cost effective reliable way to get 88 to 550 rwhp?

cbramey · 11-28-05, 11:40 AM

The title says the goal;

I had thought about going with a wonderbar, exhaust, and better heads and stroker short block - 434 ci.

However, I am also quite sure that the intake is a huge problem, probably a non starter to do this with a TPI. Anybody got good ideas hopefully without too much fab work to get an alternate intake working?

The other 2 variables I know little about are the computer and fuel mapping and limitations of the turbos.

What would be the best advice to get this baby making that kind of power without huge lag or major tuning/fab time involved?

Peer81 · 11-28-05, 02:02 PM

Try the search button in this forum and search for intake and tpi etc etc. I know there are a few very good topic's on these problems so more of the answers you're looking for are out here somewhere!

Groeten Peter.

*89x2* · 11-28-05, 03:10 PM

Welcome to the Callaway Forum @ the

To answer your question, I believe that right now, the most cost effective way to get the power you are seeking is right here: Callaway Corvette For Sale Link

I hope this helps

MagicDragon · 11-28-05, 04:15 PM

I know the owner and the car. The owner is a stand up guy and has a boat load of info on the car. The car looks and sounds great- I'm sure it's everything and more than is described. Buying an 88TT in decent shape then buying the PARTS to get it to 550HP reliabably will cost more than the 89 here for sale not including the labor and tuning efforts. I know the 89TT for sale here has just been gone over properly and tuned and at Callaways shop. It also has coilovers and the Big Wonderbar plus the original engine- WOW. Welcome to the CAC Callaway forum!!!!! I'm sure you will enjoy hanging out with us! Good Luck. -Joe

cbramey · 11-29-05, 04:36 PM

thanks for the thoughts, but no autos! Nice car though.

I have a car in mind, but just curious about the details of the 88 set up as it goes;

how adaptable is the EFI if you were to raise boost and the engine's airflow through heads, possibly intake, and increased displacement of the long block.

I have a nice 434 available, I could pick pistons/chambers for the desired c/r and just bolt it in.

In theory, I am sure that would change the characteristics of the turbo's driveability and power, but not real sure how to accurately predict that or what I would likely find.

Also, the intake manifold is a big area of potential improvement I am sure, but also one that seems to be a bit of a bugaboo from reading here.

Just curious if people here have a combo that is proven to make 500+ rwhp without spending months tuning, and/or making a callaway into something that it is not.

*89x2* · 11-29-05, 05:27 PM

cbramey, aside from the Black / Black 89 TT on the for sale link, there are a few other Callaways here on the board that have been modified.

Possibly the "most modified" or at least one of the most powerful, is owned by 632cic2 and makes pavement wrinkling power

He uses a Greddy Rebic to control the fuel under boost and may chime in abou thte other mod's he has.

Also, there is TurboCat who has a couple Callaways - one is modified heavily w/ a miniram intake, 16 injectors and possibly now front mounted intercoolers - at least that was what I thought I saw the last round of pics...

Both 90Callaway and TurboLuigi have nice semi-modified Callaways making sizable power gains over stock using the stock set-up however, I do not believe they have eclipsed the 500 hp mark yet - yet...

The Greddy Rebic is actually something I might consider if I were looking to do away w/ the Micro-fueler

They are really making advances w/ controlling fuel under boost and the FAST DFI systems are supposedly getting easier to use w/ more features

www.bigstuff3.com is another option

for fuel / spark control

Porting the intake - I believe SurfNsun just went through this with his car - Easycreeper now owns that car and either may have insight to how that went and they would have dyno #'s to accompany it.

Driveability?? I know from driving a big-cube TT, the power is highly addicting and frankly, you ought to consider buying stock in tire companies if you do go that route

I am not sure how other cars are but in general, the more that you do to the car like big cam, etc., the more it becomes a little bit of a hot rod.

Do you plan on doing the work yourself??

I hope this helps

*89x2* · 11-30-05, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbramey

thanks for the thoughts, but no autos! Nice car though.

cbramey, that car was actually, originally a 6-speed car.
As a result, it has some rather interesting (and somewhat unique) 1989 options not avail.
unless you got a 6-spd coupe for that year

It has "Sport" Leather interior w. the deep bucket seats
and also FX3 adjustable suspension from the factory.

The car also already has the Callaway BIG Wonderbar ($1,950 + installation)
and the Callaway C.O.I.L. over suspension (2,190 + installation)

The car (1989) sounds to me like what you are trying to accomplish
with the other one (1988). I think the reality of it all would be, that by the time you buy the 1988 Callaway
and add the big Wonderbar and get a new computer in line to control the modifications you
are planning, you would have about the same $$$$$ invested as with
the 1989 listed above...

Here are some addl. pictures of the 1989 Callaway.

The 6-speed trans & driveline parts are set aside seperately, but avail.

Thanks -

Aurora40 · 11-30-05, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbramey

What would be the best advice to get this baby making that kind of power without huge lag or major tuning/fab time involved?

I'm certainly no expert. But I just thought this last part seems like it would be tough. You are talking about making about 650 crank hp, or a gain of about 70% over an already highly-tuned motor. It seems to me it would be pretty hard to make that kind of power if you don't want to spend major time tuning anything.

As a related aside, the only Callaway cars to make that kind of power or more had front-mounted intercoolers. I believe Turbocat also did this. I'd think this would be a bit of fabrication work and possibly body work.

632C2 seems to have made the kind of power you are looking for, but he also seems to spend endless time tuning and tweaking his car, and has a lot of equipment to aid in that.

All I mean is that it seems there would be work to be done. Either by you or by someone you pay to do it. I don't think there's a simple way to just toss on 270hp to your car. Heck, the Callaway system, which is hardly trivial, boosted the L98 power by 55%. You are talking 70%, and over something that's already running more highly tuned.

SurfnSun · 11-30-05, 05:50 PM

The stock turbos aren't big enough to feed a 434ci. My old car did 436/576 at the wheels. We did a large TPI intake on the motor, retarded the timing, turned down the boost to 12.3lbs, put in pump gas and made nearly the same numbers on a 90 degree day. 420rwhp/585rwtq.

632C2 has larger compressor housings fitted to his turbos. This can be done by Evergreen turbo in Ocala, FL. He told me that was the most effective mod for making big power. Even with a stock TPI his motor pulls to 5800rpm if I recall. He is running a better bottom end, cnc heads, zz3 cam i think, super custom 3" exhaust, lots of boost.....the list goes on.

The kicker is you wont' get big power without a lot tuning. Trust me I know.

If I had it to do all over again...I would buy a car thats already done. Like the black 89 here. It would be SO MUCH easier to swap out the auto for a 6speed. Unless you have tons of money, buy a car that is already done.

One thing to keep in mind....a b2k that does 450rwhp on a dyno probably does at a minimum 475rwhp while traveling down the road. With no airflow over the intercoolers, these cars don't like a dyno too much.

cbramey · 11-30-05, 06:30 PM

I truly appreciate this input! Not entirely unexpected. I have done major engine swaps and tuning before, but the callaway experience would be new, and I have no experience with Turbos.

You guys are great.

I will think very hard tonight about all of this.

SurfnSun · 11-30-05, 06:33 PM

Truthfully bro, the cost of a wonderbar installed would cost as much as swapping the tranny back to a 6speed. You dont want to know how much $$$ I had wrapped up in dyno tuning.

*89x2* · 12-09-05, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbramey

I will think very hard tonight about all of this.

Any decisions??

MagicDragon · 02-06-06, 06:05 PM

Chris, I keep looking at this and what a deal this truly is. If I were in the market it would be mine. Your pricing is low concidering the TT comes with an installed and tuned forged long block built by Lingenfelter and the original Callaway engine. It's just been tuned by Callaway Cars..........Seems like low price to me.

*89x2* · 02-15-06, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicDragon

Chris, I keep looking at this and what a deal this truly is. If I were in the market it would be mine. Your pricing is low concidering the TT comes with an installed and tuned forged long block built by Lingenfelter and the original Callaway engine. It's just been tuned by Callaway Cars..........Seems like low price to me.

Magic Dragon, I agree 110%

...maybe I should raise the price of admission

As mentioned @ Barrett-Jackson in 2004, these cars will only go up in value