Hard choice
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: poughkeepsie ny
Hard choice
I have a numbers matching 73 with a 454 in it. i am stuck on what i want to do to it.
I dont have the kind of money to make it a show winner and i plan on it being a nice weekend car.
now my problem is do i leave it all original and drive it as is or do i upgrade the motor with a performance package to give it more pep and make a really fun driver out of it.
I dont plan on chopping the hood for a blower or slapping a sc on it. or any obvious changes to it.
so what are your opinions on the subject
I dont have the kind of money to make it a show winner and i plan on it being a nice weekend car.
now my problem is do i leave it all original and drive it as is or do i upgrade the motor with a performance package to give it more pep and make a really fun driver out of it.
I dont plan on chopping the hood for a blower or slapping a sc on it. or any obvious changes to it.
so what are your opinions on the subject
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I know one guy that had your same problem. He went and bought/built another engine, pickled and stored the original and dropped the other engine in. He's having a blast driving it, and can go back to original numbers matching if he ever needs to. In your case, a ZZ454 might be a thought.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
If you are not sure, then take it slow. I would start with exhaust, such as headers, 2.5 inch pipes and turbos out the back. Make sure suspension and brakes are up to snuff. You need this stuff anyway. I always wanted to Mickey Mouse my (mostly original) 68 L36 Roadster. I'm glad I didn't. Just my 2 cents...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,930
Likes: 3,336
From: NYC NY
What's the budget? How much more power do you want? Besides numbers match is the rest of the car "all original"?
If you want to go easy on the wallet and don't want to do anything that's not reversable a high efficient header and under car exhaust will do wonders. An intake manifold that fits under the hood of course and a real good tune up including carb and distributor (like LARS would do
) will really wake the car up.
with thee ZZ454 idea but that starts at 6K and you don't have anything else to go with it. 
If you want to go easy on the wallet and don't want to do anything that's not reversable a high efficient header and under car exhaust will do wonders. An intake manifold that fits under the hood of course and a real good tune up including carb and distributor (like LARS would do
) will really wake the car up. with thee ZZ454 idea but that starts at 6K and you don't have anything else to go with it.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Since the car appears original I wouild want to keep it that way and do some subtle things to add horsepower like some head work--porting/polishing. Lots of horsies generated from heads that are done properly without compromising your original appearance.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: poughkeepsie ny
here is what i have been looking at.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2094/
I was told to look at brodix as opposed to these but i dont know what im looking at to tell the difference on paper.
i was also thinking a set of hookers headers. full length ceramic coated to some kind of exhaust not sure yet
going to a msd distributor
MABEY a spare virgin 454 block and boring it .30 over and stroking it. at the same time upping the compression to 10 to 1.
of i had the money i would do an all alum block and go nuts.
the car is all matching numbers but it needs body work and paint it had a color change that looks like it was macco style. as far as staying original anything that comes off will stay in storage and never be sold so going back to original will not be an issue.
but as far as i know the heads and other stuff im thinking of are not numbered to the vin.
so more pondering. if you guys have any input on what the "best" heads / cams are i will listen. I am a convert from the import scene and am feeling my way through the dark with an american car.
thanks
Matt
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2094/
I was told to look at brodix as opposed to these but i dont know what im looking at to tell the difference on paper.
i was also thinking a set of hookers headers. full length ceramic coated to some kind of exhaust not sure yet
going to a msd distributor
MABEY a spare virgin 454 block and boring it .30 over and stroking it. at the same time upping the compression to 10 to 1.
of i had the money i would do an all alum block and go nuts.
the car is all matching numbers but it needs body work and paint it had a color change that looks like it was macco style. as far as staying original anything that comes off will stay in storage and never be sold so going back to original will not be an issue.
but as far as i know the heads and other stuff im thinking of are not numbered to the vin.
so more pondering. if you guys have any input on what the "best" heads / cams are i will listen. I am a convert from the import scene and am feeling my way through the dark with an american car.
thanks
Matt
Last edited by 73 454 vette; Aug 2, 2009 at 12:46 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
I had some of the same back-n-forth when I purchased my 73 LS-4. I highly recommend waking that engine up. Some compression, a cam (campitable with a rear gear of 3:55 or so), headers, and a set of good heads will turn those cubes loose.
I went with these:
http://www.brodix.com/heads/raceritebb.html
With the above upgrades, you're around 450 Hp at the fly.
One of the appeals of a 73 is the beautiful lines of the (functioning) cowl hood. I run the stock air cleaner which mates with the hood, but limits your choices of intake manfoild. I run an L-36 aluminum q-jet from a 69 Vette with my stock LS-4 q-jet, and it all fits just fine under the cowl hood. I went with the L-36 intake for weight savings, but you could run your stock LS-4 intake. Some porting in the intake would be worthwhile.
I painted my Brodix heads and alum L-36 intake Chevy Engine Orange, so other than the headers, she looks just like a factory LS-4 engine.
FWIW
I went with these:
http://www.brodix.com/heads/raceritebb.html
With the above upgrades, you're around 450 Hp at the fly.
One of the appeals of a 73 is the beautiful lines of the (functioning) cowl hood. I run the stock air cleaner which mates with the hood, but limits your choices of intake manfoild. I run an L-36 aluminum q-jet from a 69 Vette with my stock LS-4 q-jet, and it all fits just fine under the cowl hood. I went with the L-36 intake for weight savings, but you could run your stock LS-4 intake. Some porting in the intake would be worthwhile.
I painted my Brodix heads and alum L-36 intake Chevy Engine Orange, so other than the headers, she looks just like a factory LS-4 engine.
FWIW
Last edited by 73, Dark Blue 454; Aug 2, 2009 at 10:45 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Roseville CA
I have a numbers matching 73 with a 454 in it. i am stuck on what i want to do to it.
I dont have the kind of money to make it a show winner and i plan on it being a nice weekend car.
now my problem is do i leave it all original and drive it as is or do i upgrade the motor with a performance package to give it more pep and make a really fun driver out of it.
I dont plan on chopping the hood for a blower or slapping a sc on it. or any obvious changes to it.
so what are your opinions on the subject
I dont have the kind of money to make it a show winner and i plan on it being a nice weekend car.
now my problem is do i leave it all original and drive it as is or do i upgrade the motor with a performance package to give it more pep and make a really fun driver out of it.
I dont plan on chopping the hood for a blower or slapping a sc on it. or any obvious changes to it.
so what are your opinions on the subject
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Easy, increase power!
If you decide to increase power, this http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2094/
is basically a racing setup requiring a race prepared block, not a "performance package" for LS4!
FYI LS-4 cam 210/210 @ .050 .440/.440 115 LS
Headers, cam, heads, etc. will wake it up.
now my problem is do i leave it all original and drive it as is or do i upgrade the motor with a performance package to give it more pep and make a really fun driver out of it.
is basically a racing setup requiring a race prepared block, not a "performance package" for LS4!
FYI LS-4 cam 210/210 @ .050 .440/.440 115 LS
Headers, cam, heads, etc. will wake it up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If your '73 is nearly original, now is not the time to change that. 73's are just entering the "window" when they are being considered as desirable vintage cars (some will argue with that...but they're wrong). Plus, you have a BB 454 in it. My recommendation is to keep the visible areas of the engine completely stock, but rework the original heads to have 3-angle valve seats and porting, better valve springs, roller rockers and a much better cam, pistons. Then rebuild it. It should be much 'peppier' than a new stock engine and the vintage value of an 'original' BB '73 C3 will continue to grow as well.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: poughkeepsie ny
i was thinking a stroker kit with a raised compression for the stock block and a set of heads but as i said i would keep all the old parts so i could replace them.
I am for the most part keeping it stock looking outside the car and under the hood but am looking for more out of it.
I am for the most part keeping it stock looking outside the car and under the hood but am looking for more out of it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 87
From: Putnam county NY
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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If it runs well, I'd leave it as is.
My '72 454 is bone stock and starts quickly, idles nicely and is reliable every time I take it out.
The BB torque is plenty of fun as is.
My '72 454 is bone stock and starts quickly, idles nicely and is reliable every time I take it out.
The BB torque is plenty of fun as is.