The Batmobile

Whats the most horsepower you can get from an 85 L-98?

jsup

How much money do you have?

89onlyZ51

When is an L-98 no longer an L-98?

jsup

I guess that's the first question.

I'm changing the heads, cam, exhaust, intake, ripping out the pollution, and tuning the chip.

Is that still an L98?

neat

Without a power adder, on the stock bottom end, high 300's is probably it. I'd really be suprised to see one make more than 375 RWHP.

If you are willing to use a power adder like nitrous, super charger, or turbo charger; you can make a lot more.

The Batmobile

Yeah. Thanks.

Curveit

I think as soon as you take off the TPI...then you got a 350" Small Block Chevy

Jonnymac

Speed cost money how fast do you want to go.

drd21968

383 stroker,superram,agressive cam,afr heads,afew other go fast goodies.you can put about 375 rwhp on the ground

Torpedo

can the stock crank and pistons take a supercharger?

jsup

If you don't go nuts, yes. Keep it 10 psi or under, should be OK, as long as you don't wind it up and detonate.

VtVette

at that end it's pretty difficult to make substantial power out of a "L98". Remove the intake and it's a whole different story.

Demonic85

the TPI is what makes it an L98 and yes you can make it into a wicked engine that will run 12's (with lots of money of course). I've changed heads, some valvetrain, and exhaust and i'm probably running around 300 at the crank (my estimate). I know people who have a similar setup to mine and have added a cam that pushed it into over 300 RWHP.

Of course stroking and/or boring the block is the best way to get more power (NA of course). On an '85 you can run nitrous because it has forged pistons (75-100 shot?)

aklim

I made 410 on a chassis dyno. 383, Holley Stealth Ram, aggressive cam, AFR 190 heads, headers, larger injectors

70ZZ3 96LT4

I knew my 85 has forged pistons from the factory. Did later models have them as well throughout the L98 run of Corvettes.

VtVette

Everything I've seen points to only the '85s having the forged pistons. I'm not sure about '84 or LT1 engines.

85blkrose

i thought i read somewhere that the early 85 l98 was a forged bottom end not just the pistons. something about then being a heavy duty truck block with performance valve train and heads.

jsup

Question, if you change the runners, say to ASM, and the base, say to a big mouth, but keep the plenum, is it still an L98?

mseven

I think that depends on what the plan is for the car. If you look at the L98 being a gen I motor, and NA @350ci., guys like Smokey, Bill Jenkins etc. are good examples of those who have produced some real power.

neat

You don't need forged pistons to run nitrous. It's great insurance, but it's by no means mandatory. I've easily run 50+ bottle through my car, on the stock pistons, with no problems.

A well built 383 should be able to lay down low 400's at the tires pretty easily.