1st Mods for a Stock Callaway Coupe

[SYTECH]

In the Grand National Community, and in the F150 Lightning Community, there are historical step by step suggestions for modding the base vehicles to increase performance

I'm sure that the Corvette Community is the same

With the Callaway being a specialty vehicle, what do most owners recommend as far as beginning modifications?

I plan on driving my Callaway about as much as I drove my GNX (1,000 miles per month) (before I sold it last month)

Are the turbo wastegates on the Callaway adjustable (to bump up the boost) above the stock 10-12 lbs of boost? (if done with with higher octane fuel, bleeder valves, etc.)

Who burns better performance chips, or is the Callaway modified Prom as good as we need

I plan on doing about 90% freeway driving & 10 % dragstrip racing

With the GNX I was running 23 lbs of boost, with 100 octane fuel, a modified chip for higher timing, and the car went from a stock 13.2 / 13.4 quarter mile time down to a low 12 second time

I know that there are plenty of big dollar changes that can be made for some mad horsepower / torque increases, but what are the ones that all owners can do without selling a lung or taking a second out on the house?

2 days and counting before i pick the car up and begin my cross country trek

Later,

Ray

 

[Aurora40]

Man, you should have bought the red '90 in New Jersey with the wonderbar upgrade and '91 hood scoops... Then I could still have gone to look at the possibly-mint car in NC.

I'm no Callaway expert or even owner, but I've read a lot in this forum. There are a few folks who have really built up their cars to crazy power levels. But I'd suggest you search for posts started by SurfNSun. He has done rather mild changes in a careful way and gotten some very impressive power out of his car without touching the motor.

As an aside, is that Orange County, CA you live in? Or is Orange, CA some city somewhere else? If you are into automotive appearance, I'd suggest you look into attending a free detail day at Meguiar's in Irvine. They are a blast, I wish they were close to me so I could go there more often. Of course, my motivation for mentioning it is purely selfish: they usually take a lot of photos and I'd love to see some more shots of that Callaway all deep and dark...

 

[*89x2*]

I know others have done things to their Callaway B2K's and hopefully they will chime in soon but for now, I will say that the heads seem to help quite a bit when ported - although nobody is talking specifics

Callaway Cars offeres upgrades for both the WonderBar and the exhaust - The Wonderbar allows greater and more efficient airflow into the torbos through the frame rail - much better than the original design - They stock this component :cool

Exhaust - True dual "McArdle" Callaway exhaust is avail. w/ the awesome Megaphone tips - If you have never heard meg's, you are missing out! :eek
Callaway Cars is also working on a "bolt on" "Flange -Back" Megaphone design for at home installation - The Callaway Exhaust is custom fitted.


Chip - Updates are avail. from Callaway Cars and it is suggested you stay w/ a chip from them although some have used other brands - Main concern is most aftermarket chip vendors use a more aggressive timing curve - not the best for forced induction cars under pressure :eek

Callaway Cars also has stronger wastegate springs for when you begin to up the boost a bit - or run w/ out cats

I hope this helps - There is an 89 Callaway AeroBody coupe in CA running the NHRA points series - 89-005, and it is in the Bay area... running mid-high 10's :eek

 

[SYTECH]

Orange County, CA

Aurora40

I have been to several of the Meguiers Days down at the Irvine Office

They put on a great dog & pony show and give out lots of free products

Is the Wonderbar upgrade available for the 90 - 91's or only the 87 - 89's

Does anyone have a chart that shows the relationship of in/hg to true boost (psi)

Once I get the car home and past the Smog Nazi's, I will consider going cat-less and going to a heavier wastegate spring

Has anyone tried the electric exhaust cutouts (fit inplace of the cat) ?

It uses a momentary rocker switch (located in the driving area somewhere) to open / close the exhaust cutout at will. On the Grand Nationals it changes the exhaust sound (at idle) from that of a hoover vacuum cleaner to a noise from the devil himself.

Many a mustang and import ricer who pulled up to challenge Granpa's pretty black buick, backed off real quick when the exhaust cutout opened and the spooling turbo turned into a lopping rumble from hell

Plus at the strip, I picked up almost 1/2 second off my best time, just by opening the cutout and letting the exhaust breath. Careful boost control was in order during those times but with the flip of a switch it went from Linda Blair back to Gary Coleman in 3 seconds....lol

Thanks for all the advice everyone

Ray

 

[*89x2*]

Ray, the Wonderbar is avail for all years B2K as an upgrade to the stock Wonderbar - there were changes year to year, I recently saw a 1990 Convertible AeroBody B2K fitted w/ this last Sept. - it is "in-stock" last time I checked


re: boost - take your Hg reding and subtract 29.92 from that number, then divide by 2.036 - 54Hg's = appx. 12 psi

I hope this helps!
- Chris

 

[callaway4fun]

Ray I would install the Upgraded Wonderbar first. I would also get the exhaust done wether it is the McArdle Exhaust or something else. I would change ALL the hoses including the TURBO COOLANT lines. I would also change all of the intercooler hoses also. I would not raise the boost too much the weak link is the chevy pink rods. A new prom can be burned by Callaway. Also the 100+ kit should be available at some point this year. You can run with out cats but you will need to change the spring in the wastegate to really control the boost. I hope this helps Pete

 

[632C2]

My 2 cents worth here is to replace the exhaust system. When I first took delivery of my Aerobody in 1990 the car was an absolute joke. To say it was a pig is an understatement. I was sick.

I immediately replaced the exhaust system with a dual 3" system that eliminated the cats. The car was night and day quicker. I even made a bad selection and used Flow Master mufflers but it was still far better than stock. I bumped the boost to 12 pounds and with the factory tires I ran 12.56 in the quarter. With DOT M&H 305's the car ran 12.19 at 117mph. Not too shabby.

Steve

 

[8388]

#1 Better exhaust and remove the cats.

#2. Bump up the boost and run at least a mixture of 75% 100 octane 25% 93 pump.

#3. Wonderbar and exposed K&N filter

#4. Hypertech chip and 160 Thermostat

#5. Have lots of fun.

 

[SurfnSun]

There is some good advice here. I would personally do the wonderbar first but thats just b/c thats the only experience I have.

Here is my dyno with stock exhaust, no cats, AFPR, and Wonderbar.

Here is the dyno after the addition of Power Effects exhaust and a better tune.

 

[shopview]

Where is the Irvine office?

 

[*89x2*]

Ray, If the 100+ option package makes a second run by Callaway Cars, that would be an impressive way to get more power out of your B2K - If you are interested in that, here is the thread on the option :cool


Hope this helps

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57186

 

[8388]

Damn Chris, I hope it really does happen. I've been holding off on modding the 88 Callaway just for that intake.

 

[*89x2*]

Damn Chris, I hope it really does happen. I've been holding off on modding the 88 Callaway just for that intake.

Sam, that is awesome - The 100+ option package is quite impressive and I do hope it comes through - I know Callaway4Fun has the option listed on his paperwork when his car was ordered new - he is looking to complete his original order to is intent, even though the option was cancelled by the owner before it could get installed