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

L98 vs LT1 - make them equal

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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 12:40 PM
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Default L98 vs LT1 - make them equal

Okay. I know that the L98 is more powerful down low and the LT1 is more powerful up high..

What would you do if you had an L98 to make it perform up high like an LT1?

What would you do if you had an LT1 to make it perform down low like an L98?
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 12:41 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

Buy an LS1 :yesnod:
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 12:48 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (BobMachus)

Or stroke it to 383 & put a mini-ram on it.:smash:
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 01:01 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

This is a thread that I'm hoping will grow for people with each engine to get the best they can without replacing it. I think it would be nice for new forumers to know what they could do to make their engine perform where it naturally lacks as opposed to the other..

Okay?

Thanks in advance...
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 01:06 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (BobMachus)

Buy an LS1 :yesnod:
But he said he wanted torque down low. :jester
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 01:11 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Thud)

The L98 needs the TPI replaced, and headers added. Then you'll get both. :) The L98's TPI intake was designed for a 305ci engine. :( The long runners that it has give it the torque.
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 01:28 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (scorp508)

Thanks Scorp.. So there's one answer. To get high end torque in an L98, you need to replace the TPI replaced and add headers.

Now. What do you replace the TPI with? Is there a particular TPI setup designed for a 350ci engine?

Now don't laugh too hard. What are runners? hehe. Okay there. I laughed FOR you. Is that part of the TPI? hah...

Anyways. I'd like answers for the LT1 as well. What would give it more torque down low. This thread will hopefully be good for either an L98 owner or an LT1 owner to read if they're new and don't have this kind of knowledge on hand...

Thanks
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 01:40 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

well LT1 has enough torque down low, you just need to get to it. Add a high stall torque converter and 3.73 gears, and youll see.

Runners are the tubes going from the plenum to the intake manifold, they are very long, too long for high end hp, the engine cant get the air it needs fast enough. Also, porting these runners and the plenum would give you much more hp. There is no GM intake designed for the 350 like the LT1's. Maybe try a Superram or miniram depending on what you want to do with the car.
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 01:42 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

Now. What do you replace the TPI with? Is there a particular TPI setup designed for a 350ci engine?
The two "main" replacement units for the L98 TPI are made by Lingenfelter and TPiS. Lingenfelter designed an intake called the "SuperRam" and TPiS designed an intake called the "MiniRam".

The SuperRam is generally accepted as the "low-highmid" power maker. It makes extreme amounts of torque, and also allows for higher HP levels all the way from idle to about 5500 RPM. The Miniram is generally accepted as the "midhigh-high" power maker. It makes slightly more torque, but much more HP all the way up to something nutty like 7000 RPM. It depends on what you want to build. If you want to rev the **** out of the engine, go with the MiniRam. I am installing a SuperRam setup on my car amongst other things.


Now don't laugh too hard. What are runners? hehe. Okay there. I laughed FOR you. Is that part of the TPI? hah...
The long tubes coming off the side of the plenum are the runners. :)

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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 01:44 PM
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Default

well LT1 has enough torque down low, you just need to get to it. Add a high stall torque converter and 3.73 gears, and youll see.
That sounds like an oxymoron. "Has enough torque down low, you just need to get to it." Both gears and a torque convertor bring you up higher in the RPM range.
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 02:25 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (scorp508)

For the L98, to me, it seems like the Miniram would be the way to go - because you'd want to add more power to the upper band. But, is it worth it to rev the engine that high for the power? If you can get more power down low, that might be safer for the engine in the long run.

Hmmm!!

Thanks for these replies.. Now if someone could just go into HOW you'd get the torque out of an LT1 down low... :p:

Of course, more thoughts and opinions are certainly welcome. Nothing better for advertiser pockets than a nice long thread with millions of pageviews. :)
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 03:56 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

To use the miniram properly,they recommend a 2800 stall speed torque converter in the automatic transmissions and 3.73 rear gears.
That will help spin the engine faster into its powerband so it doesnt feel torqueless down low.
Believe it or not, a LT1 has lots of torque,just doesnt feel as torquey as an strong running L98.My friends LT1 Camaro,automatic and 3.42 rear gears can smoke the hides off the tires on take off and press me back in the seat harder then my L98 could when it was bone stock.
It only takes a blink of an eye to start WOT to midrange so the power will come in fast.
I think the LT1's that dont feel as torquey are the ones that have highway gears such as 2.59 or 2.73's.
I saw Mr Mojo launch his car at the track at the cruise in and I thought he was about to do a small wheelie.If thats not torque,that HP sure looks good then!!
:)
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 06:13 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Bill's86Coupe)

I think the LT1's that dont feel as torquey are the ones that have highway gears such as 2.59 or 2.73's.
:yesnod:

My LT-1 with the 3.07 is great... has more low end feel then my 86 with 2.59's in it.
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 06:18 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

So could it be that the whole problem (or most of it) with low end on LT1s is smaller gears?
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 06:19 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

For the L98, to me, it seems like the Miniram would be the way to go - because you'd want to add more power to the upper band. But, is it worth it to rev the engine that high for the power? If you can get more power down low, that might be safer for the engine in the long run.
I would only recommend the mini ram on an L98 if your torque extends from 5400 and 6500 to 7000 rpm. That is the only part of the rpm range that the mini ram exceeds the capability of the superram. The superram is a much better intake for power below 5700.

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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 06:48 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

Ahhhh,..... the million dollar question.
I didn't find to many alternatives for the TPI when I was looking for something better. My guess is that the Lingenfelter SR was a happy medium but $$$$$$!
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 07:47 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (89 Paul in cal)

well the miniram has some drivibility issues with some people. It usually doesnt like to be driven around town. The super is better for a daily driver IMHO.
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 07:49 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Sal Collaziano)

Best way to make the L98 close to the LT1:

-Free flowing exhaust
-Cam
-Heads
-Miniram
-If an auto.. a 2800 stall and at least 3.07 gears
-If a 6spd.. the stock gears should be fine..

I am quicker then my friends 94 LT1 convertible.. With baiscally the mods mentioned.. and his is currently stock except for 3.54 gears and B&B exhaust
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 08:51 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (-=Jeff=-)

Someone post a dyno of a stock (close to stock L98) I want to compare the torque #'s in the lower RPM's
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 11:41 PM
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Default Re: L98 vs LT1 - make them equal (Hammer)

Get a 6 speed. Then you don't go down low. The LT-1 has a longer range of good torque than the L98. If you put a stick in each the L98 is toast. In a battle of autos, the L98 has a chance because it starts with the torque low. I'll still easily take a stock L98 with either trans with the LT-1 stick. Gears and a torque converter will get you to the torque band on the LT-1 really fast and then it will pull. This is the cure for the LT-1 auto. I'm going with a 4.09 rear in mine soon.
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