1981 corvette 5.7 stock
02-19-2018, 01:20 PM
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1981 corvette 5.7 stock
my first corvette, i have a few questions on tune up parts, am i better just going to dealership let them tune up with plugs, cap rotor ,coil, wires, and gas filters and set timing, and adjust carb. or should i buy all msd parts and e3 plugs and better than standard wires , will it increase hp and power, i no its one of the lowest hp of the corvettes and it automatic trans, it not a race car i no just like to boost it what i can could use help what to do thanks craig
02-19-2018, 01:29 PM
#2
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St. Jude Donor '05
msd will gain you zero...fill in your profile with location maybe a local member can save you some money the dealer is the last place id go.
Summit brand wires never gave me an issue
Summit brand wires never gave me an issue
Last edited by cv67; 02-19-2018 at 01:32 PM.
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ceh_69 (02-19-2018)
02-19-2018, 01:35 PM
#3
set timing, and adjust carb.
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ceh_69 (02-19-2018)
02-19-2018, 01:45 PM
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thanks so its all bull they say on msd for better performance and quality? so just go with stock ac delco parts and plugs? the dealership wants $500 to tune it up, it as 42,000 miles on it. thanks again i live in indianapolis indiana, this site seems very hard to post in the right place for certain question
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ceh_69 (02-19-2018)
02-19-2018, 09:04 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
that's a low mile car .you should have many miles of fun in that car.I would talk to somebody in the local corvette club on where to get the car worked on.
02-19-2018, 09:13 PM
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thanks, i hate to go to dealerships seems you go for one thing then get it back and then you end up needing something else
02-19-2018, 09:32 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
LOL that is a lot of car repair shops.Find a guy you trust, and theres lots of repairs you could learn to do .I go to the cars and coffee at the auburn auction.Lots of car guys ,all willing to help.I bet there is a few in Indy.
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ceh_69 (02-19-2018)
02-19-2018, 10:06 PM
#9
my first corvette, i have a few questions on tune up parts, am i better just going to dealership let them tune up with plugs, cap rotor ,coil, wires, and gas filters and set timing, and adjust carb. or should i buy all msd parts and e3 plugs and better than standard wires , will it increase hp and power, i no its one of the lowest hp of the corvettes and it automatic trans, it not a race car i no just like to boost it what i can could use help what to do thanks craig
DO NOT let someone that has never done an 81 carburetor mess with it. It's set up very specifically. DO NOT get a commercially rebuilt unit. You need someone that knows them rebuild yours IF needed.
02-19-2018, 10:08 PM
#10
If you want more HP, get a MAGNAFLOW exhaust with a modern catalytic converter. 14HP gain. The old sand box converters choke it bad.
Last edited by Big2Bird; 02-19-2018 at 10:09 PM.
02-19-2018, 10:23 PM
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02-19-2018, 10:40 PM
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02-19-2018, 11:04 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
The parts you've listed, MSD, E3, are generally excellent parts, but arguably little better that the AC Delco parts that came on your Corvette from the factory. While I wouldn't hesitate to use them, I probably wouldn't pay extra for them either.
Most of the things you're wanting to do are things that almost anyone with basic mechanical skills are capable of doing with the possible exception of adjusting the carburetor. Unless you know what you are doing there, I would leave that to a carburetor expert if you feel it's necessary.
With only 42,000 miles on the car, I wouldn't expect to see much, if any increase in power. A smoother idle or quicker start-up perhaps, but certainly well worth doing along with a change of any fluids that you don't have proof of having been changed recently. Be sure to add a bit of anti-seize to the new plugs. I would also look at platinum or iridium plugs. They are well worth the added life over conventional plugs.
As for headers and/or removing the catalytic converter, I would just say this about that. It is a federal offense to remove any emissions equipment from your vehicle, regardless of whether it will pass inspection or not. Having said that I realize that many do remove them and there are no consequences. But a modern hi-flow, monolithic converter makes an excellent replacement for the old pellet style converters that came on your car. It also offers little if any restriction of flow over a 'test pipe'. The old pellet style converters were however routinely restrictive by the time they reached 100,000 miles.
As far as headers go, they are not without their drawbacks, and without additional changes such as heads and camshaft, any added power they provide will hardly be worth the effort. I would only consider them worthwhile as part of an overall upgrade to the entire fuel management system.
Good luck and welcome to the Corvette Forum... GUSTO
Most of the things you're wanting to do are things that almost anyone with basic mechanical skills are capable of doing with the possible exception of adjusting the carburetor. Unless you know what you are doing there, I would leave that to a carburetor expert if you feel it's necessary.
With only 42,000 miles on the car, I wouldn't expect to see much, if any increase in power. A smoother idle or quicker start-up perhaps, but certainly well worth doing along with a change of any fluids that you don't have proof of having been changed recently. Be sure to add a bit of anti-seize to the new plugs. I would also look at platinum or iridium plugs. They are well worth the added life over conventional plugs.
As for headers and/or removing the catalytic converter, I would just say this about that. It is a federal offense to remove any emissions equipment from your vehicle, regardless of whether it will pass inspection or not. Having said that I realize that many do remove them and there are no consequences. But a modern hi-flow, monolithic converter makes an excellent replacement for the old pellet style converters that came on your car. It also offers little if any restriction of flow over a 'test pipe'. The old pellet style converters were however routinely restrictive by the time they reached 100,000 miles.
As far as headers go, they are not without their drawbacks, and without additional changes such as heads and camshaft, any added power they provide will hardly be worth the effort. I would only consider them worthwhile as part of an overall upgrade to the entire fuel management system.
Good luck and welcome to the Corvette Forum... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; 02-19-2018 at 11:05 PM.
02-19-2018, 11:16 PM
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The parts you've listed, MSD, E3, are generally excellent parts, but arguably little better that the AC Delco parts that came on your Corvette from the factory. While I wouldn't hesitate to use them, I probably wouldn't pay extra for them either.
Most of the things you're wanting to do are things that almost anyone with basic mechanical skills are capable of doing with the possible exception of adjusting the carburetor. Unless you know what you are doing there, I would leave that to a carburetor expert if you feel it's necessary.
With only 42,000 miles on the car, I wouldn't expect to see much, if any increase in power. A smoother idle or quicker start-up perhaps, but certainly well worth doing along with a change of any fluids that you don't have proof of having been changed recently. Be sure to add a bit of anti-seize to the new plugs. I would also look at platinum or iridium plugs. They are well worth the added life over conventional plugs.
As for headers and/or removing the catalytic converter, I would just say this about that. It is a federal offense to remove any emissions equipment from your vehicle, regardless of whether it will pass inspection or not. Having said that I realize that many do remove them and there are no consequences. But a modern hi-flow, monolithic converter makes an excellent replacement for the old pellet style converters that came on your car. It also offers little if any restriction of flow over a 'test pipe'. The old pellet style converters were however routinely restrictive by the time they reached 100,000 miles.
As far as headers go, they are not without their drawbacks, and without additional changes such as heads and camshaft, any added power they provide will hardly be worth the effort. I would only consider them worthwhile as part of an overall upgrade to the entire fuel management system.
Good luck and welcome to the Corvette Forum... GUSTO
Most of the things you're wanting to do are things that almost anyone with basic mechanical skills are capable of doing with the possible exception of adjusting the carburetor. Unless you know what you are doing there, I would leave that to a carburetor expert if you feel it's necessary.
With only 42,000 miles on the car, I wouldn't expect to see much, if any increase in power. A smoother idle or quicker start-up perhaps, but certainly well worth doing along with a change of any fluids that you don't have proof of having been changed recently. Be sure to add a bit of anti-seize to the new plugs. I would also look at platinum or iridium plugs. They are well worth the added life over conventional plugs.
As for headers and/or removing the catalytic converter, I would just say this about that. It is a federal offense to remove any emissions equipment from your vehicle, regardless of whether it will pass inspection or not. Having said that I realize that many do remove them and there are no consequences. But a modern hi-flow, monolithic converter makes an excellent replacement for the old pellet style converters that came on your car. It also offers little if any restriction of flow over a 'test pipe'. The old pellet style converters were however routinely restrictive by the time they reached 100,000 miles.
As far as headers go, they are not without their drawbacks, and without additional changes such as heads and camshaft, any added power they provide will hardly be worth the effort. I would only consider them worthwhile as part of an overall upgrade to the entire fuel management system.
Good luck and welcome to the Corvette Forum... GUSTO
02-20-2018, 01:10 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
i would take off old cat .gut it out with a long rod.then put it back on .you will know what it runs like with a test pipe or a new better flowing cat.cost is nothing.
02-20-2018, 01:39 PM
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Hmmm sounds good, what size rod and what comes out, how do i no its gutted out , also the heat tube fell off . thanks
02-20-2018, 01:47 PM
#18
Race Director
You'll know it's got it out because you'll see all the guts come out. First off, what are your emissions rules on 81 cars in your state?
02-20-2018, 02:04 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
when you can see thru the cat you have gutted it out .use a broom handle or any thing that will break up the mess that is inside .you will see why the old cats were so bad for flow.
02-20-2018, 02:30 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
It's probably worth giving it a try however...
Ecklers has a replacement converter available for the 1976-1981, it appears to be the monolith. It's available for $148 and they're having a 10%-15% sale if you spend $150 or more...
https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/?utm...23764359192841
Zip also has it available for just a bit more and they say it is the monolithic converter...
https://www.zip-corvette.com/81-cata...CABEgI4ePD_BwE
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; 02-20-2018 at 02:36 PM. Reason: added additional info