Headers or gears
$500-$600, What mod next?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 109
From: Crystal lake Il
2022 Corvette of the Year Winner -- Modified
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Winner
$500-$600, What mod next?
I have a 1990 Auto(2.59) with 51K miles. I have the following mods:
-AFPR
-UD Pulleys
-Air Foil
-TB bypass
-Ed Wright Fastchip
-Ported Plenum/Intake(In process plenum is off to reseal)
-Adding 1.6rr(adding during reseal)
-High Flow Mufflers(Mid Am)
My budget is $500-$600, what is the best band for the buck mod? I need to be able to pass Chicago emissions. I like headers but would like to know what they are like vs stock(sound), especially with 2.59. Also seems like fit is an issue(trans pan) for headers in my range.
thanks
Lgaff
-AFPR
-UD Pulleys
-Air Foil
-TB bypass
-Ed Wright Fastchip
-Ported Plenum/Intake(In process plenum is off to reseal)
-Adding 1.6rr(adding during reseal)
-High Flow Mufflers(Mid Am)
My budget is $500-$600, what is the best band for the buck mod? I need to be able to pass Chicago emissions. I like headers but would like to know what they are like vs stock(sound), especially with 2.59. Also seems like fit is an issue(trans pan) for headers in my range.
thanks
Lgaff
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
I believe a lot of people with autos (a realm I know nothing about) go with a torque converter and/or new rear end gears (3.73 or so) to get the best "bang for buck." - - This is just a rehash of what I think I remember reading over and over about automatic Vette mods... so do some research on them... I'm sure someone will chime in to elaborate or correct me..... but I can't argue with the above post either - gas is getting expensive! - - - steak dinners are nice too 
EDIT: Also - I'd assume the mentioned mods wouldn't change passing emissions - but don't quote me on that either.... however if you go with the last one... steak and beans might cause a problem (alright ...lame.. I know..)....
EDIT: Also - I'd assume the mentioned mods wouldn't change passing emissions - but don't quote me on that either.... however if you go with the last one... steak and beans might cause a problem (alright ...lame.. I know..)....
Last edited by 4REGT4; May 13, 2006 at 04:57 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: hartwell ga
I have a 1990 with the same gears
As far as bang for the buck, go with a 24-2600 stall speed torque converter. It will make the most seat-o-the pants improvement. I did this with a trans swap (Raptor Jr.) from PATC in Bosier City, LA and WOW! what a difference. I don't have the mods that you do and it really brought on the power. It will not mess with your emisions test and you wont notice it while crusing or MPG. When you floor it, the trans will shift @ 5K and the tach will never go below 3K throughout all gears. Right in the "sweet spot" of the L98. The front end will feel like it is off the ground so have it pointed in the right direction. It gets real lite. If you have any cash left over buy a trans cooler and change your rear gear fluid to a synthetic. Set aside some dough for U-joints because you will soon need them. Most motor mods never deliver the claimed HP and nearly all only deliver gains at WOT. Motor mods require a custom tuned chip to get the most out of them and there goes your $ 500 quickly. THe TC will deliver the HP with what you have already installed. DO what you want. Let us know how it comes out. Nice to hear from another '90 owner.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,749
Likes: 41
Originally Posted by lgaff
I have a 1990 Auto(2.59) with 51K miles. I have the following mods:
-AFPR
-UD Pulleys
-Air Foil
-TB bypass
-Ed Wright Fastchip
-Ported Plenum/Intake(In process plenum is off to reseal)
-Adding 1.6rr(adding during reseal)
-High Flow Mufflers(Mid Am)
My budget is $500-$600, what is the best band for the buck mod? I need to be able to pass Chicago emissions. I like headers but would like to know what they are like vs stock(sound), especially with 2.59. Also seems like fit is an issue(trans pan) for headers in my range.
thanks
Lgaff
-AFPR
-UD Pulleys
-Air Foil
-TB bypass
-Ed Wright Fastchip
-Ported Plenum/Intake(In process plenum is off to reseal)
-Adding 1.6rr(adding during reseal)
-High Flow Mufflers(Mid Am)
My budget is $500-$600, what is the best band for the buck mod? I need to be able to pass Chicago emissions. I like headers but would like to know what they are like vs stock(sound), especially with 2.59. Also seems like fit is an issue(trans pan) for headers in my range.
thanks
Lgaff
3.07's.
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Lgaff,
One of the mail order haus (Mid america , I think) sells an inexpensive kit that relocates the intake air temperature sensor from underneath the plenum (L98's) to upstream of the throttle body. They claim it adds horsepower by tricking the ECM into a richer fuel mix (cooler air). I personally have not heard how well it works, But my '89 seems to run snapper before warm-up. Did you consider this ? Does anyone know if it makes improvement ???
Save the wave......Sanche
One of the mail order haus (Mid america , I think) sells an inexpensive kit that relocates the intake air temperature sensor from underneath the plenum (L98's) to upstream of the throttle body. They claim it adds horsepower by tricking the ECM into a richer fuel mix (cooler air). I personally have not heard how well it works, But my '89 seems to run snapper before warm-up. Did you consider this ? Does anyone know if it makes improvement ???
Save the wave......Sanche
