Originally Posted by qws

Like Kangi says a carb is not a upgrade. In many cases mechanics YES mechanics recommend the carb mainly because they don't fully understand the crossfire. Its not rocket science and is very easy.
You have a restricted intake with 2 throttle bodies and a couple of injectors. Add in a few common sensors and thats all there really is to it. Like stated before its very reliable as well.
Anyways if you do a Bigblock you may have to beef up the front suspension to hold the extra weight. Headers would be a pita to put on. Best way to go small block IMO. Just to give you a idea. Basic common known mods are a set of Dart ss heads ($625 pr), 2040 cam ($140), 1.6rr's ($185), Hedmen headers ($150), 2500 stall ($200 and up). True dual exhaust ($250). Not all mods have to be done at one given time. You start with the free ones Ported intake, cold air mod. For little money you'll have a fun car. All this and you stick with a more modern version of fuel injection rather than a carb. Don't worry about having to "tune" with the 84, leave the ecm alone you can't do much with it anyways. You can get by if you do need to "tune" just by adjusting FP up or advance the timing. Once again both free to do.
84 is a fun car to learn on..... thats what I've done...

Originally Posted by The Green Rocket

For those wanting to set Tim down the right path (fuel injected small block), just remember that you are dealing with teenage logic (no disrespect meant).

So, the very best thing you can do is to encourage Tim along on the mechanical adventure and let him learn along the way. I see two possible outcomes no matter the initial plans: 1) he surprises all of us with a beautiful big block installation (maybe except for the big hole in the hood and the high rise intake/carb setup protruding another 5" or 6"), or 2) Tim gets part of the way into an unsatisfactory big block conversion before he shifts gears towards a fuel injected small block.

What I am convinced of is that Tim will follow it through to completion. He has already proven himself on his '90 RS project, so this is not his first project car. I overhauled my first engine when I was 12 with the help of my dad (a '65 Dodge Polysphere 318), so I appreciate the tenacity of a teenage mechanic. A lot of my teenage ideas on cars and hot rods didn't work out and I had to change my plans, and I suspect that Tim will go through that as well. But at the same time the whole process will give Tim a fantastic real life mechanical experience.

My mother, bless her heart, would even let me drag car parts into the house. Later, I once assembled an engine for her car in the family room. It was quite shocking for her friends to see, but she told them it was okay because it was for her car!

Who knows how Tim's '84 Corvette will turn out, but I think we should all cheer him along.

Thomas

P.S. Tim, no matter what you have read about big block C4 conversions, it is much more of a messy project than you might think. There really is no good way to get a decent header design into a street big block C4. Many street conversions end up using the heavy and restrictive cast iron manifolds. You may, or may not know, that big blocks are very sensitive to exhaust flow: a proper header is often worth 70 hp vs. the cast iron manifolds on a performance big block. There are other issues, but I'll hold back and wait to see if you start a thread on a big block installation.

Originally Posted by sk8rferlife

Thanks Thomas I appreciate the kind words, I was talking to my friend about the car at work a couple hours ago, and we wont be doing the big block swap into the vette hes going to find something else to put it in. As for me I think Ive decided on putting the engine back to its original state I'm going to try and keep it as original as possible, my friend told me everything in the car is numbers matching which is awesome and its a complete car nothings missing except the timing chain and cover that I know of. I think I want to keep the crossfire, for now, and see if I can add a few more ponies to it. I would like to get about 250+hp if its possible I think its rated at 205hp if im not mistaken. So what are my options in getting that horse and what things in the crossfire should I change. Try to keep it budget friendly. thanks tim

p.s. I will try to see the car today and if I do I will take a ton of pics so y'all can see what I'm working with. from what I understand its a small project like my camaro, it needs engine, exhaust, and paint work and I need to figure out something to do with the seats there a little messed up. I'll keep you posted sometime tonight.

Originally Posted by 85vette-84vette

If you are going to switch to a different intake. You could go with a superram or a HSR or a miniram. All excellent choices. I was going to put a superram in my 84 until I bid on an 85 vette for something to do and I won the 85 for $4300 so now I will put the superram on my 85 vette. If you want the proper harness to switch to a superram I have it and you could buy it if you want.

Originally Posted by sk8rferlife

I would like to get about 250+hp if its possible I think its rated at 205hp if im not mistaken. So what are my options in getting that horse and what things in the crossfire should I change. Try to keep it budget friendly. thanks tim

Originally Posted by qws

Basic common known mods are a set of Dart ss heads ($625 pr), 2040 cam ($140), 1.6rr's ($185), Hedmen headers ($150), 2500 stall ($200 and up). True dual exhaust ($250).

Originally Posted by sk8rferlife

nothing is wrong with it that I know of, I cant start it because theres no timing chain, cover, and who knows what else has been taken off. I do know it needs a rebuild and my friend who has 30+ years of auto expirience suggested I use carb and I wanted to anyways. I figured If i'm rebuilding might as well upgrade and hope to find some way of passing emissions. Plus I don't want to have to use a computer that needs tuning and such like a tpi or something. Could just swith the intake if that does have restriction problems and keep the crossfire?

after I get the car I'll know more about what it needs and I put up a restoration thread to keep everyone posted.
thanks tim