what's holding me back?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
what's holding me back?
Hey guys, I have a 1985 Corvette with the following modifications:
TPIS Miniram 1204 ported to 1205
58 MM Power Products throttle body
TPIS flat tappet ZZ409 camshaft (224/224 duration @ 0.050", 0.330"/0.330" lobe lift, 0.528"/0.528" total valve lift with 1.6 RR, 112 LSA)
1.6 Roller rockers
Hedman long tube 1 5/8" headers
Dynomax true dual 2 1/4" exhaust with Dynomax ultra flo mufflers
35* total timing
MSD 6AL2 ignition box
D.U.I. distributor
3.75:1 gears
MD 8.5 mm ignition wires
K&n air filter
Air filter lid cut
Descreened MAF sensor
No cats
10:1 compression ratio
11.5:1 - 12.3:1 AFR at WOT still tuning - targeting 12.8:1
AFR 195 Eliminator heads
And supporting modifications
Any ideas what could be holding me back?
It feels about as fast as my father's C5 and that's about it. For the money I put into it, I could have sold it and bought a C5 with the money.
Thanks.
TPIS Miniram 1204 ported to 1205
58 MM Power Products throttle body
TPIS flat tappet ZZ409 camshaft (224/224 duration @ 0.050", 0.330"/0.330" lobe lift, 0.528"/0.528" total valve lift with 1.6 RR, 112 LSA)
1.6 Roller rockers
Hedman long tube 1 5/8" headers
Dynomax true dual 2 1/4" exhaust with Dynomax ultra flo mufflers
35* total timing
MSD 6AL2 ignition box
D.U.I. distributor
3.75:1 gears
MD 8.5 mm ignition wires
K&n air filter
Air filter lid cut
Descreened MAF sensor
No cats
10:1 compression ratio
11.5:1 - 12.3:1 AFR at WOT still tuning - targeting 12.8:1
AFR 195 Eliminator heads
And supporting modifications
Any ideas what could be holding me back?
It feels about as fast as my father's C5 and that's about it. For the money I put into it, I could have sold it and bought a C5 with the money.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Getting a more aggressive ramped cam, 1 3/4" headers, x-pipe, and probably, less timing. Who knows about the rest of the tune?
Depending on the model of Hedman headers, you're probably covering part of the exhaust ports too.
FWIW, one of the best thing about the 195 Eliminators is their lower lift numbers. That's one reason a more aggressively ramped cam would help. Get air in faster and close the valves for better boom.
Depending on the model of Hedman headers, you're probably covering part of the exhaust ports too.
FWIW, one of the best thing about the 195 Eliminators is their lower lift numbers. That's one reason a more aggressively ramped cam would help. Get air in faster and close the valves for better boom.
Last edited by GREGGPENN; May 16, 2014 at 02:26 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
My opinion in a nutshell is, you are leaving a lot on the table with low compression and a small cam.
But, keep in mind, you started with 230hp and your dad has 350. A bigger roller cam and 11 to 11.5 to 1 compression would make a big difference.
I hope $10,000.00 includes labor. To me, that sounds like a lot for a top end package.
But, keep in mind, you started with 230hp and your dad has 350. A bigger roller cam and 11 to 11.5 to 1 compression would make a big difference.
I hope $10,000.00 includes labor. To me, that sounds like a lot for a top end package.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
My opinion in a nutshell is, you are leaving a lot on the table with low compression and a small cam.
But, keep in mind, you started with 230hp and your dad has 350. A bigger roller cam and 11 to 11.5 to 1 compression would make a big difference.
I hope $10,000.00 includes labor. To me, that sounds like a lot for a top end package.
But, keep in mind, you started with 230hp and your dad has 350. A bigger roller cam and 11 to 11.5 to 1 compression would make a big difference.
I hope $10,000.00 includes labor. To me, that sounds like a lot for a top end package.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 113
From: Michigan
Sometimes the problem with speed is you just get use to it and want more. Happens to me, I'll loose perspective from driving the car too much. Still sometimes you can increase power and slow the car down in the quarter, tire spin!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
$1815 - AFR Heads with intake gaskets, washers, head bolts
$185 - TPIS cam
$180 - Hedman Headers
$800 - 3.75:1 gears, bearings, and installation
$200 - Dynomax Exhaust with mufflers
$250 - Throttle Body
$200 - AFR gauge with WBO2 sensor
$50 - K&N air filter
$180 - Speedometer Calibrator
$150 - Pushrods
$150 - Rocker Arms
$585 - ZR1 Replica Rims
$725 - Nitto tires
$300 - D.U.I. Distributor
$250 - MSD 6AL2 ignition box
$30 - Sun Pro Tach
$200 - American Eagle Aluminum Radiator
$115 - Flow Kooler Water Pump
$85 x 2 - MSD 8.5mm ignition wires
$40 - Summit Racing heat socks
$20 - Heated O2 sensor Conversion
$250 - Tuning Kit
$140 - Tunes
$150 - Freshened Valvetrain with stock heads
$150 - Isky Racing valve springs because stock springs broke
$150 - Gaskets that got messed up during installation
$50 Header paint (had to paint multiple times because they got scratched up from removing spark plugs so many times trying to tune the engine)
- Add a few hundred for shipping costs
That comes out to $8865, not including the shipping costs, and miscellaneous stuff that I probably forgot to mention.
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 670
Likes: 55
Your car should be much faster than it was even with the butt dyno. You need to check some basic things, I would start with a leak down test just to see how the bottom end is, that would be a good starting point to eliminate things that might be a problem even with all the work you have done. It's really frustrating spending a ton of hard won cash on your favorite car then not achieving the result you want but start a check list and go thru everything making sure it is working properly.
I bought new TF heads for my 93 only to find after installing them that two intake valves were not sealing. I had a 35% leak down rate on 2 cylinders, even new stuff can be bad. I ended up having to do a valve job on my "new" heads. Good luck, you will learn a ton just checking thru everything.
I bought new TF heads for my 93 only to find after installing them that two intake valves were not sealing. I had a 35% leak down rate on 2 cylinders, even new stuff can be bad. I ended up having to do a valve job on my "new" heads. Good luck, you will learn a ton just checking thru everything.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
No reason that car should not run a second faster than a stock C5. I have less gear, less cam, and smaller heads and run 12.80 all day long. There is something wrong with that car. I'd start with looking at the tune.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 677
Likes: 3
From: Metairie LA
First, stop adding up the costs. It's always a bummer.
Second, including the cost of the Vette and complete rework of body, paint, engine, trans, interior, suspension, etc, my quick calculations have me at $11,000. I did all the labor.
The only original parts of my engine are the block and oil pan. The trans in now a T5. I have coil overs in the front. The paint was stripped completely and it's now pearl white with an L88 scoop molded in.
I agree with above - yours doesn't seem to add up.
Second, including the cost of the Vette and complete rework of body, paint, engine, trans, interior, suspension, etc, my quick calculations have me at $11,000. I did all the labor.
The only original parts of my engine are the block and oil pan. The trans in now a T5. I have coil overs in the front. The paint was stripped completely and it's now pearl white with an L88 scoop molded in.
I agree with above - yours doesn't seem to add up.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
I found this camshaft. Would this be better suited for me? I can't afford to go to a roller cam though. That's like over $1000. http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=81&sb=2
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Wait a minute......we don't even know what the car dynos or puts down in the 1/4........Its really hard to say without ANY data.......its like asking the doctor for a prescription before the doctor examines you.......keep buying different medicine until you feel better ???? it's no way to go about it