Performance Tips
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Performance Tips
Hey, i just recently (within the past week) purchased a 1989 red 6-speed L98 corvette and was wondering what everyone would reccomend for initial performance upgrades. In the long run i plan to supercharge it, but that is probably a couple of years in the future... and i don't know enough about corvettes yet to know what parts would be best to start off with. I also did some looking at exhaust systems and was wondering if anyone had any particular reccomendations on what exhaust system to get, as i have heard from some people that it is one of the biggest improvements you can make on the L98. Thanks for any help you all can give me. :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
Congrats on your new Vette and welcome to the Forum.
For exhaust mods either do long tube headers or a mandrel-bent front Y, a hi-flow cat and a good cat-back.
Install a 160 deg stat and fan sw, a K&N air filter and cut the top off the air filter lid.
Cut back the spark plug ground electrodes (pics on my site).
You've got mail on what effects mods have on an L98.
For exhaust mods either do long tube headers or a mandrel-bent front Y, a hi-flow cat and a good cat-back.
Install a 160 deg stat and fan sw, a K&N air filter and cut the top off the air filter lid.
Cut back the spark plug ground electrodes (pics on my site).
You've got mail on what effects mods have on an L98.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,067
Likes: 1,723
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Performance Tips (65Z01)
do the 'free' mods that 65Z01 suggested: K&N w/open air lid, 160 thermo and fan switch to keep the car cool, Throttle body bypass (where you take the two coolant lines from the TB and mate them together), remove the 'frisbee' (big weight on the water pump)
Then do longtube headers, and pick a catback that you like the sound of.
Port your heads, they are called D-ports and support 350hp untouched. Ported over 400hp. Port everything to match and youll have some power to tide you over until you decide on a cam/intake package or a SC.
Then do longtube headers, and pick a catback that you like the sound of.
Port your heads, they are called D-ports and support 350hp untouched. Ported over 400hp. Port everything to match and youll have some power to tide you over until you decide on a cam/intake package or a SC.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 725
Likes: 0
From: Berlin Maryland
Re: Performance Tips (65Z01)
Congrats on your new Vette and welcome to the Forum.
For exhaust mods either do long tube headers or a mandrel-bent front Y, a hi-flow cat and a good cat-back.
Install a 160 deg stat and fan sw, a K&N air filter and cut the top off the air filter lid.
Get a mid America Catalog 1800-500-vett. http://www.madirect.com and let your fingres do the walking.:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cool: :chevy
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
Though I have a few years on you, but still remember that great feeling from a few years ago when I took delivery of my first Corvette.
Enjoy the ride and save the wave.
Enjoy the ride and save the wave.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Re: Performance Tips (vader86)
One question about the "free" mods though. I have a few friends w/ other cars that did free mods they found on forums and web pages. While they found that the car may have been a tiny bit faster, it ran alot worse and threw alot of codes and had many more problems. I was just wondering if any of the previously mentioned stuff would have a similar affect or if the corvette is just better build and the mods don't have that kind of effect. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,302
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
Congrats on the new Vette kterrell, WELCOME :seeya
Just a couple of things to stay AWAY from: Throttle body air foil, throttle body spacer ("Poweraid"), the amazing "Tornado".... oh yeah, french transvestite hookers... those hairy pits are a mess :eek:
Good luck with whatever you do and don't forget to wave!! :seeya
Just a couple of things to stay AWAY from: Throttle body air foil, throttle body spacer ("Poweraid"), the amazing "Tornado".... oh yeah, french transvestite hookers... those hairy pits are a mess :eek:
Good luck with whatever you do and don't forget to wave!! :seeya
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
If you're not Vette inclined and this is your first, have a close look in the *4* tailpipes and you'll see why exhaust is such a good upgrade. I LMAO when I first noticed this. You'll see :lol:
Mine is an '89 too and I'm assuming they're all the same...
My exhaust was a huge improvement and well worth it. getting rid of all those catalytic obstructions was very worthwhile and the sound is wonderful :)
Mine is an '89 too and I'm assuming they're all the same...
My exhaust was a huge improvement and well worth it. getting rid of all those catalytic obstructions was very worthwhile and the sound is wonderful :)
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Re: Performance Tips (Silver89)
How does the borla cat-back sound and where did you purchase it from? I looked at a couple places and they didn't list borla cat-back for 1989-1991.. just the 92-96 LT series. Would that work w/ a L98?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,067
Likes: 1,723
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
You can get Borlas from Mid America or Ecklers. But you might want to hear them first, they can have resonance problems.
Best thing to do, is just a couple of the free mods (none of those i suggested throw codes) and drive the car alot for a few months to decide what you want out of it.
Best thing to do, is just a couple of the free mods (none of those i suggested throw codes) and drive the car alot for a few months to decide what you want out of it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
Check out the mods and track and dyno results on my site and check out Vic'89's mods.
I run low-mid 13s and he runs high 12s to low 13s with simple bolt on mods, and neither of us has any "code" problems.
In fact I now get 31-32mpg highway with cruise set, up from the 28-29mph highway when she was bone stock.
I run low-mid 13s and he runs high 12s to low 13s with simple bolt on mods, and neither of us has any "code" problems.
In fact I now get 31-32mpg highway with cruise set, up from the 28-29mph highway when she was bone stock.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
From: Owensboro Ky
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
This might be stating the obvious but here I go. If the car has very many miles on it, a complete tune-up will do wonders for performance. Plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor will really help and could add some mileage to the tank also. It never hurts to have the car running as good as the General did before you start improving on it. :seeya
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
Mine's an L98 and it bolted right on (1989). Check the Borla website, it's a kit and you can either get just the mufflers or the mufflers and the rear Y-pipe. I think it also comes in either 2" or 2 1/2" pipe.
I just checked, the 2 1/2 requires the y-pipe to convert to 2 1/2. Kit is 11330 and the Y is 60002. You need both for that one.
Just the rear section kit, which I believe is just the mufflers and attaching hardware is 11134 and is the 2" so you don't need the Y pipe.
I love the Borla sound. It's low and mean BUT on the highway in 6th the drone gets pretty bad in the cabin. If you're worried about cabin comfort, you might want to ride in someone elses Borla-mobile first. The quality is top notch, but they're pricey. I've had mine for about 4 years now and they still look brand new :yesnod:
I just checked, the 2 1/2 requires the y-pipe to convert to 2 1/2. Kit is 11330 and the Y is 60002. You need both for that one.
Just the rear section kit, which I believe is just the mufflers and attaching hardware is 11134 and is the 2" so you don't need the Y pipe.
I love the Borla sound. It's low and mean BUT on the highway in 6th the drone gets pretty bad in the cabin. If you're worried about cabin comfort, you might want to ride in someone elses Borla-mobile first. The quality is top notch, but they're pricey. I've had mine for about 4 years now and they still look brand new :yesnod:
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Re: Performance Tips (Silver89)
as to the mileage, i only have 70,000 miles on the motor, and the majority of the block is new (rebuilt about a year ago). I'm not worried about the car having problems because the person i bought it from has been a friend of the family for years and takes incredible care of his car. Any idea on about what the borla system costs, i have about $2k-3k left on the side to spend on it so given that, what would be good choices? I really appreciate everyones help with all this as I am really new to corvettes (never expected to be getting one as early as I am) :)
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
The 2.5 kit is 650 for the rear section (mufflers etc) and 250 for the Y, but that's on the Borla site. I'm sure you could get it cheaper than that. You really should try and have a listen to one first though. That's alot of money to blow on something you have to hear all the time.
Well worth it for me cause I love it, but I know alot people that have ridden with me get headaches :lol:
Well worth it for me cause I love it, but I know alot people that have ridden with me get headaches :lol:
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
Sure you want to do some mods but first form some sort of goal, maybe past your current $$ amount.
For example do you want to race it at a strip, take it to shows, enjoy it as a cruiser or as a street rod.
My exhaust mods cost $1,200, ignition was $200, underdrive pulleys $120, intake work $200, valve train $500, fuel mods $70, cooling mods $50, "frisbee" delete, $0.
That would takd care of about $2k; save the other $1k till you drive it for a while and see if it needs brakes, fuel pump, O2 sensor, etc.
Also have the fluids changed and use synthetic motor oil.
Later you might want to add a 2,000rpm TC and a shift kit to wake up your tranny and enhance driving pleasure.
For example do you want to race it at a strip, take it to shows, enjoy it as a cruiser or as a street rod.
My exhaust mods cost $1,200, ignition was $200, underdrive pulleys $120, intake work $200, valve train $500, fuel mods $70, cooling mods $50, "frisbee" delete, $0.
That would takd care of about $2k; save the other $1k till you drive it for a while and see if it needs brakes, fuel pump, O2 sensor, etc.
Also have the fluids changed and use synthetic motor oil.
Later you might want to add a 2,000rpm TC and a shift kit to wake up your tranny and enhance driving pleasure.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: the corner of walk and dont walk
Re: Performance Tips (kterrell)
:cheers: Welcome! I've only had my vette(85) for about a month, this place is amazing! :D There are a lot of gr8, friendly people here.......so I'm told! :lol: :lol: :lol: Just kiddin! It is a gr8 place with lots of gr8 people, I'm sure you will enjoy it here, as well as your new "BETTER HALF"!!! :lol:
:cheers:
:cheers: