l-98 performance questions
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
l-98 performance questions
i have a 1990 l-98 with 66k on it and was wanting to do some mods to it, right now i have a chip, wires, plugs, exhaust, and k&n on it but i was wanting to budget about 3-4k on engine mods. i was wanting some input on stuff to do. I am big on keeping the original block if possible, i was thinking about heads, headers, port & polish the intake? i dont know also i was wondering if anyone has the eradispeed brake kit from mid america or corvette central and the suspension kit from R&D ...i would like to add both of those as well to help it handle. but any input or ideas are welcome
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Olympia Washington 91 Z07 Coupe, 6spd, Borla Exhaust, Perf. Ignition, K&N Filter
i was looking into buying a chip, what kind did u get and what do u think of it?
To help you out, my buddy did a port matching on his car and helped out nicely, also balancing the rotating assembly is always good, but wont give u any increase in performance numbers
To help you out, my buddy did a port matching on his car and helped out nicely, also balancing the rotating assembly is always good, but wont give u any increase in performance numbers
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,698
Likes: 0
From: Just the Tip... Just to see how it feels...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
I have a hypertech chip, i think its called the thermomaster from mid america, but you have to install a colder thermostat as well...i could tell some difference whether its in my head or not i like it and i like to think it helped. but its been so long since ive installed it i dont remember the before to well.
Originally Posted by serge
i was looking into buying a chip, what kind did u get and what do u think of it?
To help you out, my buddy did a port matching on his car and helped out nicely, also balancing the rotating assembly is always good, but wont give u any increase in performance numbers
To help you out, my buddy did a port matching on his car and helped out nicely, also balancing the rotating assembly is always good, but wont give u any increase in performance numbers
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
From: JUPITER FLORIDA
Pcmsforless.com go there much much better. Do all your mods and then get the chip. Pcmsforless is custom to exactly what your car will have after you mod it and it will still be cheaper.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by cplonner
Pcmsforless.com go there much much better. Do all your mods and then get the chip. Pcmsforless is custom to exactly what your car will have after you mod it and it will still be cheaper.
I can't tell you how happy I am with mine.
Good advice though. Put your stock chip back in. mod your car, then send Alvin at PCMFORLESS an order and list EVERYTHING you did to the car performance wise. He can program it for all your mods to get the most out of it.
the hypertech is ok if you have a 160* thermostat and its a stock car. but once you start modding, it will only hinder performance.
I had one and sold it. Once I put the stock chip back in, i was like WOAH this is a completely different car! then once I got my pcmforless chip in, it was like an ever better completely different car!
Good stuff, just make sure you do it last so you can avoid having to reburn a new chip multiple times due to excessive modding that needs new programming
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,139
Likes: 1,728
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
It depends on how fast you want to go, and how much you can do yourself. Buying parts used is the way to go if possible. You may find a deal on a SuperRam if youre patient.
I wouldnt bother with the Baer kit there, its not really anything better than the C5 package, just that the Eradispeed rotors are pretty. You can get the C5 parts necessary and paint some Durastop rotor centers and it'll be fine.
RD parts are always good, as are VetteBrakes' suspension parts.
I wouldnt bother with the Baer kit there, its not really anything better than the C5 package, just that the Eradispeed rotors are pretty. You can get the C5 parts necessary and paint some Durastop rotor centers and it'll be fine.
RD parts are always good, as are VetteBrakes' suspension parts.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
i dont want to go real fast as there are not really any places to go real fast on the street. i would just like to get some extra power just something to be a little above the rest of the vettes at the show. i was thinking just like heads, headers, stuff like that. I work at a performance shop so all the install i can do myself but the machine work i will have to send out.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 48
From: Lakeport CA
w/ welcome to the dark side. I didn't do any real mods the first 8 years I owned my 90... the last 6 have been another story.I started down the road of simple bolt ons, headers, catback, 1.6 rockers, AFPR, K&N filter & open lid, etc... then a coolant leak out the back of #7 head gasket was an excuse for new rings, timing set & the TPIS Big Mouth intake & runners, minor port/polish & port match, new valve springs, guide plates, Corteco thin head gaskets & a chip. That was all fine & good until a fellow forum member dumped a brand new D-1 procharger kit that had sat for 3 years in his garage... now it's gasous intercooling & all the power I could ever need.
Did I mention the DRM extra grip setup w/ coilovers, a grafted stock X-brace & now a customized camber brace to clear the supercharger. Have I stopped yet... no... see what happens!! Don't do it man, the first hit seems so innocent and easy now I'm hooked.
Last edited by Trog; Oct 31, 2006 at 10:57 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
$3-4K can get you quite a bit in mods! 
question though: if you don't want to go really fast, but 'want to be faster than the other corvettes at the show"... what does that mean? why bother modding your car out if you dont have anywhere to drive fast, dont care to drive that much faster, but just want to have more mods than the guy sitting next to you at a car show, but not really even use the extra power?
Not doggin ya, to each his own, but there seems to be a quite a few other things you could do with that money if you don't really even plan to use it, like visuals or something (wheels, stereo, interior, paint, etc?)
I could build a badazz home theater setup for that much money if i wan't planning to use the extra power in the car
question though: if you don't want to go really fast, but 'want to be faster than the other corvettes at the show"... what does that mean? why bother modding your car out if you dont have anywhere to drive fast, dont care to drive that much faster, but just want to have more mods than the guy sitting next to you at a car show, but not really even use the extra power?
Not doggin ya, to each his own, but there seems to be a quite a few other things you could do with that money if you don't really even plan to use it, like visuals or something (wheels, stereo, interior, paint, etc?)
I could build a badazz home theater setup for that much money if i wan't planning to use the extra power in the car
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Originally Posted by sgtskid
.... i would just like to get some extra power just something to be a little above the rest of the vettes at the show.
doing anything because of some silly car show will prove useless and meaningless.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
Nitrous. Spray that sucker like a roach!
Heads/cam/intake... There's a million ways to build an SBC combo, that's why your not really getting responses on that.
If all your looking for is the 'wow' factor, nitrous is tough to beat. A big bottle in the back and a big purge can drop a lot of jaws. Other than something that is crazy expensive like a turbo or S/C set-up, I think nitrous will draw the most attention.
If you are dead set on doing heads/cam/intake, I like this combo:
Mini-ram intake
CC306 cam
Canton heads, or some other 195-200 CC head
A nice valve train so you can spin it to 6500 reliably
Hooker long tubes, or some other long tube header
That should net you ~350 RWHP, possible more. There's a lot more to any combo, but those are the basics.
Good luck, let us know what you decide to do!
Heads/cam/intake... There's a million ways to build an SBC combo, that's why your not really getting responses on that.
If all your looking for is the 'wow' factor, nitrous is tough to beat. A big bottle in the back and a big purge can drop a lot of jaws. Other than something that is crazy expensive like a turbo or S/C set-up, I think nitrous will draw the most attention.
If you are dead set on doing heads/cam/intake, I like this combo:
Mini-ram intake
CC306 cam
Canton heads, or some other 195-200 CC head
A nice valve train so you can spin it to 6500 reliably
Hooker long tubes, or some other long tube header
That should net you ~350 RWHP, possible more. There's a lot more to any combo, but those are the basics.
Good luck, let us know what you decide to do!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 13
From: Romeoville IL
I like power anytime I want it, not at the push of a buttom when the bottle is full, but if you are going more for the show, then slap a nitrous kit in, the bottle does look mean, and then you have the option for the occassional spray should you decide you actually want to get her going.
I would definately say go with a nie set of Ceramic coated headers/Y-Pipe, and a high flow to finish off your exhaust. If you are going for more show, dress up the engine bay. Get a nice set of Valve covers, and while they are off, put in a set of rockers :-) Just work on the little details they will make the engine more impressive when you pop the hood.
I would definately say go with a nie set of Ceramic coated headers/Y-Pipe, and a high flow to finish off your exhaust. If you are going for more show, dress up the engine bay. Get a nice set of Valve covers, and while they are off, put in a set of rockers :-) Just work on the little details they will make the engine more impressive when you pop the hood.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
I didnt mean i dont want to go fast, I was more less saying that I don't want (well want is one thing but practical is another) a car with an insane amount of horsepower. I drive a local road called "The Dragon" or hwy 129 that road is not really for speed as much as it is handling, but a little extra wouldnt hurt. As far as going for looks I like the look of my car and about the only thing I plan on changing are the wheels somewhere down the road. I like the clean lines of it without body kits or spoilers. Because to me that starts getting into (this one might cause a stir) the ricer catagory. But like i said earlier thanks for all the advice everyone!! 