Wana Tune my Corvette! help!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Wana Tune my Corvette! help!
I've just bought myself a Corvette -85 .... didn't think i would buy one tho but the prize and that it's only "rolled" 59000 kilometers made me do it... dunno how many miles that is ..im a swede 
Anyway ! i'd like to know any good ways to tune it =) ...and yeah maybe not so extremely expensive ways :p
My goal is to atleast have a chance to my sisters boyfriends car... he got an Nissan 200sx -95 with 300hp in it.
Don't stand a chance with my other car (volvo t4 245hp) =<
Wheels! i want some wheel to my "vette" to ... but i can hardy find any :< ... really nice if u cold gice me some url:s if possibly
Well it might already be some info about my question(s) but please be aware that i've just joined this "community" :p
Hope u guys could help me
Anyway ! i'd like to know any good ways to tune it =) ...and yeah maybe not so extremely expensive ways :p
My goal is to atleast have a chance to my sisters boyfriends car... he got an Nissan 200sx -95 with 300hp in it.
Don't stand a chance with my other car (volvo t4 245hp) =<
Wheels! i want some wheel to my "vette" to ... but i can hardy find any :< ... really nice if u cold gice me some url:s if possibly
Well it might already be some info about my question(s) but please be aware that i've just joined this "community" :p
Hope u guys could help me
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
With a car that is 20 years old, the first thing I would recommend is that you do a basic tune up to get familiar with the car.
1)Buy a repair manual
2) Unless you know when things have been done, consider replacing:
Brake fluid
spark plugs
sparkplug wires
air filter
oil
oil filter
hood release cable (if it is original, you should probably replace it so you know it won't break)
Clean the throttle body
Check the TPS and adjust as necessary
There is a C4 tech tip section here:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti....php?TopicID=2
And check the brake pads for wear.
As for the 200sx, they never released a 200sx with 300HP in the states. If it is the same little car they sold here it would be very light and have a good HP/weight ratio.
An 85' vette only has 230HP in stock form, but it does have well over 300 ft/lbs of torque which is where it's strength is.
As far as improving on power, the intake manifold is generally regarded as the weakest point in the motor, but everything from the air filter box to the intake manifold is involved as well as the stock exhaust manifolds when it comes to places for improvement. After that theres always heads and cams!
Hope this helps get you started!
Good luck!
1)Buy a repair manual
2) Unless you know when things have been done, consider replacing:
Brake fluid
spark plugs
sparkplug wires
air filter
oil
oil filter
hood release cable (if it is original, you should probably replace it so you know it won't break)
Clean the throttle body
Check the TPS and adjust as necessary
There is a C4 tech tip section here:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti....php?TopicID=2
And check the brake pads for wear.
As for the 200sx, they never released a 200sx with 300HP in the states. If it is the same little car they sold here it would be very light and have a good HP/weight ratio.
An 85' vette only has 230HP in stock form, but it does have well over 300 ft/lbs of torque which is where it's strength is.
As far as improving on power, the intake manifold is generally regarded as the weakest point in the motor, but everything from the air filter box to the intake manifold is involved as well as the stock exhaust manifolds when it comes to places for improvement. After that theres always heads and cams!
Hope this helps get you started!
Good luck!
Last edited by Square; Aug 18, 2005 at 03:32 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Start with a tune up...After that the basic recipe for bringing an L98 closer to the 300HP range is, LT Headers, dual exhaust, ported plenum, larger runners, larger intake base... That should also keep your torque intact (330 ft/lbs for an '85).
I'm going by results of fellow forum members, VIC'89, 65Z01, and a few others when I recommend that.
Check the Parts section of the forum, or Ebay for different wheels. The offset on an '85 is 38MM, so if you buy 56MM offset wheels (which is what most other C4's use, you may need adapters).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
I found this article on the Volvo V40 t4:
http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?...880&fSetId=381
It had this to say:
Volvo claims a top speed of 225km/h for the self-shifter that I drove and I got it up to 210 with consummate ease and rock-like stability. It also disposed of the 0-100 sprint in 8.69 sec, which is impressive for a 1300 kg vehicle with an automatic transmission.
If those number are correct for your car, then you should find that your 85' vette (in good running condition) is considerably faster than that. 0-100kph should be around 6.0 seconds flat with 400m taking somewhere in the low 14 second range. I believe the official top speed of the car in 1985 was around 150MPH or 240kph.
HTH!
http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?...880&fSetId=381
It had this to say:
Volvo claims a top speed of 225km/h for the self-shifter that I drove and I got it up to 210 with consummate ease and rock-like stability. It also disposed of the 0-100 sprint in 8.69 sec, which is impressive for a 1300 kg vehicle with an automatic transmission.
If those number are correct for your car, then you should find that your 85' vette (in good running condition) is considerably faster than that. 0-100kph should be around 6.0 seconds flat with 400m taking somewhere in the low 14 second range. I believe the official top speed of the car in 1985 was around 150MPH or 240kph.
HTH!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 1
From: 1
Originally Posted by Square
Brake fluid
spark plugs
sparkplug wires
air filter
oil
oil filter
hood release cable (if it is original, you should probably replace it so you know it won't break)
Clean the throttle body
Check the TPS and adjust as necessary
spark plugs
sparkplug wires
air filter
oil
oil filter
hood release cable (if it is original, you should probably replace it so you know it won't break)
Clean the throttle body
Check the TPS and adjust as necessary
Very good adviceDont forget the fuel filter too
I had a tuneup done last year and was amazed at how much of a performance gain it is. Cant overlook the basics
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Man this forum seems to rock ... didn't expect so many replies in this short amouth of time :p ....anyway thanks for the tips!
I've done everything u said now square =)... seems like the old man who had the car must have fixed most of the stuff already or most likely some workshop did it for him... anyway the car is as good as new my best investment i've ever done =)
The issue about the volvo performing that bad isn't right square .... is does 0-100km/h on 6.9 untuned and i got it tuned from 200hp to 245hp now... so i don't think my vette will stand a chance :<
I might try'em out tomorrow :p
Is it possible to order some tuningstuff from anyone from the forum here? ... seems like it's alot or atleast alittle cheaper in the states
I gotta search for some rims (wheels) to isn't the most important thing atm tho :p
Thanks again!
... didn't expect so many replies in this short amouth of time :p ....anyway thanks for the tips!I've done everything u said now square =)... seems like the old man who had the car must have fixed most of the stuff already or most likely some workshop did it for him... anyway the car is as good as new my best investment i've ever done =)
The issue about the volvo performing that bad isn't right square
.... is does 0-100km/h on 6.9 untuned and i got it tuned from 200hp to 245hp now... so i don't think my vette will stand a chance :< I might try'em out tomorrow :p
Is it possible to order some tuningstuff from anyone from the forum here? ... seems like it's alot or atleast alittle cheaper in the states
I gotta search for some rims (wheels) to isn't the most important thing atm tho :p
Thanks again!
Last edited by labur; Aug 19, 2005 at 03:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
Originally Posted by labur
The issue about the volvo performing that bad isn't right square .... is does 0-100km/h on 6.9 untuned and i got it tuned from 200hp to 245hp now... so i don't think my vette will stand a chance :<
I might try'em out tomorrow :p
Is it possible to order some tuningstuff from anyone from the forum here? ... seems like it's alot or atleast alittle cheaper in the states
I gotta search for some rims (wheels) to isn't the most important thing atm tho :p
Thanks again!
.... is does 0-100km/h on 6.9 untuned and i got it tuned from 200hp to 245hp now... so i don't think my vette will stand a chance :< I might try'em out tomorrow :p
Is it possible to order some tuningstuff from anyone from the forum here? ... seems like it's alot or atleast alittle cheaper in the states
I gotta search for some rims (wheels) to isn't the most important thing atm tho :p
Thanks again!
If your Volvo did 0-100kph in 6.9 before the tune, then it would be close and I think the volvo might have an edge.
As for ordering things from forum vendors, I think it would come down to wether or not they can ship to you.
As for wheels, AFS wheels (www.afswheels.com) makes at least one style of wheels for the 84-87 corvette (the 84-87 corvette uses a different offset than the 88+ corvettes). I just put a set of their ZR-1 wheels (9.5" front, 11" rear) on last Friday. The wider rears do help put the power down from a standing start. If you are willing to use wheel spacers, then there are a lot more wheel options for you to choose from.
HTH!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: 84 383 XFire Chandler, AZ
I would think the Ostrich from moates.net would be the ticket for tuning. It is a little box that you connect to the ECM eprom socket that pretends it is a eprom. You take the eprom out and plug the connector in to the eprom socket. You would probably need a converter socket and he has them as well. I dont know which ECM is in a 85 but if it uses a 2732 eprom then you are good to go. I have a Ostrich in my 84 that I use with a truck ECM 1227747 for throttle body injection but it is different than yours. The Ostrich connects to a notebook using a usb port. You could then use WinALDL to collect data. Datamaster might work but it depends on which ECM you have. To modify the ecm parameters you could use TunerPro (free) or TunerCat. I use TunerPro RT - not free but only $30. The RT stands for realtime and is compatible with the Ostrich.
I hope this does not sound like a Ostrich commercial because that is not the intent. But I do know it is compatible with various ECMs. The emulation mode with TunerPro RT is real slick. It is truely realtime.
I hope this does not sound like a Ostrich commercial because that is not the intent. But I do know it is compatible with various ECMs. The emulation mode with TunerPro RT is real slick. It is truely realtime.
