L48 intake question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
L48 intake question
other than weight savings what would be the advantage of swapping the stock L48 cast intake over to a stock aluminium 78/79 L82 intake?
there have been many on Ebay lately for $15 to $20 plus shipping
and im wondering if it would be worth it to swap over.
also keep in mind that i will be installing a true (catless i hope) dual exhaust come spring.
there have been many on Ebay lately for $15 to $20 plus shipping
and im wondering if it would be worth it to swap over.
also keep in mind that i will be installing a true (catless i hope) dual exhaust come spring.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I think the L82 intakes are high rise (kind of like the old LT-1 intakes). This can definitely help with top end power, although you may lose some torque down low (which may be indistinguishable). For that price, and the weight savings to boot (I replaced my cast iron manifold for a Weiand aluminum one, can't believe how heavy those old manifolds are), I'd probably spring for it. Now you just have to get the rest of the engine into shape...heads, cam, headers...
Good luck,
trw
Good luck,
trw
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield Texas
I am replacing My L48 cast iron manifold with an Edelbrock Performer
intake that I gave Myself for Xmas. It will get a little weight off the
front end and it darn sure looks better.Doubt that it will do much for
performance but dont plan on racing anybody with My L48 Automatic
anyway.
intake that I gave Myself for Xmas. It will get a little weight off the
front end and it darn sure looks better.Doubt that it will do much for
performance but dont plan on racing anybody with My L48 Automatic
anyway.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,235
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Originally Posted by 1Z87L8
other than weight savings what would be the advantage of swapping the stock L48 cast intake over to a stock aluminium 78/79 L82 intake?
there have been many on Ebay lately for $15 to $20 plus shipping
and im wondering if it would be worth it to swap over.
also keep in mind that i will be installing a true (catless i hope) dual exhaust come spring.
there have been many on Ebay lately for $15 to $20 plus shipping
and im wondering if it would be worth it to swap over.
also keep in mind that i will be installing a true (catless i hope) dual exhaust come spring.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 12,065
Likes: 2
From: Smalltownville Michigan
Cruise-In 5, 6 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
i put a stock 81 Z28 intake on my 77 and had absolutely no issues whatsopever with hood clearance.. i didn't notice any major improvements from just that ( i did it as part of a bigger mod though)
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Hot AZ
FYI - I replaced my L48 cast iron manifold with an Edelbrock Performer intake about a year ago. Looks much better and no clearance problems with stock air cleaner. On the performance side, I found the car did get a little peppier.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by BobzVette
FYI - I replaced my L48 cast iron manifold with an Edelbrock Performer intake about a year ago. Looks much better and no clearance problems with stock air cleaner. On the performance side, I found the car did get a little peppier.
i know i can save probably 20lbs by switching to the L82 manifold
and once painted is still stock looking.
also figured that since aluminium doesnt retain heat like cast that
the performance should be a little better due to cooler fuel but i could
be wrong.
either way thats the route i have decided to take and have begun to watch Ebay for another intake to be listed.
thanks again for all the answers
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: St Louis MO
I installed an Edelbrock Performer on an L48 last year. Fits well, looks good, no clearance problems. Definite improvement in acceleration.
Be careful buying aluminum intakes used, if not installed properly previously, they can become warped and once that occurs, they are of no value to anyone. There are good ones for sale, ask allot of questions before paying for one.
Good luck.
Be careful buying aluminum intakes used, if not installed properly previously, they can become warped and once that occurs, they are of no value to anyone. There are good ones for sale, ask allot of questions before paying for one.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by knbwag73
I installed an Edelbrock Performer on an L48 last year. Fits well, looks good, no clearance problems. Definite improvement in acceleration.
Be careful buying aluminum intakes used, if not installed properly previously, they can become warped and once that occurs, they are of no value to anyone. There are good ones for sale, ask allot of questions before paying for one.
Good luck.
Be careful buying aluminum intakes used, if not installed properly previously, they can become warped and once that occurs, they are of no value to anyone. There are good ones for sale, ask allot of questions before paying for one.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Be sure you get good pics from eBay for any candidate aluminum intakes. The aluminum intakes tend to deteriorate where they meet the cast iron heads and radiator coolant . After the OEM L82 intake on my '80 L48 (I believe '79 or '80 was the first year for the L82 alum intake to be installed on the L48) had sat on the cast heads for 17 years, it was weeping coolant through pin holes at the corners where the coolant passes through from the heads. I applied some white 'Marine Tex' which seemed to resolve the leakage but some intakes may be in worse shape (meaning leaking into the intake from the underside of the intake near the thermostat. May be better to opt for the Edelbrock 2101 or 3701 or equivalent Holley, Weiand, etc. depending on your use of EGR (3701 is EGR-compatible).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
FYI, I took a wire brush to my Edel alum intake to clean it up after a few years of Florida weather and found that it really makes the aluminum look good; even better than when I bought it. I wouldn't say it looks 'polished' but not just the dull aluminum finish it had either. Definitely a worthwhile improvement. Whatever you choose, best of luck!
