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

L98

Old Oct 18, 2012 | 12:30 AM
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I would like to know if there is anyone in my area with a stock L98.
My 90 is stock and I would like for someone to test drive it to compare the L98. I think mine is doing ok, The RPM's are my concern.
When I want to play a little I worry about the RPM's. The owners manual says to shift at 3200 rpm's I feel the car wants more. Thats why I would like someone that knows test drive it.
Its a 90 vert with 35853 miles on it and its a 6 speed with 3.33
I just dont want to blow it up. And at the same time the car needs to play a little. I dont want to dog it.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 01:06 AM
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Its been 20 years since I have had a L98 Vette, but I have a L98 Z28 that I swapped in a T56. You can twist it up to 4500 with out worry. Depends on what mood I'm in,but I shift my Z28 around 4500.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 01:39 AM
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IIRC, redline is 5200rpms but you should shift in the 4500-5000 rpm range. No harm will come shifting at this point over and over. Obviously, I'm talking about "getting on it". Shifting by 3200 rpms is a reasonable suggestion for normal driving. Even sooner when mildly cruising.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 05:19 AM
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My 350 out of my 85 vette had done 170,000 miles and i never ever considered a rev limit The bores had no real wear and the bearings were as new
The tpi in standard form limits rpm so they are pretty much bullet proof,
shifting at 5,500 rpm is fine, they tend to drop off in performance over 5,500 rpm

My 383 has already been well over 6,000 rpm several times, it loves to rev with the blower keeping it breathing
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 07:55 AM
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Thanks guys,
I have run it up to 5500 and it acts like it wants more, I wont go above that mark
The only other thing my car has is true dual exhaust. No cats or mufflers.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 08:12 AM
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Jim, I have a 90 Convert also. being that i am in Michigan i am a tad far away. How much exhaust smell do you have with your exhaust setup.

thanks,

Steve
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 1990 Rudy
Jim, I have a 90 Convert also. being that i am in Michigan i am a tad far away. How much exhaust smell do you have with your exhaust setup.
Excessive smell is not normal. Because L98's only monitor one cylinder bank, an issue with one or more injectors CAN cause you to be running rich. (If the DS is weak/lean, the PS could be compensated to the rich side. IOW, a failed/failing DS injector can cause your PS injectors to run rich....and that causes your smell.)

Check the ohms on your injectors....hot and cold.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 12:27 PM
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Stock L98 needs to be shifted by 5000 rpm. It will go higher but it will not be making more horsepower. Power is maxed around 4800.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 1990 Rudy
Jim, I have a 90 Convert also. being that i am in Michigan i am a tad far away. How much exhaust smell do you have with your exhaust setup.

thanks,

Steve
I dont have a smell, Now with the top down and backing out of a parking spot you may smell a little just for a split second. Thats after start up.
Last year I ordered a set of delphi injectors from Jon and my car runs great.
Thats why I ask this question on the RPM's because my car sounds like it wants more but I dont want to hurt it either.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 05:07 PM
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ok, cool that is what i was wondering.

steve
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 05:48 PM
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my 88 auto, when at WOT, shifts at 4400RMP. While having the gear selector in a gear(not drive), I have found anything past 4400RMP is just a waste. Powerband drops off significantly at that RMP
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by jim spitzer
Thats why I ask this question on the RPM's because my car sounds like it wants more but I dont want to hurt it either.
IIRC...The primary reason that redline is lower on L98s (than LT1s) is the negative pressure affect above the 2nd harmonic of those longtubes. They actually start choking the engine which adds stress to the rods.

Aside from that, you wanna shift only a couple hundred rpms above peak HP. With the longtube setup, it's pretty low.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 10:22 PM
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4500 to 4700 is optimal in order to stay in the power band if a stock l98.
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