Newbie with 95 looking for some easy performance upgrades!
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Millersville PA
Newbie with 95 looking for some easy performance upgrades!
Hi everyone - great site! I just purchased a 1995 convertible with 27k and love everything about the car. It has the LT-1 engine with Auto (would have liked Manual). I would like to do some performance upgrades to it - nothing extreme at this point. From what I can tell about the car, the engine is all stock. The only thing I see done to the car is that it has after-market exhaust on it - chambered from Cat back to eliminate the mufflers. Can you guys point me in the right direction to get a little more HP out of the car. My biggest thing is I don't want to lose any reliability. I am looking forward to your help - Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,679
Likes: 1
From: South Amboy NJ
Congrats on your purchase!
To be quite honest, all of the cheap mods suck. There is very little to gain if any. You should save your money for heads, cam, long tube headers and etc. That is where the power comes from.
Your best mod for the time being may be a rear gear change if you have the 2.59's, or possibly change the rear (D36 (what you have=weak) -> D44 (came with 6 speeds)) if you plan on sticky tires and more hp down the road, . Most like the 3.54's on the auto while I'm a fan of the 4.10's.
To be quite honest, all of the cheap mods suck. There is very little to gain if any. You should save your money for heads, cam, long tube headers and etc. That is where the power comes from.
Your best mod for the time being may be a rear gear change if you have the 2.59's, or possibly change the rear (D36 (what you have=weak) -> D44 (came with 6 speeds)) if you plan on sticky tires and more hp down the road, . Most like the 3.54's on the auto while I'm a fan of the 4.10's.
Last edited by BlackC6LS3; Jul 28, 2006 at 09:35 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: New Egypt NJ
i also have an LT1 auto ur best bet if u wanan give the car some more low end punch is to change the rear axle gears and maybe throw a stall converter in, Im defintaly going to change gears on mine not sure if ill do the stall or not
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Congrats on your purchase. A full tune up will do wonders for your baby. It will feel like you just gained 50 hp.
Things to address:
New plugs.....
New plug wires.....
New fuel filter.....
New air filter.....
Complete brake fluid flush, replace with a synthetic.....
Complete coolant system flush.....
Oil change & replace with a synthetic.....
Transmission fluid change & replace with a synthetic.....
Differential fluid change.....
The above is the important things, others will chime in with additional
changes.
Things to address:
New plugs.....
New plug wires.....
New fuel filter.....
New air filter.....
Complete brake fluid flush, replace with a synthetic.....
Complete coolant system flush.....
Oil change & replace with a synthetic.....
Transmission fluid change & replace with a synthetic.....
Differential fluid change.....
The above is the important things, others will chime in with additional
changes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 66
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Check what rear end ratio you have, if you get under the car it is electro etched into the bottom of the diff housing. If you want to be able to drag race without the concern of rear end failure, swap to a DANA 44 rather than just changing the ratio.
Do all that stuff elefkow said. (although i only use DEXRON 3 in the auto trans)
Look at a set of good 1.6:1 RRs (i have Crane Cams on my 94)
Fit a decent auto transmission cooler. (heat is an auto transmission's worst enemy)
Get yourself an ALDL cable, a laptop and some software (tuner cat and Datamaster) Using these you can modify your transmission shift points (shifts are set in MPH), torque converter lockup and unlock points for a given TPS %, as well as loads of other things.
Do all that stuff elefkow said. (although i only use DEXRON 3 in the auto trans)
Look at a set of good 1.6:1 RRs (i have Crane Cams on my 94)
Fit a decent auto transmission cooler. (heat is an auto transmission's worst enemy)
Get yourself an ALDL cable, a laptop and some software (tuner cat and Datamaster) Using these you can modify your transmission shift points (shifts are set in MPH), torque converter lockup and unlock points for a given TPS %, as well as loads of other things.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 0
From: Augusta GA
Originally Posted by neat
Nitrous. Spray that bitch like a roach.
Originally Posted by byoung7
nothing extreme at this point.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,178
Likes: 1,740
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
If you just got it, then drive it for at least 6 months to figure out what it is you want first.
Anything worth doing costs money. Catbacks, headers, Hotcam, Roller Rockers, gears, converter.
Being an automatic, the best bet is to go with converter first (2400-2600 stall for a street LT1) and then gears if you feel like its not enough.
Anything worth doing costs money. Catbacks, headers, Hotcam, Roller Rockers, gears, converter.
Being an automatic, the best bet is to go with converter first (2400-2600 stall for a street LT1) and then gears if you feel like its not enough.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 66
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by red_johnny
Plus you dont add NOS to a stock engine unless you use a VERY little shot say 75 HP or less. I never touch the stuff myself. I would rather get my power at a constant rather than have a short burst of power every once and awhile. But hey, thats just me.
And i wouldnt touch it either.... It is simply a chemical intercooler/supercharger. Might be a reletivly cheap way to add on abit of power, but its not so cheap when you throw a leg out the side of the block....
Originally Posted by vader86
If you just got it, then drive it for at least 6 months to figure out what it is you want first.
Anything worth doing costs money. Catbacks, headers, Hotcam, Roller Rockers, gears, converter.
Being an automatic, the best bet is to go with converter first (2400-2600 stall for a street LT1) and then gears if you feel like its not enough.
Anything worth doing costs money. Catbacks, headers, Hotcam, Roller Rockers, gears, converter.
Being an automatic, the best bet is to go with converter first (2400-2600 stall for a street LT1) and then gears if you feel like its not enough.
Last edited by Casethecorvetteman; Jul 28, 2006 at 01:45 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 11
From: Savannah Ga.
Originally Posted by vader86
If you just got it, then drive it for at least 6 months to figure out what it is you want first.
Anything worth doing costs money. Catbacks, headers, Hotcam, Roller Rockers, gears, converter.
Being an automatic, the best bet is to go with converter first (2400-2600 stall for a street LT1) and then gears if you feel like its not enough.
Anything worth doing costs money. Catbacks, headers, Hotcam, Roller Rockers, gears, converter.
Being an automatic, the best bet is to go with converter first (2400-2600 stall for a street LT1) and then gears if you feel like its not enough.
