L98?s

Okay fellas, I wanna know what does the stock L98 come with? Powdered metal rods? Cast steel crank? Hyper U pistons? Do tell! Also, will any SBC Centerbolt or even regular cylinder heads work on the L98?

Actually if anyone knows of a database with all this that would be just as good.

That and how strong is the L98? I remember reading about a guy who Turbod his and was running 9s :cool: . But on the norm what are they good to with stock setup?

www.thirdgen.org

The f-bodies L98's were cast iron headed,hyper-u-craptic pistons,etc. they were about 220HP and 340 ft/lbs of torque. Through the years they picked up 5-10HP per year all the way untill 92,I think the HP was 240 or 245 for the last year.

In the 1/4 your lookin at mid-low 14's,driver and traction pending.

Depends on year, make, and model.
Most were 2 bolt, cast crank, standard I-beam rods, hyper-U pistons.
Because they were low compression they were good candidates for power adders. The L98's have standard 350 bore so many, many SBC heads will fit.
As for strength, I could live with 400fwhp, any thing above that, (if you could get there) and I'd want to up upgrade the bottom end.
Essentially the heads are what make it an L98. And though you didn't ask, I see NO reason to use these heads. And technically if you change the heads, intake and cam., you don't have an L98, do you?

L98 is just the rpo code for a 350 engine in 3rd gen cars.

:rolleyes:

L98 is just the rpo code for a 350 engine in 3rd gen cars.

:rolleyes:


I thought the RPO for the L98 in the F-Body was called the B2L? I believe the biggest difference responsible for the difference in RPOs were the absence of aluminum heads on the B2L.

I thought the RPO for the L98 in the F-Body was called the B2L? I believe the biggest difference responsible for the difference in RPOs were the absence of aluminum heads on the B2L.

Stand corrected, RPO B2L is the L98 and required optional items required. Oil cooler, Rear disc bake and etc were in the BL2 requiements for the L98.

Stand corrected, RPO B2L is the L98 and required optional items required. Oil cooler, Rear disc bake and etc were in the BL2 requiements for the L98.

Not all L98s are rear discs, that is RPO J65.

Not all L98s are rear discs, that is RPO J65.

If you can read, I said required OPTIONS for the L98 engine.:rolleyes: Look it up yourself.......

If you can read, I said required OPTIONS for the L98 engine.:rolleyes: Look it up yourself.......

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/history-restoration/172420-j65-question.html?highlight=L98+rear+discs

B2L doesn't ALWAYS include J65.

required option is an oxymoron. :lol:

required option is an oxymoron. :lol:

I would venture a guess that you did not buy a 3rd gen 350 car new. Options were added which were required on the car. Call it GM's pricing policy.:rolleyes:

Four wheel disc brakes were required for the G92 performance package not the B2L.

I have a G92 option Ws6 formula 350 that did not come with disc brakes, yet has the L98, it came original with the drum rear end 3.23 and now has 3.73's like somone said i think B2L refers just to the engine, and options are options, dealers weren't forced to use a disc rear end on them. my 1988 formula 350 WS6 came with a rear disc 9 bolt BW with 3.27 gears and not a g92 option.

If it helps anyone I'll take a picture of my option list on
my 87 Iroc that I optioned out in late 86.
Took the time with salesmen and the district rep over
the period of a week to make sure I got (every) option on
the car that I could. Planned the car as a keeper.Option list should also apply to the Bird. Although the TransAm had
an extra radio option I could'nt get if I remember rite.:(

Try to post the picture. The list is long.:D

Later:)

Irocing

I have a G92 option Ws6 formula 350 that did not come with disc brakes, yet has the L98, it came original with the drum rear end 3.23 and now has 3.73's like somone said i think B2L refers just to the engine, and options are options, dealers weren't forced to use a disc rear end on them. my 1988 formula 350 WS6 came with a rear disc 9 bolt BW with 3.27 gears and not a g92 option.

Well I can not say about Pontiac. Chevy did different things. B2L is just the engine for both Pont. and Chevy. No L98 Chevy came without rear disc. All L98 Chevy's were required to have J65 (4-wheel disc) , G92 (axle ratio) and they had KC4 (oil cooler)

I don't have the G92 on mine, as you say axle code,
but instead GW6 G80 J65 & KC4 on the rest of that line.

I think different RPO codes had packages you had to get
with that option.:confused:

Later:D

Irocing

I don't have the G92 on mine, as you say axle code,
but instead GW6 G80 J65 & KC4 on the rest of that line.

I think different RPO codes had packages you had to get
with that option.:confused:

Later:D

Irocing

I had a feeling someone might say that with an '87 L98. 1987 L98 models did not have a choice on axle ratio. They all came with 3.27 so they did not get the G92 option code. All other years with the 3.27 optional axle ratio got the G92 code. 1987 is the only year this happened.
This only applies to L98 cars.

The L98 was the engine code. Ok. The engine was a pretty standard 350 long block with smaller chamber heads to bump the compression some. Iron block, cast crank, forged rods. One nice thing is the roller cam provisions in the blocks. The port injection kept the emissions in check while the tuned ports maybe gave it a little power boost at lower rpms. Pretty decent engine for the era of gas mileage and emissions concerns.

The L98 was the engine code. Ok. The engine was a pretty standard 350 long block with smaller chamber heads to bump the compression some. Iron block, cast crank, forged rods. One nice thing is the roller cam provisions in the blocks. The port injection kept the emissions in check while the tuned ports maybe gave it a little power boost at lower rpms. Pretty decent engine for the era of gas mileage and emissions concerns.

I agree. Its was a really good stop light to stop light car that could hold its own. I have never had anyone beat me off the line in an L98 car. Torque is awesome til about 50 to 60mph or so. After that I could see any worthy car catching up fast. But they were usually 10 years newer. I now have a crate motor based on the ZZ4 block. I just drive one because they are one of the prettiest cars ever made.

I would venture a guess that you did not buy a 3rd gen 350 car new. Options were added which were required on the car. Call it GM's pricing policy.:rolleyes:

Ok, I reread the post, and I read it wrong the first time. Required and optional are opposites but required option is ok.

No L98 Chevy came without rear disc. All L98 Chevy's were required to have J65 (4-wheel disc) , G92 (axle ratio) and they had KC4 (oil cooler)

Except for in 1991 when GM ran out of 4-wheel disc brakes (due to a strike at the brake plant?) and had to use drums on many L98 cars.

Wow. A strike. I wonder why they never fixed them later at no cost to the owner. :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=Kevin91Z;4430161]Ok, I reread the post, and I read it wrong the first time. Required and optional are opposites but required option is ok.

20+ Posts later after a lot of incorrect information by everyone, so at the start my reply was correct. Next time people need to check their facts. "required options".;)

Well I can not say about Pontiac. Chevy did different things. B2L is just the engine for both Pont. and Chevy. No L98 Chevy came without rear disc. All L98 Chevy's were required to have J65 (4-wheel disc) , G92 (axle ratio) and they had KC4 (oil cooler)

Not true. A GM shortage of rear PBR calipers meant customers who ordered their early 90's Z28, however equiped, with disc brakes could get a substancial rebate if they let the plant go ahead and install drums instead. Or they could wait and hope for the best. It's documented. Not ALL 350 cars came with 4wdb. And the L98 is the vette engine. B2L is the Fbody engine. Everyone favors the name L98, with the only difference really being heads and maybe some internal difference, however slight. Yet, the debate rages on.