'75 l-82
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 173
From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,095
Likes: 4,025
From: New Braunfels Texas
Timing is a good way to bump performance on these.....
Install a curve kit that will get you about 12 degrees initial and 36-37 total. Put a timing tape on the balancer or install a balancer with 0-60 markings.
The real problem is the exhaust.....research your options there....like a Magnaflow hi-flow cat.....and mandrel bent exhaust/headers....
Big gains there.....and it supports later mods.
The Performer EPS is a good upgrade for the stock intake.....
A mild camshaft is imperceptible to the eye.
Bowl blending of the cylinder heads is also a viable option.....
It will never pull wheel stands but the above mods can eek another 60 horsepower or so out of it....while looking almost stock.
Jebby
Install a curve kit that will get you about 12 degrees initial and 36-37 total. Put a timing tape on the balancer or install a balancer with 0-60 markings.
The real problem is the exhaust.....research your options there....like a Magnaflow hi-flow cat.....and mandrel bent exhaust/headers....
Big gains there.....and it supports later mods.
The Performer EPS is a good upgrade for the stock intake.....
A mild camshaft is imperceptible to the eye.
Bowl blending of the cylinder heads is also a viable option.....
It will never pull wheel stands but the above mods can eek another 60 horsepower or so out of it....while looking almost stock.
Jebby
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 50
From: Laguna Niguel California
I hear you about stock and smog concerns, but you might consider better heads that look stock but improve everything. Those original 882 heads are pretty lame, plus I did an accurate cc compression calculation on an L-82 at one time and found it to be really 7.9:1.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
And probably a huge key to tapping into respectable power.
Something like this Lunati http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=2323&gid=287 would probably make for a real nice upgrade in a stock 350.
Also agree with Debby on the exhaust and timing.
Something like this Lunati http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=2323&gid=287 would probably make for a real nice upgrade in a stock 350.
Also agree with Debby on the exhaust and timing.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,095
Likes: 4,025
From: New Braunfels Texas
And probably a huge key to tapping into respectable power.
Something like this Lunati http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=2323&gid=287 would probably make for a real nice upgrade in a stock 350.
Also agree with Debby on the exhaust and timing.
Something like this Lunati http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=2323&gid=287 would probably make for a real nice upgrade in a stock 350.
Also agree with Debby on the exhaust and timing.
Keep everything mild....and it will retain that all important torque....
That cam is not bad at all....Crane makes a very similar one....
You can make a fun cruiser with the right mild combo....all in what you want, and how much $$$ you want to spend.
L-82 is an excellent base.
Jebby
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
I agree the exhaust system change from 74 to 75 was a major blow. If you can't fix the exhaust , well your just screwed.
Also , I'm not sure how friendly the 1975 carb is to modifications .....seems like there were internal mods to prevent owner hot rod
The converter and it's horrible exhaust system choked the engine off pretty bad.
Put 74 L82 exhaust pipes on it, and an old school tuning of dizzy , timing , and carb setup by somebody who know his old school engines.
A 3:70 axle would enhance the feel .
Also , I'm not sure how friendly the 1975 carb is to modifications .....seems like there were internal mods to prevent owner hot rod
The converter and it's horrible exhaust system choked the engine off pretty bad.
Put 74 L82 exhaust pipes on it, and an old school tuning of dizzy , timing , and carb setup by somebody who know his old school engines.
A 3:70 axle would enhance the feel .
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; Nov 20, 2015 at 11:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
He said he wants to keep it stock. If that's the case, then as mentioned above: timing, mild mods to the distributor (can't been seen) and carb adjustments are pretty much it. Start pulling apart a motor with age and miles on it to replace a cam, and now you're looking at a cam / lifter kit, timing chain, pulling the distributor, intake, water pump. radiator, ps pump, alternator etc. It's not like you can just slide a new cam in.
Where do you stop with that job, and now you have a bunch of clean / new / painted parts on the front of a motor with miles on it. It will look anything but stock and original when you're done.
Where do you stop with that job, and now you have a bunch of clean / new / painted parts on the front of a motor with miles on it. It will look anything but stock and original when you're done.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
He said he wants to keep it stock. If that's the case, then as mentioned above: timing, mild mods to the distributor (can't been seen) and carb adjustments are pretty much it. Start pulling apart a motor with age and miles on it to replace a cam, and now you're looking at a cam / lifter kit, timing chain, pulling the distributor, intake, water pump. radiator, ps pump, alternator etc. It's not like you can just slide a new cam in.
Where do you stop with that job, and now you have a bunch of clean / new / painted parts on the front of a motor with miles on it. It will look anything but stock and original when you're done.
Where do you stop with that job, and now you have a bunch of clean / new / painted parts on the front of a motor with miles on it. It will look anything but stock and original when you're done.
Unless his state won't allow the cat to be removed ......not much you can do . The exhaust is the prime culprit limiting options, slamming the door shut on performance. Headers and true duals , cheap upgrade.
Old school part like a set 350 /350 heads would be cool keeping with the original apparence theme , adding the compression. But unless you fix the exhaust, to me it's just not worth it.