350 cid Needs help!!!
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
350 cid Needs help!!!
I have a 78 silver anniv. corvette. I got this when my father passed away. It has the 350 in it with the quadrajet carb. This thing has no ***** will barely turn tires over. He put the S.S. exhuast on it with Monza mufflers. Sounds good but thats it. What can I do to it without breaking the bank to get some raz out of it? It only has 38000 miles on it and I have put maybe 100 on in th elast 3 years. Any help would be great would like to drive it more if it was more fun.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
You didn't say if you had the L-82 or the L- 48. The best thing to do would be to had headers,aluminium intake and a better carb. Underdrive pulley could make you gain a few horse too. you didn't say how big your ss exaust was. A 2½" would make your engine breath better.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 402
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
Coolerman:
I'm no performance wiz but wanted to express my sympathy regarding you father's passing. My dad died a few years back and left me his 69' Mustang Fastback w/351 Windsor, 2bbl. I spent $2,500 to get it running again and sold it to my sister who spent $25,000 making it into a 69'/70' bastardized taco-wagon (Looks nice but I prefer stock.)
Anyway, this has nothing to do with performance but believe you should indeed upgrade the Vette and make it yours. Your dad will be smiling from above, delighted that his son is taking care of his ride!
Best of luck
James
I'm no performance wiz but wanted to express my sympathy regarding you father's passing. My dad died a few years back and left me his 69' Mustang Fastback w/351 Windsor, 2bbl. I spent $2,500 to get it running again and sold it to my sister who spent $25,000 making it into a 69'/70' bastardized taco-wagon (Looks nice but I prefer stock.)
Anyway, this has nothing to do with performance but believe you should indeed upgrade the Vette and make it yours. Your dad will be smiling from above, delighted that his son is taking care of his ride!
Best of luck
James
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham AL
Personally, the value in potential re-sale is the originality of the vehicle. I know, none of us INTENDS to sell our babies, but you do have to plan around the possibility.
My plan FWIW is I pulled my '77 L48 matching #'s motor and stored it and am building up a new 350 the way I want it for performance. The way these motors were tamed due to emissions and fuel economy stds of the day made them feel like gerbels. You're gonna be looking at something like a new cam, heads, headers (which you have), intake, and maybe carb (the orignal Q-jet is a good carb when tuned properly).
This article from covettefaq gives some great insight on crate engine options and build up from there:
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/goodwr...20part%201.htm
it's definitely a good read and loaded with lots of information along the lines you're looking for.
My plan FWIW is I pulled my '77 L48 matching #'s motor and stored it and am building up a new 350 the way I want it for performance. The way these motors were tamed due to emissions and fuel economy stds of the day made them feel like gerbels. You're gonna be looking at something like a new cam, heads, headers (which you have), intake, and maybe carb (the orignal Q-jet is a good carb when tuned properly).
This article from covettefaq gives some great insight on crate engine options and build up from there:
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/goodwr...20part%201.htm
it's definitely a good read and loaded with lots of information along the lines you're looking for.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
If you just want a nice driver, you can add Tuned-Port fuel injection to the stock bottom end. That would really wake it up. You do not have to hack the car up to do this mod. There is another thread on TPI today, read it and you can get more info.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Id start with simple first:
1) New cap and rotor
2) new plug wires
3) new spark plugs
4) get timing set "exactly" where it provides best performance - kind of hit or miss with me
5) properly adjust carberator for idle mixture, idle speed, choke operation and properly adjust secondaries - if applicable.
6) new fuel filter
7) new air filter
I know what "without breaking the bank" means.
1) New cap and rotor
2) new plug wires
3) new spark plugs
4) get timing set "exactly" where it provides best performance - kind of hit or miss with me
5) properly adjust carberator for idle mixture, idle speed, choke operation and properly adjust secondaries - if applicable.
6) new fuel filter
7) new air filter
I know what "without breaking the bank" means.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 3
From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL
for the motor? it needs to breathe: intake, cam, heads, and exhaust. Some of that can be done and still maintain some appearance of originality.
If you want to leave the motor alone? 3.70 rear end and (if automatic) higher stall torque converter.
I agree with Ruby76 though, you'd be surprised how much a little tuning can do. I went from 15.5 down to 15.1 just with a tune up and playing with jetting and adjustments when I had my L48 in the car.
If you want to leave the motor alone? 3.70 rear end and (if automatic) higher stall torque converter.
I agree with Ruby76 though, you'd be surprised how much a little tuning can do. I went from 15.5 down to 15.1 just with a tune up and playing with jetting and adjustments when I had my L48 in the car.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
From: glace bay nova scotia
first thing is to go true duals,2 1/2" pipes,headers will be nice, but duals will let it breathe better cheaply,quadrabog carbs are good if tuned well,leave the intake till you got extra $.definately get the distributor recurved, this will help a lot.
a rear end change will really wake it up but will cost $$.a good 2500 stall convertor will add good mojo for 2-300 bucks.
p.s. just get naaaws
sounds rice, but a 100 h.p. shot will cost less than a new rear end.
did i just say NOS. 
a rear end change will really wake it up but will cost $$.a good 2500 stall convertor will add good mojo for 2-300 bucks.
p.s. just get naaaws
sounds rice, but a 100 h.p. shot will cost less than a new rear end. did i just say NOS.
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