C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Need suggestions for a new setup....

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Old 10-21-2007, 03:49 PM
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The Batmobile
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Default Need suggestions for a new setup....

My car is an 85 with the L-98 350.

Ok, my engine isnt the most reliable so in the future (next 6-8 months) I want to redo my engine. Hopefully you guys can tell me what I need to rebuild my engine.

I want it to have 300+ Hp and I want to have it bored out. I want to keep the TPI. I dont know much about engines, but if I know what I need to buy, once I have everything, my uncle will help me with the rebuild. Zak.

Last edited by The Batmobile; 10-22-2007 at 07:19 PM.
Old 10-21-2007, 04:45 PM
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BADDUCK
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Sell it and get a C5.
Old 10-21-2007, 04:49 PM
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John A. Marker
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I firmly believe in NOT getting too extream if you want longivity. I had a 350 in my Blazer that I rebuilt 24 years ago that kept running and running.

I would go 30 over when you bore it (the smallest you can go) and build a 355. Get a mild roller cam like the Lingenfelter 74211 with 1.6 roller rockers, get a GOOD set of aluminum heads (I would not go over 190), a good intake, short runners and plenum. Do a little exhaust work and you are set. Don't forget to spend the coupld of extra dollars and get the internals balanced.

My set up below with stock bottom end including stock cam is putting out about 350 HP at the crank. You can go to a 383 which will cost more money and put our more HP. But with a 383 or other high performance engine, I believe that you should pull theses engines each 1-1/2 years and torque everything back down before it shakes apart. My son used to build high performance engines for his Chevy that would put out some ungodly HP, but they would shake apart within a year.

Do some searches on the Forum and talk to several of your local engine shops for some good advice.

Good luck,

Last edited by John A. Marker; 10-21-2007 at 04:56 PM.
Old 10-21-2007, 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by John A. Marker
I firmly believe in NOT getting too extream if you want longivity. I had a 350 in my Blazer that I rebuilt 24 years ago that kept running and running.

I would go 30 over when you bore it (the smallest you can go) and build a 355. Get a mild roller cam like the Lingenfelter 74211 with 1.6 roller rockers, get a GOOD set of aluminum heads (I would not go over 190), a good intake, short runners and plenum. Do a little exhaust work and you are set. Don't forget to spend the coupld of extra dollars and get the internals balanced.

My set up below with stock bottom end including stock cam is putting out about 350 HP at the crank. You can go to a 383 which will cost more money and put our more HP. But with a 383 or other high performance engine, I believe that you should pull theses engines each 1-1/2 years and torque everything back down before it shakes apart. My son used to build high performance engines for his Chevy that would put out some ungodly HP, but they would shake apart within a year.

Do some searches on the Forum and talk to several of your local engine shops for some good advice.

Good luck,


Thanks...I already have a new set of cat back exhaust with Flowmasters. Yeah, I dont want to go crazy with performance, just upgrade a few things. Thanks, Zak.
Old 10-21-2007, 05:58 PM
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The Batmobile
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A few more questions...

What all must be replaced when I bore it to .30?
What would be an estimated cost for all the parts to redo the engine with the items listed above?
What is considered a good set of aluminum heads?
Old 10-21-2007, 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by The Batmobile
Ok, my engine isnt the most reliable so in the future (next 6-8 months) I want to redo my engine. Hopefully you guys can tell me what I need to rebuild my engine.
Why do you want to rebuild it? Is it smoking like a chimney? Does it have poor compression? Is the cylinder leakage at a high percentage? Is there a lot of blow by puffing out of the breathers? The basic mechanicals would have to be in pretty poor shape to affect reliability. You DON'T have to bore to .030" oversize. Pistons and rings are commonly available in .020" oversize. A lot of what you will need will depend on what you determine it needs upon tear down. Does this engine really need an overhaul or are you just bored. A day or so ago, weren't you agonizing over whether it needed valve stem seals, or not and if you were capable of handling that?

RACE ON!!!
Old 10-21-2007, 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by BADDUCK
Sell it and get a C5.
That seems to be the answer to everything...

"I got a flat".....

Get a C5......
Old 10-21-2007, 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by jsup
That seems to be the answer to everything...

"I got a flat".....

Get a C5......
Not from me, but if he is looking for 350+ horsepower as he says, you are talking a rebuild that will cost more than the car will be worth when he is done. If he is just rebuilding stock, he should keep it. He may only need the top end freshened up!
Old 10-21-2007, 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by BADDUCK
Not from me, but if he is looking for 350+ horsepower as he says, you are talking a rebuild that will cost more than the car will be worth when he is done. If he is just rebuilding stock, he should keep it. He may only need the top end freshened up!
Also, I don't believe it's all that common that the mechanicals are the reason for reliability.

Typically it's because the engine isn't set up right.

Could be injectors, ECU, vacuum leak, lots of things, but I can't see mechanicals being the issue in many cases.
Old 10-21-2007, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
Why do you want to rebuild it? Is it smoking like a chimney? Does it have poor compression? Is the cylinder leakage at a high percentage? Is there a lot of blow by puffing out of the breathers? The basic mechanicals would have to be in pretty poor shape to affect reliability. You DON'T have to bore to .030" oversize. Pistons and rings are commonly available in .020" oversize. A lot of what you will need will depend on what you determine it needs upon tear down. Does this engine really need an overhaul or are you just bored. A day or so ago, weren't you agonizing over whether it needed valve stem seals, or not and if you were capable of handling that?

RACE ON!!!

I would be just buying the parts...my uncle would be doing the work.
Old 10-21-2007, 07:49 PM
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Matt Cramer
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Originally Posted by BADDUCK
Not from me, but if he is looking for 350+ horsepower as he says, you are talking a rebuild that will cost more than the car will be worth when he is done. If he is just rebuilding stock, he should keep it. He may only need the top end freshened up!
Sometimes, hot rodding isn't always about what a car is worth to anybody but you. I've run $600 worth of race tires on a $500 car before, put a $1,000 turbo and spent $600 on machine work for an EFI intake manifold on a Dodge Dart not worth more than $2,500, and otherwise done things that, in the grand scheme of things, are loony wastes of money.

We all have our money costing vices. You just need to approach them knowing that's what they are, and with the understanding that you won't see the money again.

That said, I wouldn't bore the engine out more than is necessary, especially not with the number of reasonably priced stroker kits out there. On the other hand, I'm also not sure I would put a stroker kit on there with a manifold that was already meant for a smaller engine. I'd probably try to improve its breathing first.
Old 10-21-2007, 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by The Batmobile
I would be just buying the parts...my uncle would be doing the work.
Is it your DD? how much time/ money do you have to get this done?
Old 10-21-2007, 07:59 PM
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There are a number of gentlemen on this forum who fail to read everything and think before they put their mouth in gear. Zak clearly stated his uncle was going to help with install, all he asked was for some direction.,
Originally Posted by Matt Cramer
Sometimes, hot rodding isn't always about what a car is worth to anybody but you. I've run $600 worth of race tires on a $500 car before, put a $1,000 turbo and spent $600 on machine work for an EFI intake manifold on a Dodge Dart not worth more than $2,500, and otherwise done things that, in the grand scheme of things, are loony wastes of money.

We all have our money costing vices. You just need to approach them knowing that's what they are, and with the understanding that you won't see the money again.

That said, I wouldn't bore the engine out more than is necessary, especially not with the number of reasonably priced stroker kits out there. On the other hand, I'm also not sure I would put a stroker kit on there with a manifold that was already meant for a smaller engine. I'd probably try to improve its breathing first.
Old 10-21-2007, 08:18 PM
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redrose
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Originally Posted by The Batmobile
...my uncle would be doing the work.
WRONG...have your uncle supervise, YOU do the work...knowledge is wealth.

the ''tuned port rejection'' is very, very costly to pull 300+ hp, replace it with something that can breathe --lt1 intake, etc.
Old 10-21-2007, 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Matt Cramer
Sometimes, hot rodding isn't always about what a car is worth to anybody but you. I've run $600 worth of race tires on a $500 car before, put a $1,000 turbo and spent $600 on machine work for an EFI intake manifold on a Dodge Dart not worth more than $2,500, and otherwise done things that, in the grand scheme of things, are loony wastes of money.

We all have our money costing vices. You just need to approach them knowing that's what they are, and with the understanding that you won't see the money again.

That said, I wouldn't bore the engine out more than is necessary, especially not with the number of reasonably priced stroker kits out there. On the other hand, I'm also not sure I would put a stroker kit on there with a manifold that was already meant for a smaller engine. I'd probably try to improve its breathing first.
DID ANYBODY READ THE 350+ HP PART?
Old 10-21-2007, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by genefree3
There are a number of gentlemen on this forum who fail to read everything and think before they put their mouth in gear. Zak clearly stated his uncle was going to help with install, all he asked was for some direction.,
That's why I asked if it were a DD. If so, then it has to get done, fast.

If not, and there's time, you can shop the used market for items such as intakes and headers, roller rockers, and may come up with something a little nicer to get to that 350 number, cheaper.
Old 10-22-2007, 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by jsup
Is it your DD? how much time/ money do you have to get this done?
Yes, it is my daily driver. Im 16 years old, and Im getting a job after football season. Im just going to buy the parts as I get the money and when I have most of everything, my uncle and I will install everything at once.

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Old 10-22-2007, 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by redrose
WRONG...have your uncle supervise, YOU do the work...knowledge is wealth.

the ''tuned port rejection'' is very, very costly to pull 300+ hp, replace it with something that can breathe --lt1 intake, etc.

Thats what I meant...I wouldnt want him to have all the fun working on my car without me...lol.
Old 10-22-2007, 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by BADDUCK
DID ANYBODY READ THE 350+ HP PART?

Im looking to get the horsepower over 300.
Old 10-22-2007, 07:19 PM
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Keep in mind also, I would like to keep the TPI.


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