Project C4, 85 Corvette

[Steve85]

I will start with where things are now and update with new and old stuff. These cars are excellent platforms with a lot of aftermarket support.

Here is the engine in the car, ready for tuning. There is no filter on it because it does not fit under the hood and I wanted to be able to close the hood for travel today.





The last issue to be resolved for fitting the 18* heads in place of the standard 23* heads was header fitment. These heads put the exhaust mount a little higher, wider in the bay and the center outlets are spread wider. I found a shop in H'burg JL Maintenance where they build hot rods to make the mods at $45/hr. (AR fab in winchester wouldn't do it and charges $95/hr anyway)

First they cut off the flanges, split the center tubes, then tacked on the new flanges for a test fit.



After several test fits there was a huge gap that needed to be filled and the thin metal split so some additional rod was needed to seal things up. The welds look pretty good given the situation. He was building a pro-stock chassis with beautiful welds..they guy is good.



After getting everything hooked up, I started it and had no oil pressure. I left several holes used for cross drilling the cam journals open (I was told with roller bearings not to worry about these, wrong.

So the intake came back off this week, the holes were plugged, I installed a dummy pulley in place of the AC unit to retain the stock belt and it runs OK now with some tuning needed, of course.

The new wheels are from a ZR1 owner (a 600+HP 415cid by Lingenfelter) and are CCW Classics. Front are 18x9.5, rear are 18x12.5 They stick out a little but I have flares from the 96 Grand Sports for the rear fenders.



That's a long post, but like I said,  I have done a ton of work, even in the last week. I will find the pics of my interior resto, C5 brake upgrade and paint work. to follow-up.

[Goodspeed]

Awesome Steve, CCW Classics look amazing. Can't wait to see this in person again. Thats a serious car right there! Do you plan to still drive it on the street?

[JustinG]

What else is there to say but WOW. Those wheels look amazing, i cant wait to see this car back up and running again. Very very good work. Those wleds look great, my dad always says the good welds look like your "stacking dimes", and that is the epitome of that phrase..

[Feersty]

Steve those rims are so hot on that application. Eventually I will see this car in person.

[WRXtranceformed]

Looks great man!! What are you going to do about the air filter since it doesn't fit under the hood?

[ScottyB]

looks great. I'm with Lee....will we see a cowl hood eventually to accomodate the higher filter?

[Hunter]

rear are 18x12.5

hock:

Holy crap! That thing has some serious rubber on the road.

[NTIman]

Thats a badass ride!!

[WRXtranceformed]

looks great. I'm with Lee....will we see a cowl hood eventually to accomodate the higher filter?

That car would look so badass with a cowl hood!!

[Steve85]

Thanks for the comps guys.

I will definitley drive it on the street. The cam is pretty mild for the size so it should have good manners.

Hood is a little undecided. I have an L88 style scoop I could put on but I think the 67 big-block style is better for this car (no "stinger" though)

I am so hesitant to cut a hole in this hood. A new hood with cowl goes for 1200 unpainted. But the lower 2 1/2 rise do look mean. (they offer a 4" as well)

[WRXtranceformed]

Do it my friend!!

You might be able to find a hood used maybe... I know the guys on LStech have spoken about some pretty good deals.

[JustinG]

just run no filter, put some panty hose over the carb.

[WRXtranceformed]

I know they make some really low profile filters too, but I'm guessing the clearance is not even enough for one of those... I'd think you'd want some kind of cooler air getting to that filter as well, considering how much heat that engine will be making.

[HAULN-SS]

That shit's going to be a beast - are you done with the install completely, or planning on cleaning up some of those lines/wires some in the engine bay?

[Dave]

hawt!!!

[Steve85]

That shit's going to be a beast - are you done with the install completely, or planning on cleaning up some of those lines/wires some in the engine bay?

I like to call this the pre-install. I want to get everything working then I will work on the details. Make my own plug wires, trim the DFI harness; it is very long, way too long for this engine bay.

In fact there are two different valve covers on it, deciding which I like.

The top radiator hose is ridiculous. a piece of a bottom hose about 4" long to a coupler made from a cutoff water neck to the slightly smaller original top hose.

I'm thinking of taking the afternoon off to get the exhaust done...

[Goodspeed]

"Now when I'm instructing, I look for the crazies with the 600hp Vettes" - Greg Shaffer of MAM at our meeting a few weeks ago

Steve I think you'll have a blast with this car, can't wait to see it in person. I was gonna ask what your exhaust situation is, as I see there are no more quad tailpipes sticking out the back. I guessed that you went to turndowns but what are your plans? Please keep it obnoxiously loud

[WRXtranceformed]

I just realized that after you finish up your 'Vette, I will probably no longer have the highest horsepower car in MM =(

I'm definitely ok with a Vette being the one that ousts me though :lol:

[Steve85]

I just realized that after you finish up your 'Vette, I will probably no longer have the highest horsepower car in MM =(

I'm definitely ok with a Vette being the one that ousts me though :lol:

I hope so...still a tall order though, I am throwing all the cubes I can at your boost.

Here is a little video of the first warm-up cycle. This is open header (which is why I can't hear above 13K)

A couple issues surfaced along the way with the cooling system. The threads for the head bolts go into coolant passages, if the thread sealant fails, coolant comes up the bolt...and it did.

As far as tuning I started with the starting fuel coefficient. It is multiple of the coolant sensor open loop fueling. I was getting 180% and fouling out plugs. I dropped it to ~120% and it starts well now. The other issue was intake air control throttle follower, this is what keeps the engine from stalling after a quick rev. My IAC was not open following the throttle so a quick blip of the trhottle an when the blades closed there was not enough air to keep it running. IAC was at 30% open when TPS was over 20% position, IAC is now ~50%.

Another interesting discovery was the O2 sensor reaction to having an open header. It would read WAYYYYY lean, off the scale error code. I put a piece of pipe to extend the header and A:F came right into the target range for idle. I guess the pulses sucked enough fresh air in to sensor placement to trick it.
(quality is in the shitter with this video, not sure why)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/ski2tee...arm_up.wmv

[Mike]

i thought vettes were simple? how come there are wires EVERYWHERE? haven't cleaned up yet?

anyway, sounds great, and i love your choice of wheels!