1978 L82 engine ??
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
1978 L82 engine ??
Good evening, I have a 1981 with a 1969 350 truck engine in it (4bolt mains). It has some bottom end issues that will eventually kill it. It runs very well though. There is a rebuildable 1978 L82 available nearby for $ 395/obo. Are the 1978 L 82s worth while ? I would plan on a fairly mild/street set up on the L82. Or should I just rebuild the truck engine ? Any advice would be helpful, Thanks, Chuck
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 153
Likes: 10
From: Minneapolis
Good evening, I have a 1981 with a 1969 350 truck engine in it (4bolt mains). It has some bottom end issues that will eventually kill it. It runs very well though. There is a rebuildable 1978 L82 available nearby for $ 395/obo. Are the 1978 L 82s worth while ? I would plan on a fairly mild/street set up on the L82. Or should I just rebuild the truck engine ? Any advice would be helpful, Thanks, Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I beg to differ. I think the bottom end of a 78 L-82 is better than a 69 truck engine. 4 bolt mains on the L-82 and forged internals. Yes, everyone knows the heads are junk on the smog era L-82's, so upgrade the top end and you'd have a sweet combo.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: Calgary Alberta
I believe it should have a forged crank, 4 bolt mains, hardened rods, and possibly forged pistons. Depending on the condition of the engine you might want to get it bored .030 and put new pistons and rings in it to build a 355.
The 882 heads have a tendency to crack so I would say replace the heads with better GM castings or aluminum aftermarket heads along with a performance roller cam, and possibly an intake and carb. Things should be pretty nice from there on.
I have heard that the L-82 intake and the Q-jet are very good parts to keep as well so if you choose to reuse them I'm sure they would work fine. I would suggest maybe to have your Q-jet carb rebuilt by Lars to get the most out of it. Hope this info. is helpful...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Is 400 clams really what a "rebuildable" L82 engine goes for? Seems like a pretty good chunk of money for what is basically just another SBC engine, when you get right down to it. If you are planning on building a relatively mild engine, you don't need a forged crank, or even 4 bolt mains, for that matter, and all the rest of the engine is stuff you'd have to replace anyway. If I were you, here's the direction I would go in:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...make/chevrolet
1,600 clams for a brand-new, stock engine with a warranty, and no shipping, to boot. Can't beat that with a stick, man. Down the road, (or right away, if you don't care about voiding the warranty) you can put better heads and a cam in it, and have a pretty nice engine.
Scott
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...make/chevrolet
1,600 clams for a brand-new, stock engine with a warranty, and no shipping, to boot. Can't beat that with a stick, man. Down the road, (or right away, if you don't care about voiding the warranty) you can put better heads and a cam in it, and have a pretty nice engine.
Scott
