L98 Build up questions
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Madison Virginia
L98 Build up questions
i Have a 89 stock L98, all i have done to it is a K&N with a cut lid. i would like to take it out and build it up. im inexperienced when it comes to this kind of thing. i have a shop at my disposal luckily, i just do not know the path i want to take upgrading. i am going to have around $2000 dollars to work with hopefully, so what would my options be? im looking for around 450-500 HP. eventually i would love to put a twin turbo system on as well, but its all based on the funding.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,749
Likes: 41
i Have a 89 stock L98, all i have done to it is a K&N with a cut lid. i would like to take it out and build it up. im inexperienced when it comes to this kind of thing. i have a shop at my disposal luckily, i just do not know the path i want to take upgrading. i am going to have around $2000 dollars to work with hopefully, so what would my options be? im looking for around 450-500 HP. eventually i would love to put a twin turbo system on as well, but its all based on the funding.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
I will agree. I would start with the exhaust. After installing a good set of longtube headers, cat, and catback mufflers....you will be more than half way through $2000. You MIGHT be touching at 300hp. More significant when you increase the intake airflow.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 24
From: Orange County NY
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13
And to approach the type of horsepower you are looking for, you'll need a new intake set up, heads, and cam for sure, along with a custom tune. Start talking to tuners now 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
Well, like was mentioned earlier, my standard recommendation is nitrous. For less than $2000 there is nothing that will come close to the power gains that nitrous offers. Most people don't really know how nitrous works and won't consider it because of the urban myths surrounding it. Here's a blurb I wrote about nitrous awhile back, it's pretty informative for a new guy considering the bottle:
http://www.jkvette.cz28.com/whats_new_3.html
If your car is an automatic, a stall converter is a great bang for the buck mod. Next, tires would be another great mod. I guess my mod plan for your car/budget would look like this:
Headers, high flow cats, and a catback. Depending on what you choose, this can knock out your entire $2,000 budget if you let it.
Next, I would probably do a converter if you have an auto. If you are a stick shift car, skip this step.
1.6 roller rockers are a great mod for the L98, and should yield a decent gain.
A custom tune from one of the vendors here on the forum.
If you have any cash left, a nice set of drag radials would probably kill the budget.
http://www.jkvette.cz28.com/whats_new_3.html
If your car is an automatic, a stall converter is a great bang for the buck mod. Next, tires would be another great mod. I guess my mod plan for your car/budget would look like this:
Headers, high flow cats, and a catback. Depending on what you choose, this can knock out your entire $2,000 budget if you let it.
Next, I would probably do a converter if you have an auto. If you are a stick shift car, skip this step.
1.6 roller rockers are a great mod for the L98, and should yield a decent gain.
A custom tune from one of the vendors here on the forum.
If you have any cash left, a nice set of drag radials would probably kill the budget.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 48
From: Lakeport CA
with much of the above... One thing I learned in my younger years w/ building hotrods/fast cars... don't forget about the stop when putting in the go.
IMHO the stock brakes on our years (mine is a '90) are a bit lacking. None of this is cheap but it sure would suck to spend a few $K on making a car go faster & then having it bent or worse totaled out due to poor brakes.
Options when I did my first brake upgrades were limited but now you have more options at better prices, ie C5 brakes etc.
Good luck w/ your build though. Take a few small steps w/ the funds you have & learn how to drive the thing... there is a LOT of potential there if you know how to tap into it.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
If you are looking at 450-500hp before the TTs you need to be considering some major changes, like 396cid, intake, exh, heads, cam, etc. You can likely coax about 400hp from the 350cid with careful parts selection and combination.
If you are likely to go with the TTs that decision needs to be made before selecting heads & cam.
Pick up some books by Vizard, Emanuel, and LPE on engine building for some ideas and details on what is involved.
If you are likely to go with the TTs that decision needs to be made before selecting heads & cam.
Pick up some books by Vizard, Emanuel, and LPE on engine building for some ideas and details on what is involved.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Madison Virginia
i am making my own headers. and supposedly i heard that flowmaster lost their patent and there is a new company making the same product for about half the price, im not posivtive on this, i will get back to you guys with the company when i find out. i am planning on boring out the block, how big can i go with an L98?
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Urbana OH
Well, like was mentioned earlier, my standard recommendation is nitrous. For less than $2000 there is nothing that will come close to the power gains that nitrous offers. Most people don't really know how nitrous works and won't consider it because of the urban myths surrounding it. Here's a blurb I wrote about nitrous awhile back, it's pretty informative for a new guy considering the bottle:
http://www.jkvette.cz28.com/whats_new_3.html
If your car is an automatic, a stall converter is a great bang for the buck mod. Next, tires would be another great mod. I guess my mod plan for your car/budget would look like this:
Headers, high flow cats, and a catback. Depending on what you choose, this can knock out your entire $2,000 budget if you let it.
Next, I would probably do a converter if you have an auto. If you are a stick shift car, skip this step.
1.6 roller rockers are a great mod for the L98, and should yield a decent gain.
A custom tune from one of the vendors here on the forum.
If you have any cash left, a nice set of drag radials would probably kill the budget.
http://www.jkvette.cz28.com/whats_new_3.html
If your car is an automatic, a stall converter is a great bang for the buck mod. Next, tires would be another great mod. I guess my mod plan for your car/budget would look like this:
Headers, high flow cats, and a catback. Depending on what you choose, this can knock out your entire $2,000 budget if you let it.
Next, I would probably do a converter if you have an auto. If you are a stick shift car, skip this step.
1.6 roller rockers are a great mod for the L98, and should yield a decent gain.
A custom tune from one of the vendors here on the forum.
If you have any cash left, a nice set of drag radials would probably kill the budget.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Olympia Washington 91 Z07 Coupe, 6spd, Borla Exhaust, Perf. Ignition, K&N Filter
you can pick up a set of edelbrock heads for 1200 bucks, heres a link:
Link to the Description and price
and then pick up some long tubes and youd have a good flow through the motor, just an idea, i really like those heads for some reason
Link to the Description and price
and then pick up some long tubes and youd have a good flow through the motor, just an idea, i really like those heads for some reason
