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| DaleD | Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Definately an interesting day as far as my Corvette is concerned. As most of you know, my car started belching white smoke, head gaskets I assume. So, I was going to have a local circle track guy do the head gaskets for $1200. He recommened towing it, not driving it, and gave the name of a guy with a flat bed. The towing company was a no show on Tuesday. No word from them today. I called and got the guy's voicemail. So, I randomly took a shot at a towing company near me. The guy said he could tow it for a little less than the other guy. Then he asked me why I was towing it. I told him, and he said he does that kind of work. He told me he has a 78 silver anniversary that he has pushing 720hp. I took that with a grain of salt, but told him to give me a price. He said he'd call me back, got my name and then told me his name. No big deal, I didn't know that name from Joe Schmo.
Then he told me his old name. I played High School football with the guy. Turns out he changed his name and was a WWE wrestler. Now he has a shop in our hometown. I had seen the guy last year at an alumni football event, but didn't put 2 and 2 together. So, he says he will do the job for $1100, with free towing. Said he'll do the mill, valve job and gaskets. He also said he knows some "tricks" that he'll look into doing for nothing. I want details, but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about. He said he'd do the 1.6 roller rockers for the price of the parts, he gets things at cost from Summit. He said he'd do a diagnosis before tearing into it, pressure test and put a camera into the cylinders. And finally, he offered to put it on his dyno for free. He said he has a dyno at the shop where he keeps his circle track car. So, he's coming tomorrow at 9AM to get the car. I'm not normally lucky in this way, but I am cautiously optimistic, wish me luck. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 0:43
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| CSS996 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Best wishes for a proper recovery. Cautiously optimistic is the way to be. Make sure you feel good about this guy before you let him tear it down.
Could be sweet, and sounds like you deserve a break!  |
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 0:48
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| red_johnny | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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WOW! That sound AWSOME!! I wish you the best of luck and hope everything works out BETTER than planed!
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 0:49
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| Matatk | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Wow - that sounds awesome. Just make sure he doesn't get frustrated and do a leg drop on your hood.
 imagine your car on the bottom.... Matthew |
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 0:51
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| DaleD | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Quote:
That's funny! Well, I know a couple of things for sure. I know he really was a WWE wrestler, people we know in common have confirmed it. So, that much is fact. I also know he's a big son of a gun. About 6'4 and around 300lbs now. I also know that stuff busted him up. He doesn't move around real well. Even so, he'd tear me apart in short order. Fingers crossed here. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 0:57
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| bogus | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
 
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how in the hell does he get his hands into the engine bay?
It sounds positive and a great way to reconnect with an old friend! Cool! |
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 1:17
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| JonnyAngle | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Is the secret trick an airfoil? I hear they work wonders.
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 3:35
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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car. 
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| pianoguy | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Good luck - hope that works out!
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 12:03
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| toptechx6 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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That is great news Dale, I have everything crossed hoping this works out, you deserve it.
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 12:35
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| DaleD | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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He came and picked it up today. I was impressed at the care he took getting it on the flat bed. He's taking it to his shop where the track car is, and they're going to have at it. He sounded like he was looking forward to it.
We talked about his 78. He said it's street legal, but has one of those huge superchargers sticking out of the hood. He said it runs in the 9s for the 1/4 and he promised to let me drive it. So far, so good. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 16:45
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| patgizz | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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good stuff, hope it all works out.
i'll contact you soon about getting out there if only to BS about cars. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/11 23:30
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| C4DERF | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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D,
It sounds very promising so far. Please kepp us posted! |
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Posted on: 2008/7/12 15:37
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94 C4 LT1 A4 Polo Green w/Lt Beige Coupe  Can I join the 600 club???? I can only round up 598 at present! :book:[IMG]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s150/c4derf/CasualCorvettes-SonicAug07011.jpg[/IMG] |
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| Qack | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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DON'T DO IT!!! You'll never look your own ride the same way again, and it'll sense your wanderlust. That's never good.  |
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Posted on: 2008/7/14 14:34
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Good deal but once you drive a 9 second car you're car will feel like a pregnant moped. I made the mistake of driving a low 10 second C4 and it got me all kinda mod happy afterwards. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/14 17:11
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| CSS996 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Agreed... I drove a ZR1 a couple weeks back....
Bad... Very very bad!  I did not realize how much faster it was, until I got in my pathetic LT1 and drove home. So, any more updates on this, Dale? |
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Posted on: 2008/7/14 21:54
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| red_johnny | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Sounds good! Cant wait to hear about his secret MOD.
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Posted on: 2008/7/14 21:56
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| joeld | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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That is good news for you! Just find out a little more info on those "tricks". Good luck.
Joel |
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Posted on: 2008/7/17 2:33
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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So what happened ??
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Posted on: 2008/7/18 0:10
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| bogus | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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yea... any update, Dale?
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Posted on: 2008/7/18 2:36
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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He might be preoccupied with a sleeper hold...
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Posted on: 2008/7/18 2:38
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| DaleD | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Just got back from vacation. Went to Ocean Isle, very nice, but didn't catch much fishing. I caught 2 damn sharks. Not exactly dinner food. But we did manage a couple of mackerel.
As for the car. I will pick it up on Monday. Not much done in the way of mods, since the gasket failure was pretty severe. The shop owner called me yesterday and told me #5 and #8 both blew the gasket. #8 blew some of the metal up into the exhaust valve, and slightly bent the valve. He replaced that valve. He said he milled the heads slightly, and put them in a hot bath. He said the heads are in great shape. Everything on the heads is in spec. He said the rockers were tough to set, I don't know if that's characteristic of these cars or not? He said he ran some BG solvent through the engine and got some gook out. Apparently someone before me didn't use the best oil. He pressure tested the coolant system, it held pressure for 45 minutes, and did the valve guides. He said it runs stronger, but I'll be the judge of that. Total cost, including a tow, $1300. He said for anyone else, it was a $2200 job. When I pick it up, I'll discuss possible winter projects. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/20 15:32
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| bogus | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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that sounds like a good tech doing a great job.
He did you well. And yes, it would be $2200 nearly anywhere else. It is odd that #5 blew, too. It rarely does. It's always #8. The metal, I am assuming, is from the compression seal giving up. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/20 17:04
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| Danspeed1 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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I agree, you can't beat a job like that with parts for $1300. Most places around here would want well about 2K. Let us know how it runs!
DG |
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Posted on: 2008/7/20 17:39
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| Matatk | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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I agree. Glad it's all fixed. How's it run and did you get a chance to drive his 9 sec car? Matthew |
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Posted on: 2008/7/20 18:42
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2002 EBM convertible, Magnusson supercharger, cam, headers, etc. 1989 Corvette...RIP |
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| DaleD | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Didn't get to drive the 9 second car, but did pick up my car today. It runs as well as it ever did, but no better. I guess his idea of more power was relative to when it was broken, but I'm not complaining.
He ran his camera into the oil pan to check out the bottom end. He came to the same conclusion as Bogus, independently. He said the bottom end is the bottom end of a 76k motor. It's fine for how it's configured, but to beef the engine would be asking for other failures. He strongly recommends doing the bottom before screwing with it. It makes sense to me. Actually, what he recommended was a building a 2nd motor and swapping. I'm not up for that. So, I'll stay away from mods, and hope it doesn't break again soon. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/22 0:58
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| bogus | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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I am liking this guy more and more.
It is good that it is running better! Consider this... over the next 2 or 3 years, start buying bits. A used short block is give-a-way pricing, really. A nice rotating mass is expensive, but gee, it won't hurt when it's the only thing you buy that year. Same with heads and an intake. Then take it in for assembly. It will break the prices down into small chunks. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/22 2:14
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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How does the bottom end come into question when doing mods like long tube headers, high flow cats and an intake ? You could make that car run real nice with basic bolt ons. You gotta remember what this guy with the 9 second car calls fast and what most of us consider fast are worlds apart.
Yes building an all forged bottom end would be the way to go and spray the piss out of it too but everyone is not looking to make 1/4 mile passes all day. Glad it's fixed and sounds like a fair deal. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 2:27
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| bogus | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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I think he was thinking cams and heads.
An intake/headers/exhaust would, no question, raise RPM... and I don't think the stock bottom end will run at 5800 for very long. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 5:57
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| 1Fast04Vert | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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I agree with JDS. You can do a lot of bolt on adds without worrying about the bottom end. Just don't don't spray a hundred shot and expect it to live for very long.
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 12:44
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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An intake/headers/exhaust would, no question, NOT raise RPM at any given speed. I know what you mean but I couldn't help but go CFI EFI on you. I wouldn't do heads and a cam swap either if I were Dale. I personally think if he did the top end and ended up with blowby he would be very unhappy. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 18:47
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| bogus | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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you have to appreciate that the biggest hindrence to the L98 is the intake and exhaust. If you go and put freer breathing systems on there, it will allow the redline to increase.
I don't believe there is a physical limiter on the chip (there may be, but I am unaware), because the TPI intake stops revs at about 5100 RPM. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 20:18
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| Matatk | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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From personal experience, just by putting the catback on my L98 I noticed I could rev a little higher. I have to agree with Andy on this one. Matthew |
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 20:30
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2002 EBM convertible, Magnusson supercharger, cam, headers, etc. 1989 Corvette...RIP |
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| Andrew | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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2013 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
 
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DaleD, I thought you fell off the face of the earth!! Good to see you still have your car, but sorry to hear of the troubles. What happened to cause all of the trouble?
By the way, I picked up another C4. Just could not do without one, especially in the summer. Some pictures are in the C4 Picture forum. Glad to see you back on the road! |
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 20:49
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2003 Atomic Orange Z06 Sold - 1996 Competition Yellow LT4 - DRM 383, NX N2O, Line Lock, LT Headers, 3" stainless exhaust, Power Effects, and many more mods SOLD 1996 Competition Yellow LT4 SOLD 1979 4 Speed with 383 |
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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You guys are missing my point. By changing the intake and exhaust you could increase your usable RPM range and it will continue to build power past 4500RPM no doubt. The point was swapping out these parts will not increase the stress on the bottom end, running it up to 6000 RPM is what would do that. Depending on how you use the car a good exhaust upgrade and intake swap will not do much if anything to the long term longevity of the stock bottom end. Unless of course you drive the car differently with the mods and wind it out all the time. I would think it would run better across the board with a good exhaust though being more fun to drive and not harming anything. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/23 21:28
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The few, the proud, the crazy, the LT1 owners association :thumbright: |
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| dan0617 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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I agree with JD. I push the limits and can give you facts. General consensus was that a stock engine can't go past a 125 shot. I'm up to a 175 shot with the only ill effect being excessive blow-by while spraying, which happens with anything over a 75 shot and has from the first spray. General consensus was to not push the stock L98 past 5800 rpms. I've been hammering mine pretty hard lately, it shifts at about 6150 N/A and about 6300 when spraying. Still surviving fine. My tune is off a little, it is pretty lean below 4500 rpms when at WOT but it is still running fine. (have to say I'll feel better when the new tune is done and in). My engine has 98,000 miles on it. Yes, I need a forged bottom end and yes I'll have one someday, but as long as this ol' block stays together I'll keep modding and pushing it. I don't suggest you go to the extremes I'm going to if you want your engine to last but......
Point is, I'd do headers, exhaust, and intake on that engine in a heartbeat. Put some gears, a converter, shift kit and tranny cooler in, if it is an auto. Lastly, I'd do a LT4 hotcam and decent heads. Your engine has plently of life left in it for a cam and heads if you want to go that far. Keep it under 6K and don't spray it and it will likely last forever. Spray it or bolt on a supercharger and it will likely last a few years, depending on how much you spray it or beat on it. Keep the tune right, you will be fine. Same thing with trans. It is still stock and surviving with 420 at the wheels. Probably closer to 450 now since I went up to the 175 jets and added an LT1 catback after the dyno session. D36 is still surviving with Nitto drag radials. I haven't ran it at the track yet (hope to soon) but I heat the hell out of the tires and launch from a dead stop and get a dead hook on the street all the time. These old GM parts are pretty durable! |
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Posted on: 2008/7/29 22:26
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´89 Vert, 383, 230/236 cam, AFR 195's, LT Headers, HSR intake, 2800 stall, Zex 200 shot, ET Street Radials, tune by me. Runs were with D36 3.07's. On spray, 10.55 @ 132.78, 1.55 60 ft. On motor, 12.08 @ 113.15, 1.66 60 ft. |
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| red_johnny | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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On Sabbatical
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Wow, heck of a deal to do all of that!
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Posted on: 2008/7/29 22:48
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| LT4BUD | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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I am pretty certain there was a rev limiter on my 1989.. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/30 0:12
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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I think they all have a limiter, just the limiter on the L98 is up out of it's powerband stock. |
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Posted on: 2008/7/30 1:38
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The few, the proud, the crazy, the LT1 owners association :thumbright: |
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| dan0617 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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And yes, I forgot to mention. Dale, you got an amazing deal. That is about 1/2 price and it sounds like you have a great mechanic. Hard to find good people to work on these cars but you found one.
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Posted on: 2008/7/30 2:22
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´89 Vert, 383, 230/236 cam, AFR 195's, LT Headers, HSR intake, 2800 stall, Zex 200 shot, ET Street Radials, tune by me. Runs were with D36 3.07's. On spray, 10.55 @ 132.78, 1.55 60 ft. On motor, 12.08 @ 113.15, 1.66 60 ft. |
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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absolutely, great price |
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Posted on: 2008/7/30 2:26
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The few, the proud, the crazy, the LT1 owners association :thumbright: |
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| C4DERF | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Senior Guru
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Now that your baby is in good running condition, you need to get in her and drive. Wave at all the others and smile from ear-to-ear the whole time!
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Posted on: 2008/8/1 1:13
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94 C4 LT1 A4 Polo Green w/Lt Beige Coupe Can I join the 600 club???? I can only round up 598 at present! :book:[IMG]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s150/c4derf/CasualCorvettes-SonicAug07011.jpg[/IMG] |
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| bogus | Re: Interesting development, wish me luck | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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Dale,
How is it running? You have been driving it for like a week or so and no word! I have a plan for you for down the road, too... Get a ZZ4 short block, some good aluminum heads and be done with it. You will be into it for about $3500 for the motor/heads and have a warrantee with the block. It would also pass smog. The charm of this is if you start picking up parts, you can take the next 2 to 3 years and just collect what you need. |
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Posted on: 2008/8/3 18:10
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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