90 vs 92......
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
90 vs 92......
I have a great opportunity to pick up a 1990 in great shape for pretty cheap. Since I got rid of my '84 I really wanted another vette to play with (my wife moans when I want to play with the '02... :rolleyes: ).
My question is, how easy is it to get REAL GOOD performance out of the L98? I want a car with 350-375 hp and then a 100 shot of nitrous......all smog legal (except the nitrous) in California.....How easy is this to do with a L98, and how will the L98 hold up to nitrous? What is the availability of heads and cam for the L98? How about the injection system and computer system, need serious mods for that kind of power?
I'm pretty familiar with the LT1, so my question is.......is it worth it saving the money on the car and building the L98, or am I better off just spending the extra $$$ and getting an LT1 car to begin with? Oh, and is the 6 speed in the 1990 cars the same as the LT1 cars?
I know the L98 can't be as bad as a crossfire......but I don't want to get into another situation where there are serious limits and hardships involved with making the car perform, as I did with the 84 zz4 car......:bb :( :bb
Come all you L98 guys......give me a reason to buy and build this car that I've got my eye on!!!!! :D :thumbs: :D
My question is, how easy is it to get REAL GOOD performance out of the L98? I want a car with 350-375 hp and then a 100 shot of nitrous......all smog legal (except the nitrous) in California.....How easy is this to do with a L98, and how will the L98 hold up to nitrous? What is the availability of heads and cam for the L98? How about the injection system and computer system, need serious mods for that kind of power?
I'm pretty familiar with the LT1, so my question is.......is it worth it saving the money on the car and building the L98, or am I better off just spending the extra $$$ and getting an LT1 car to begin with? Oh, and is the 6 speed in the 1990 cars the same as the LT1 cars?
I know the L98 can't be as bad as a crossfire......but I don't want to get into another situation where there are serious limits and hardships involved with making the car perform, as I did with the 84 zz4 car......:bb :( :bb
Come all you L98 guys......give me a reason to buy and build this car that I've got my eye on!!!!! :D :thumbs: :D
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From: San Pedro CA
Re: 90 vs 92...... (84zz4vette)
The L98 is a good motor... be willing to replace the intake manifold, and the world is your oyster!
The only real advantages to going LT1 is a better powerband stock and more refinements. If the price is right, and you like the look of the 90, go for it!
Also, the 6spd is the same. they made minor revisions, but its the same basic box...
The only real advantages to going LT1 is a better powerband stock and more refinements. If the price is right, and you like the look of the 90, go for it!
Also, the 6spd is the same. they made minor revisions, but its the same basic box...
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From: Honolulu, HI
Re: 90 vs 92...... (84zz4vette)
'90 is a good car. Personally, I like the styling of the 91's - 96's.
It depends how much eventual HP you want out of it. if you want a good 800HP some day, stick with the L98. If you want a good ~500HP, I think the LT1/4 would be a better choice, but I'm sure I'll get an earful for this.
Personally, my favorite is a 91. Best of both worlds. Later styling with a traditional SBC. Of course, I didn't realize this until I started tinkering with my '92.
:cheers:
It depends how much eventual HP you want out of it. if you want a good 800HP some day, stick with the L98. If you want a good ~500HP, I think the LT1/4 would be a better choice, but I'm sure I'll get an earful for this.
Personally, my favorite is a 91. Best of both worlds. Later styling with a traditional SBC. Of course, I didn't realize this until I started tinkering with my '92.
:cheers:
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Re: 90 vs 92...... (bogus)
be willing to replace the intake manifold, and the world is your oyster!
Replace it with what though? Suggestions?
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Re: 90 vs 92...... (vvv90)
It depends how much eventual HP you want out of it. if you want a good 800HP some day, stick with the L98. If you want a good ~500HP, I think the LT1/4 would be a better choice, but I'm sure I'll get an earful for this.
That is exactly my opposite impression....why do you say this?? :confused:
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Re: 90 vs 92...... (84zz4vette)
Well the usual advice is to get the newest car you can find, but it of course depends on taste and availability.
To get into that power range with the L98 you will need most of the following: full exhaust, heads, cam and some intake work plus maybe a chip.
And if you stay with a modified TPI intake (BM base & LT runners) it will pull like a motha off the line.
Though the LT1 comes with 45-50chp more than the '90 L98, that 100 shot will necessitate some work to the drive train in either case.
If you like the '90, and you enjoy doing mods and it's on the cheap ... go for it.
To get into that power range with the L98 you will need most of the following: full exhaust, heads, cam and some intake work plus maybe a chip.
And if you stay with a modified TPI intake (BM base & LT runners) it will pull like a motha off the line.
Though the LT1 comes with 45-50chp more than the '90 L98, that 100 shot will necessitate some work to the drive train in either case.
If you like the '90, and you enjoy doing mods and it's on the cheap ... go for it.
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Re: 90 vs 92...... (65Z01)
And if you stay with a modified TPI intake (BM base & LT runners) it will pull like a motha off the line.
:D
Keep the advice coming guys.....so far I like what I'm hearing...... :thumbs:
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Re: 90 vs 92...... (84zz4vette)
The BM base refers to an aftermarket intake base with larger internal runners; the LT runners refers to aftermarket runners with larger ID.
When these are added to a mildly modded L98 you can see a 15chp gain; even better with more air flow mods.
Go to my site (link in sig. below) and click on "Results Data" after "L98 Mods" to see an example of what various mods do for a '90 L98.
When these are added to a mildly modded L98 you can see a 15chp gain; even better with more air flow mods.
Go to my site (link in sig. below) and click on "Results Data" after "L98 Mods" to see an example of what various mods do for a '90 L98.
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Re: 90 vs 92...... (84zz4vette)
You want really good, get a different intake. Superram, miniram.
You wont be able to use headers, being in CA. Which can hurt you but with the right stuff in there, you can still get the power.
You want 100shot, youre better off with forged pistons, but cast could hold up to that much, provided you dont use it often and you keep compression ratios livable.
Stock heads on 90 are just fine for that power goal, though portwork would help and valvetrain must be upgraded for a cam change. AFR 190 is the best, though expensive and theres a long waiting list. Otherwise, any heads made for the SBC should fit it. So long as they are not LT1/LS heads.
Its the same ZF6 in 89-96, other than ZR1 versions. (beefed up in ZR1)
I think youre better off with the newest you can afford.
You wont be able to use headers, being in CA. Which can hurt you but with the right stuff in there, you can still get the power.
You want 100shot, youre better off with forged pistons, but cast could hold up to that much, provided you dont use it often and you keep compression ratios livable.
Stock heads on 90 are just fine for that power goal, though portwork would help and valvetrain must be upgraded for a cam change. AFR 190 is the best, though expensive and theres a long waiting list. Otherwise, any heads made for the SBC should fit it. So long as they are not LT1/LS heads.
Its the same ZF6 in 89-96, other than ZR1 versions. (beefed up in ZR1)
I think youre better off with the newest you can afford.
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Re: 90 vs 92...... (65Z01)
The BM base refers to an aftermarket intake base with larger internal runners; the LT runners refers to aftermarket runners with larger ID.
When these are added to a mildly modded L98 you can see a 15chp gain; even better with more air flow mods.
Go to my site (link in sig. below) and click on "Results Data" after "L98 Mods" to see an example of what various mods do for a '90 L98.
When these are added to a mildly modded L98 you can see a 15chp gain; even better with more air flow mods.
Go to my site (link in sig. below) and click on "Results Data" after "L98 Mods" to see an example of what various mods do for a '90 L98.
So now it seems I've got a good idea on the intake.....how about heads/cam?
How are the stock heads? Will a good port and polish do the job or is there a good (not outrageously priced) aftermarket alternative? What would cam(s) might be a good choice to meet my goals?
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Re: 90 vs 92...... (vader86)
Thanks Vader, you answered my heads question while I was posting it! :cool:
:cheers:
:cheers:
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Re: 90 vs 92...... (84zz4vette)
That is exactly my opposite impression....why do you say this?? :confused:
IMO I think you can get 450-500HP cheaper with an LT-1 than with an L98, for instance, you won't have to change the intake manifold and or runners, just cam and a nice shot of N20 will put you where you want to be other than a stroker rebuild of course. L98's make great torque though, so it's a trade off.
Bottom line, if you plan on doing SERIOUS mods to your engine, stick with the L98. You can tell I'm not biased since I have an LT-1.
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Re: 90 vs 92...... (84zz4vette)
I was just reading in David Vizard's book on SBCs that the stock #113 heads can be worked to flow over 400chp but that as you get near say 450chp (as you would with NOS) they may not be strong enough to stand the cylinder pressure.
Worked #113 heads and one of several nice aftermarket cams will do the job for NA operation but you might check with the Forced Induction/NOS Forum for feedback in that area.
Indeed since you are in CA the inability to use LT headers will cost you about 15chp on a late L98 but a good porting job should recover some of that. You will need to be "creative" with the two pre-cats in the stock L98 exhaust system.
Worked #113 heads and one of several nice aftermarket cams will do the job for NA operation but you might check with the Forced Induction/NOS Forum for feedback in that area.
Indeed since you are in CA the inability to use LT headers will cost you about 15chp on a late L98 but a good porting job should recover some of that. You will need to be "creative" with the two pre-cats in the stock L98 exhaust system.
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St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Re: 90 vs 92...... (BAM92)
Depends on what you want to do. If you want a mid 11 sec car on pump gas that is streetable, check out L98Terror's car. It has never cracked 300hp on the dyno but is almost untouchable on the street because of the way it hooks. My 88 had headers, exhaust, 2600 stall and drag radials and ran low 13's with a stock cam, intake, heads, and computer.
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Re: 90 vs 92...... (Fastguy)
There is only two factors that matter here:
1. Price differential
2. Condition
If the condition of the cars is equal, then its just price, and I would think that if i was to buy a LT1, i would want a 93-96 not a 92.
I think the 91 is the best C4, thats why I bought one. You can get where you want with both cars with almost the same kind of effort, and both will take the 100 shot just fine. The LT1 will be fast right out of the box whereas the L98 wont be, but it only takes a little bit of work and money to change that, and its much easier and cheaper to work on than a LT1, just ask anyone how hard it is to do a simple plug change, or how much a mechanic will charge you for it! Then if you wash the engine, or drive in heavy rain, the Opti will eventually give up. You get traction control, and a newer body style than the 90. The 90 has the new dash, but not the body style, and the 91 has the new interior and exterior, with the best L98 ever made and can be had for less than $9K
I would say if there is a $3-4K price differential, go with the 90, unles you have the spare $$$ to spend on the purchase and the maintenence.
Good luck
1. Price differential
2. Condition
If the condition of the cars is equal, then its just price, and I would think that if i was to buy a LT1, i would want a 93-96 not a 92.
I think the 91 is the best C4, thats why I bought one. You can get where you want with both cars with almost the same kind of effort, and both will take the 100 shot just fine. The LT1 will be fast right out of the box whereas the L98 wont be, but it only takes a little bit of work and money to change that, and its much easier and cheaper to work on than a LT1, just ask anyone how hard it is to do a simple plug change, or how much a mechanic will charge you for it! Then if you wash the engine, or drive in heavy rain, the Opti will eventually give up. You get traction control, and a newer body style than the 90. The 90 has the new dash, but not the body style, and the 91 has the new interior and exterior, with the best L98 ever made and can be had for less than $9K
I would say if there is a $3-4K price differential, go with the 90, unles you have the spare $$$ to spend on the purchase and the maintenence.
Good luck
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Re: 90 vs 92...... (GusBustamanteJr)
If the condition of the cars is equal, then its just price, and I would think that if i was to buy a LT1, i would want a 93-96 not a 92.
So far, I'm surprised at the responses in favor of the L98. I didn't realize the upsides of it vs the LT1......You guys are doing a good job of convincing me that I should go ahead and get this '90! I do like the early C4 body style. My biggest complaints about my 84 (other than the crossfire of course... :rolleyes: ) was the dash and the tranny, both of which are much better in the '90....... :cool: