C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 12:43 AM
  #121  
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Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
I was watching an episode of "My Ride Rules" the other day. It's only the 2nd or 3rd one I've seen but there is a wide variety of cars on the show. This particular show in question featured one owner with a C6. As usual the other cars were more custom. When it came time for the 3 non-vette owners to review the C6, they called it "just another vette". Then, they added it was "nothing special". By that, they meant it was customized and wasn't different than what you can go out and buy on a lot.

While there are people who idolize and long to buy into the Corvette dream, there are also people who appreciate a custom ride even more. I think this is a big reason C4 members knock the C5 and find ways to make their C4 personal. That includes motor work.

I saw that episode.... the C6 actually won the show if I remember correctly. Those other 3 drivers liked it, they just weren't going to admit it.... it helped that those other 3 cars were hunks of junk that could barely go down the road. If I remember correctly, one of them could barely stop and another could barely go.

But, I understand what you're saying.... its a matter of taste for everybody.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 12:45 AM
  #122  
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Originally Posted by Beach Bum
I played this game a couple of years back.

Towards the bottom of page 2 of this link:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...results-2.html

From Todd's Quoted thread and post : 85 Corvette - original 350 shortblock with 80+k miles, Superram, LPE 219 cam (219/219 - .560/560 with 1.6rr), AFR 190 street cylinder heads, 700R4, Pro-torque 2800 rpm converter, 3.45 gears, borla's, ram-air box, 52 mm TB. drag radial, somewhere around 3200-3300 lb raceweight.

Result: 1.60 60 ft - 11.62 @ 117 mph.

Why is this set-up my favorite ? Its not the fastest by any stretch..... but yet, it ran easy 11's with a mild converter and gearing. This set-up would have been just as happy with 3.07 gears vs the 3.45's he was running. Anybody can do it, runs great on the street or strip..... very mild and works great with the stock shortblock, never see's north of 6000 rpm and doesn't have too. And based upon his success over the years bracket racing, its consistent too. He didn't have any reliability issues at all with it either, hence the nickname Ole Betsy for the motor. If you wanted more performance, loosen up that converter and I think he would have ran low 11's in good air, albeit at a compromise with driveability. He now runs a 10 second 406..... but there was nothing wrong with his old motor, he was just looking for more power.

Because of that above, for most people here who want a very street friendly, gas friendly set-up that your wife could drive...... but you don't have the budget for a stroker motor...... work towards the above. I think the combination will work well everytime.....


Thanks Todd, i feel totally touched.
I'm running the SR/219/AFR195 Combo with 3200 vig converter
1.6 Rockers,no cats , drag radials,underdrive pulleys,longtubes
and now going to 3.45 gears. i still have to test it on the track
with all the new upgrades,seems like the best proven combo
for a street/track car !
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 12:52 AM
  #123  
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Originally Posted by Calderone
From Todd's Quoted thread and post : 85 Corvette - original 350 shortblock with 80+k miles, Superram, LPE 219 cam (219/219 - .560/560 with 1.6rr), AFR 190 street cylinder heads, 700R4, Pro-torque 2800 rpm converter, 3.45 gears, borla's, ram-air box, 52 mm TB. drag radial, somewhere around 3200-3300 lb raceweight.

Result: 1.60 60 ft - 11.62 @ 117 mph.

Why is this set-up my favorite ? Its not the fastest by any stretch..... but yet, it ran easy 11's with a mild converter and gearing. This set-up would have been just as happy with 3.07 gears vs the 3.45's he was running. Anybody can do it, runs great on the street or strip..... very mild and works great with the stock shortblock, never see's north of 6000 rpm and doesn't have too. And based upon his success over the years bracket racing, its consistent too. He didn't have any reliability issues at all with it either, hence the nickname Ole Betsy for the motor. If you wanted more performance, loosen up that converter and I think he would have ran low 11's in good air, albeit at a compromise with driveability. He now runs a 10 second 406..... but there was nothing wrong with his old motor, he was just looking for more power.

Because of that above, for most people here who want a very street friendly, gas friendly set-up that your wife could drive...... but you don't have the budget for a stroker motor...... work towards the above. I think the combination will work well everytime.....


Thanks Todd, i feel totally touched.
I'm running the SR/219/AFR195 Combo with 3200 vig converter
1.6 Rockers,no cats , drag radials,underdrive pulleys,longtubes
and now going to 3.45 gears. i still have to test it on the track
with all the new upgrades,seems like the best proven combo
for a street/track car !
That is not the referenced motor I was talking about a post ago.... go towards the bottom of page 2 for the basically stock LT-1.

But, as a note, Ralph's old set-up is one of my favorites....stock 350 bottom-end, Superram - 219- AFR 190 street port heads - 2800 rpm - 3.45 gears equaled easy 11 second et's, 25+ mpg, affordable, yet docile enough to let the wife drive it. I don't know for sure, but would guess he got an easy 500 passes in that motor.... probably more. Don't think it broke once, hence why he called it Ole Betsy.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 12:55 AM
  #124  
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and i was so happy :_(
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 01:01 AM
  #125  
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Another favorite of mine is Vic89's set-up..... he's running Wheelsup old 355 motor, with a Miniram - Ported D-ports, 219 or ZZ9 cam (Do not remember which), headers, I think 3.73's with a loose 4k+ converter and running 11.2 @ 120 mph (going out of memory on that et) This probably isn't quite as street friendly as the other primarily due to the converter, but still.... good ride and runs like a raped ape and something anybody can do.

Wheelsup snuck into the 10's with that motor, albeit, he had whittled his weight down to a little under 3000 lbs and run something along the lines of a 4400 rpm converter. Still... very impressive in my opinion.

I have noticed that the Miniram likes extra converter and really takes off.... which might be the reason why I'm running a loose converter with my 436
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 01:05 AM
  #126  
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Originally Posted by Calderone
and i was so happy :_(
Your set-up is the best all around combination for a C4 that is going to utilize the stock short block in my opinion.

Now get some sticky's on it and hit the track !!
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 01:32 AM
  #127  
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Beach the stock eliminator guys are doing some crazy thing. As you know.

This is my buddies new car that had the 305.
GT/FA Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver WA, '96 Camaro 10.189 350 cid full weight car. stock tpi yadah yadah.. Its all about money and how fast can you afford to go.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 01:45 AM
  #128  
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Originally Posted by Corvette0096
Beach the stock eliminator guys are doing some crazy thing. As you know.

This is my buddies new car that had the 305.
GT/FA Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver WA, '96 Camaro 10.189 350 cid full weight car. stock tpi yadah yadah.. Its all about money and how fast can you afford to go.
Those stock eliminator guys know something the rest of don't know... thats for sure.

Pure race cars... the have some rules they follow, then they stretch them and pull them in every other gap they can find. I have heard about the cams they run... .typically they are lift limited by class rules, but then they have lobes with such aggressive ramps that they fly the lifter off the lobe, hence artificial lift. I don't think duration is limited, hence no telling what they are.

I'd like to do one someday.....
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 06:30 AM
  #129  
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If you want to do something unique, you could run an fabbed or edelbrock elbow on the AFR composite intake. Haven't seen that setup yet. Otherwise you are into the hogan's, marcella's, etc...

TPI, FIRST, SuperRam, HSR, XT, MR, Single Plane have all been done. Nothing wrong with that either though. I would recommend a SuperRam just for the RPM range for most. It is peaky, but peaky feels fun too. Flattening out the torque curve isn't always as fun for stoplight-stoplight stuff.

You should do what you want to do and enjoy it. Somebody can always rain on your parade but with a little know-how and good luck you can freshen up a used stroker for ~1.2k (short block, though if you're lucky...) and be fine at 400hp and <6.5k RPM for many years. If you know a guy with a machine shop they almost always have one laying around that needs a polish and new bearings from a customer who thought they could run without oil...
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 01:01 PM
  #130  
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I'm not going to try and fool myself and think that what I am doing is unique. I am doing this because it's what I want. MR, engine rebuild (355), head work etc. I'm enjoying doing all the wrenching myself. I have a few connections due to my job, so machine work is cheap, and it's quality. I'll reassemble myself. I'll have, including injectors/MR/Cam/machine work, $1800 in the rebuild. Adding in headers, AIR Delete and other misc pieces along with a new clutch, master, slave and line, and finally replacing the rest of the suspension bushings (front half now, rear half done last winter.) and the car will be close to "new".

If I could snaga C5/C6 for $8k done, than sure I'd jump on it. But I'm not rich, and I'm in a "rich mans hobby" so I make up for money in blood sweat and tears. Personally, I am sick of the anti-C4 crap. "Just buy a C5/C6" got old months ago.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 05:52 PM
  #131  
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I have come up with a cheap cheap cheap solution. Pay attention

"My 1985 corvette makes over 800 hp at the wheels and 1200lb feet of torque! Also It runs 6.5 sec in a 1/4 mile!"

now you are asking your self , "but shamdave how did you accomplish such a miracle in just a few weeks?"


Well Its a true story I made up. Man, I just saved a ton of money
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 06:04 PM
  #132  
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lol Dave there are plenty of stories like that , believe me
hehehe !
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 07:20 PM
  #133  
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My wife would love for me to take that route! She's upset that I'm spending as much as I have!
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 07:42 PM
  #134  
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Originally Posted by Bobzilla
My wife would love for me to take that route! She's upset that I'm spending as much as I have!
Be a real man. Tell her it's the car or another woman.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 07:58 PM
  #135  
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Originally Posted by 383vett
Be a real man. Tell her it's the car or another woman.
As much as I like that thought.... she's the "bread winner". That's right... I found myself a true sugga momma. Nah... she's more upset that I can't seem to focus on one hobby at a time.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 07:59 PM
  #136  
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Originally Posted by shamdave
I have come up with a cheap cheap cheap solution. Pay attention

"My 1985 corvette makes over 800 hp at the wheels and 1200lb feet of torque! Also It runs 6.5 sec in a 1/4 mile!"

now you are asking your self , "but shamdave how did you accomplish such a miracle in just a few weeks?"


Well Its a true story I made up. Man, I just saved a ton of money
Now that's funny!
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