Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (3)

I was out Saturday night, cruising around in the unusually cool and dry weather, looking for something to run. Tried to line up with a couple of ricers, but none bit. Eventually out on Route 1 I'm sitting at a light when I notice a familiar looking set of headlights in the mirror. He's a car back in the other lane, so I pull off from the light really slow. After a mile or two the cars finally clear up and he pulls up next to me, and I have it in 3rd at around 50mph, the exhaust singing nicely. Its a black TPI Vette, had the late 80s wheels on it, and looked to be all cleaned up. I keep looking over at him and he doesn't look over. All of a sudden I hear his trans downshift and he takes off. I let him go as he surprised me. I pull back up to him and he finally looks over with a $hit-eating grin. I hold up three fingers. I honked once, twice, and on three we both got a fair start from about 40mph. By the end of second at 75 he was a few cars back, and continued to fall way back by 100. I tap the brakes and he catches up. We end up in more traffic. The traffic continued. I signalled very early for a turn onto a road I knew would be clear, and he followed I complete the turn and pull into a parking lot. He pulls up beside me and says he wants to go from a stop, because "I launch like a m***er f***er from a stop" I replied "OK, whatever." We pulled out onto the street just as the light turned yellow so we'd both catch the red. Talk about a long light! I watched the opposing lights turn yellow, and began to stall it. Light goes green, he spins a little, and my Nittos HOOK and boom! It was all over from the get-go. First was a little close but by the powerband of second gear he was fading pretty fast. I didn't let off till at least 100-110, and he was WAAAYYY back there.

I drove home like this:

MdFormula350

nice, never really cruised on route 1 before, just on route 2.

iroc22

Got any times on your Z?

406TA

Marc, your car is sharp! I love the sleeper factor!!

How do you like the XE274 cam? How's the idle in your 355? I have the XE274 in my mild 406sbc and it has a tremendous power band.

1991tealRSt-topGuy

also, in your sig you dont mention what type of cylinder heads you are runnning:?

tpivette89

stop picking on those stock Vettes

BTW- whatever happened to that race at Cecil we were supposed to have between our cars (it was over a year ago)

Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (3)

No, no times in quite awhile. But basing my guess upon numerous street races against cars that are known to run certain times and a couple of quick G-Tech runs, I'd say its an easy low-mid 13 second car, with traps around 104-106. Even with the World Products S/Rs (1.94/1.50 67cc) that Jasper supplied with the engine, it runs well. Mostly because of the cam The engine behaves much like an LS1 with the XE274. It loves to rev, and the redline comes quick.

However, after nearly 6 months of this combo, again I'm tired of it. I received my AFR 195 heads a month or two ago, and just don't have the cash for all the nickel and dime stuff to install them. I might also be swapping the 274 for a 284! Looking for 450-475HP.

Everything you've heard about the XE274 here is true, I'll back it up. EXCELLENT street cam. Idles a little lumpy but stable at 750, pulls 12" of vacuum, and pulls like crazy from 3000-6000. I used to have a generic "high torque" cam installed from Jasper. It did as claimed. However, I noticed no low end torque loss from that cam with small tube headers and a 3" exhaust to the XE274 with large tube headers and a 4" exhaust.

The only problem I've had with the cam is the ECM. It seems the cam is a bit on the ragged edge for this computerized QJet system. Extended idles can throw codes, but most often a 44. But its just an occassional annoyance.

camaro05

iTrader: (1)

what were the stock #s the late 80s earliy 90s vetts had before getting the LT1?

tpivette89

hp & tq varied slightly between 85 - 91, ranging from 230 - 250hp and 330 - 350 ftlbs.

my own 89' auto went 13.9 at 99mph with a 2.0 60ft when it was 100% bone stock

wingnut

Those are some good times. I recently picked up a 94 Vette, my first trip to the track yielded consistent 13.90's times @ 97 MPH (2.0 60 ft) - I think that's about right for an auto equipped LT1 Corvette (stock) - of course I'm basing that assessment on an old Road&Track article.

And to keep this third gen related, my Firebird is more than a full second faster than my Vette!

tpivette89

the mph is a bit low for a bone stock LT1, even with an auto. you should visit www.corvetteforum.com if you havent already. TONS of good info on C4s there. youll find that most LT1 autos are running anywhere from high 13s - low 13s at about 100 - 104mph

try changing out your plugs and flushing all the fluids... i did this and gained 3mph!! the splitfires that i replaced probably werent the best thing for performance, however

wingnut

Thanks for the link - nice site (they even have an f-body forum!). I read one thread where a guy was asking how everyone shifted their A4's at the track. The overwhelming majority recommended leaving the shifter in 3rd and letting the computer do the work. I had left the shifter in OD on every run. I wonder if that made any difference. If the weather is nice this Sunday, I'll take it back to the track and find out.

Thanks again.

tpivette89

thats what i always did in my 89'... leave it in 3rd and just let the trans do all the work

let me know if you improve your times

1991tealRSt-topGuy

i still have to take mine to the track

its an auto so i am expecting 14.2-13.8 range

tpivette89

i have been meaning to comgratulate you on your purchase!

my brother had a 91' and it went 14.0 at 99mph (he had the 2.59 rear). the secret to dragging an L98 vette is low coolant temps (mine liked to be in the 140* range), 20psi in the rear tires, and ice on the intake. launch at around 1000rpms and you should see some 1.9 sec 60fts and 13 sec E/Ts

1991tealRSt-topGuy

thanx man


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