Look... the problem I was intially trying to communicate to the OP is that his secondary throttle plates may not be actuating because of a mis-adjusted throttle cable and/or linkage. You can go read it again, but that is what I described to him. This is a very common problem, as most owners don't know how the linkage is set up/adjusted, nor how to properly determine if it is correctly set.

Then you offer to correct my understanding of how a Q-jet works and proceed to describe it incorrectly. You need to realize that this thread is for the benefit of the OP....not you.

 

Your Arrogance has no bounds. If your last statement was true then you would not have even felt the need to point it out....what an irony..... and this entire forum and its contents are for the benefit of everyone here regardless of the original poster. I learn from a lot of threads, but I guess I shouldn't because they are not meant for me. I can handle being corrected, but I will not be breated by the arrogance of a know it all who refuses to engage in a simple conversation that in the end both parties might learn something from, instead you continue to belittle me and try to puff yourself up....good job, I hope you feel better, I'm Out......

 

No offense, Dennis, but using the expression "stock ('79) L48" in the same sentence as "menacing" would suggest you are the one who lives under an orange sky.

 

I know what its like, 78 L82 auto here. Wish I could do something to wake it up cheaply.

 

I've got the L48.

Reasons the tires would not chirp or smoke?

1. Underpowered.
Solution, bigger cam better exhaust and complete tune up

2. Broken motor mount
Solution, replaced mounts

3. Worn Supension
Solution, shocks, springs, bushings

Each one of these things made a world of difference to my 79. Its not a speed demon of course, but its no dog anymore. Has pep, and can smoke em' if I want to. I only do it when the kid asks. Tires are expensive and I just like to cruise!

Rebuilding the top half of my motor and moving to a L82 style cam really made a huge difference in power FYI... Subtle change, still near stock and inexpensive!

 

Vettebuyer5869, well put! I'm glad to see your on the same planet I am on.

 

I have a '79 L48 that is still stock with 45,000 miles on it. Let's face it, it's a dog but it is a great cruiser because it is fullly loaded with A/C and leather. If I want more power I would save the original motor for the next owner and put in a ZZ4. If I want better gas mileage I would take out the weak TH350 auto and put in a 4 speed auto.

 

Same here on all points. However, I prefer it just as it is.

That's what makes it such a great cruiser.

I will say changing the CAM makes a world of difference.

 

Ok ........no ragging the L-82.....I had a 79 M21 L-82 with 3:70 gears and it would run peel rubber all day long. The major mod was throwing away the convertor and all the smog garbage and retuning it. I once gave a local short track popular race driver a ride short but effective ride , I was 21 years old and rebuilt that car myself. He needed to change his draws when he got out.

The L-82 should have never been offered with "STOCK" auto transmission. It is a deep breathing engine and really doesn't out perform a L-48 till maybe 4000RPM....... if you know how to drive and understand your car , it will go fast.......

Tuned right and driven by somebody not scared to keep the RPMS rocking all day ........it will scoot right along.. fine thank you...

 

i added a edelbrock performer intake and 1806 Thunder Series AVS Carburetor 650 cfm, Electric Choke. plus a 65,000 volt distributor plugs and wires. mine moves along a lot better now. i dont try and do burn outs but to each there own. cam might go in next year. looking at summit full length headers and dual exhaust (flowmaster mufflers)that will exit infront of the rear tires. any thoughts on that exhaust setup? thanks

 

This might be off the beaten path but have you checked your catalytic convert? if its clogged like my 75 vette was, your car will be a dog!!!

 

I agree. Given your question for desiring improved performance on a stock '79 L-48 with absolutly no additional money, if you advance the base timing from probably current 8 degrees BTDC to say, 12 degrees, you will see improved acceleration. Current parts being ok.

 

Maybe you'rs was modified before you got it. My 79 is an L82 4 speed with 3.70 gears. It has 60,000 miles and a recent professional rebuild. Compared to my 70 Torino with 351 Cleveland its a big disappointment. But then I bought it for looks, not for performance (fortunately).

 

All the ego flexing and specific cars menacing performance aside...

No one is foolish enough to say the 79 was a fire breather in stock form but it can be helped out a bit.

I owned 2 81's...one started out showroom stock the other had a crate engine...big difference.

The stock 81 compared to the anemic performance of the 79...I drove that stock 81 in the 80's as transportation as a daily driver and I loved it, I thought the car was cool looking but that pride died fast as I would get spanked over and over in stop light choosing offs by nearly everything on the road..and people do like to choose off vettes..I was also big into Kit cars and the 80's was a hey day for them...it was a real kick in the pride to have warmed over VW engines spank the 81 in that spot light drag strip playing around.

Now we have all kinds of 4 and 6 lung turbo and super charged factory built cars that are fast...they will really embarrass a car like a stock 79 vette....I am not saying I need some speed demon but part of the vette allure the mystique and coolness of the vette is it should be able to be thought of as more than a comfy cruise vessel that looks cool.

So the OT's car sounds even slow for a 79....I read several savvy members ideas to help the car out and all are very good ideas to try....I would add to that list a compression check...perhaps you will fend better than I did with 3 dead lungs but it was a good excuse to drop a hot 383 in there....now those new cars will not spank me quite as badly....