New 75' owner first vette
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown VA
New 75' owner first vette
Hey hows it going everyone! Im 22 and I recently just bought a 1975 L48 and one of the first question I have is what is a good engine to replace the L48 with? Im looking for more power but something that would not require me to change the hood or anything. Thanks for the help any advice is awesome!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
welcome to the asylum...and watch out for that 13bats he's trouble,
As far as engines each reply you receive will be different, me, I like old school big blocks,
Is the engine in your car too tired to hop up?
As far as engines each reply you receive will be different, me, I like old school big blocks,
Is the engine in your car too tired to hop up?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown VA
The engine runs great and will start up no problem. I was just looking for something a little bigger. I don't know the best engine for what I want so I figured I would ask
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
While I am a bb fan it's likely not the most modern or cost efficient way of car crafting,
The 383 is popular and each person builds theirs different to the last,
the LS swaps are popular,
You will have to figure out what you really want and if you are honest about how you will use it you will be happier with your build, zillion hp street engines might have great bragging rights at the local biffy burger cruise but if you just cruise it will be a costly waste that might not even make you happy,
same is true if you want to blast down the 1320 or carve some twisty track, match the engine to what you will really do with it.
Then you will again get a different answer from each person which is "best"
Best for me for example is a high torque low rpm mild 454,
It fits my budget and my desires.
If you just want a bit more and the bottom end of your engine is sound lots of great top end/cam kits out there will wake it right up.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown VA
While I am a bb fan it's likely not the most modern or cost efficient way of car crafting,
The 383 is popular and each person builds theirs different to the last,
the LS swaps are popular,
You will have to figure out what you really want and if you are honest about how you will use it you will be happier with your build, zillion hp street engines might have great bragging rights at the local biffy burger cruise but if you just cruise it will be a costly waste that might not even make you happy,
same is true if you want to blast down the 1320 or carve some twisty track, match the engine to what you will really do with it.
Then you will again get a different answer from each person which is "best"
Best for me for example is a high torque low rpm mild 454,
It fits my budget and my desires.
If you just want a bit more and the bottom end of your engine is sound lots of great top end/cam kits out there will wake it right up.
Thank you so much for the advice and ideas! I will most likely do the head and cam kit. 454 sounds like a dream but would I have to do any work to the transmission if I changed to a 454?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown VA
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
While many people scoff a heck of a lot, truck 454's have ended up in vettes and all kinds of cars, they have a pile of low end torque which is fun on the street in the way a cruiser drives,
Mine is mild, oval port iron heads tame cam etc....it would tear the tires off the wheels if I didn't let up.
but in your case you would still be ahead money and trouble wise to just do that head, intake, carb , exhaust upgrade on your engine....
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown VA
a big block will drop right in but they have all their own special stuff brackets etc, then the front springs etc,
While many people scoff a heck of a lot, truck 454's have ended up in vettes and all kinds of cars, they have a pile of low end torque which is fun on the street in the way a cruiser drives,
Mine is mild, oval port iron heads tame cam etc....it would tear the tires off the wheels if I didn't let up.
but in your case you would still be ahead money and trouble wise to just do that head, intake, carb , exhaust upgrade on your engine....
While many people scoff a heck of a lot, truck 454's have ended up in vettes and all kinds of cars, they have a pile of low end torque which is fun on the street in the way a cruiser drives,
Mine is mild, oval port iron heads tame cam etc....it would tear the tires off the wheels if I didn't let up.
but in your case you would still be ahead money and trouble wise to just do that head, intake, carb , exhaust upgrade on your engine....
I will most likely go with the head, intake, carb , exhaust upgrade! thank you very much but I will sure be on the look out for a 454 haha
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Think about doing it old school in steps, do the intake and carb and exhaust see if you like it, might be good for a spell then if the addiction is still craving do the cam and heads,
Last edited by The13Bats; Jul 4, 2016 at 11:24 PM.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,582
Likes: 7,022
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
OOOOPS! It's jumped back into Horsepower Mode again.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown VA
haha I wouldn't say horsepower mode I would just say I don't think 165 stock is justice for a vette. not looking to blow the wheels off or race just looking for more power when I want it.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown VA
alright will do! I was going to do flowmasters on it and I will look into the intake and see where it goes from there! thanks
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
congrats on the '75 and best of luck.before i would do anything to up the power i would make sure all the suspension and steering components are up to snuff.these cars handle different from modern cars especially with the steering ratio what it is.i was 22 once a very very long time ago.enjoy!three best looking years btw '75,'76 and '77.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 822
Likes: 82
From: Columbus OH
Welcome to the club! As others have said, have fun with it.
A less restrictive exhaust, heads, cam, intake are all good places to gain in. Do some research again in what you want to do with it before buying "kits".
You are like I was, 22 and bought myself a 76 while in college. Had some fun with that car.
Oh, and this thread is worthless without pictures. Com'on show us the Corvette with your big new perma-grin.
A less restrictive exhaust, heads, cam, intake are all good places to gain in. Do some research again in what you want to do with it before buying "kits".
You are like I was, 22 and bought myself a 76 while in college. Had some fun with that car.
Oh, and this thread is worthless without pictures. Com'on show us the Corvette with your big new perma-grin.
