Can the 1981 vette engine be hopped up any? not radical, just more street power. any tricks to know of?

Asked by jaxworks Jun 27, 2008 at 03:02 PM about the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette

Question type: Car Customization

I have a 1981 and want to get more power out of the engine. Does it affect the computer if the cam is changed or headers are installed?

9 Answers

35

Hey, I have an 81 but my motor is totally rebuilt and has no computer now. I am pretty sure that you would be fine installing headers and the cam. Also making the car fuel injected can add about 25 hp I read that in corvette magazine a few years ago.

935

Hello, The computer will be fine. Unfortunatley, you motor in your ca, is a very low compression engine, with not alot of horsepower. A set of headers, some exhaust work and a hotter cam would really wake that motor up! Dave

2 people found this helpful.
10

Unfortunately with the lower compression, he is limited on cam choice.

1 people found this helpful.
935

Very true, but in his case, even a mild street cam would make a huge difference.

1 people found this helpful.

go one size bigger than stock on the cam,headers are fine open exhaust with bigger pipe and flow master mufflers.if you change cam go with double timing gears and chain.you will notice a difference in performace.but this is about all you can do without pulling engine.

1 people found this helpful.
205

you can get a set of headers a bigger cam and if you want you can put an msd ignition kit in it

5

with a 1981 not much horse power but you can bore it out, enlarge the pistons, get aluminum heads, comp cams, lifters, headers, MSD ignition, coil, cables, spark plugs.. Get a dual carb, and you could possibly supercharge it go to this site www.YourHotCar.com Edelbrock do some nice packages to unleash the h.p.! But it's not cheap!

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