Sal Collaziano

Okay. If I do end up with my 91 like I should, I'd like to have something I could print our for reference to later on. Could everyone give me their opinions on what modifications would need to be done in order to get my 91 into the 12's? If I can get into the 12's with the L98, I may just opt for a rebuild on the L98 and save money. Regardless whether or not that would be a great idea, I'd still like your opinions...

65Z01

Easy one, you've got mail.

Sal Collaziano

Ahh. Hmm. I didn't get any mail.. :confused:

65Z01

You have now.

Sorry, last night I spilled coffee on my external keyboard and it has been locking up my lap top periodically.

Corvette_Z51

Could you please email me the recipe? I have my motor all apart, all over the garage right now, and could really use the information!
Thanks!




[Modified by Corvette_Z51, 3:26 PM 9/1/2001]

lcvette

i have an 85 i would also like the recipe if you don't mind!

chris

A

Hey count me in for the recipie too! I'm going through the cookbooks and learning my way arround the kitchen

Sal Collaziano

Hey. This is getting funny.

C4RAG

Not sure this is it but I'll try...

Add 1 part ZR1
Subtract 1 part L98

Shake well, stir in a high octane fuel and 1 beautiful blonde....

Not sure you will get to 12s but it will be worth the ride... Then again, one of my friends is running 12s but he went the 440/6 pack 69 Charger route and every mod under the sun... I don't go as fast as he does but I look pretty smooth getting there all the same...
:D

SLICKMAN

Hay, I would like a copy of that too!! :D

Cisco Kid

All you guys that want the information for the 12 second quarter mile might try TPIS (Tuned Port Induction Specialist) "Insider Hints" handbook on getting the most out of your L98. It is well worth the money.

Tim06

can you email it to me too please?

Cisco Kid

You can order it from the company itself of you can find it in a lot of corvette parts vendor catalogs. Here is the address. http://www.tpis.com. I think your going to like this company. They specialize in Corvettes. If you want to correspond with me on other Corvette matters you can email me at robert.hillman@safecu.org.
:cheers:

Aggravated4life

Sorry, but that book is a waste of money.You can get the same answers right here on the forum.
I think the biggest problem youll have is traction when all is said and done.

Then once you get the launching right, youll get there.
350-400 Hp should get you in the 12's.
I rem. reading one time that Lingenfelter built a 450 HP LT1 Formula or Trans am and it ran 13's at the track because the tires were ablaze all the way down the strip!Talk about power!!!
I think Beach Bum or ralph can tell you a good engine combo to get there.Or see JD's car...thats an animal right there.

Cisco Kid

The problem with the Forum is that you receive so many opinons that which one do you trust? I don't know about you, but I don't have endless amounts of money and time. So I would rather go with a company like TPIS that has spent many hours and money doing the work and giving the figures on their tests. I like the forum but most of us on the forum are not professionals making their living at racing and engineering. Your opinion is well taken, however it is only that, just an opinion backed up with no facts.
Thanks for your reply.

Aaron's 87

But you trust the somewhat riduculous claims made by people trying to sell you overpriced parts?

For the original poster, there are lots of ways to go about this. You have to make compromises in the powerband, drivability, durability, money, and other factors. What are your goals besides 12s? 18 MPG city, stock idle, 100,000 mile engine, no drivetrain mods, ??????

Beach Bum

The TPIS insider hints book and the LT-1 hints and L98 update book are nothing more than a Sales Brochures with a price tag. They will give a couple of simple basics on making power... but keep in mind, the majority of the material in that brochure is outdated and years and years old.

In addition, they have a lot of very in-accurate tests and suggestions in that book.

For example: On page 9 of the LT-1 hints and L98 updates they suggest you go at 3 turns below zero in setting your valve lash for best power.... I guarantee you if anybody tries this, your vette will more than likely not even run.

example: In the Insider Hints book, they have some Dyno comparisons, with the large tube runners making peak HP at 5750 rpm.... you can call them today, without bringing up the book and they will tell you this is not possible... if you then ask why its in the book... you'll hear some stuttering.

example: On page 11 of the same book they show a 11.8 HP gain with a freakn air foil... I suppose at an extreme this could be possible, but other dyno's have shown only a 1-2 hp gain for this product. Wonder if they're trying to sell you anything.

example: On page 29 of the same book, they show as much as 47 HP gain going from 42 psi to 50 psi with their adjustable fuel pressure regulator.... this is incredibly misleading... and just not possible !!! I won't even talk about the misleading tests they did on page 28 with the fuel pressure in limp home mode that shows a gain of 122 hp at 4250 rpm !!!!

There are a lot of problems with the majority of the dyno graphs in the book, and it really, really is a sales brochure. I have no doubt that a new comer to L98's after reading that book would buy an air foil and adjustable fuel pressure regulator for their stock L98's and expect huge HP gains.... in that respect I guess that book accomplishes what they hoped for and works great as a Sales Brochure.

I obviously don't recommend that anybody purchases these sales brochures.

Having said all of that.... I do like the TPIS Mini-ram intake manifold.

Yes, you will get a lot of different opinions when you ask a question in this forum, some good, some bad... but I think thats why I like this forum, all possibilities seem to have been explored at one time or another. When I ask a question, and I get 20 answers, I typically put the value on the posters who have actually been there and done that, versus the posts that "a buddy tried this and he gained 100 hp and ran 10's" I also look at the knowledge of the poster.... A poster that not only knows the effect of the product, BUT ALSO understands why the result happened and can verbalize this hold a lot of weight to me.

There are a lot of very experienced people on this board who give great technical advise everytime !!! To name just a few, Bowyte8, Bowtie8, LT401vette, Ralph, Wheelsup, Jake, Chris and Chris from the texas motorsports shop, smallblock, TNT, etc.... All of these guys have been there and done that, and will give you honest straightforward answers to your questions.

Having said that, I personally enjoy all replies good or bad.... and feel they should all be open for discussion.

As for running in the 12's with a naturally aspirated L98.... To see my opinion, have a look in my webpage in the "My setup and results" section for the short version of my experiences.

cheers,
Beach Bum


[Modified by Beach Bum, 2:04 PM 9/1/2001]

Sal Collaziano

What I'm looking for is mid to high 12s without losing drivability. Maybe I should just do a supercharger. I want a smooth idle - not rough. Basically, I want a sleeper. I don't want this car sounding any meaner than a Corvette that rolls out of the showroom. Would this be difficult to reach? Would a supercharger and a few minor changes otherwise (intake, exhaust) get me there?

C4RAG

Lingenfelter?? Holy Crap!! You have to be made of money to even mention that name... For that kinda money get yourself a 71 Cuda and drop in a crate 426 Hemi... That will take care of your 12s as well as most Lingenfelter equipped cars... 425hp and 520 lb of torque will make all the difference and what the hell, you can get a decent Cuda for 10,000 and a crate 426 for 10,000 and your all set... If power is all you seek, power is what you shall find...

On a somewhat stock 85 you better also consider the rear end and tranny... Not sure if this is an auto or man or if they even used Dana 44s on 85 mans but if they did not, you will find out soon enough... I will say this much, if you hit a stock 84 rear end with 400 hp (like all the crossfires claim they do) you will shred it the first day of seeking 12s at the track... And then there is the matter of the tranny itself... @ 400hp things are not so easy on the drivetrain and the surprises never end...

Not sure what the goal is here but if you are really serious about good times I would offer that you might have the wrong car... Every vette is a sweetheart to me and they are all fine sports cars but if I were seeking 12s, an early C4 is not the place I would look... If it really is that important, sell it and get yourself a 67-69 427... That should run 12s and will do it without firing pieces of metal at your foot through the seat... I know that no one wants to hear this type thing and I am not trying to be a jerk but the reality is that the car is simply not intended for 12s and there are tons that are... In the end, there are a long list of buyers for every vette but the one critical point it that they remain close to there original design... You can take it from there but the farther you go the less it's worth to the main stream... Taking an 85 to 400 hp will certainly take some doing and if you choose to try it, power to you... I'm not sure I understand it all but who says I have to... All I know is I hear many things about many cars and few are the way things are... Most times it is people's love for their car that we hear and you have to be careful when setting out for the ragged edge of what can even be done... HP = Money however so if you got it, by all means spend it... That is the real recipe if you want to know... Money makes all things possible... If I were seeking this goal I would look into a Vortech Supercharger and they will complete the list of upgrades needed... Injectors, ignition, regulator, etc... will all need to be upgraded...

Good Luck...

Aggravated4life

I guess I stand corrected..there IS alot of diff opinions here which is why I stated a few forum names that can help you.
I wish the forum was around a few years back because I spent money on TPIS parts and other BS things and seen no improvement at all.
Aaron and beach Bum pretty much summed it up.Im not even a die hard drag racer, but I lost money to those "know it all companies" that go out of there way to sell you a product but the minute you want to return it, get some decent questions answered, you get the door slammed in your face.
Good Luck and youll get the ideas all together and make a terrific combo that works.