L-98 Mods
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
L-98 Mods
Well, I have a 1990 L98 with a 3.07 rear. Here's what I'm thinking about for winter projects in phases:
This winter:
LPE Super Ram intake
Hooker 2149 headers-already have a cat back Power Effects that I like
Next Spring:
Chip re-program to keep up with the winter mods
Next winter:
Cam
Next Spring:
Re-program the chip again to work with the cam
Up in the air:
Would heads make allot of sense?
Anything else that doesn't require taking the block out of the car?
Car has 28,000 miles.
THANKS
This winter:
LPE Super Ram intake
Hooker 2149 headers-already have a cat back Power Effects that I like
Next Spring:
Chip re-program to keep up with the winter mods
Next winter:
Cam
Next Spring:
Re-program the chip again to work with the cam
Up in the air:
Would heads make allot of sense?
Anything else that doesn't require taking the block out of the car?
Car has 28,000 miles.
THANKS
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
L98 Mods
Well, I think, IMHO, the heads are one of the top 3 critical components to producing HP if not number 1 on the list for L98 engines.
Having said that, in line and in addition to your planned changes for this winter, as a minimum I would recommend installing new valve springs, new seals with the umbrella seal for the exhaust valves and high-quality 1.6 aluminum roller rockers. These are minor changes and well worth the effort involved.
To build HP the chosen intake, heads, cam and compression must complement and match (i.e., power band, flow, etc.). Over doing just one of these areas and ignoring the others usually results in a reduction of performance and loss of HP instead of gains in performance.
Having said that, in line and in addition to your planned changes for this winter, as a minimum I would recommend installing new valve springs, new seals with the umbrella seal for the exhaust valves and high-quality 1.6 aluminum roller rockers. These are minor changes and well worth the effort involved.
To build HP the chosen intake, heads, cam and compression must complement and match (i.e., power band, flow, etc.). Over doing just one of these areas and ignoring the others usually results in a reduction of performance and loss of HP instead of gains in performance.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
I agree, all things must be equal. I do want to keep it as consistent as possible, and reversible since the car is all original now. Additionally, there is the time/money factor to deal with.
Since I have to take off the valve covers anyway to do the intake, putting in 1.6 rockers should be easy enough. How do they work with the stock cam. I wasn't going to look at those until I did the cam. However, this may be the time.
What is a good set of heads for this. Heck, if I'm taking off the exhaust and intake sides of the heads, I may as well unbolt the heads, it's only five more minutes at that point. I just HATE adjusting valves. Very tedious. I'm already in for abou $2500 for the intake and headers, the heads will add lots of $$$$ to that. The question is the amount of work factor. If I spend the money NOW it's allot less work to do it now rather than re-do everything later. That is a consideration.
Since I have to take off the valve covers anyway to do the intake, putting in 1.6 rockers should be easy enough. How do they work with the stock cam. I wasn't going to look at those until I did the cam. However, this may be the time.
What is a good set of heads for this. Heck, if I'm taking off the exhaust and intake sides of the heads, I may as well unbolt the heads, it's only five more minutes at that point. I just HATE adjusting valves. Very tedious. I'm already in for abou $2500 for the intake and headers, the heads will add lots of $$$$ to that. The question is the amount of work factor. If I spend the money NOW it's allot less work to do it now rather than re-do everything later. That is a consideration.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
On second thought, do these heads lend themselves to porting and polishing, I can run them over to a good local guy who can work them for me.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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Originally Posted by jsup
On second thought, do these heads lend themselves to porting and polishing, I can run them over to a good local guy who can work them for me.
do yourselve i favour, i would buy a set of aftermarket heads.....
go to www.summitracing.com punch in part # TFS-30400007, i just bought those.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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Likes: 1,732
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I would hold off on a chip reprogram until after the cam change, and I would try to do the heads now rather than later, or at least do them at the same time you change the cam.
Depending on what your goals are, the stock heads may work great for you after portwork. It depends on your power goals.
Depending on what your goals are, the stock heads may work great for you after portwork. It depends on your power goals.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Originally Posted by VAVette87
Well, I think, IMHO, the heads are one of the top 3 critical components to producing HP if not number 1 on the list for L98 engines.
Having said that, in line and in addition to your planned changes for this winter, as a minimum I would recommend installing new valve springs, new seals with the umbrella seal for the exhaust valves and high-quality 1.6 aluminum roller rockers. These are minor changes and well worth the effort involved.
To build HP the chosen intake, heads, cam and compression must complement and match (i.e., power band, flow, etc.). Over doing just one of these areas and ignoring the others usually results in a reduction of performance and loss of HP instead of gains in performance.
Having said that, in line and in addition to your planned changes for this winter, as a minimum I would recommend installing new valve springs, new seals with the umbrella seal for the exhaust valves and high-quality 1.6 aluminum roller rockers. These are minor changes and well worth the effort involved.
To build HP the chosen intake, heads, cam and compression must complement and match (i.e., power band, flow, etc.). Over doing just one of these areas and ignoring the others usually results in a reduction of performance and loss of HP instead of gains in performance.
A good port job on your existing heads... or aftermarket heads is a very good idea. I'd do the heads, cam and intake all at the same time. The biggest limitation the L98 has is the base and runners of the intake. If you really want to make power, that is a good place to start.
