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Hello all, I'm sure this has been discussed on here before but I'm at work and don't have time to search forums for an answer right now. I've narrowed my search down to a 89 (6-speed and digital dash) to 96 (6-speed, more power) but I was wondering about engines. I've never known corvettes to have any real mechanical reliability problems but is there any pros/cons between the motors? Something I don't know about that would scare me into one direction or another? Huge differences in parts prices? Just curious.
No way we can answer that. What is an example of something that might scare you? They're both old....they'll both have issues and need maintenance. LT1's have distributor issues....L98's blow head gaskets. Sometimes -on both counts.
I have a '92 with nearly 200,000 miles on it. It's the most reliable car we own....but it still needs attention.
Share your mechanical abilities with us and we can better answer your question.
I've owned both cars, my 89 6spd, L-98 car was very dependable, only motor issue i ever had with it, was fuel injectors, the original multech design didn't do well with ethanol added fuel,
The car is quick but runs out of breath fairly quickly, a ton of torque though, it also had a few electrical gremlin's, overall a real nice car.
My 96 6spd has the LT4 engine, basically an LT-1 with some internal differences, This car has plenty of breath in higher RPM's and pulls strong. I would say 0 to 50 or 60 the cars are identical, passed 60 the LT4 car has more pull. as for problems, i haven't had any issues with the car, but i really haven't driven it that much.
I guess I don't mean maintenance type stuff. I fully expect a car that's 30yo to have it's problems/quirks. With the exception of my wifes Nissan and 2 motorycles, my cars are 16yo and 40yo, motorcycles 23yo, 25yo, 33yo, and 56yo. Maintenance/problems don't bother me, more interested in catastrophic failure points if they haven't been addressed already. I haven't heard of any and I doubt there are any unless the car has been beat to death over the years. I would fully expect a car that has been taken care of somewhat to make it 200,000+ miles easily.
I don't think there's a whole lot that will make me change my mind on getting one. I do think that I have it narrowed down to what I want now though so it's just a matter of when I find the one for me. 1989, I like the older C4 body style and digital dash, 6-speed, black, grey or saddle interior, black, dark red metallic or charcoal metallic exterior.
I don't think there's a whole lot that will make me change my mind on getting one. I do think that I have it narrowed down to what I want now though so it's just a matter of when I find the one for me. 1989, I like the older C4 body style and digital dash, 6-speed, black, grey or saddle interior, black, dark red metallic or charcoal metallic exterior.
A lot of it is personal preference. To me, the L98 is a good engine. Just not the one to have if you have the budget. Neither car is a screamer by todays standard... But the LT4 (and LT1) is still fairly quick by todays standards. Not a dominant world beater anymore, but it can hold its own against newer cars that cost a lot more than it.
Frankly, I prefer the older body too. The newer interior is a little nicer to me. If you're indifferent to the noticeable performance difference, I'd buy whichever I found in the color and condition I liked first. I'm not a search till I die for the deal kinda guy. I'm more of a, like it then buy it kinda guy.
Your right of course, but id hardly call 1 second a slaughter. Besides with a minor adjustment to the L-98 just to make it breathe a little better, my car could achieve 5.8 second 0-60 times, if i could hit 60 in second gear , However that being said, after 60, game over! That's were the Lt-4 does slaughter the L-98
The "TPI" was an induction system designed initially for the 305 cid IROC Camaro applications - intended to give the rather anemic 305 some respectable performance in the rpm range typical of the IROC series events. Later, it was carried over and modified for the 350 cid SBC headed for the 1985 Corvette (negotiations were not settled in time for the '84 production, hence the '82 C3 "Crossfire" TB was carried over in '84 MY Vettes. The result of the (bigger) TPI strapped to the 350 CID SBC was a mid rpm torque spike that made the Corvette was a killer stoplight to stoplight and leading to the SCCA to remove the Corvette from competition as it totally dominated the rest of the field.
The TPI downfall is that max torque is narrow or "peaky", RPM wise. So, in other scenarios where torque and RPM (aka horsepower) combine to rule the contest (e.g., drag racing, road course vs. autocross, etc), the TPI runners not only result in reduced torque beyond their peak, but cut it off with a vengeance beyond 4500 rpm!
The "second generation" SBC in the LT1 (and later LT4) benefits from higher compression coupled with a relatively short runner intake resulting in a fabulous torque curve reaching 90% of peak at just off idle, all the way to just before 5800 RPM (LT1) or 6200ish (LT4)! "PERFORMANCE UNDER THE CURVE" (especially in the LT4) lifts the second gen SBC way above the TPI L98.
Whereas 5 seconds vs. 6 seconds my seem insignificant to "some", ONE second difference 0-60mph (5 vs. 6 seconds) is a 17% decrease in elapsed time...and that's only to 60 mph: what about the quarter mile difference?
(Note: bottom graph shows comparison of the LT1 and LT4)
Correct on the Delorean and my 54yo motorcycle is actually a 57yo Honda S90. It was late, double digit math is complicated. Anyway, it was in a guys front yard with a free sign on it, had the title so I took it. 1300 miles. I'm in the process of restoring it right now. How many miles do you have on your '85? My uncle bought his '85 new, black w/grey interior and 5,000 miles.
Your right of course, but id hardly call 1 second a slaughter.
Really? 5.0 vs. 6.0 (using the C&C numbers) that is a 17% difference. Relative to your original statement, "I would say 0 to 50 or 60 the cars are identical"...a 17% difference is what I would call, "a slaughter". It's not "identical"....it's not a "driver's race"...it's a significant, undeniable difference between the two. A slaughter.
Originally Posted by Chrispa
Besides with a minor adjustment to the L-98 just to make it breathe a little better, my car could achieve 5.8 second 0-60 times, if i could hit 60 in second gear
That's a lot of hedging; mods, different gearing? And still .8 slower to 60? All those "ifs" is what makes the L98 meaningfully slow to 60 (and beyond) than the later cars.
The argument for the L98 is NOT in any objective metric, b/c it looses at all of 'em. The argument is in the "fun factor"/subjective experience, which is pretty good. That fat, midrange tq spike makes the car feel great, and feel like "0- 50 or 60 the cars are identical" -even when they're not even close. The L98 definitely does provide a great SOTP driving experience.
The "TPI" was an induction system designed initially for the 305 cid IROC Camaro applications - intended to give the rather anemic 305 some respectable performance in the rpm range typical of the IROC series events. Later, it was carried over and modified for the 350 cid SBC headed for the 1985 Corvette (negotiations were not settled in time for the '84 production, hence the '82 C3 "Crossfire" TB was carried over in '84 MY Vettes. The result of the (bigger) TPI strapped to the 350 CID SBC was a mid rpm torque spike that made the Corvette was a killer stoplight to stoplight and leading to the SCCA to remove the Corvette from competition as it totally dominated the rest of the field.
Has this stuff been docummented anywhere? I've never seen it written anywhere but on forums. The TPI was introduced at the same time for all three GM cars; the 305 on the Camaro Z28, the 305 in the Firebird and also on the 'Vette. IDK what "negotiations" you're talking about that prevented the TPI from being introduced in '84, but all three GM cars, 'Vette, Camaro and Firebird had CFI in '84 (or could be optioned w/it). None had TPI. Why? TPI wasn't done/ready yet. I don't think that "negotiations" had anything to do w/it. Finally, there was no "bigger TPI" for the Corvette; all TPI are the same dimensionally. The runners on the 'Vette are the same size as those on the 305 F-bodies. The tq spike came from the runner length, which was also the same for all TPI intakes.
Originally Posted by Paul Workman
Whereas 5 seconds vs. 6 seconds my seem insignificant to "some", ONE second difference 0-60mph (5 vs. 6 seconds) is a 17% decrease in elapsed time...and that's only to 60 mph: what about the quarter mile difference?
If I'm racing, I want the car that's 17% faster.
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Last edited by Tom400CFI; Feb 5, 2021 at 02:03 PM.
The argument for the L98 is NOT in any objective metric, b/c it looses at all of 'em. The argument is in the "fun factor"/subjective experience, which is pretty good. That fat, midrange tq spike makes the car feel great, and feel like "0- 50 or 60 the cars are identical" -even when they're not even close. The L98 definitely does provide a great SOTP driving experience.
Geez, don't have a cow, I never raced them, I'm a car enthusiast not a race car driver, I know which cars faster, I was trying to compare the cars from a laymen's point of view. took me a few minutes to figure out SOTP..."Seat Of The Pants"?...no wonder nobody posts on these forums much, always somebody getting upset over nothing.
At least you got the most important take-away from this thread. How many bikes do you have? More than you need, not as many as you want.
Sorry, I was just responding to your question about the two cars you mentioned, I happened to have owned both cars, and I thought both cars were fun to drive, I don't want to discourage anybody's choice in cars, I happened to like them both, I didn't think I had to state the obvious, the LT4 car has about 100 more horsepower...obviously its faster, I think both cars are a good choice.
Chris
Finally, there was no "bigger TPI" for the Corvette; all TPI are the same dimensionally. The runners on the 'Vette are the same size as those on the 305 F-bodies. The tq spike came from the runner length, which was also the same for all TPI intakes.
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Ah, but there was one in the works... meet the factory Large-Tube TPI intake. Casting date indicates these were made ~1986.
Factory GM Large Tube Runners Factory GM Large Tube TPI Base
LT1 vs L98
, However that being said, after 60, game over! That's were the Lt-4 does slaughter the L-98
If I'm racing, I want the car that's 17% faster. 
