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Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Detroit Michigan
New
Hey everyone im new to the forum and pretty new to corvettes. I know some stuff about cars but not corvettes in particular. Please correct me on anything wrong and give me any info or input. I was first wondering if the stock 350 is the L83? and i was also wondering what are some suggestions for building this motor. Thanks for any input.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
Welcome to the Corvette Forum. Certainly not trying to correct you, and letting you know that the base engine in a 74 is the L-48= 350/195hp and the L-82= 350/250hp.
I'll let the experts fill you in on the upgrades on the motor.
I'll let the experts fill you in on the upgrades on the motor.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Hey everyone im new to the forum and pretty new to corvettes. I know some stuff about cars but not corvettes in particular. Please correct me on anything wrong and give me any info or input. I was first wondering if the stock 350 is the L83? and i was also wondering what are some suggestions for building this motor. Thanks for any input.
Suggestions for building the engine? Do you mean that it is apart and needs to be reassembled or are you looking to rebuild it for more power?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Detroit Michigan
thanks guys. and yes it hasnt even been started in 15 years or more, my grandfather gave it to me it has been sitting in his garage i think it has plates from 93 haha. I am looking to do a rebuild + more power. I have the knowlege to get the car running properly again but i dont know where to go from there for these motors. thanks
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Detroit Michigan
haha i knew there was an L and some numbers. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
thanks guys. and yes it hasnt even been started in 15 years or more, my grandfather gave it to me it has been sitting in his garage i think it has plates from 93 haha. I am looking to do a rebuild + more power. I have the knowlege to get the car running properly again but i dont know where to go from there for these motors. thanks
Okay, so you want more power. Next we need to know what your budget is and if you're trying to keep it numbers matching or if you want to keep it looking stock or if any of that matters.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Detroit Michigan
Well as of right now the car is completley orgional and has 60,000 origional miles. from what i know i dont think they are all that rare? so would the value decrease a significant amount if i started to go with performance mods. i would plan on keeping all the origional parts anyways.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Well as of right now the car is completley orgional and has 60,000 origional miles. from what i know i dont think they are all that rare? so would the value decrease a significant amount if i started to go with performance mods. i would plan on keeping all the origional parts anyways.
If you are concerned at all with future value to a buyer, then keep the engine original, bag it, store it, and build a motor yourself or buy a crate engine. There is not much you can do to the stock engine without making big changes. You're very limited with bolt on power. The compression is low and the heads don't flow very well.
You can start with a bare block, and build yourself a 300+ HP engine for around $2K. You can buy a crate engine for a grand more. Obviously that might be more than the $1,500 you could spend in machine work and upgrades but you would be doing that to a stock engine that 'might' be worth something to someone down the road if you sold the Vette.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,125
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Well you have an 1974, so you have either a L-48 or a L-82 if it's it's small block and a LS-4 if it's a big block. L-83's were only built in 1982 and 1984. If you want to mod the heck out of it, then remove and box or wrap up all the stock parts that are original and saveable and or the engine. A GM crate moter is cheap and very worthwhile as far as performance is concerned. But if your interested in going the 'All Original' route, then rebuilding of what you've got is the order of the day. I'd check the serial numbers to see how original the car is.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Detroit Michigan
ok. I will check the serial numbers first. What is a good route if i were to build of the stock motor, i would rather do this than get a crate motor mainly because i want to build and learn about the motor compared to just ordering one already made and dropping it in. Keep in mind i am only 18 and still learning. thanks for the input