L98 poor mans build?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
L98 poor mans build?
Looking at these other builds i'm left wondering what you guys recommend for an absolute broke *** build. I have a 90' L98 with a rebuilt 700r4, Superior shift kit, Bosch injectors, and a new water pump. My eventual goal is to do a 383 stroker kit but that's down the line. What do you guys recommend for a broke @ss like myself for starters? I know I can change the gear out in the rear, get a dana 44, get a better cam, intake etc... but I guess being on a budget I don't know where to really start. I'm in contact with a buddy who can supposedly get the rear for dirt cheap, but I'm still waiting. My goal is to have a street car that is torquey as heck and has alot of HP. Something fun to drive (which it defintely is), and with a real whallop when I hit the accelerator. I know this is probably a retarded request but I'm wondering what some essential mods are. Any info would be great guys! Thanks! -Cooters
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
I'm not real familiar with the L98's other than I know they have a lot of torque but if I were you I'd start with exhaust. You'll need that regarless of what you do down the road. Good Luck! 
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 321
Likes: 2
From: Auburndale FL
I am with Cooter on being broke. Stock 1987 L98 with 93k, only mod already completed is smog delete and true dual's with melotone mufflers.
My budget is 1k plus labor, and I will need someone to install the cam if that is the recommendation as I don't have the ability to do it in my garage, ideal target horsepower is 300 at wheels. Is it possible?
My budget is 1k plus labor, and I will need someone to install the cam if that is the recommendation as I don't have the ability to do it in my garage, ideal target horsepower is 300 at wheels. Is it possible?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
Ck out vader's website
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/vader86/
and ck this out good info on cams
http://www.z28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79261
Here is a good thread on a 300HP l98
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...00-hp-l98.html
Here is a thread with dyno #s for a full bolt on car
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/af...s-any-one.html
Cooter if I were you I would start on the supporting mods for your 383
Exhaust, intake, and gears
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/vader86/
and ck this out good info on cams
http://www.z28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79261
Here is a good thread on a 300HP l98
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...00-hp-l98.html
Here is a thread with dyno #s for a full bolt on car
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/af...s-any-one.html
Cooter if I were you I would start on the supporting mods for your 383
Exhaust, intake, and gears
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
If your talking engine freshening up:
To redo the stock heads and bottom end your looking at $2k minimum for parts and machine work.
If your talking "bolt on" mods:
Free-er flowing exaust & a bit higher stall converter.
Best bang (hp/torque) for the buck:
Shot of NOS
To redo the stock heads and bottom end your looking at $2k minimum for parts and machine work.
If your talking "bolt on" mods:
Free-er flowing exaust & a bit higher stall converter.
Best bang (hp/torque) for the buck:
Shot of NOS
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
mmmmm
If you heart is set on a stroker put the little cash that you have at this point into stuff that won't be affected down the line. Like when you win the lottery or whatever.
headers and mufflers
skip the cam because the grind won't be right for the bigger engine
skip a chip because that won't be right either
clean up the plenum and gasket match
rear gear to 3.54 or 3.73
plus the usual free stuff (smog delete, frisbee, throttle body coolant, etc.)
That 50 shot of nitrous isn't a bad idea either; wait a minute make that 75.
What do you think? All of this for 1500.00? You would need somebody to set up the pumpkin and cut and weld the exhaust yourself. You would also have to get the cheap *ss painted headers.
seeya I am going to Taco Bell for lunch; ding ding
If you heart is set on a stroker put the little cash that you have at this point into stuff that won't be affected down the line. Like when you win the lottery or whatever.
headers and mufflers
skip the cam because the grind won't be right for the bigger engine
skip a chip because that won't be right either
clean up the plenum and gasket match
rear gear to 3.54 or 3.73
plus the usual free stuff (smog delete, frisbee, throttle body coolant, etc.)
That 50 shot of nitrous isn't a bad idea either; wait a minute make that 75.
What do you think? All of this for 1500.00? You would need somebody to set up the pumpkin and cut and weld the exhaust yourself. You would also have to get the cheap *ss painted headers.
seeya I am going to Taco Bell for lunch; ding ding
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Your Vette reminded me of the 1973 Chevelle
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
You are correct; there are some similarities
The main difference is my vette has IRS with Dana 36 and the Chevelle has GM four link with corporate 10 bolt.
I even threw out the TPI/L98 combo and dropped in a 1973 vintage two bolt chevy small block with two piece rear main seal, hydraulic flat tappet cam, low flow low compression smog heads and Rochester qjet.
Once you get the bog out of the qjet she runs real nice at 14.7 stoich at idle.
LOL
The main difference is my vette has IRS with Dana 36 and the Chevelle has GM four link with corporate 10 bolt.
I even threw out the TPI/L98 combo and dropped in a 1973 vintage two bolt chevy small block with two piece rear main seal, hydraulic flat tappet cam, low flow low compression smog heads and Rochester qjet.
Once you get the bog out of the qjet she runs real nice at 14.7 stoich at idle.
LOL
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 533
Likes: 18
From: Boca Raton Florida
Looking at these other builds i'm left wondering what you guys recommend for an absolute broke *** build. I have a 90' L98 with a rebuilt 700r4, Superior shift kit, Bosch injectors, and a new water pump. My eventual goal is to do a 383 stroker kit but that's down the line. What do you guys recommend for a broke @ss like myself for starters? I know I can change the gear out in the rear, get a dana 44, get a better cam, intake etc... but I guess being on a budget I don't know where to really start. I'm in contact with a buddy who can supposedly get the rear for dirt cheap, but I'm still waiting. My goal is to have a street car that is torquey as heck and has alot of HP. Something fun to drive (which it defintely is), and with a real whallop when I hit the accelerator. I know this is probably a retarded request but I'm wondering what some essential mods are. Any info would be great guys! Thanks! -Cooters
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
This:http://www.corvettefever.com/project...car/index.htmlHe asks for a broke aszz build you point him to a lsX swap for 15k ..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
good point but I am crazy about the gen IIIs
junkyard low mile 5.3 for 350.00 around here; they are stacked to the ceiling! easy 350 horse without much more than a cam.
6.0 400 or 450 horse
and then the nitrous because of the six bolt mains...
junkyard low mile 5.3 for 350.00 around here; they are stacked to the ceiling! easy 350 horse without much more than a cam.
6.0 400 or 450 horse
and then the nitrous because of the six bolt mains...
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Bulverde TX
I had my heads rebuilt, bought a complete cam kit from comp cams, and built and exhaust all for about 2k. I am in the process of buying some headers and a chip then im going to dyno it so i can see what it did
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
I remember you asking questions a while back. What did you end up doing?