L98 free tweaks or hop-up's?!?!

[ProEMTPFF]

I hear from time to time about some "free" or cheap hop-up's that can be done to the L98. I have a '86 TPI and was wondering what these free hop-up's are? I've searched the forums and have found little or nothing on the subject. Please help.

 

[Edmond]

You can cut the air filter lid with a grinder. Instead of having the filter breath through those "gills", cut those gills out and leave the outer frame.

You can also cut the screens off the MAF. Some say it works, others say it doesn't.

If your exhaust system is stock, there is a lot to be gained by either going straight pipe or with an aftermarket system. Straight pipes cost very little and aftermarket systems cost depending on if you want aluminum or stainless. Those can range from $350 and up.

Some people also bypass the coolant. I haven't done that and don't have any experience.

You could also lose weight by ditching the spare tire. Beware that the spare tire is there to absorb impact in the event that you are hit from behind.

 

[vetteboy86]

You can also port the Plenum. It only costs your time. I too took the spare out, and realized it wasn't a good idea, because when you need it you are SOL. Also when you port your plenum you can do the coolant bypass. Then make sure you port match your gasets when you put the plenum back on. I also advanced my timing slightly.


Craig

 

[Mad-Mic]

read my cardomain site down below in my sig along with the mod list and it will give you some idea's all mods are cheap and or free besides the headers.

 

[Vettefan87]

......You could also lose weight by ditching the spare tire. Beware that the spare tire is there to absorb impact in the event that you are hit from behind.

I have heard that they make a bar that you put in place of the spare tire to do that same thing? Is there any truth to that?


Justin

 

[Edmond]

I have heard that they make a bar that you put in place of the spare tire to do that same thing? Is there any truth to that?


Justin

Yes they do. I think it was called the spare tire delete option. I think some members here run that.

But I figure that if you drive fast enough, no one could hit you in the back anyway. :L

 

[bradvette]

may i recommend forgetting about the tease of 5hp here or there. crank 'er up by saving $3-$5k (depending on whether you do the work or not) and getting an exhaust/intake/heads & cam package togther and not worry about having to look back.

 

[ProEMTPFF]

I would LOVE to add all that BUT I have a '86 with ONLY 6300 miles on it. I want to keep the value of the car up by keeping it as original as possible or at least as visibly original as possible. If I had a car with 80k miles then I'd go with all that.

 

[Willis76]

IMO -

it might be time to put that 86 in a big old zip lock bag and buy another one to have some fun with!

 

[ProEMTPFF]

IMO -

it might be time to put that 86 in a big old zip lock bag and buy another one to have some fun with!

LOL, its been in a "zip-lock bag" for 20 years! I'd just like a little more "pep" w/o damaging the value. Any and all stock parts I've taken off I've kept and I intend to keep the miles low while still enjoying the car. My father kept it in a a/c garage for 5800 of those miles. Its had its minor problems from sitting so long like I had to replace the valve cover gaskets, rack and pinion steering arm "leaked p/s fluid", put new tires and wheels on it "20 y/o Goodyear Gatorbacks were square and hard as rocks". I plan on driving it 1-2 times a month for special occasions with the wife. I just want a tad bit more power. There is a guy down the road from me with SEVERAL parts C4's and I'm going to get a airbox lid to cut out from him.

 

[bradvette]

looks like your dad didn't do any favors by not driving it. if you're going to keep it a garage queen, then may i suggest not doing anything to it (other than maintenance).
then go ahead with the nickle-dime mods (like open lid), you'll spend some $$ and time anyway, but trust me you won't get much at all out of it other than frustration.
as for value, forget about that too, the early C4's aren't worth worrying about VIN numbers, matching original parts or whatever.

i would either leave it alone, or put a real smile on your face by investing under the hood and slam some power in there: heads/cam/intke/exhaust.

 

[ProEMTPFF]

looks like your dad didn't do any favors by not driving it. if you're going to keep it a garage queen, then may i suggest not doing anything to it (other than maintenance).
then go ahead with the nickle-dime mods (like open lid), you'll spend some $$ and time anyway, but trust me you won't get much at all out of it other than frustration.
as for value, forget about that too, the early C4's aren't worth worrying about VIN numbers, matching original parts or whatever.

i would either leave it alone, or put a real smile on your face by investing under the hood and slam some power in there: heads/cam/intke/exhaust.

So, a mint, cherry, creampuff of a 1986E with 6300 miles on it is'nt worth much even to a collector?

 

[Vettefan87]

So, a mint, cherry, creampuff of a 1986E with 6300 miles on it is'nt worth much even to a collector?

I would say it depends on when you are going to sell it. With the new C6 coming out the C4's and C5's are really taking a beating in prices. It will definetly bring more money then say the same car with 60,000 miles on it how much more I am not sure on as I don't have any knowledge in depreciation values, but when the C4 came out the C3's went down in price. So eventually it might be worth something, it also depends what options it has and how rare it is compared to other 86's.

Now one thing that I have done to my car is get a Air foil. There has been a lot of debate over this doing nothing. Mid America has them for around 30 bucks. If I had it to do all over again I would order another one. You can also get a different kind of chip in the car, thats just my 2cents worth.


Justin

 

[bradvette]

i'm sorry, but an air foil, cut lid, throttle booster, throttle body, thottle body bypass, IAT relocate, etc etc will net you close to about zero power and you'll get to spend hundreds of $$. i would leave it all alone unless you're serious about actually doing something to your vette. if so......again: heads, cam, intake, exhaust. about $4-$6k.

i'm sorry, but this is for real power. you're not going to get it doing nickle-dime games like air foils and whatnot. get your wallet out, and step back for real enjoyment. the rest are facsimiles.

 

[Mad-Mic]

i'm sorry, but an air foil, cut lid, throttle booster, throttle body, thottle body bypass, IAT relocate, etc etc will net you close to about zero power and you'll get to spend hundreds of $$. i would leave it all alone unless you're serious about actually doing something to your vette. if so......again: heads, cam, intake, exhaust. about $4-$6k.

i'm sorry, but this is for real power. you're not going to get it doing nickle-dime games like air foils and whatnot. get your wallet out, and step back for real enjoyment. the rest are facsimiles.

for less than 500 bucks i picked up over 50 rwhp and 80 rwtq with basic mods. not everyone will have the same results as i have because i know what works and what doesn't and know how to tune the car for optimal performance. these rwHP and rwTQ #'s were real hot on water temp also along with blowing the EGR hookup that i modified after my header install.

and yes all my mods for LESS than 500 bucks when the car was dynoed back in febuary! for what i've done to my car to achieve the HP and TQ levels along with 1/4 mile times people have said i got a stroker motor or cam and heads, or shooting juice. i've been basically called a liar by many on my first post of times over on CF. the guys that know me know i speak the truth about these cars and what i've done to it. the guys that know me in real life know my car is what i say it is with the mods in it.

IMO for H/I/C/Exhaust for the money it's not worth it if you can gain similar #'s for ALOT less with alittle exhaust work, cheap and free mods, and alot of tuning if your mechanically inclined. in the long run it would be better to have the bolt'on's in the car before the H/C/I anyway. your only going to gain at most with a H/C/I setup about another 100 horses AT THE MOST. so for 500 bucks i'm half way there

IMO if you spend 4-6k for intake, cam, heads and exhaust something is wrong! you can get a complete longblock for 3-4k!

if you want to go faster look around at what others with L98's are doing to go faster and copy their mods. thats what i've mostly done. Thank god for the internet

 

[Mad-Mic]

So, a mint, cherry, creampuff of a 1986E with 6300 miles on it is'nt worth much even to a collector?

IMO first year of a new model or updated years with updated options or special edition cars are for collectors. not the run of the mill C4 or any other car for that matter or unless it has some rare options. so in that respect

84 due to first year of the C4
89 first year for a 6 speed and last year for digital dash
92 first year of the new styling and LT1 motor
96 LT4 and CE cars
86-91 B2K option (Callaway)
90-95 ZR1
88 35th anny version
93 40th anny version


i would say yours is only 3-5k more than a 50k milage 86 C4.

Drive it, Love it, and Have Fun with it!