84lover

I have an 84
I know it will never be a race car
I want to get more power

so far:
dueled and gutted exhaust no converters
performance ignition
chip
lt1 differential....want to figure out how to change the oil

plan:
port the intake
maybe change heads and cam

What I need:
I need a real plan to get the most out of this engine...I don't want to change it

Kingtal0n

I wouldn't mess with that engine. Not cost effective.

A factory 4.8/5.3L Engine from 2001-04 costs about $500 and supports 500-600rwhp done right.
It's also got updated seals and systems (no oil leaks, good computer hardware, Sequential EFI)
and cheap computer (411 is $50~ computer) that runs flex fuel (120lb/hr or larger)

It really can't be beat dollar for dollar. I would just save your money and either build another car or prepare this one for the swap.
Because you can spend $5000 on the current engine and still not be able to even approach the level of performance one of those $500 new LS style engines can provide.

Kevova

You have to decide realistically how much you can spend, then add 1/3 more. 500 =670 there's are always miscellaneous extras. All 84s have D36 diff. Auto or manual?
The 500.LS swap is happening unless you're getting donor pickup for free.

856SPEED

Best plan....drive it...sell it...

The best way to handle a C4.

84lover

guess ill be spending 5000...thanks....not trying to be a smart ***...i bought this car because i like this car....i will get another one but i wont get rid of this one

856SPEED

Yes you will...that’s what all new Vette owners say....it’s the second happiest day of your life....

84lover

I know what you guys are saying and you are right
I drove a few different vettes and I will agree that c7 ,5,6 are all awesome
but, when a drove that old beat up 84 I felt a connection...we are the same old and beat up.....undesireable...thats why the tag says blakshep
that car feels like its hugging me....I brought it back from the dead and I like how you have to actually drive it because it wont drive itself like the newer ones
and i dont understand how it can be in a higher class than a c3 and get less respect....c3 had crossfire....whats up with that

84lover

you dont know me well enough to doubt what i say.
I am not a new vette owner

I am not broke ...I couldve had whatever one i wanted

Kevova

The c3 is split between chrome and rubber bumpers. C4 gets beat up because it's 80's with Atari dash, rough ride, fall in climb out seating. They are far better and more reliable than the c3 or c2 If you want a bad *** c4 that's turn key ...ZR1 or Callaway. 84 handles it's just short on horsepower.Horsepower is made with cubic dollars.

vader86

84 is just a little different to make power with. Its the only one where I'd personally think more about the LS swap because of what little otherwise that is available aftermarket specifically for 82/84 Xfire.

84 doesn't get enough air into or out of the engine, that is its issue. The intake system needs to go, X-ram seems like the best way. This is your first pivotal choice in the plan. Porting Xfire simply won't get you enough power. It is just a SBC though, so anything like Superram/MR/HSR will work, I'd just think about some computer upgrades too to handle them.

The chip you have now, not useful. Only redo the chip after all other mods are done. Performance igntion, also not useful for what you have. HEI is pretty good until you pull some RPM.

Heads, yes, the 84-86E '624 heads suck. Depending on whether you stay 350 or think 383, the head recommendation changes. Something like AFR 180 on a 350 and maybe 190-195 on a 383.

Camshaft is tiny, again it depends on what you do with the intake. So that intake choice really must be made first, then we can suggest the right cam and heads to flow the air you need.

Exhaust, needs headers to get the air out, the rest of what you have is fine.

If its just a street car and youre not pushing insane torque levels or running slicks, the D36 is fine, no need to upgrade it. 84's transmission is also fine until you make serious torque. I believe the number of splines changed later but I dont think its a big issue to what it can handle at near-stock levels.

856SPEED

Well,

That being the case, “the plan” is interesting already.

Tom400CFI

Damn...Lots of negativity in this thread.

Port the bejeezus out of the intake (make the floors, walls, ceilings paper thin). Bump fuel pressure up to the 15 PSI range, give the engine as much timing as you can w/o detonation, headers and dual exhaust and you should be knocking right on 300hp's door.

One of the greatest things about the crossfire system is how MUCH you can get out of it for virtually no money. To wit, I had an '83 trans am with a 305 CFI. Anyone know what those cars ran, stock? 16's, IIRC. I put shorty headers and better single exhaust on it. Electric fan, "free mods", and a T5 transmission....ran 14.5@95. Anyone know how many hp it takes to get a 3300 lb car to go 95 in the 1/4 mile? It takes about 240hp. So, with a 305, NO porting, I was making similar power to a TPI 350.

The people who say you can't do anything with them are people who never had one. I don't even know why they post to these threads. (?)


.

84lover

I changed the fuel pump to '85

84lover

there is alot of decision making with this
transform this engin e or get another one....hmmmm

or just leave it the way it is and forget about it


keep it but buy another one

84 4+3

500$ and months of aggravation and money making everything work. Not for me. the junkyard 5.3 is avalid route for a stock engine. I have yet to be around one that holds up to 600+ as pulled for more than a little while. If you're gonna go that route, don't be a cheap ***, build it right no matter what you choose. and around here 500 gets you a long block. Then you need electrical, plugs, fuel lines pumps etc... adds up real quick. I've done the math. Gen I for me, and nothing crazy either. You're not using much of anything over 400 on the street legally or safely anyway.

84lover

1996 Chevy Impala SS LT1 350 5.7 Engine W/ 4L60E Transmission Complete ....1000

maybe kingtal0n is right

856SPEED

Face it Tom, the 84 was the first year of the C4.....MANY improvements came after! It’s a rough riding 200 hp car...you know it like the rest of us....Guranty you like that 92 just a bit better...at least I hope you do.

Tell him him how to make a Vette Cart! Now that’s cool! That’s the direction I would go with an 84! Shed some weight and 200 hp will come to life....rough ride and all..! That’s a plan!!

you didn’t need to own a Pinto to know you don’t want one...

Tom400CFI

First, I don't believe that I said an '84 was better than later C4's. I also don't believe that I would argue that a newer car isn't better. If I've made that impression, I'll need to go edit something to correct it.



I'd actually like an '84 (with a stick) just to document and show people what a radical change you can make with that car with little to no money. It can be extremely rewarding and gratifying...which is the opposite of what one poster said:
It's WAY more "cost effective" than modifying a TPI car....and people do that all the time. Right? Right.

KyleF

I get that you like the 84's. I am partial to a few cars that are not the fastest. Honestly there is always someone faster and a lot of people around here like to talk about HP out of the money they spend. In the grand scheme of things a 600HP C4 isn't even really that fast anymore when compared to some of the performance cars you can buy off the lot.

If you pursuit, like mine, is to just enjoy the time modifying your cars and enjoying them... then the 84 will fit the bill. If you are going for a certain level of performance, then 84 is not a good jumping off point. You can keep the C4 and go LT1/4 and have port fuel injection already, but tunign issues. You can go C5, but its a different look. So, If you want to keep the 84:

I would suggest you go to a complete new port fuel injection system that can be tuned.



Like This

Or

This

This will solve the X-Fire issues, support as much as you probably would ever want to go with a street car, and be able to be tuned all in one package.

AFR or similar heads as suggested and a matching cam. Put headers on it and enjoy your 350-400hp SBC.

84lover

I think ill just rest on it a while
I have an idea but what i was hoping for is a step by step guide from someone who actually knows that engine and what it is capable of