Safe to mod?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,193
Likes: 16
Safe to mod?
If I decide to keep her (92vert) I'mwondering if it would be safe to mod the engine a little and not touch the bottom end. 85K miles on it and it runs perfect. Don't want to blow the bottom end if I put a cam and maybe heads in it. Expensive project though. One of the better shops want 6K to do it,
This 350 cubic inch, 400 Horsepower LT-1 & LT-4 prescription includes custom porting and polishing of cylinder heads; ported intake manifold; high performance roller camshaft; 1.6:1 rocker arms; 58mm throttle body; custom PROM; modified air filter lid with a K&N air filter; and installation of a high performance stainless steel exhaust system.
Price: $5,895
Worth it with a stock bottom??
Man I miss the old ones that you could do yourself in a weekend in the driveway.
This 350 cubic inch, 400 Horsepower LT-1 & LT-4 prescription includes custom porting and polishing of cylinder heads; ported intake manifold; high performance roller camshaft; 1.6:1 rocker arms; 58mm throttle body; custom PROM; modified air filter lid with a K&N air filter; and installation of a high performance stainless steel exhaust system.
Price: $5,895
Worth it with a stock bottom??
Man I miss the old ones that you could do yourself in a weekend in the driveway.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 387
Likes: 3
From: Indian Trail, NC
that sounds like The Vette Doctors. my vette is there right now getting some work done. it's not running right though. not performance work.
i would think that a stock bottom end would be fine for 400 hp. i don't see a problem with that. i was thinking about doing that in the future also...
i would think that a stock bottom end would be fine for 400 hp. i don't see a problem with that. i was thinking about doing that in the future also...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,193
Likes: 16
Heard a lot of good things about them and they are close by. Just read an article from car craft where they put in 1.6 roller rockers and one of thos triflow cold air intakes, better exhaust system and picked up 30 hp...I've read that these cold air intakes don't do much as the stock intake flows pretty well...look cool though. Any thoughts??
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 387
Likes: 3
From: Indian Trail, NC
i know The Vette Doctors do amazing work. I was just at their shop last week and they had a 725 hp C6 just sitting in the driveway waiting to get more work done to it. there were also about 4 C6 Z06's waiting for some work. they definitely know their stuff and i wouldn't trust my Vette to just anyone. that's why i brought it to them. they're reputable, they specialize in corvettes mainly, and they have been around for a while. it just takes them a little bit to get back in touch with you when you have a car there. i dropped my car off last tuesday and haven't heard anything yet. i also called them asking if they can do weatherstripping and they said they'd look into it and call me back. that was on thursday...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 5
From: Daleville Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08
I've got 107k on my bottom end so far its running great. I did the work myself and would not pay $6k for the work. You could get a new motor and top end for the same price.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
you could easily do the 1.6rr yourself, modifying the air filter lid is easy as hell, dropping in a K&N takes 5 minutes.
maybe they could port your intake & heads and install the cam for you and do the rest of the work yourself to save some cizzash.
maybe they could port your intake & heads and install the cam for you and do the rest of the work yourself to save some cizzash.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,193
Likes: 16
I'm looking to get the " best bang for the buck" yeah just like everyone else. I've blown motors apart with this much milage on them...not this kind of motor which I have very little experience with...the old stuff...put a cam in and boom. Still trying to decide if I want to keep her...or upgrade. The rockers, exhaust and air cleaner mod seem like a quick real 30 hp. Not sure how hard it would be to do the valve springs though.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 3
From: Carmichael ca
The valve springs are easy if you have a source of compressed air to hold the valves closed.
For the kind of money you were quoted you could do some AFR heads and a cam and the the other easy stuff and save yourself some cash.
For the kind of money you were quoted you could do some AFR heads and a cam and the the other easy stuff and save yourself some cash.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,193
Likes: 16
Its the labor they charge a ton for...but I heard you get what you pay for with them. These motors are a lot harder to deal with than my old pontiac 400!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
As someone who is not a mechanic I was able to complete a cam and valve train swap in a few weekends. That was with no outside help other than the forums. I would also freshen up the opti, timing chain, plugs, wires, hoses, seals, gaskets, etc. You will be better off by knowing the car so much more when you are done. I am also running a 125 shot with my mods below through the stock short block. So far so good.
This thread follows my install..
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...lp-needed.html
FYI - $6k is also enough to get a nice blower setup.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,193
Likes: 16
I've been working on cars for....a long time..older ones though. So far I've replaced the water pump and brake booster (that sucked). Its the configuration of the whole thing that makes it a lot harder. My 72 GTO was a snap...whole motor pulled in 5 to 6 hours by myself. And no computer to mess with. But I'm getting there.
