Is it really worth beefing up the engine?

[Kiwi Bloke]

Hi gang,

When I get the 1987, I had originally planned to upgrade the engine in any way I could that didn't involve removing the heads, which leaves me with doing intake, ignition and exhaust systems work only.

Then I thought about it. I don't like speeding, but I do like using acceleration (the speed limit here is 100km/h (62mph) and I stay under 110km/h at all times.)

The standard 1987 pushes out 345lb-ft, which is a generous amount, giving serious acceleration, right out of the box.

If I do spend who knows how much money on improving the intake, ignition and exhaust, will I **actually** notice the difference, and think it's worthwhile?

Could someone who has been-there-done-that please give me a few comments to help me decide whether I should leave it stock or not?

Regards,

Adrian

 

[Ken]

If you're not into speed and racing, don't change a thing.

Except, of course, whatever modifications please your eye; do those!

 

[kingman]

Tough question?

Being that you live in New Zealand l would play with the exhaust but to do anything else could cause other problems and l have no idea about getting service in your beautiful country.

Alan

p.s. I have members of my club (SASS) in New Zealand.

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Wellll, you're both saying things that agree with my gut feeling. The only "cosmetic" change I'd want to make is to get the exhaust to sound more fruity.

A car can be rejected for it's six-monthly Warrant of Fitness if the examiner thinks this: "The noise output is noticeably and significantly higher than it would have been when the vehicle was manufactured with its original exhaust system."

Very subjective, especially if the car in question has never been sold new in NZ!

Adrian

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Servicing is easy. Lots of small places that can manage to get just about any part for just about any car. The "Chevy 350" engine, right up to the GenIV 6.0 liter (used in the Holden Monaro/Pontiac GTO) is very common here, and the technology exists everywhere to take care of it.

What is your club, Alan? I don't recognise the initials SASS.

Adrian

 

[MoeJr]

Kiwi I would just change the exhaust to your tastes and leave everything else alone. When you start doing intake and even exhaust sometimes you end up pushing the powerband up in the rpm range and the car actually will feel softer from a dead stop. A not too radical exhaust would be all i would do for what you are looking for.

:bar

 

[Ken]

I don't recognise the initials SASS.

Single Action Shooting Society

 

[vetteboy86]

Why not do exhaust, and some intake work. Alot of guys have the open air lid, with a K & N filter. I have ram air that works pretty good. You could also get a computer chip. That isn't too much. Just some quality time between you and your vette.

Craig

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Single Action Shooting Society

Rather a long way for New Zealanders to shoot! They'd have to take note of the curvature of the earth, and allsorts.....

<grin> OK, I'm joking! Yeah. People like shooting goats and pigs here.

Adrian

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Why not do exhaust, and some intake work. Alot of guys have the open air lid, with a K & N filter. I have ram air that works pretty good. You could also get a computer chip. That isn't too much. Just some quality time between you and your vette.

Craig

True, but what I'm wondering is whether or not I'll actually notice the change, or just spend a fair amount of cash to make it able to go 160mph, which I'd never discover. You can't beat quality time, but I'd like there to be noticeable results.

Adrian

 

[kingman]

New Zealand SASS Clubs!!!!!!!!!

Bullet Spittin Son's O' Thunder, Palmerston North
Wass of NZ, Palmerston
Wairarapa Pistol Club NZ, Gladstone
Golden Downs Rangers NZ, Wakefield

This is a partial list of the clubs in New Zealand, some of them have web sites, l have their phone numbers.

This is a place where you get dressed up like a real cowboy, put on your holsters, carry your lever (rifle) and shotgun and have a blast.
Everything is authentic or copy's.
You shoot 4-6 stages shooting targets using all three firearms, actually four counting two six guns.
The idea is to shoot the fastest with the least amount of misses.

Alan

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Bullet Spittin Son's O' Thunder, Palmerston North

Lordy, what a great name! They're only an hour's drive away from me. Sounds like it's worth a trip, next time they're in action.

Adrian

 

[kingman]

Stock is best !

Kiwi Bloke

Keep everything stock and when you come to the states you can upgrade the model year if possible to a 92 and get 300 ponies and one goat.

Alan

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Kiwi Bloke

Keep everything stock and when you come to the states you can upgrade the model year if possible to a 92 and get 300 ponies and one goat.

Alan

I should never have mentioned the goat!

If my plan to buy the 1987, next year, works well, my next purchase would be a ZR1, when they reach the age of twenty and over. I'm still limited by that 20 year rule :-(

Adrian

 

[rrubel]

Kiwi, take a look at what Mad Mic has done to his 87. While probably most of us wouldn't get close to his times, he's done minimal work and invested minimal $$ and made BIG performance changes. And a lot of his stuff works well at lower RPMs so you'd feel the difference in a stoplight drag.

You definitely want a tunable muffler like the PowerEffects, if you can find one. Quiet and closed for the inspector, loud and open for you.

[RICHR]

 

[Badass95]

Adrian, you need to pull your head out of your ass. Corvette's are fast off the line, even stock, that's what there designed for and primed for mods. If you don't have the European balls to drive the car, get the **** off the road. I'll eat any Ferrari, Porche, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Viper, whatever you want with my little 'Vette. Love & kisses
Dan

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Adrian, you need to pull your head out of your ass. Corvette's are fast off the line, even stock, that's what there designed for and primed for mods. If you don't have the European balls to drive the car, get the **** off the road. I'll eat any Ferrari, Porche, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Viper, whatever you want with my little 'Vette. Love & kisses
Dan

You got many Ferraris, Porsches, Lambos, Jaguars and Vipers in Hawaii? <grin>

I'm not sure what you're saying though - do you mean that I should keep it stock or I should try to monster it?

Adrian

 

[vigman]

Adrian....

My suggestion(s)

Change the coil & igniter in the distrib.

Make sure your wires are cool..plugs are good.

REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS!!!!!!!

Get the K&N airfilter & air filter mount.

Clean the plenum ( there's a TON of goo in there ).

Open up the runners just a bit & polish them.

Put a Hyper tech stage 2 chip in there...

Clean & flush the cooling system and add the fan mods & a proper thermostat.

Not a lot of bucks... but you WILL "feel" a difference.


Want a bit more after that...

Change the exhaust....

After that the bucks spent VS HP increase will go UP.. Ask Ken(LOL).

Good luck

Vig~

 

[Kiwi Bloke]

Thanks Vig. I had thought of a few of those, as well as change the trans fluid, brake fluid etc.

Can you give me an internet link about the Hyper tech stage 2 chip?

I won't ask which exhaust to get, because I know there are 1001 answers to that!

Adrian

 

[vigman]

Chips & Dip

http://www.hypertech-inc.com/powchip.html