Mods for an 85?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 499
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Mods for an 85?
What are some good mods that can be installed on a 85 to make it reach low 13's. There is this Vette that has been sitting in a storage lot for nearly 2 years and nobody has bought it, they don't want to much for the car so I am thinking about getting it to fix up. But what mods could be done to the 85 L98 with automatic that would make it reach low 13's? Thanks in advance
[Modified by Mikes80L48, 8:50 AM 6/11/2002]
[Modified by Mikes80L48, 8:50 AM 6/11/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 3
From: Esko MN
Re: Mods for an 85? (Mikes80L48)
Mike,
A lot of us have been that route. Don"t go for any of the cheaper things you can buy to bolt on. You won't notice the difference on a stock engine. You will need a cam and bigger aluminum heads. Then you can open the breathing with maybe a K & N filter, ported plenum, headers and cat-back exhaust. That should get you into the low 13's.
Greg :D
A lot of us have been that route. Don"t go for any of the cheaper things you can buy to bolt on. You won't notice the difference on a stock engine. You will need a cam and bigger aluminum heads. Then you can open the breathing with maybe a K & N filter, ported plenum, headers and cat-back exhaust. That should get you into the low 13's.
Greg :D
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,142
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Mods for an 85? (Greg Johnson)
AFR 190 heads, headers, exhaust, bigger cam and ported manifold should get you there. Any further and youll need a miniram or superram.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 0
From: waller texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Mods for an 85? (corvette0096)
I see 96 in your sig gutted maf.Does the ecm work right that way and does it start right up?My 89 shows burn off code for maf and when that code is present the engine does take longer cranking to start.That's why I was curios about the gutted maf.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
Re: Mods for an 85? (Mikes80L48)
A cam with split duration under 220 deg at 0.050, lift under 0.480, and a LSA of around 112-114 (114 better for the ECM) should be an OK combo with stock heads. New springs would be a wise choice.
Throw on a good exhaust, clean up any restrictions in the manifold upper, runners, and lower. If you aren't going to mess with the programming, find a way to keep engine temps under 195 degrees.
If it is an automatic, a 2200-2400 stall and a set of drag radials should be able to bring the 60 ft. time down and with any luck, you will be crossing the finish line with a mid 13.
Cast iron heads are your biggest restriction. Figure on $850 for Trick Flow, $950 for Edelbrock, $1000 for Pro Action Al, and at least $1400 for AFR 190's. Of course if you went with different heads, it would change my cam and stall recommendation and I would suggest a complete reprogramming. And if I did that, I would suggest a different manifold base to take advantage of bigger runners...it gets fun fast ;) Good luck, -Matt-
Throw on a good exhaust, clean up any restrictions in the manifold upper, runners, and lower. If you aren't going to mess with the programming, find a way to keep engine temps under 195 degrees.
If it is an automatic, a 2200-2400 stall and a set of drag radials should be able to bring the 60 ft. time down and with any luck, you will be crossing the finish line with a mid 13.
Cast iron heads are your biggest restriction. Figure on $850 for Trick Flow, $950 for Edelbrock, $1000 for Pro Action Al, and at least $1400 for AFR 190's. Of course if you went with different heads, it would change my cam and stall recommendation and I would suggest a complete reprogramming. And if I did that, I would suggest a different manifold base to take advantage of bigger runners...it gets fun fast ;) Good luck, -Matt-
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,095
Likes: 1
From: modland CT
Re: Mods for an 85? (Mikes80L48)
check out http://www.allchevyengines.com i modded the hell out of my stock engine....i still couldnt hang with ls-1's. :boxing now i put a 383 stroker in & they cant hang with me! :D :p:
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 520
Likes: 6
From: Elverson PA
Re: Mods for an 85? (black85)
I would certainly hope if I put on all that stuff you guys are talking about (al. heads, cam, super or mini ram, intake, etc.) I would pick up a second and get into the low 12's. With my slicks that is. By the way, the 13.3 is on my regular street tires with no burnout or anything. Just pulling around the water, staging the car and flooring it. 1.8 sec 60' times don't happen everytime, only when I get decent traction. Oh yea, and I heard my tires screaching and slipping on my best run, so I know I can do better.
If you don't think you can run great times in an '85 with only a few mods, look at John Panuzzo (sorry if I spelled that wrong). I think I could get those times (high 12's) if I lost my 2:73 rear, got a higher stall converter and some e/t street tires.
If you don't think you can run great times in an '85 with only a few mods, look at John Panuzzo (sorry if I spelled that wrong). I think I could get those times (high 12's) if I lost my 2:73 rear, got a higher stall converter and some e/t street tires.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 3
From: Esko MN
Re: Mods for an 85? (black85)
black85,
You've got a strong one there. Out of 50 identical engines, some will be dogs, most will be average, and some will be superior and one or two will be super. Like Bronco Nagurski!
Greg :D
You've got a strong one there. Out of 50 identical engines, some will be dogs, most will be average, and some will be superior and one or two will be super. Like Bronco Nagurski!
Greg :D
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Re: Mods for an 85? (Greg Johnson)
I have calculated it every which way and it boils down, for me, to:
A Supercharger with porting of the top side (low boost) or bottom side beef up
or
New heads, intake, runners w/porting, & headers.
The cost is farily close to being the same.
Either way it all cost more than a new crate motor with the exception that the SC could be improved upon in the future with,,, mo money, mo money mo money!.
A Supercharger with porting of the top side (low boost) or bottom side beef up
or
New heads, intake, runners w/porting, & headers.
The cost is farily close to being the same.
Either way it all cost more than a new crate motor with the exception that the SC could be improved upon in the future with,,, mo money, mo money mo money!.
