C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

What to do first?

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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 02:41 PM
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Default What to do first?

Over the winter I plan on some upgrades but am not sure what order I should do them in. What should I do first, LT headers or roller rockers/hot cam? I'm not planning on head work......yet. When finances allow, that will come too but for right now, I only have around $800 to spend so I am looking for the max bang for my buck in that price range.

Thanks
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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 02:44 PM
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I would go with the headers. You're going to need them eventually anyway. The object is to get air in and get exhaust out.
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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by purplemajesty
Over the winter I plan on some upgrades but am not sure what order I should do them in. What should I do first, LT headers or roller rockers/hot cam? I'm not planning on head work......yet. When finances allow, that will come too but for right now, I only have around $800 to spend so I am looking for the max bang for my buck in that price range.

Thanks
What is your goal for the car?
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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 04:13 PM
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Indeed the first thing is to set the goal, at least near therm.

Since effects of mods can vary with power plant, what year Vette do you have and what tranny, gears, etc.?
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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 04:29 PM
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Its a '92 6 speed with stock gears. Its not a daily driver, but at the same time, I don't want it to be completly impractical. I just wanted something with more grunt, but not an 11 second car either. It will probably see some autocross events for the first time next year but not on a regular basis. I have basically gotten used to the power of the stock LT1 so am looking to eventually see an extra 60-70 rwhp or so. The C4 is still my favorite body style so I would rather mod mine than trade it in on a C5
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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 04:34 PM
  #6  
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According to your profile you have a 92. I did not notice if you had any current mods done yet or not... but I'd start with the basic freebies and go from there.

With an $800 budget... Hooker LT's are a good bet. Jegs sells them for less than $400. Score some good mufflers (just the mufflers not the entire cat back) and that will land you around the $500 mark.

If you haven't already, do the cut lid, TB bypass, AFPR, and hollow the MAF. that will open up the intake and compliment the exhaust. I wouldn't do the cam and heads just yet... and do them at the same time when you do.

I scored an Aeromotive AFPR for $150... then I found a Holley one for less $$$ . You still have about $200 left give or take some here or there. You can use some of that for header coating... and the rest for a new program and from there it is ticket city with a fast car that will attract alot of attention.
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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 04:52 PM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by purplemajesty
Its a '92 6 speed with stock gears. Its not a daily driver, but at the same time, I don't want it to be completly impractical. I just wanted something with more grunt, but not an 11 second car either. It will probably see some autocross events for the first time next year but not on a regular basis. I have basically gotten used to the power of the stock LT1 so am looking to eventually see an extra 60-70 rwhp or so. The C4 is still my favorite body style so I would rather mod mine than trade it in on a C5

OK simple recipe:

4.10 gears
Longtube Headers
Hotcam Kit
Programming

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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 05:02 PM
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I'd go with gears first. The biggest SOTP feel you will get for the dough, IMHO.
Good luck on your decision, oh, and nice rims.
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Old Dec 16, 2004 | 05:32 PM
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This might sound lame, but first decide how fast you want to go (like in the qtr mile). This will set some general parameters for mods that will get you there. The options seem endless. Everything I buy, it seems I pay through the nose for and there is lots of it. So many times your wallet will set certain boundaries. Why am I saying all this? You might start off on one line of mods "to see what happens" only to find out you should have done it differently and you spent $$ on something that will not get you there.

But starting with headers seems like a good place, because no matter how wild you want to get, headers will help everything that follows work to their max. The sad part about these engines is there seems to be no major jumps in power from just a couple of mods. We have such well balaced engines, a lot of changes should be made "in concert" to see real performance gains.
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