Engine Swap Everything about swapping an engine into your Third Gen.....be it V6, V8, LTX/LSX, crate engine, etc. Pictures, questions, answers, and work logs.

88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-23-2012, 07:23 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
88WS-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9 bolt
88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

I'm planning to pick up an 88 Corvette short block with 87k original miles to replace my blown L98. I will have to use my stock F-body heads for now because of my budget, so will these bolt directly to the vette short block?

I searched these forums and saw that ,at least for 1988, the only differences in the L98 is that the corvette got the aluminum d-port heads and a different cam. Does anyone have the cam specs so I can compare? I read that the motors had the same flex plate but can anyone confirm this? I'll be using the 700R4 that came with my GTA.

I also read that I will need to use my GTA accessories and oil pan, which is fine. The vette short block only comes with an oil cooler, which I believe my GTA has too. Thanks in advance.

~Matt
Old 01-23-2012, 07:37 AM
  #2  
Member
Thread Starter
 
88WS-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9 bolt
Re: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

I found this at corvette action center. Sound correct?

CAM 88-89 L98 10066049 In/Exh Dur@.050" 207'/213' Lift (w/1.5) .415"/.430" LobSep 117'

That is the same data that thirdgen.org shows here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/techdb

So they have the same camshaft then?
Old 01-24-2012, 06:31 AM
  #3  
Member
Thread Starter
 
88WS-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9 bolt
Re: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

Anyone? I'd like to get confirmation soon so I can pick this up if it will work. Thanks.
Old 01-24-2012, 01:53 PM
  #4  
Moderator

iTrader: (14)
 
five7kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 43,169
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes on 34 Posts
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Your '88 heads will bolt to the Vette block. No reason it won't work as long as it is in good condition.
Old 01-25-2012, 07:28 AM
  #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
88WS-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9 bolt
Re: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

I've read on here several times that the f-body and vette L98s had different cams. Unless my 2nd post is inaccurate, the 1988 L98 for the f-bodies and Corvettes were identical except for the Corvette's aluminum 113 heads.

I also recall reading that the Corvettes received a different distributor.
Old 01-25-2012, 02:24 PM
  #6  
Moderator

iTrader: (14)
 
five7kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 43,169
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes on 34 Posts
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Different oil pan, different exhaust, different transmission details (stall, servo, etc.), probably different tune.

How "different" the cam may or may not be is pretty much irrelevant.

If the distributor is different, it wasn't for performance reasons.
Old 02-07-2012, 06:37 AM
  #7  
Member
Thread Starter
 
88WS-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9 bolt
Re: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

Well I skipped on that 88 vette L98 because I couldn't hear it run. I've now found a complete 1990 vette L98 so I need to confirm how compatible that will be. I know that the vette L98 was SD in 90 so that will be different. The motor will come complete with serp system and wiring harness. I'm waiting to confirm if the ECU will be included.


If I completely pull out my 88 L98 and drop in this 90 vette L98, what do I need to change? I read that my f-body driveshaft may be too long. Should I stick with MAF or use the SD?

~Matt
Old 02-07-2012, 08:06 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (13)
 
vetteoz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Not in Kansas anymore
Posts: 7,733
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Re: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

Originally Posted by 88WS-6
I know that the vette L98 was SD in 90 so that will be different.
Why pay for a control system you already have unless you want to do the MAP upgrade?
Motor doesn't care what is bolted to it so you can run your MAF computer on any Vette block or engine
Vette alum heads do not have the EGR riser if that is important to you

I any case the weatherproof ECM used on the MAP Vette engines is completely different
to a F-Body one that is mounted under the dash and the ECM connectors are also different
so the Vette MAP ECM is of no value to you as little will connect to your car

Originally Posted by 88WS-6
I read that my f-body driveshaft may be too long.
Why would the DS length change because you swapped a engine.
All SBC 's are exactly same dimensions

Last edited by vetteoz; 02-07-2012 at 08:17 PM.
Old 02-08-2012, 05:13 AM
  #9  
Member
Thread Starter
 
88WS-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9 bolt
Re: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

Originally Posted by vetteoz
Why would the DS length change because you swapped a engine.
All SBC 's are exactly same dimensions
Sorry I was reading your post in this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...amaro-tpi.html

But that was for a f-body and corvette 700R4 swap comparision. That obviously won't affect me since I am re-using my stock transmission


I will likely keep my stock computer then and run my MAF set-up. If I use the 1990 vette aluminum heads and TPI then is there anything else I need to change? Did the 90 vette have the 9th injector like my 88? I have no problem deleting EGR and AIR. The headers I will be installing have no AIR provisions anyway and I was planning on learning some DIY EFI tuning so I can practice with some disabling codes. Thanks.

~Matt
Old 02-08-2012, 06:16 AM
  #10  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (13)
 
vetteoz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Not in Kansas anymore
Posts: 7,733
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Re: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End

Originally Posted by 88WS-6
I will likely keep my stock computer then and run my MAF set-up.
If I use the 1990 vette aluminum heads and TPI then is there anything else I need to change?
You retain your whole '88 control/ fuel system but need a '89 tune that has cold start fueling from the 8 injectors instead of the seperate CSI which was deleted on '89+ TPI
'89 ARAP is the most popular starting bin for MAF
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SiCkRs
Members Camaros
32
07-01-2018 04:53 AM
anesthes
Tech / General Engine
40
03-10-2016 10:35 PM
Reddeath210
Firebirds for Sale
14
10-06-2015 08:20 AM
camaro71633
Tech / General Engine
39
09-01-2015 10:24 AM
BBSDesigns
Power Adders
10
08-11-2015 07:39 PM



Quick Reply: 88 Corvette Short Block with 88 GTA Top End



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:09 AM.