1978 Vette
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
1978 Vette 350
Are there any resonably priced modifications to make this car faster. It is a dog. I got beat by some foreigner in a riced out civic that looked as if it was from a salvage yard.
Last edited by JustinD; Jul 13, 2005 at 12:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
Well there already is a new Holly Carb on it. And a new aluminum radiator. So a cam and lifters may be a good start? Sounds like alot of work have to take the whole front clip off. Maybe I'll start at the cylender heads. Also it started pulling to the right a little when you put the brakes on. What is this a sign of is there some air in the line, or do I need to get some brakes and replace the pads and bleed the system?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
Start with a good tune-up. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor.
Then set the timing correctly (no, not what the factory says, that's for emissions, set it to what a small block wants). Be sure to change out the factory springs.
Next, make sure the carb is working properly and is tuned as well.
There are several papers at www.corvettefaq.com to help with all of this. Most written by Lars.
Do you have the stock pancake converter? If so you should do something about it. If you only need to pass a visual in your state (like me), then you should gut it and put it back. The pancake converters robbed over 20HP from those motors. If you need to pass emissions, then put on a high flow.
Which motor do you have? I have an L-82. The car is not the fastest, but it's definitely a lot more fun to drive than a Civic (I know, I have one of those too).
You would be surprised how much difference a good tune-up can make. I had mine tuned by Lars personally in May and the car feels completely different than before the tune.
Good luck.
Then set the timing correctly (no, not what the factory says, that's for emissions, set it to what a small block wants). Be sure to change out the factory springs.
Next, make sure the carb is working properly and is tuned as well.
There are several papers at www.corvettefaq.com to help with all of this. Most written by Lars.
Do you have the stock pancake converter? If so you should do something about it. If you only need to pass a visual in your state (like me), then you should gut it and put it back. The pancake converters robbed over 20HP from those motors. If you need to pass emissions, then put on a high flow.
Which motor do you have? I have an L-82. The car is not the fastest, but it's definitely a lot more fun to drive than a Civic (I know, I have one of those too).
You would be surprised how much difference a good tune-up can make. I had mine tuned by Lars personally in May and the car feels completely different than before the tune.
Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
Originally Posted by JustinD
Are there any resonably priced modifications to make this car faster. It is a dog. I got beat by some foreigner in a riced out civic that looked as if it was from a salvage yard.
Is yours auto or stick,225 or the 185 hp engine, just sounds like you need a good tune up and somebody to tweek it a little bit.
best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: rockwall tx
Originally Posted by SLVRSHRK
Do you have the stock pancake converter? If so you should do something about it. If you only need to pass a visual in your state (like me), then you should gut it and put it back. The pancake converters robbed over 20HP from those motors. If you need to pass emissions, then put on a high flow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
Originally Posted by jlaw68
dont mean to sound stupid, but what is a pancake converter?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
Originally Posted by JustinD
No emmissions in my state.
You could go with headers, but the Rams Horns are very good manifolds.
I will be doing some mods on my exhaust in the future and want to keep a stock look. I am planning on doing the following:
replacing manifolds with manifolds from 1965. These have a true 2.5" outlet as opposed to the 2" on the stock 78. You can get these aftermarket with AIR holes so they will look stock if you have a smog pump.
Dual high flow cats and 2.5" pipes in true duals from that point on.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by JustinD
No emmissions in my state.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
*screams* get rid of those POS's - dual original cats - what a nightmare - take those out and just add pipes - get headers - set the carb up correctly - then cam /intake/heads and you wont have to fear any junker ricer
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: rockwall tx
if there is a visual inspection then just gut the inside of the cats, if you have emissions testing then put on a couple of the aftermarket cats that flow better. alot of the guys that run the ls1 and ls2's are running the freeflowing cats
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Port Alberni
Lots of HP
I have a 1978 vette with a 350 and it is over 400hp.All you need is money and you can make the car go as fast as you want.My engine has been rebuilt the list is endless of the parts but when I put my foot in to it it goes not any rice burners pass it.