'91 L98, where and how too.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 384
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From: South Bend, IN 46628 Indiana
'91 L98, where and how too.
What parts magazines offer a large variety of engine mods for the L98 engine and what in your opinion are the most productive mods for gaining horsepower with the L98?
Also, what are some of the downfalls off the '91 L98 and what are its advantages?
Also, what are some of the downfalls off the '91 L98 and what are its advantages?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
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From: Republic of Texas
Re: '91 L98, where and how too. (Mr. Sharky)
The main disadvantage of the L98 is the restrictive TPI intake. It's great for torque but poor for horsepower, you hit a wall at 4,500rpm's. I installed a LPE Super Ram along with the base intake, and 58mm TB, 1 5/8 headers, true dual exhaust, 3.75 gears and a TCI tranny w/ 2500 stall. The difference is like night and day. You will not gain any serious horspower with out getting more air into the motor. So a Super Ram or Mini-Ram would have to some into play.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,606
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From: Vacaville, CA
Re: '91 L98, where and how too. (Mr. Sharky)
As previously stated, the intake is a big disadvantage, also, the pre-cats acan be very restrictive if you live in a smog state. The advantages are numerous in my opinion; much easier to modify to the extreme side; (same configuration as older small block engines, allowing use of aftermarket blocks), no reverse flow cooling, no opti-spark problems, numerous head designs, companies, and sizes...the list goes on. Also, you get the new body style and interior!!! :D :D :D
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 14
From: Vacaville, CA
Re: '91 L98, where and how too. (Mr. Sharky)
To answer your question; the best bang for the $$$ is to go with the Lingenfelter "Top End" kit good for around 400 HP; 219/219 cam, Heads, push-rods, lifters, Super-ram intake and exhaust. If your rig is in need of a rebuild you may as well do a 383. Just remember, once you start to dig into these projects, there can be no end!!! :eek:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: '91 L98, where and how too. (Mr. Sharky)
As far as real engine work, you may want to look at Scoggin-Dickey, Summit, and Jegs catalogs for engine parts and kits. But those are for things like upgrading to 383, and most people go to a tuner to have that done if they cant do it themselves.
Again, its the L98s inability to breathe that kills the power it can make. The TPI intake is bad for high hp, and the stock exhaust manifolds and catback are way too restrictive. Youll need to go to TPIS.com and Lingenfelter.com and look at the Miniram and Superram intakes respectively.
I personally think the MR is better for a 6spd and the SR for an automatic. Some say the MR loses a bit of drivibility in the city and has a poorer idle, but as always this depends more on tuning and the cam choice. SR produces a fair bit more torque and a bit less hp, but we're still talking 400+hp.
Do your research, and ask questions. :cheers:
Again, its the L98s inability to breathe that kills the power it can make. The TPI intake is bad for high hp, and the stock exhaust manifolds and catback are way too restrictive. Youll need to go to TPIS.com and Lingenfelter.com and look at the Miniram and Superram intakes respectively.
I personally think the MR is better for a 6spd and the SR for an automatic. Some say the MR loses a bit of drivibility in the city and has a poorer idle, but as always this depends more on tuning and the cam choice. SR produces a fair bit more torque and a bit less hp, but we're still talking 400+hp.
Do your research, and ask questions. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
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From: Boston, MA
I'm doing a superram + more on my manual car. I did not want to be spinning the engine to 7000 with a miniram. I love torque, and the superram will give me tons of that to exit corners and pull away with.
