Old vs new engine mods
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,072
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City OK
St. Jude '10
Old vs new engine mods
Back in the day I remember we would take a stock engine and put on headers, loud mufflers, hi-rise intake, holley carb and maybe dual point distributor. These types of mods would boost hp a little and give a back yard mechanic that happy feeling that they have improved their car.
What can this back yard mechanic do to a Lt1 along the same lines. I'm going to install the headers/mufflers but what about the top side of the engine. I assume the Opti can handle mild mods but what about intake/TB.
What can this back yard mechanic do to a Lt1 along the same lines. I'm going to install the headers/mufflers but what about the top side of the engine. I assume the Opti can handle mild mods but what about intake/TB.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Back in the day I remember we would take a stock engine and put on headers, loud mufflers, hi-rise intake, holley carb and maybe dual point distributor. These types of mods would boost hp a little and give a back yard mechanic that happy feeling that they have improved their car.
What can this back yard mechanic do to a Lt1 along the same lines. I'm going to install the headers/mufflers but what about the top side of the engine. I assume the Opti can handle mild mods but what about intake/TB.
What can this back yard mechanic do to a Lt1 along the same lines. I'm going to install the headers/mufflers but what about the top side of the engine. I assume the Opti can handle mild mods but what about intake/TB.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 785
Likes: 3
From: Richmond Virginia
If you have the 2.59 rear axle...the 3.07 performance axle is a big improvement (more gear was a big improvement back in the day and still is today!) Mine came w/3.07s---1.6 roller rockers, LT4 springs and a performance tune made a BIG sotp improvement in mine. These cars have good heads and intakes from the factory and lend themselves well to porting. Cam technology has come light years forward from the '70s. And depending on how far you want to go go "in your backyard'....there's always the 383 stroker 
oops... I should also mention (although i don't have them yet) most of the members swear by long tube headers
oops... I should also mention (although i don't have them yet) most of the members swear by long tube headers
Last edited by TWISTERUP; May 25, 2009 at 11:36 AM. Reason: oops
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,072
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City OK
St. Jude '10
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 497
Likes: 1
From: Casa Grande Az
I didn't see if your car was a auto or manual. If it is a auto and its cursed with the dreaded 2.59 rear differential, do yourself a favor and replace it asap! 3.07 diffs can be had off of ebay for decent prices and the swaps are pretty easy.
Other then that its still a sbc...... a good tune up goes a very long way, followed by alot of the old basics......exhaust (looks like your car may have a aftermarket system on it already?) , some form of cold air (or cut your lid).
I wouldn't touch the optispark yet if its not giving you any problems.
Also it should be noted that if your car is a speed density car and you start digging into the heads / cam / intake / injectors ect ect you are going to need some tuning and a chip burnt for the motor to run properly.
The advice alot of people gave me when I crawled on this scene 3 or 4 years ago was to drive the car for a year just as it sits before you start modding it. By then you will really know what you want to do with the car. Until then its still decently quick and a very enjoyable car to drive.
Other then that its still a sbc...... a good tune up goes a very long way, followed by alot of the old basics......exhaust (looks like your car may have a aftermarket system on it already?) , some form of cold air (or cut your lid).
I wouldn't touch the optispark yet if its not giving you any problems.
Also it should be noted that if your car is a speed density car and you start digging into the heads / cam / intake / injectors ect ect you are going to need some tuning and a chip burnt for the motor to run properly.
The advice alot of people gave me when I crawled on this scene 3 or 4 years ago was to drive the car for a year just as it sits before you start modding it. By then you will really know what you want to do with the car. Until then its still decently quick and a very enjoyable car to drive.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,072
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City OK
St. Jude '10
I didn't see if your car was a auto or manual. If it is a auto and its cursed with the dreaded 2.59 rear differential, do yourself a favor and replace it asap! 3.07 diffs can be had off of ebay for decent prices and the swaps are pretty easy.
Other then that its still a sbc...... a good tune up goes a very long way, followed by alot of the old basics......exhaust (looks like your car may have a aftermarket system on it already?) , some form of cold air (or cut your lid).
I wouldn't touch the optispark yet if its not giving you any problems.
Also it should be noted that if your car is a speed density car and you start digging into the heads / cam / intake / injectors ect ect you are going to need some tuning and a chip burnt for the motor to run properly.
The advice alot of people gave me when I crawled on this scene 3 or 4 years ago was to drive the car for a year just as it sits before you start modding it. By then you will really know what you want to do with the car. Until then its still decently quick and a very enjoyable car to drive.
Other then that its still a sbc...... a good tune up goes a very long way, followed by alot of the old basics......exhaust (looks like your car may have a aftermarket system on it already?) , some form of cold air (or cut your lid).
I wouldn't touch the optispark yet if its not giving you any problems.
Also it should be noted that if your car is a speed density car and you start digging into the heads / cam / intake / injectors ect ect you are going to need some tuning and a chip burnt for the motor to run properly.
The advice alot of people gave me when I crawled on this scene 3 or 4 years ago was to drive the car for a year just as it sits before you start modding it. By then you will really know what you want to do with the car. Until then its still decently quick and a very enjoyable car to drive.
