Needs more pep, where to start

[dburgjohn]

My 92 LT1 has 70k on the original engine, plugs, wires, opti etc. It just doesn't seem to have the pep it should have and bogs just a little on the 1-2 shift (automatic). I don't want to build a race car, but would like it to be all it can be (sorry army). Where is the best place to start? or How do I spend some money this month?

thanks

 

[tigmaned]

i would say its time for a good tune-up!!! not sure if your air box is the same as L98 engines, but if so cut the opening bigger for more air to flow in and new filter. thne go from there.

 

[grumpyvette]

Id start with the good tune up as mentioned, and a couple cans of injector cleaner in a fresh tank of 93 octane gas, long tube headers, new filters and a free flow exhaust sure won,t hurt,but swapping to a 2500rpm 3000rpm stall lock-up converter,3.73 rear gears and a cam with about 10-15 degrees more durration than stock will sure make a very noticable improvement, if you want to get into the engine more, Id suggest much better cylinder heads and a 383stroker kit,with 10.5:1 cpr and a cam similar to the crane 119661 or crower 00471, but I think youll be very happy with only the 2500rpm 3000rpm stall lock-up converter,3.73 rear gears and a cam with about 10-15 degrees more durration than stock, as just those changes really pep up an LT1

 

[nyernga]

If you don't know the history of the car, IE: last tune up, fluid changes etc, then I would start there first. You can't go wrong tuning it up and you'll have a better baseline to work off of as far as mods.
If, after the above work, the engine still doesn't feel strong enough then you can start looking for any stored codes etc. Bottom line is get hwer running according to specs THEN consider any mods. Tne tune up just might suprise you.....

Len

 

[gmjunkie]

If you don't know the history of the car, IE: last tune up, fluid changes etc, then I would start there first. You can't go wrong tuning it up and you'll have a better baseline to work off of as far as mods.
If, after the above work, the engine still doesn't feel strong enough then you can start looking for any stored codes etc. Bottom line is get hwer running according to specs THEN consider any mods. Tne tune up just might suprise you.....

Len

That where I'd Start!! junk!!

 

[John Robinson]

Another Veiw

When I got my 93 it had 67K on it. I drove it for a week and thought is was sluggish. I took it back to the place I bought it from and asked them if they had any history on the car. During the conversation we talked about premium verses regular gas. When they delivered the car to me they filled the tank with reg gas. They said it won't hurt it. Will yes it will run on reg but the computer is programed for premium so when you use reg it retards the spark to prevent spark knock. If the engine is tuned to run on reg adding premium won't help. The computer already is set at optimum for reg. It turns out that soon after that I had to make a 500 mile trip in one day. I put in premium and added injector cleaner. The performance improved dramatically with the premium. After about 100 miles of steady running the car freed up and was much more responsive with the shifts and throttle. I believe that low milage cars suffer from lack of being driven. Simply put they become bogged down from not being kept running with fresh gas etc.

 

[vetteboy86]

Like most before said, good tune up, fuel filter, air filter, maybe ram air, and some headers. This will for sure make the car run better.

Craig

 

[WhalePirot]

tune up, fluid changes etc, then I would start there. You can't go wrong tuning it.

absolutely! plugs/wires/rotor/cap/filters

Two or three tankfulls of good detergent premium gas should clean the injectors as well as a can of cleaner, plus deliver more performance (vs regular) as Mr. R said.