81 performance upgrades?

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81 performance upgrades?

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Corvette Forum >> RACING / RECREATIONAL >> Street/Strip >> 81 performance upgrades?

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81 performance upgrades? - 12/7/2005 2:35:22 PM

nats

Posts: 6
Joined: 11/20/2005
Status: offline

Hi. I am new to this forum and new to Corvette's buying my first "dream car" a few weeks back! A divorce gift to myself
;-)
The car is bone stock, I am looking to make a good street car, meaning getting a good deal of street usable speed and handling. I am not sure the best ways to do this so I am asking for any advice or resources to take my 350 190 hp vette up several notches in all around performance. I am also looking for some good catalogs or websites. Thanks and am open to any suggestions johnnatiello@hotmail.com

_____________________________

John Natiello 1981 corvette

Post #: 1

RE: 81 performance upgrades? - 12/7/2005 6:21:47 PM

Lee Willis

Posts: 1952
Joined: 7/27/2005
Status: offline

Well, you have ALOT of performance to gain since your 190 HP 81, if stock, is producing about 160-165 at the rear axle, if in very good (like new condition). My experience is that it is very unlikely it is bone stock and is probably modified. Most cars that age are.

I'd start by checking out the car and all its #s - do the engine and chassis #s match - if not that's not the original engine. Does it have stock manifolds and carb, etc.?check out the thread titled NOOB and 383 Upgrades or something like that in the C3 section (you can toggle my name and it will show you all my posts - I have several in it. It is basically about the same thing you want to do: upgrade a C3 350 to more performance.

The most important thing, hopwever, is to decide what you want (extreme strip performance, or a great daily driver) and then decide how much you will have to spend.

Stay engaged here and talk to others on the forum. It sounds like a nice project.

_____________________________

2007 Aston Martin Vantage Prodrive
Lincoln MKZ "Grandfather car"
''98 Z28 with iron LS 408, NOS, tricks, street driven mid 9s (sold to my youngest son for $1, Aug 28, ''07)
''02 SCd 427 cid ZO6, 704 RWHP, sold Aug. 28, ''07

(in reply to nats)

Post #: 2

RE: 81 performance upgrades? - 7/26/2006 10:36:17 AM

C3 Starship

Posts: 4761
Joined: 7/25/2006
Status: offline

If you're not concerned about keeping your Vette original, check out the complete mono-spring suspention system from EKLERS.com. This is a fully tunable system that bolts in with no modification. Absolutely awsome performance, street or track. I installed it in my 1980 L-82 and motor cycles can't keep up in the turns, no body roll. It ain't cheep, but then the best things aren't.

_____________________________

1980 L-82 Fastback (forward too)
Mono composite front and rear.
Full adjust ride height and
response.
400+ hp, 454, M-22, 3.07

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o225/C3Starship/Patch.jpg

2007 H. D. Sportster, XL 883 EFI

(in reply to nats)

Post #: 3