1986 upgrade help
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
1986 upgrade help
My 86 vette is about to undergo some improvements and I was looking for some suggestions. I am a pretty competent mech. (I rebuilt it from a salvage yard, salvaged), but I am not up on the new mods that are out there. I am looking to spend about $2,500 on the engine and drivetrain and can do all the work myself, just don't know what to buy that will give me the best results for the money (reliability and performance). Also keeping in mind that the car has 201k miles, but is still running strong. I am new to Corvette Forum and am just looking for some suggestions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
Re: 1986 upgrade help (Springer's 95)
I personally wouldn't do much to her without a rebuilt on the engine... but thats just me.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 1986 upgrade help (Springer's 95)
Welcome to the forum! Nice to see another 86 here.
Since you can do alot of the work yourself, id suggest stay with the basics first like wheel bearings,brakes,U joints,fuel injection parts and etc.Make sure the car is roadworthy and safe/reliable.Once all thats out of the way, maybe some mods like cam,heads and etc.
What kind of mods do you want?Internal engine mods and etc?
:)
Since you can do alot of the work yourself, id suggest stay with the basics first like wheel bearings,brakes,U joints,fuel injection parts and etc.Make sure the car is roadworthy and safe/reliable.Once all thats out of the way, maybe some mods like cam,heads and etc.
What kind of mods do you want?Internal engine mods and etc?
:)
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 150
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From: Huntersville NC
Re: 1986 upgrade help (Springer's 95)
Welcom aboard!
I think an engine overhall or rebuild would be a good place to start so that you have a good foundation to build on. Then I would go with a good cam. Does your 86 have the iron or aluminum heads? There are a lot of good after market heads out there that would definately be an improvement over the L98 models. (not that they are bad) Also the L-98 manifold and runners are very restrictive. If you want to keep the TPI unit go with something like the big mouth manifold from TPIS, ported plenum, large runners and a 52mm throttle body. There are other intakes out there that are better it just depends on what you want from your car and how rigid that $2500 budget is. Also work on one thing at a time. Start with your main priority and get exactly what you want, then move on to your next project. Don't jump around or you will drive your self crazy with mods left incomplete.
I think an engine overhall or rebuild would be a good place to start so that you have a good foundation to build on. Then I would go with a good cam. Does your 86 have the iron or aluminum heads? There are a lot of good after market heads out there that would definately be an improvement over the L98 models. (not that they are bad) Also the L-98 manifold and runners are very restrictive. If you want to keep the TPI unit go with something like the big mouth manifold from TPIS, ported plenum, large runners and a 52mm throttle body. There are other intakes out there that are better it just depends on what you want from your car and how rigid that $2500 budget is. Also work on one thing at a time. Start with your main priority and get exactly what you want, then move on to your next project. Don't jump around or you will drive your self crazy with mods left incomplete.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,146
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: 1986 upgrade help (hz900)
I think you could do alot to the engine for that much money if youre a mechanic. It would be good to shoot for a hp number and think about some future intake mods. With your block, you could bore it out to a 383, put some Lunati rods and Keith Black pistons, some AFR 190 heads and a TPIS bigmouth base along with either a ZZ-9 or Accel 219 cam, though all this at once will probably overshoot your $$ numbers.
Of course, if youre not ready for rebuild time, then you should save the money and start looking for things to get fixed in the meantime. Suspension problems should be tackled first-new sway bars, springs, bushings, shocks. Take a look at your differential and see if its still holding up well and change the gear oil. You will run into digidash, cooling, computer/sensor problems too very soon. Also check the wheel bearings if you didnt replace those already as they go at 100k or so. Get bigger rims (17"s) and then go for bigger brakes.
It just depends on where you want to go with it.
Of course, if youre not ready for rebuild time, then you should save the money and start looking for things to get fixed in the meantime. Suspension problems should be tackled first-new sway bars, springs, bushings, shocks. Take a look at your differential and see if its still holding up well and change the gear oil. You will run into digidash, cooling, computer/sensor problems too very soon. Also check the wheel bearings if you didnt replace those already as they go at 100k or so. Get bigger rims (17"s) and then go for bigger brakes.
It just depends on where you want to go with it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Re: 1986 upgrade help (hz900)
The car is already road worthy because it is and has been my daily driver for the past 4 years. I just recently finished rebuilding a camero and that is what I will be driving in the mean time. I have already replaced many of the wear and tear susp. parts. ie. bushings, rear spring, and u-joints. just mainly looking at engine mods (internal or external) and auto transmission rebuild with maybe a shift kit. by the way i have already ran into the dig. dash prob. and took it apart and fixed the circuit board, it is not that hard if any one else needs some advice on that.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 1986 upgrade help (hz900)
If you have the Al heads you have a good start if not a good set would be in order. Check out my site for some mods that work in addition to the inof I'm sending you.
Since the L98 is computer controlled and has a MAF it's pretty easy to tune to increased fuel flow with a MAF and fuel gauge so long as you stay fairly mild with the cam. An occasional check on a dyno will assure you of proper WOT fuel trim.
Look over the data and decide on your aim; then you can plan on how best way to spend your current $$.
Since the L98 is computer controlled and has a MAF it's pretty easy to tune to increased fuel flow with a MAF and fuel gauge so long as you stay fairly mild with the cam. An occasional check on a dyno will assure you of proper WOT fuel trim.
Look over the data and decide on your aim; then you can plan on how best way to spend your current $$.