1978 L48 350 camshaft
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From: Poway California
1978 L48 350 camshaft
I am rebuilding my 1978 corvette pace car engine. It is an L48 350 and I am looking for a camshaft. I want a performance step up from stock (which I don't know what it is). So if anyone can tell me what a good cam is and also what the stock cams specs are.
P.S. I have a pretty good understanding of cam specs so if you could incorporate those it will be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I have a pretty good understanding of cam specs so if you could incorporate those it will be greatly appreciated.
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the link below gives you the specs. To advise on a different cam you need to provide more information. To start with what are you looking for a street only cam, street/strip, etc. In addition automatic or manual transmission and what is the rear end ratio?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...on-79-l48.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...on-79-l48.html
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Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Poway California
the link below gives you the specs. To advise on a different cam you need to provide more information. To start with what are you looking for a street only cam, street/strip, etc. In addition automatic or manual transmission and what is the rear end ratio?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...on-79-l48.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...on-79-l48.html
Last edited by samuel082799; Apr 30, 2016 at 12:10 AM.
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The basic summit/edelbrock cam would be a step up. Headers, dual exhaust and a good ignition curve would be much better options and support whatever you do to the engine if you haven't done them yet.
SUM-1102: 204/214 dur @ 0.050", 0.421/0.444" lift. 112 LSA.
The stock cam is 194/204(I get different numbers from different sources, but close to this), .390/.410 lift.
SUM-1102: 204/214 dur @ 0.050", 0.421/0.444" lift. 112 LSA.
The stock cam is 194/204(I get different numbers from different sources, but close to this), .390/.410 lift.
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If I was rebuilding the L-48 to stock spec, even with a little more CR, I probably wouldn't go too far from the stock cam. The heads on these (and frankly the L-82s) don't support a lot of power.
How open are you to change on your rebuild? What's your ultimate goal for power and torque?
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From: Poway California
You can, but the L-82 cam is probably at least two "steps" up from the L-48 cam. The L-82 has a little more static CR, a bit more head flow (bigger valves) and can tolerate a bit more cam. The L-82s were also geared more aggressively(high numerical, or "lower") from the factory, on average. Some L-48s came with more aggressive gearing from the factory, and of course they may have been changed (for better or worse) somewhere in the last 35-40 years.
If I was rebuilding the L-48 to stock spec, even with a little more CR, I probably wouldn't go too far from the stock cam. The heads on these (and frankly the L-82s) don't support a lot of power.
How open are you to change on your rebuild? What's your ultimate goal for power and torque?
If I was rebuilding the L-48 to stock spec, even with a little more CR, I probably wouldn't go too far from the stock cam. The heads on these (and frankly the L-82s) don't support a lot of power.
How open are you to change on your rebuild? What's your ultimate goal for power and torque?
Last edited by samuel082799; Apr 30, 2016 at 12:59 PM.
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From: San Jose CA
My goal is to not completely destroy the engine because it is a numbers matching, but it is also a driver so I want to give it a little more get up and go. I haven't started the rebuild yet because I have a crate engine in the car and the original out because it blew a head gasket. So nothing has been done yet so I am open to new ideas. But I want it to pass smog.
You don't have to go that far, but it's a nice setup!
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My engine is close to the limit of what you can do and stay smog legal in CA: 400 CI Dart SHP small block, roller cam (custom, similar to Comp XFI 268 in spec), AFR 195 eliminators, ZZ4 intake manifold (10185063), Hedman 68301 headers, 10.24:1 CR. Forged crank, rods, pistons. 451hp/484lb-ft, and passed smog easily - with a blown cat.
You don't have to go that far, but it's a nice setup!
You don't have to go that far, but it's a nice setup!
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Joined: Jan 2000
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From: San Jose CA
No problem. If you can up the CR a little bit, the 204/214 cam and a good exhaust system with headers will get you close to 300hp.