What mods should I look into?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 1
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
Thanks Jim but I'm not ready to tackle the brakes and rims just yet.
It might be backwards but I want to get the car going faster first, then I'll worry about how to stop.
It might be backwards but I want to get the car going faster first, then I'll worry about how to stop.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 87 rag
Good Questions.
How much horsepower?
Not sure what my options are but 300 might be good for now, I think stock is around 240.
As far as budget goes I was thinking a couple of thousand tops for now. Not looking to spend it all at once either. Don't want to close the door for future options.
Engine characteristics...I would say mid range, I don't think I would feel the top end difference very often. Sound is appealing but I think it sounds good now. I would play with the sound if it helped the performance plus sounds better at the same time. I just wouldn't want to spend on exhaust to do other engine mods and find out that I need to change the exhaust again.
How much horsepower?
Not sure what my options are but 300 might be good for now, I think stock is around 240.
As far as budget goes I was thinking a couple of thousand tops for now. Not looking to spend it all at once either. Don't want to close the door for future options.
Engine characteristics...I would say mid range, I don't think I would feel the top end difference very often. Sound is appealing but I think it sounds good now. I would play with the sound if it helped the performance plus sounds better at the same time. I just wouldn't want to spend on exhaust to do other engine mods and find out that I need to change the exhaust again.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 1
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
qdawg, sounds like a plan to me.
with 4 years difference between our cars I'm not sure if the set ups are the same or the reccommended mods. I think it was 92 that the engine changed, is yours an L98?
I screwed up my MAF sensor by modding it before I knew what I was doing. Since then I picked up a K&N filter and have cut back my spark plugs.
I don't know if there is any difference yet as I don't have my new MAF sensor so the car is not running.
I'll let you know in a couple of days. Feel free to email me if you don't want to keep this thread going.
with 4 years difference between our cars I'm not sure if the set ups are the same or the reccommended mods. I think it was 92 that the engine changed, is yours an L98?
I screwed up my MAF sensor by modding it before I knew what I was doing. Since then I picked up a K&N filter and have cut back my spark plugs.
I don't know if there is any difference yet as I don't have my new MAF sensor so the car is not running.
I'll let you know in a couple of days. Feel free to email me if you don't want to keep this thread going.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
I remember being new, its so all confusing 
, so many questions.
My only words of wisdom is "all in time", and stick arround the forum and read other peoples post and sometimes ask questions even if you feel you are interupting a post.. people will answer and keep going on with their post.
The "Free" mods and not so free mods you should really look into are the following-
-Cut out air box cover (just grab a pair of metal sheet cutters and this will do the job. The stock lid only has a few openings, just cut all the way around the box (the top part) to make certain there is still some metal left on the sides to hold the filter in place.
- K&N filter (5 hp with cut open air box)
- Cut out screen on MAF, or try to keep screen intact by removing the plastic ends of the MAF and removing the screen. (I had to cut mine out)You have to be very careful when doing this so that no little peaces of metal touch the inside sensor of the MAF or little tiny wires. Make sure you take it off the car and take out both screens. I did this by using a razor blade. Its very hard to find a used MAF, a new one is like 400 to 600$ Canadian, this mod is worth about (5hp)
- TB (Throttle body) coolant by past, I didn't do this one and I don't think you should either since were both from Canada/Ontario and we might decide to take out the car a little to early in the spring or park the car a little late in fall, and the TB and throttle cable might freeze up. (don't know how much hp)
- Front frisky removal, (this is a damper for the air conditioning) but I'm not certain if the 87 has it. It extra weight on the rotating mass of the front of the engine (supposed to add about 10 hp)
- Cut back spark plugs (supposed to add about 10 hp) but I didn't do this one since I don't feel like pulling out all the spark plugs
- Air pump removal bracket (you can buy an air pump replacement bracket and this eliminates the air pump) its more of an esthetic purpose, I removed it because the air pump was making way to much noise. (supposed to add 1 to 2 hp, maybe 3hp)
- I had the front pre cats gutted out when one of them broke (maybe worth 2 to 5 hp)
- Cat back exhaust, I have a flow master cat back (5 to 10 hp)
- Exhaust headers, I don't have any yet (about 15 hp)
- High flow CAT, don't have this one either (about 5 to 10 hp)
- Chip tunning only required if you do actualy engine mods, internal and/or Intake.
So has you can see, all these bolt ons do add up in the end and most of them you can do on your own.
There is so much stuff about the different types of setups on our engines that its almost crazzy, but there are a main few that people are using. But I think you should start with these mods first. Most the things I have listed you can do on your own.
Good luck!
, so many questions. My only words of wisdom is "all in time", and stick arround the forum and read other peoples post and sometimes ask questions even if you feel you are interupting a post.. people will answer and keep going on with their post.
The "Free" mods and not so free mods you should really look into are the following-
-Cut out air box cover (just grab a pair of metal sheet cutters and this will do the job. The stock lid only has a few openings, just cut all the way around the box (the top part) to make certain there is still some metal left on the sides to hold the filter in place.
- K&N filter (5 hp with cut open air box)
- Cut out screen on MAF, or try to keep screen intact by removing the plastic ends of the MAF and removing the screen. (I had to cut mine out)You have to be very careful when doing this so that no little peaces of metal touch the inside sensor of the MAF or little tiny wires. Make sure you take it off the car and take out both screens. I did this by using a razor blade. Its very hard to find a used MAF, a new one is like 400 to 600$ Canadian, this mod is worth about (5hp)
- TB (Throttle body) coolant by past, I didn't do this one and I don't think you should either since were both from Canada/Ontario and we might decide to take out the car a little to early in the spring or park the car a little late in fall, and the TB and throttle cable might freeze up. (don't know how much hp)
- Front frisky removal, (this is a damper for the air conditioning) but I'm not certain if the 87 has it. It extra weight on the rotating mass of the front of the engine (supposed to add about 10 hp)
- Cut back spark plugs (supposed to add about 10 hp) but I didn't do this one since I don't feel like pulling out all the spark plugs
- Air pump removal bracket (you can buy an air pump replacement bracket and this eliminates the air pump) its more of an esthetic purpose, I removed it because the air pump was making way to much noise. (supposed to add 1 to 2 hp, maybe 3hp)
- I had the front pre cats gutted out when one of them broke (maybe worth 2 to 5 hp)
- Cat back exhaust, I have a flow master cat back (5 to 10 hp)
- Exhaust headers, I don't have any yet (about 15 hp)
- High flow CAT, don't have this one either (about 5 to 10 hp)
- Chip tunning only required if you do actualy engine mods, internal and/or Intake.
So has you can see, all these bolt ons do add up in the end and most of them you can do on your own.
There is so much stuff about the different types of setups on our engines that its almost crazzy, but there are a main few that people are using. But I think you should start with these mods first. Most the things I have listed you can do on your own.
Good luck!
Last edited by TheStef; Jul 15, 2004 at 11:00 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 1
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
Thanks TheSteff.
Lots of good info there.
A lot of that stuff I'm already working on. Great of you to list it all like that, I know there are likely many more people like me with similar questions.
I would immagine many of the post repeat themselves and the same people get tired of typing the same answers. Hopefully some day I'll be posting the answers that worked for me and some newbie then will be as appreciative as I am now.
With the TB bypass I don't plan on taking out the vette once the weather gets cold but you never know what could happen in spring or fall when the sun goes down.
Thanks again
Lots of good info there.
A lot of that stuff I'm already working on. Great of you to list it all like that, I know there are likely many more people like me with similar questions.
I would immagine many of the post repeat themselves and the same people get tired of typing the same answers. Hopefully some day I'll be posting the answers that worked for me and some newbie then will be as appreciative as I am now.
With the TB bypass I don't plan on taking out the vette once the weather gets cold but you never know what could happen in spring or fall when the sun goes down.
Thanks again
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Monroe la
HP is addictive!
There is a guide available from TPIS.com which goes through all the free improvements that can be done for L98s. During the old Corvette Challenge series they were allowed to do very little to improve performance. They were allowed to augment parts that were original to improve performance but couldn't replace them. The book is called "Insider Hints for the L98". It's a good starting point. I'll warn you that power is addictive however. I got that book 13 years ago and have since spent enough on mods through the years to have bought a 2nd Vette . (Got to keep up with the new Vettes being sold today.) Rob 
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by vetluver
The book is called "Insider Hints for the L98". It's a good starting point.
vetluver
I just ordered that book from www.corvettecentral.com. I'm glad you recommend it, it looks like it will help understand a lot of stuff that is discussed here.
TheStef
Thanks for taking the time to break down how and why to do mods, that will be very helpful.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,749
Likes: 41
Originally Posted by TheStef
I remember being new, its so all confusing , so many questions.
My only words of wisdom is "all in time", and stick arround the forum and read other peoples post and sometimes ask questions even if you feel you are interupting a post.. people will answer and keep going on with their post.
The "Free" mods and not so free mods you should really look into are the following-
-Cut out air box cover (just grab a pair of metal sheet cutters and this will do the job. The stock lid only has a few openings, just cut all the way around the box (the top part) to make certain there is still some metal left on the sides to hold the filter in place.
- K&N filter (5 hp with cut open air box)
- Cut out screen on MAF, or try to keep screen intact by removing the plastic ends of the MAF and removing the screen. (I had to cut mine out)You have to be very careful when doing this so that no little peaces of metal touch the inside sensor of the MAF or little tiny wires. Make sure you take it off the car and take out both screens. I did this by using a razor blade. Its very hard to find a used MAF, a new one is like 400 to 600$ Canadian, this mod is worth about (5hp)
- TB (Throttle body) coolant by past, I didn't do this one and I don't think you should either since were both from Canada/Ontario and we might decide to take out the car a little to early in the spring or park the car a little late in fall, and the TB and throttle cable might freeze up. (don't know how much hp)
- Front frisky removal, (this is a damper for the air conditioning) but I'm not certain if the 87 has it. It extra weight on the rotating mass of the front of the engine (supposed to add about 10 hp)
- Cut back spark plugs (supposed to add about 10 hp) but I didn't do this one since I don't feel like pulling out all the spark plugs
- Air pump removal bracket (you can buy an air pump replacement bracket and this eliminates the air pump) its more of an esthetic purpose, I removed it because the air pump was making way to much noise. (supposed to add 1 to 2 hp, maybe 3hp)
- I had the front pre cats gutted out when one of them broke (maybe worth 2 to 5 hp)
- Cat back exhaust, I have a flow master cat back (5 to 10 hp)
- Exhaust headers, I don't have any yet (about 15 hp)
- High flow CAT, don't have this one either (about 5 to 10 hp)
- Chip tunning only required if you do actualy engine mods, internal and/or Intake.
So has you can see, all these bolt ons do add up in the end and most of them you can do on your own.
There is so much stuff about the different types of setups on our engines that its almost crazzy, but there are a main few that people are using. But I think you should start with these mods first. Most the things I have listed you can do on your own.
Good luck!
, so many questions. My only words of wisdom is "all in time", and stick arround the forum and read other peoples post and sometimes ask questions even if you feel you are interupting a post.. people will answer and keep going on with their post.
The "Free" mods and not so free mods you should really look into are the following-
-Cut out air box cover (just grab a pair of metal sheet cutters and this will do the job. The stock lid only has a few openings, just cut all the way around the box (the top part) to make certain there is still some metal left on the sides to hold the filter in place.
- K&N filter (5 hp with cut open air box)
- Cut out screen on MAF, or try to keep screen intact by removing the plastic ends of the MAF and removing the screen. (I had to cut mine out)You have to be very careful when doing this so that no little peaces of metal touch the inside sensor of the MAF or little tiny wires. Make sure you take it off the car and take out both screens. I did this by using a razor blade. Its very hard to find a used MAF, a new one is like 400 to 600$ Canadian, this mod is worth about (5hp)
- TB (Throttle body) coolant by past, I didn't do this one and I don't think you should either since were both from Canada/Ontario and we might decide to take out the car a little to early in the spring or park the car a little late in fall, and the TB and throttle cable might freeze up. (don't know how much hp)
- Front frisky removal, (this is a damper for the air conditioning) but I'm not certain if the 87 has it. It extra weight on the rotating mass of the front of the engine (supposed to add about 10 hp)
- Cut back spark plugs (supposed to add about 10 hp) but I didn't do this one since I don't feel like pulling out all the spark plugs
- Air pump removal bracket (you can buy an air pump replacement bracket and this eliminates the air pump) its more of an esthetic purpose, I removed it because the air pump was making way to much noise. (supposed to add 1 to 2 hp, maybe 3hp)
- I had the front pre cats gutted out when one of them broke (maybe worth 2 to 5 hp)
- Cat back exhaust, I have a flow master cat back (5 to 10 hp)
- Exhaust headers, I don't have any yet (about 15 hp)
- High flow CAT, don't have this one either (about 5 to 10 hp)
- Chip tunning only required if you do actualy engine mods, internal and/or Intake.
So has you can see, all these bolt ons do add up in the end and most of them you can do on your own.
There is so much stuff about the different types of setups on our engines that its almost crazzy, but there are a main few that people are using. But I think you should start with these mods first. Most the things I have listed you can do on your own.
Good luck!
i maybe be wrong, but i think the screens, cutlid, plugs, and frisbee iks worth 15 horse. always good to be on the short side, then over shot.
and yes the catback, my flowmaster force II, i can see that being around 7-8 horse.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Yeah I know about the HP, I might of went a little over... but some of them are pretty close.
Heres is forum member 65Z01 web site, he has a lot of good stuff you can read also.
http://www.geocities.com/jgkov/index.html
Heres is forum member 65Z01 web site, he has a lot of good stuff you can read also.
http://www.geocities.com/jgkov/index.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 0
From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!
Headers are one of the best additions you could make to your car, especially since you were talking about not wanting to redo the exhaust at a later date. Most people start with exhaust first, while I chose the exact opposite route. Not by choice, but a used SuperRam became available when I wasn't really ready for it, but I had to jump before it went somewhere else. And I will tell you that headers on my fully modified motor made a HUGE difference. SOTP felt like 100 hp improvement 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Put the early GM 151 hydraulic cam in, the 327/350HP. One of the best modifications for a mild 350 V8. A very pleasing HP improvement that is basically compatible with your present fuel delivery system. As far as the exhaust you already have a tube type exhaust system that is really not much different than high priced over the counter headers.