First Mods should be...?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 1
From: Shakopee Minnesota
First Mods should be...?
Just bought an '86 Vette from my uncle. It needs a new interior basically, new paint, but the engine runs great. What are some good mods to get a lot of "seat of your pants" type torque. I think that moving the MAT sensor is pointless, to get you started.
Some Ideas I had were:
KN Air Filter,
58mm Throttle Body and Intake manifold,
Porting and Polishing the heads,
Shaving the heads (30-60 thousandths)
Muffler eliminators.
Give 'er Hell.
Some Ideas I had were:
KN Air Filter,
58mm Throttle Body and Intake manifold,
Porting and Polishing the heads,
Shaving the heads (30-60 thousandths)
Muffler eliminators.
Give 'er Hell.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
I just installed the hot cam and got a nice boost in power. If I had to do it all over again, I would have opted for 3:43 gears and a higher stall converter. That would give you more torque for the money and bother are easier and less timing consuming to install than a cam install.
But I have the lt1 motor. . . which likes to rev. My understanding is youer motor is built for torque.
Good luck..
But I have the lt1 motor. . . which likes to rev. My understanding is youer motor is built for torque.
Good luck..
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,922
Likes: 700
From: WI
You don't really need the K&N unless you want to clean it and save money, it won't gain much if any power. The 58MM TB would be way to much for a 350 CID. Muffler elims is a good idea if you don't mind loud, exhaust is a great place for gains. Headers, elim the front two pre-cats, high flow main cat, or true dual exhaust. Shaving the heads, a thinner head gasket would be cheaper! Porting and polished the heads is a great idea, a long with larger valves. A cam would help. Also a better intake or porting the stock unit. I'd recomend the Super Ram intake, and base. There are "free mods" like removing the large disc on the water pump.
Welcome to the forum!
Check out the search utility, use it here in C4 tech, you will read for hours and hours.
Welcome to the forum!
Check out the search utility, use it here in C4 tech, you will read for hours and hours.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,067
Likes: 1,722
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
58, nope. Doesnt even need a 52.
You can port the stock base, but you are better off buying a new larger one.
Work on stock heads? nope. Throw them in the trash and get new ones.
Whatever catback you wish, based on sound. Elims are fine.
Add headers.
None of these improves torquey feel, these all push the powerband up and give some HP.
Gears are unnecessary for an L98, especially if it has 3.07s already. TC is not needed for 86 since you have 2000rpm stall already.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,377
Likes: 387
From: Lakeville MI
Dual exhaust is a nice place to start. Don't worry about headers until you're in the 12s (or very close).
Get the coolant temp down under 200 F.
Pullies and roller rockers usually help.
Next would be the intake. Several options are available but all are pricey compared with any other car on the planet.
Get the coolant temp down under 200 F.
Pullies and roller rockers usually help.
Next would be the intake. Several options are available but all are pricey compared with any other car on the planet.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,991
Likes: 5
From: The Pines South Jersey
Filter is fine, but cut the airlid open.
58, nope. Doesnt even need a 52.
You can port the stock base, but you are better off buying a new larger one.
Work on stock heads? nope. Throw them in the trash and get new ones.
Whatever catback you wish, based on sound. Elims are fine.
Add headers.
None of these improves torquey feel, these all push the powerband up and give some HP.
Gears are unnecessary for an L98, especially if it has 3.07s already. TC is not needed for 86 since you have 2000rpm stall already.
58, nope. Doesnt even need a 52.
You can port the stock base, but you are better off buying a new larger one.
Work on stock heads? nope. Throw them in the trash and get new ones.
Whatever catback you wish, based on sound. Elims are fine.
Add headers.
None of these improves torquey feel, these all push the powerband up and give some HP.
Gears are unnecessary for an L98, especially if it has 3.07s already. TC is not needed for 86 since you have 2000rpm stall already.
I got into the 12's with the stock TB
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
What are some good mods to get a lot of "seat of your pants" type torque.
Some cheap mods include K&N w/ cut lid, 160deg T-stat w/ fan switch, cut-back spark plug electrodes.
For a nice "feel" punch, install a 2,400RPM TC and TransGo shift kit.
Also, every 100lbs of weight lost is worth 10chp added.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 9
From: '88 TPI L98/HotCam Powell, Ohio
Hotrod and 65Z are on the money. Get rid of that Karappy exhaaust. If you're on a budget post in the classifieds for somebody's old LT1 exhaust. If not blow the dough on headers and 2.5" min duals. Everybody says 25 hp gain but it is more than that. 25 peak HP yes, but 50hp in the upper rpms and that is a huge seat of the pants gain. If you are going to start the money pit of mods then the exhaust needs to be done either way. So you might as well start with it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 921
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Germantown MD
Had a 95' man I do miss those snug low seats!
I went to a local muffler shop gave the guy $50 to cut the mufflers off bend a "test" pipe to replace em and weld the origonal tips back on.
Looks stock and sounds much better. See the attached link if you want to hear what muffler eliminators sound like.
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/corv...te_w-o_Muf.mov
I went to a local muffler shop gave the guy $50 to cut the mufflers off bend a "test" pipe to replace em and weld the origonal tips back on.
Looks stock and sounds much better. See the attached link if you want to hear what muffler eliminators sound like.
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/corv...te_w-o_Muf.mov