air pulsing back and forth w/in the tube, in other words, that is the "issue". This is the demon developers wrestle with when trying to improve power (i.e., as I know you know, horsepower = (rpm x torque)/5252). If rpm is limited, torque is the only variable left: the TPI's magic (due to inherent runner length) was spent after 4500 rpm: see the dyno graphs for the L98. (Enter the short induction runners of the LT1&4, and hello to rpm!)(I'll look again today 2 C if I can find that source re: TPI/350cid)

 

wow, tell us how you really feel.

Why does it matter soooo much to you? I used to race when I was younger with Grand Nationals so I know everything about every acceleration statistic. I’ve always loved all muscle/sports cars and never understood how many GN owners looked down on most everything else because they were slower. I sold my last GN in 2012 and have had a C3, C5 Z06 and now my C4 6spd L98 Z51. I have now realized Corvette owners are the exact same way. Do you LT1 guys feel threatened because someone dare compare a L98 to a LT1? I would love for you to hear what many GN guys say about LT1s lol.

I believe the original guy you jumped all over said he felt his LT1 felt comparable to 60 with his L98 6spd, something I would AGREE WITH.

I don’t race anymore and my 89 is plenty fun to drive around and was a bargain compared to many other 80’s performance cars. I also happened to pin the 89 down as my year because of the dash, older styling and 6spd. I had no idea how personally some of you seem to take it lol.

 

I DO tell you how it is...not so much how I "feel" thought. Why? Because, as we've learned over the past 4 years, facts matter. Having the right information is important. People come on here looking for GOOD advice. I used to be one of those people and I got dog ****....and then, as a consequence I made a bad decision and wasted a bunch of money buying a car that I didn't like. The OP wants GOOD advice.
^That is not good advice/info. Are they "identical"? No. No they are not. They aren't even really close, so that is just not right at all. It's wrong. I care. You should too. We all should.


That's your go-to when someone corrects w/some facts and data? That "we" are threatened?? What makes you think that I'm an "LT1 guy"? I'd WELCOME any race with any stock or stockish GN...any day. It would be a hoot, no matter who wins. I'm good friends with "Race Jace"(RJC Racing), so I know what GN owners say and think. That is fine w/me; I don't care. FYI, the comparison was actually drawn between an L98 and an LT4. Where did "LT1 guys" come from??



You would be wrong. That is not what he said. READ. What he said was:
They are not identical. No way, no how, no L98 is keeping up with a LT4, 0-60 or 0-anything. It won't. They are not comparable (did you SEE the data that I posted above?) because the aren't close in that metric.



I believe you. I don't think that "we take it" any way. I'm happy for you. If you'd actually READ what I've posted, I even said earlier in this very same thread, that:
So...how do I "take it" that you or anyone has an L98??? I have an L98....so...

 

i think you could have stopped after the four year thing, everything else makes sense, you’re a partisan. I have stopped trying to reason with partisans. SOME facts matter to you, others...not so much.

You are funny though.

 

Yeah? If I'm a "partisan"...it's one of real data and facts.

Correct me where I was wrong w/some actual data. Not some made-up bullshit about who feels "threatened" by whom. Give us a ******* break with your made-up victim-role crap.


.

 

I was the original poster of the question about the LT1 vs L98, it was an honest question about any pluses or minuses to either engine, catastrophic failures etc. Wasn't expecting it to turn into a crap storm. Anyway, so what I got from all this is that I should get a C4 with an LS5 block, add cross-fire injection, LT1 crank, L48 heads, L82 pistons and a ZF6 trans? Am I close?
Feel free to add sarcasm if there is a reply to this.

 

not sure where I said I was a victim, I just feel for those that have to deal with you daily, continue on your tirade.

 

You didn't say it....you acted it.
"I also happened to pin the 89 down as my year because of the dash, older styling and 6spd. I had no idea how personally some of you seem to take it lol."

No one criticized anyone for owning any C4 with any engine. You don't need to defend your '89....or make ASSumptions about what "LT1 owners think". I own both. They're BOTH great in their own ways. There is no way that they are "identical 0-60" though, and I'm sorry that you don't "like" that fact.


OP, Love your engine combo. Build it!
I said it in post two; both drive trains are pretty bomber with decent maintenance. It's the rest of the C4 that will need regular attention, so buy the best/cleanest one that you can afford, and be prepared to do your own work at some point, to keep it nice.

 

Nah, I'd go with the 4+3 trans, but everything else looks good - glad you have a sense of humor! And, yes, we owe you an apology for turning your thread into a bit of **** show.

But back to topic, I'll throw in my 2 cents about the choices you outlined. In deciding what C4 to get, I basically break it down into early vs. late interior (89/90 being the split), early vs. late body (90/91 being the split), and early vs. late motor (91/92 being the split), a lot of combos to work with. Sounds like you want a 6 speed (good) and kind of like the early interior/dash?

I think the motor is the least important of the choices to make because it's so easy to make up for the deficiencies of the L98 that I wouldn't let that hold me back at all in choosing it if I liked the earlier body/interior better. I actually prefer the L98 for this reason. It's a gen 1 SBC that goes all the way back to 1955 with minor evolutionary changes. Everything that makes an L98 an L98 is bolt-on. The gen 2 (LT1/4) is a further evolution, but many parts are not compatible with gen 1 motors. The gen 2 was only around for 7 years or so, and the world has moved on to LSx. That said, there's nothing wrong with a gen 2, and from a catastrophic failure standpoint, they will be indistinguishable from the gen 1 motors. So, if you prefer the later body, get that.

If you prefer to keep you Corvette stock, I doubt 0-60 times, etc., are even important to you. They're all fun, and if you cared that much about every 1/10th second, you'd either get something newer that's faster out of the box or mod a C4 to make it go faster.

 

I have this intake sitting in my parts hoard. I'll start a new thread so we don't (further) hijack the OP's thread if you guys want to talk more about these intakes.

 

No apologies necessary, just funny how some people get bent out of shape over stuff. I do have a sense of humor, very seldom take stuff seriously. I've always said, Life's just a big joke and I'm going along for laughs.You are correct, I prefer the older body style and interior, would like a 6-speed but if a smokin deal came along on a 85-88 auto I'd consider it pretty hard but right now I'm sticking to the '89 6-speed. Not in a hurry, I look almost everyday at stuff for sale and eventually something will come along. 0-60 or even top end isn't that important to me, I've got motorcycles that get me what I want if I need acceleration or speed. I never cared for the 4+3 trans, how about a 3-speed column shift?

 

OP: it comes down to what you like better. Look at all of them. Find one that calls to you. Bottom end wise... They're both pretty much the same. Can't really screw up a 350 lol. Each has quirks... injectors on l98 and opti on lt but nothing that is really "catastrophic".
All I've learned is facts only matter when you can use them to your advantage. Judging by how a lot of people are doing in my profession I'd agree with that lol. Otherwise it only exists while X is there and isn't a problem. I appreciate you clearing everything you do all the time bud. I will say though, it can come off harsh to others who don't get it. I don't care, that's how you learn. Get it right, fix it, or get out honestly is how I feel though lol.

 

I'm definitely aware of my harshness. Wish I had the skill set to avoid that part.

Please do! Absolutely. And thank you.


How could you not? I can't think of a better way to back of the Crossfire LS power plant! Hell yeah.

 

Too many gears ... 2 speed powerglide is the go.