New Member
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
New Member
Hey guys, just got my first project car ever. Its a 1984 C4. Its a little low on hp to start, but i plan on fixing that. Working on getting it to pass inspection now.
I hope I got an ok deal. Its a 1984, 350 5.7l crossfire (tbi). it has 161xxx miles, and starts up great. Ive given it a full tune up, and replaced the starter. I only paid 3300 for it. Ive spent a couple hundered doing standart maintaince / tuneup work on it. That leaves with me with 1700 in my budget to spend on it right away.
Once it passes the emissions inspection I plan on boosting the HP. (I haven't had it tested yet. I am probably going to go saturday morning.)
To boost the HP heres where I want to start:
MSD Coil $80
K&N Air Filter $42
K&N Oil Filter $11
(I couldnt find a K&N Fuel filter, have any recommendations?)
The cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are new. But are not performance parts at this time.
I plan on getting some exhaust. For the mufflers I plan on getting the Flowmaster 40's (2.5 inch). I heard while lurking in the forums they sound great.
I plan on using the car as a daily driver / project car to learn more about engines etc.. So any mods would have to pass the inspections here in Missouri.
So thats what I have planned so far. My questions are:
1. What headers will fit the stock engine? I don't need a brand/model. But the information that I will need to make sure they will fit.
2. Does the stuff above fit a good profile for boosting the hp a bit?
3. I have read alot about "chips" for the car. Are the street runner series decent? Will they adversly effect my emmisions?
4. Is there any way to find a good "corvette club" around the Saint Louis area, that would not mind mentoring a bit? I found a couple via google, but they seemed a small group. (occostl) (route 66).
5. What sites would you reccommend to a new enthusiest?
thanks again for all the help, and if I get home this evening before It gets dark I will post some pictures.
drew
I hope I got an ok deal. Its a 1984, 350 5.7l crossfire (tbi). it has 161xxx miles, and starts up great. Ive given it a full tune up, and replaced the starter. I only paid 3300 for it. Ive spent a couple hundered doing standart maintaince / tuneup work on it. That leaves with me with 1700 in my budget to spend on it right away.
Once it passes the emissions inspection I plan on boosting the HP. (I haven't had it tested yet. I am probably going to go saturday morning.)
To boost the HP heres where I want to start:
MSD Coil $80
K&N Air Filter $42
K&N Oil Filter $11
(I couldnt find a K&N Fuel filter, have any recommendations?)
The cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are new. But are not performance parts at this time.
I plan on getting some exhaust. For the mufflers I plan on getting the Flowmaster 40's (2.5 inch). I heard while lurking in the forums they sound great.
I plan on using the car as a daily driver / project car to learn more about engines etc.. So any mods would have to pass the inspections here in Missouri.
So thats what I have planned so far. My questions are:
1. What headers will fit the stock engine? I don't need a brand/model. But the information that I will need to make sure they will fit.
2. Does the stuff above fit a good profile for boosting the hp a bit?
3. I have read alot about "chips" for the car. Are the street runner series decent? Will they adversly effect my emmisions?
4. Is there any way to find a good "corvette club" around the Saint Louis area, that would not mind mentoring a bit? I found a couple via google, but they seemed a small group. (occostl) (route 66).
5. What sites would you reccommend to a new enthusiest?
thanks again for all the help, and if I get home this evening before It gets dark I will post some pictures.
drew
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by drewber
Hey guys, just got my first project car ever. Its a 1984 C4. Its a little low on hp to start, but i plan on fixing that. Working on getting it to pass inspection now.
I hope I got an ok deal. Its a 1984, 350 5.7l crossfire (tbi). it has 161xxx miles, and starts up great. Ive given it a full tune up, and replaced the starter. I only paid 3300 for it. Ive spent a couple hundered doing standart maintaince / tuneup work on it. That leaves with me with 1700 in my budget to spend on it right away.
Once it passes the emissions inspection I plan on boosting the HP. (I haven't had it tested yet. I am probably going to go saturday morning.)
To boost the HP heres where I want to start:
MSD Coil $80 (save your money on this one for now)K&N Air Filter $42 Good
K&N Oil Filter $11 Good
(I couldnt find a K&N Fuel filter, have any recommendations?) GM filter
The cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are new. But are not performance parts at this time.
I plan on getting some exhaust. For the mufflers I plan on getting the Flowmaster 40's (2.5 inch). I heard while lurking in the forums they sound great.
I plan on using the car as a daily driver / project car to learn more about engines etc.. So any mods would have to pass the inspections here in Missouri.
So thats what I have planned so far. My questions are:
1. What headers will fit the stock engine? I don't need a brand/model. But the information that I will need to make sure they will fit.
2. Does the stuff above fit a good profile for boosting the hp a bit?
3. I have read alot about "chips" for the car. Are the street runner series decent? Will they adversly effect my emmisions?
4. Is there any way to find a good "corvette club" around the Saint Louis area, that would not mind mentoring a bit? I found a couple via google, but they seemed a small group. (occostl) (route 66).
5. What sites would you reccommend to a new enthusiest?
thanks again for all the help, and if I get home this evening before It gets dark I will post some pictures.
drew
I hope I got an ok deal. Its a 1984, 350 5.7l crossfire (tbi). it has 161xxx miles, and starts up great. Ive given it a full tune up, and replaced the starter. I only paid 3300 for it. Ive spent a couple hundered doing standart maintaince / tuneup work on it. That leaves with me with 1700 in my budget to spend on it right away.
Once it passes the emissions inspection I plan on boosting the HP. (I haven't had it tested yet. I am probably going to go saturday morning.)
To boost the HP heres where I want to start:
MSD Coil $80 (save your money on this one for now)K&N Air Filter $42 Good
K&N Oil Filter $11 Good
(I couldnt find a K&N Fuel filter, have any recommendations?) GM filter
The cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are new. But are not performance parts at this time.
I plan on getting some exhaust. For the mufflers I plan on getting the Flowmaster 40's (2.5 inch). I heard while lurking in the forums they sound great.
I plan on using the car as a daily driver / project car to learn more about engines etc.. So any mods would have to pass the inspections here in Missouri.
So thats what I have planned so far. My questions are:
1. What headers will fit the stock engine? I don't need a brand/model. But the information that I will need to make sure they will fit.
2. Does the stuff above fit a good profile for boosting the hp a bit?
3. I have read alot about "chips" for the car. Are the street runner series decent? Will they adversly effect my emmisions?
4. Is there any way to find a good "corvette club" around the Saint Louis area, that would not mind mentoring a bit? I found a couple via google, but they seemed a small group. (occostl) (route 66).
5. What sites would you reccommend to a new enthusiest?
thanks again for all the help, and if I get home this evening before It gets dark I will post some pictures.
drew
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by vinnies87
My suggestion: you just got the car, 84 w/161xxx millage, somethings going to go, do the basics and save your money for now. You'll have to take care of something in the future, Don't waste you money on Chips, your not performance yet, and won't help. Make sure it runs as your daily, and take your timel;
110%!!! That is very good advice.Even if you told me it had 61,000 miles or you had $17,000 to spend on it, I'd still say wait a while; things are going to go on it and this IS your daily driver. It's great that it's all working fine now, and just drive it for a while. I know St. Louis does get some snow which makes it a bit difficult to imagine this one being driven in it, but it's do-able. And a last suggestion: start putting more money in the piggy bank for repairs and mods.
Welcome aboard!
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Sounds like you got a pretty good deal to me. Except for headers, none of the other things you mentioned will really gain much, if anything for the money spent. The mufflers are okay for the sound if that's what you want but the rest of the system is still rather restrictive. A true dual system w/ crossover would be a good first step. This will lay a solid baseline for more serious mods later, as well. There are some guys here on the forum who are very knowledgeable on the Crossfire. CFI-EFI comes to mind. He's owned his forever and drag raced it for years. He's a great guy, if a bit blunt at times, but give him the respect he deserves and he could be your best friend. He knows Crossfires and engines in general, inside and out.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
Well I forgot to mention. Its a second car also, I have a truck for snowy/rainy weather. I am expecting stuff to break,so for the time being its my daily driver while weather conditions permit. So far ive been fairly hard on it and it just keeps on running. Shifts a little hard if your being nice. Shifts like a dream if your pushing it hard. I am guessing it has some type of shift kit, but impossible to say with out dropping the tranny and opening it up. To be honest, I dont even know what the car has when its stock.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Welcome to the forum. Welcome to the world of Corvette ownership and the much maligned group of Crossfire owners.
I think it will be easiest for me, if I just comment in what you've written, in it's original format. It is easy to spend needlessly on your long to be mostly stock daily driver. I have had great success with mine for a minimal expenditure.
RACE ON!!!
I think it will be easiest for me, if I just comment in what you've written, in it's original format. It is easy to spend needlessly on your long to be mostly stock daily driver. I have had great success with mine for a minimal expenditure.
Originally Posted by drewber
To boost the HP heres where I want to start:
MSD Coil $80 Worthless addition.
K&N Air Filter $42 I don't know if there is any power there, but the 1984 Corvette air filter fits nothing but a 1984 Corvette. The cleanable K&N will save money in the long run and you won't have to chase your tail finding one as it gets older.
K&N Oil Filter $11 No power there. $11.00 sounds like a lot for an oil filter, but they are supposed to be good filters.
(I couldnt find a K&N Fuel filter, have any recommendations?) Any recognizable brand name.
The cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are new. But are not performance parts at this time. Performance replacements of these items are a waste of money for this car, as it sits.
1. What headers will fit the stock engine? I don't need a brand/model. But the information that I will need to make sure they will fit. Make sure the primary tube size is 1 5/8".
2. Does the stuff above fit a good profile for boosting the hp a bit? Mostly, no.
3. I have read alot about "chips" for the car. Are the street runner series decent? Will they adversly effect my emmisions? My experience with a chip, is that I bought a HyperTech ThermoMaster. It slowed me down, so I sent it back.
drew
MSD Coil $80 Worthless addition.
K&N Air Filter $42 I don't know if there is any power there, but the 1984 Corvette air filter fits nothing but a 1984 Corvette. The cleanable K&N will save money in the long run and you won't have to chase your tail finding one as it gets older.
K&N Oil Filter $11 No power there. $11.00 sounds like a lot for an oil filter, but they are supposed to be good filters.
(I couldnt find a K&N Fuel filter, have any recommendations?) Any recognizable brand name.
The cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are new. But are not performance parts at this time. Performance replacements of these items are a waste of money for this car, as it sits.
1. What headers will fit the stock engine? I don't need a brand/model. But the information that I will need to make sure they will fit. Make sure the primary tube size is 1 5/8".
2. Does the stuff above fit a good profile for boosting the hp a bit? Mostly, no.
3. I have read alot about "chips" for the car. Are the street runner series decent? Will they adversly effect my emmisions? My experience with a chip, is that I bought a HyperTech ThermoMaster. It slowed me down, so I sent it back.
drew
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Welcome to the Corvette Forum!! HP is contagious get your wallet and wife ready 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
wallet is ready, and wife is non existant.... im only 26, but I have been into fast cars since I helped my dad rebuild his 57 chevy up to a measly 625 hp....
First time i dropped a tranny, i was 12, and it broke 3 ribs..
First time i dropped a tranny, i was 12, and it broke 3 ribs..
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Originally Posted by drewber
wallet is ready, and wife is non existant.... im only 26, but I have been into fast cars since I helped my dad rebuild his 57 chevy up to a measly 625 hp....
First time i dropped a tranny, i was 12, and it broke 3 ribs..
First time i dropped a tranny, i was 12, and it broke 3 ribs..
Welcome to the fold. Some folks badmouth the 84. Let 'em. It's a great car, lots of fun, with lots of potential. And of course, you've come to the right place. No matter what issue develops, at least one of us has encountered and conquered it.
If you wanna make that puppy a little (actually, a lot) quicker, port your stock intake. Better yet, buy a spare intake and port it while you drive the car. Then when you're done, a couple of hours wrenching, and you will find that your car has really woken up.
Also, bump your base timing up until you start to see detonation....I'm running 10 degrees with no issues...could probably get away with more. This will produce a noticeable low end gain.
From there, headers, exhaust, etc. Limited only by your wallet. Or you could just leave it stock....it will still smoke 90% of the cars on the road today.
Post pics when you can.....we love pics.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 157
Likes: 2
From: Fayetteville Ga
Ditto, congrads on being a proud new C4 owner. I've had a few C3 Vettes and love my 86 by far a lot more.
If your car has 3 catalytic converters (2 small and one big), then get a Catco part number CTO-9518 from www.summitracing.com. At less than $200 shipped, it's an easy do it yourself 15-20 hp mod.
I speak from experience. This really woke up my car.
Also, the good 'ole K&N air filter.
Other than this, I agree with the other members who say SAVE your money!
If your car has 3 catalytic converters (2 small and one big), then get a Catco part number CTO-9518 from www.summitracing.com. At less than $200 shipped, it's an easy do it yourself 15-20 hp mod.
I speak from experience. This really woke up my car.
Also, the good 'ole K&N air filter.Other than this, I agree with the other members who say SAVE your money!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 1
From: I live at www.domesticlugnuts.com I sleep in PA
Welcome to the addiction.
How long until you no longer need to pass the smog test?
Lisa and I both have 84's. Hers is mostly stock and mine has a 383 in it. We only have to pass visual inspection here due to age. So we both have Cats and A.I.R. Pumps, but we went with muffler eliminators.
Post Pics of your new toy.
How long until you no longer need to pass the smog test?
Lisa and I both have 84's. Hers is mostly stock and mine has a 383 in it. We only have to pass visual inspection here due to age. So we both have Cats and A.I.R. Pumps, but we went with muffler eliminators.
Post Pics of your new toy.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: woodinville washington
welcome,
rule one- horsepower costs money, a lot of money, i figure at least
100$ per horse. and i must agree that things are going to break, save your cash, and keep enough in the bank to rebuild a tranny in case it goes, 5 weeks after i baught my '91 with 46K, the tranny went.
do your research and stay on this forum so you'll learn everything about your new "investment".
-mark
rule one- horsepower costs money, a lot of money, i figure at least
100$ per horse. and i must agree that things are going to break, save your cash, and keep enough in the bank to rebuild a tranny in case it goes, 5 weeks after i baught my '91 with 46K, the tranny went.
do your research and stay on this forum so you'll learn everything about your new "investment".
-mark