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

Difference in 92 and 94 LT1

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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 03:45 AM
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Default Difference in 92 and 94 LT1

I just bought a 1992 LT1 with 7,000 original miles to replace my 94 engine. Other than the camshaft, what are the differences in the two engines? I am aware the Crank, Rods, Pistons, Block, and Bore and Stroke are the same and I know the cams are different. Are the heads identical? The reason I ask is because of the torque difference of 340@ 3,600 (94) and 330@ 4,000 (92). I'm thinking the difference is the cam, am I correct? Both are Corvette 4 bolt main engines.

Last edited by 94c4er; Nov 2, 2012 at 04:15 AM. Reason: left out they were both Corvette engines.
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 03:35 PM
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I don't recall a camshaft difference but '94MY is SFI I believe. Cylinder heads and intake I believe to be different. Both use the same opti-spark. I believe the fuel lines are different. I have no "first-hand". Never owned one. I would think the swap of the intake is maybe all that's required for your install '92MY to the SFI '94MY car and ECM.
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 04:47 PM
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ECM vs PCM better management
92 Cam specs .451/.450 Sep 117
94 cam specs .450/.460 Sep116
94 /95 is NOT OBD2.. it was the first step & close to OBD2

Last edited by THE 383 admiral; Nov 2, 2012 at 05:06 PM.
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 04:55 PM
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1992 is OBD1
1994 is OBD2
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 08:16 PM
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94 is OBD1 wtih a OBD2 connector
94 uses MAF, I think 92 is Speed Density but this is more related to the computer not the engine
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by IAFF alumni
1992 is OBD1
1994 is OBD2
OBD2 didn't come along until 1996.

Although my 95 has an "OB2 Plug", one must still use a paperclip to read codes.
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by JeffnSharyn
OBD2 didn't come along until 1996.

Although my 95 has an "OB2 Plug", one must still use a paperclip to read codes.


1996 was the only OBD2 C4
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by blue94
94 is OBD1 wtih a OBD2 connector
OK, so what reader do you use on that OBD2 connector?
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by IAFF alumni
OK, so what reader do you use on that OBD2 connector?
Tech2...at my house, anyway.
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Old Nov 3, 2012 | 01:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 94c4er
I just bought a 1992 LT1 with 7,000 original miles to replace my 94 engine. Other than the camshaft, what are the differences in the two engines? I am aware the Crank, Rods, Pistons, Block, and Bore and Stroke are the same and I know the cams are different. Are the heads identical? The reason I ask is because of the torque difference of 340@ 3,600 (94) and 330@ 4,000 (92). I'm thinking the difference is the cam, am I correct? Both are Corvette 4 bolt main engines.
Not trying to be different, but what was the problem with the original motor?

Finding a 19?? anything with 7K miles is a deal !
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Old Nov 3, 2012 | 02:03 AM
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Original 1994 motor (85,000 Miles) still in the car and runs great except for piston slap when cold. Quietens up at 185 degrees but I do not trust an engine with a knock of any kind. When I bought the car last year I thought it was a rod knock so I purchased a new crank had the rods and pistons checked out and put it back together only to hear the same knock. I have been told by several mechanics, that the knock is piston slap (common to LT-1 and LS motors). I was planning to rebuild it but finding a 7,000 mile engine that is as clean as this, made me think about changing it out instead. I really like having the original engine in the car but for now, it would be easier to put my heads, intake and sensors on the 92 block and drop it in. I even thought about putting a stock 94 cam in it. If the heads were the same, I would keep them on but I can't seem to find information on that. At this point I am confused as to what to do, drop in a vertually new 92 engine or rebuild the 94??? I don't want a hot rod, but I don;t want to go backward on performance either. The stock 94 has plenty of go for me!!
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Old Nov 3, 2012 | 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by IAFF alumni
OK, so what reader do you use on that OBD2 connector?
DataMaster to log and read codes and Tunercat to flash the computer. All OBD1 software works fine just need the correct cable.


http://www.ttspowersystems.com/ALDL_cable.html
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Old Nov 3, 2012 | 10:23 AM
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To read codes you run a jumper wire from pins 4 & 12 or a "paperclip"
Codes will display on your dash just like a scan tool
Tuner cat has a USB y cable with OBD 1 & 2 connectors for using with data master & CATS
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Old Nov 3, 2012 | 10:24 AM
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Last edited by THE 383 admiral; Nov 3, 2012 at 12:21 PM.
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Old Nov 3, 2012 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by THE 383 admiral
To read codes you run a jumper wire from pins 4 & 12 or a "paperclip"
Codes will display on your dash just like a scan tool
Tuner cat has a USB y cable with OBD 1 & 2 connectors for using with data master & CATS
Gotcha.

I drew my conclusion from page 114 of the Collectors Originality Guide, CorvetteC4 by Tom Falconer.

It says that a scanner is required "to access it's second generation on-board diagnostics (OBD-2), or the paper clip method used on OBD-1."

The way I read that, the 94 was the first year for OBD-2.
Curious why the factory included that connector if true OBD-2 didn't appear until two years later in the 96.
Just looked quickly at the 1996 specs in the book and didn't see it mentioned.
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Old Nov 4, 2012 | 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted by IAFF alumni
Curious why the factory included that connector if true OBD-2 didn't appear until two years later in the 96.
My S10 didn't have it, but I was told some of the S10s made in '94 and '95 had OBD2 connectors on them.
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Old Nov 4, 2012 | 10:57 AM
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94 / 95 is the testing point. the PCM is very close to OBD2. It has 2 boards two 512mb flash memory. it is way more advance then a 93 and older ECM
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Old Nov 5, 2012 | 11:32 PM
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I really wanted to know what the differences in the cam and heads were. I did seem to find out differences such as the 92 has different rods (material wise) but all in all I "THINK" the block is the same.

I am also thinking putting my 94 intake and the 94 sensors on the 92 engine should allow a swap without any computer changes, but I don't know that for sure. However I do have a Tuner Cats program in case.
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Old Nov 6, 2012 | 12:52 PM
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What do you plan on gaining swapping a 94 intake on a 92 block.. besides the front fuel crossover channel molded in the intake. they are the same.. swapping cams & springs.. may help a tiny bit. The 94 Injectors might be in better condition?
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Old Nov 6, 2012 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by IAFF alumni
OK, so what reader do you use on that OBD2 connector?
You got to use the paper clip or jumper trick.

The OBD1 plug will not fit, and the OBD 2 connectors will not read 94 or 95.
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