96 corvette upgrades Help please!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
96 corvette upgrades Help please!
Hello, I want to know if this is good upgrades done on a 96 corvette and if it’s reliable for the engine.
ENGINE:
lt4 hot cam
1.6 roller rockers and comp cam chrome moly pushrod
52mm BBK throttle house
electric water pump
gm high performance cam chain kit (lt4)
adjustable fuel pressure regulator
smaller underdrive pulley
ported maf sensor
vortex rammer cold intake
big mouth on the intake
extra oil cooler for automatic transmission
new cooler
new ac cooler
new ignition cables
bigger spreaders 30 l/s
headers tpis long ceramic coated
lt4 knock module in the ecm
CHASSI:
c5 brakes Baer extreme kit
z06 chrome wheels with Avon tires
Koni adjustable Schock absorbers
coarser anti roll bares with polyurethane bushings
All bushings on polyurethane bushings
Rear polyurethane bushings
New gearing to 3.73 from 3.07
ENGINE:
lt4 hot cam
1.6 roller rockers and comp cam chrome moly pushrod
52mm BBK throttle house
electric water pump
gm high performance cam chain kit (lt4)
adjustable fuel pressure regulator
smaller underdrive pulley
ported maf sensor
vortex rammer cold intake
big mouth on the intake
extra oil cooler for automatic transmission
new cooler
new ac cooler
new ignition cables
bigger spreaders 30 l/s
headers tpis long ceramic coated
lt4 knock module in the ecm
CHASSI:
c5 brakes Baer extreme kit
z06 chrome wheels with Avon tires
Koni adjustable Schock absorbers
coarser anti roll bares with polyurethane bushings
All bushings on polyurethane bushings
Rear polyurethane bushings
New gearing to 3.73 from 3.07
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
First, please tell us how you plan to use the car and what your goals are. We can't really answer your questions without that info. The only thing I can tell you for sure not to do is the regular hard poly rear bushings. They will introduce bind because the links all have to move in more than one axis. They are fine for the front suspension and swaybars, though.
Others can chime in, but I think some things you listed that will make little or no difference are"
52mm throttle body
ported MAF
Vortex rammer cold intake and big mouth
Not sure if you need the bigger injectors with just the Hot Cam upgrade.
As far as I know, changing the knock module doesn't do anything for performance.
Others can chime in, but I think some things you listed that will make little or no difference are"
52mm throttle body
ported MAF
Vortex rammer cold intake and big mouth
Not sure if you need the bigger injectors with just the Hot Cam upgrade.
As far as I know, changing the knock module doesn't do anything for performance.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
First, please tell us how you plan to use the car and what your goals are. We can't really answer your questions without that info. The only thing I can tell you for sure not to do is the regular hard poly rear bushings. They will introduce bind because the links all have to move in more than one axis. They are fine for the front suspension and swaybars, though.
Others can chime in, but I think some things you listed that will make little or no difference are"
52mm throttle body
ported MAF
Vortex rammer cold intake and big mouth
Not sure if you need the bigger injectors with just the Hot Cam upgrade.
As far as I know, changing the knock module doesn't do anything for performance.
Others can chime in, but I think some things you listed that will make little or no difference are"
52mm throttle body
ported MAF
Vortex rammer cold intake and big mouth
Not sure if you need the bigger injectors with just the Hot Cam upgrade.
As far as I know, changing the knock module doesn't do anything for performance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
Okay, I don't see anything that would make it unreliable. The underdrive pulley might mean it doesn't charge well at idle (I'm not sure). I'm also not sure how reliable that electric water pump is. I wouldn't pay a premium for the car just because it has those upgrades, either. The cam, gears, and headers will add to the acceleration fun. The Konis are nice shocks and their adjustability can help you get a nice ride or a stiffer, more performance-oriented ride. The rear poly bushings won't make the car unreliable, but they do create a bit of non-linear oversteer due to bind. They just aren't a good idea for these cars, but they aren't something you should rush out and change, either. By the way, if these are not regular stiff urethane but are instead the more pliable, purple SuperPro bushings, then that's good.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Okay, I don't see anything that would make it unreliable. The underdrive pulley might mean it doesn't charge well at idle (I'm not sure). I'm also not sure how reliable that electric water pump is. I wouldn't pay a premium for the car just because it has those upgrades, either. The cam, gears, and headers will add to the acceleration fun. The Konis are nice shocks and their adjustability can help you get a nice ride or a stiffer, more performance-oriented ride. The rear poly bushings won't make the car unreliable, but they do create a bit of non-linear oversteer due to bind. They just aren't a good idea for these cars, but they aren't something you should rush out and change, either. By the way, if these are not regular stiff urethane but are instead the more pliable, purple SuperPro bushings, then that's good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
First, please tell us how you plan to use the car and what your goals are. We can't really answer your questions without that info. The only thing I can tell you for sure not to do is the regular hard poly rear bushings. They will introduce bind because the links all have to move in more than one axis. They are fine for the front suspension and swaybars, though.
Others can chime in, but I think some things you listed that will make little or no difference are"
52mm throttle body
ported MAF
Vortex rammer cold intake and big mouth
Not sure if you need the bigger injectors with just the Hot Cam upgrade.
As far as I know, changing the knock module doesn't do anything for performance.
Others can chime in, but I think some things you listed that will make little or no difference are"
52mm throttle body
ported MAF
Vortex rammer cold intake and big mouth
Not sure if you need the bigger injectors with just the Hot Cam upgrade.
As far as I know, changing the knock module doesn't do anything for performance.
52mm TB, no...might affect driveability (why I'm sticking with the stock 48mm)
I don't think you need an adjustable fuel regulator. From what I understand the pcm controls it on a '96
no on the under drive pulley
I wouldn't mess with the MAF and the air intake is a waste of money on a '96(very good flowing system)
With the money you'll save by not getting the parts above, I'd get a torque converter and the pcm tuned or dyno tuned. Oh I forgot spend a bit more and get Superpro bushing kit(somewhere between rubber and poly bushings)
Another good avenue for your build is to contact Lloyd Elliott, he is the LT1/LT4 guy in the know. He can guide you with a possible custom cam, tell you if you need the 30lbs injectors and recommend a stall on the TC (the high end units = yank or vigilante = $900+)
**I guess I should've read the post better....but you can get ideas from some of the info**
Last edited by vette196; Apr 8, 2021 at 10:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
I agree with Matt. I'm doing a build on my '96, so I've done my research
52mm TB, no...might affect driveability (why I'm sticking with the stock 48mm)
I don't think you need an adjustable fuel regulator. From what I understand the pcm controls it on a '96
no on the under drive pulley
I wouldn't mess with the MAF and the air intake is a waste of money on a '96(very good flowing system)
With the money you'll save by not getting the parts above, I'd get a torque converter and the pcm tuned or dyno tuned. Oh I forgot spend a bit more and get Superpro bushing kit(somewhere between rubber and poly bushings)
Another good avenue for your build is to contact Lloyd Elliott, he is the LT1/LT4 guy in the know. He can guide you with a possible custom cam, tell you if you need the 30lbs injectors and recommend a stall on the TC (the high end units = yank or vigilante = $900+)
**I guess I should've read the post better....but you can get ideas from some of the info**
52mm TB, no...might affect driveability (why I'm sticking with the stock 48mm)
I don't think you need an adjustable fuel regulator. From what I understand the pcm controls it on a '96
no on the under drive pulley
I wouldn't mess with the MAF and the air intake is a waste of money on a '96(very good flowing system)
With the money you'll save by not getting the parts above, I'd get a torque converter and the pcm tuned or dyno tuned. Oh I forgot spend a bit more and get Superpro bushing kit(somewhere between rubber and poly bushings)
Another good avenue for your build is to contact Lloyd Elliott, he is the LT1/LT4 guy in the know. He can guide you with a possible custom cam, tell you if you need the 30lbs injectors and recommend a stall on the TC (the high end units = yank or vigilante = $900+)
**I guess I should've read the post better....but you can get ideas from some of the info**
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
I wouldn't necessarily avoid the car. Like I said, I don't think any of the mods he did will actually hurt. I would go check out the car and test drive it. I would make sure it is not throwing any codes. vette196 reminded me of something I meant to write but forgot. The 96 was the first year for full OBD2 implementation. That's fine, but it means that the car's PCM can only be "tuned" with Jet DST these days. No early OBD1 software (e.g. Tunercat or Tunerpro) will work with it, and neither will the later ones like HP Tuners. Typically that hot cam and headers don't require recalibrating the PCM. But the injectors probably should. The MAF and throttle body shouldn't, but some aftermarket MAFs work better than others. The gears should required a reflash of the PCM, since that is all accounted for in the tuning (the PCM also controls the transmission). The point is, be sure that the car runs well and isn't storing any codes. Make sure it's shifting properly, too. It is certainly possible to buy Jet DST and fix any tuning issues, but that costs around $400. A 94-95 has a similar PCM but it can be tuned with cheap or free software, for what it's worth.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
I wouldn't necessarily avoid the car. Like I said, I don't think any of the mods he did will actually hurt. I would go check out the car and test drive it. I would make sure it is not throwing any codes. vette196 reminded me of something I meant to write but forgot. The 96 was the first year for full OBD2 implementation. That's fine, but it means that the car's PCM can only be "tuned" with Jet DST these days. No early OBD1 software (e.g. Tunercat or Tunerpro) will work with it, and neither will the later ones like HP Tuners. Typically that hot cam and headers don't require recalibrating the PCM. But the injectors probably should. The MAF and throttle body shouldn't, but some aftermarket MAFs work better than others. The gears should required a reflash of the PCM, since that is all accounted for in the tuning (the PCM also controls the transmission). The point is, be sure that the car runs well and isn't storing any codes. Make sure it's shifting properly, too. It is certainly possible to buy Jet DST and fix any tuning issues, but that costs around $400. A 94-95 has a similar PCM but it can be tuned with cheap or free software, for what it's worth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
I thought that might be the case. That definitely makes it tougher. If you're going for an automatic, then a stock 95-96 is a great option if you can find it. The earlier LT1-powered cars are fine too, but the 95-96 have the vented optispark distributer that tends to hold up better. As you probably know, the 96 with manual trans have the LT4 and those are wonderful cars. Good luck in your search!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
I thought that might be the case. That definitely makes it tougher. If you're going for an automatic, then a stock 95-96 is a great option if you can find it. The earlier LT1-powered cars are fine too, but the 95-96 have the vented optispark distributer that tends to hold up better. As you probably know, the 96 with manual trans have the LT4 and those are wonderful cars. Good luck in your search!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
It depends on the mods and how much the PCM and sensors can account for the changes. If it's heavily modified it won't really run at all. The one you asked about is not heavily modified. I'm sure it runs. The question would be whether it's getting all the potential out of these mods. I believe I've seen others say that the hot cam by itself does not require tuning. The headers by themselves or in combination with the hot cam probably don't, either. The one change that would make me wonder is the different injectors. But like I said, if it runs well and isn't setting any trouble codes then it's probably okay.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
It depends on the mods and how much the PCM and sensors can account for the changes. If it's heavily modified it won't really run at all. The one you asked about is not heavily modified. I'm sure it runs. The question would be whether it's getting all the potential out of these mods. I believe I've seen others say that the hot cam by itself does not require tuning. The headers by themselves or in combination with the hot cam probably don't, either. The one change that would make me wonder is the different injectors. But like I said, if it runs well and isn't setting any trouble codes then it's probably okay.
This is the one, the dealer guy said it’s have about 400hp
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
I think 400hp at the crank with those mods is very optimistic. It might - might - have 350hp at the crank on a really good day. You can always put something back to stock. Except the suspension bushings: you can't buy stock rubber ones anymore, but you can always get SuperPro which are similar.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
I think 400hp at the crank with those mods is very optimistic. It might - might - have 350hp at the crank on a really good day. You can always put something back to stock. Except the suspension bushings: you can't buy stock rubber ones anymore, but you can always get SuperPro which are similar.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
I'm not sure where you are located, but over here in the US all car prices are spiking upward right now. I can't help you with that one, unfortunately! Good luck in your search, though.