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Why dose 75 only have 165hp?

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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 12:45 PM
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Default Why dose 75 only have 165hp?

Why dose a 75 only have 165hp? What can be done to increase hp?
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 12:51 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Racer-X)

Circa 1975 were very dark and frustrating days!

Chuck
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 12:53 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Racer-X)

First year for cat converters. 75 was the leading edge of the power stealing emission equipment. The auto cos had not yet figured out how to deal with the new emission requirements and maintain power.

How to improve? It is still a chevy small block so any standard hot rod mods will work. Intake, cam, heads, exhaust.

tom...
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 12:55 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Racer-X)

motors were choked with 'new' smog gear. helpless victims of insurance, politics, and emissions. nevertheless, sales increased every year in the mid70's.
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 12:56 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Racer-X)

They were low powered due to government mandates for cars that consumed less fuel. And in the days before better making power by having more efficient motors (fuel injection, computer controlled, special shape combustion chambers) they got better mileage by making less power.

They usually put in low compression pistons and cylinder heads and a crappy cam.

Best performance upgrades would be in the following order.

Cam/lifter/timing chain/valve spring replacement
Intake and carb. replacement.
Headers and better exhaust
Lower CC cylinder heads and thin head gaskets to up the compression ratio.
A better rear gear ratio will get you off the line faster, but will kill top end speed.

Beyond that you have to pull the motor and build it up again.
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 01:07 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (BSeery)

What rear axel ratios did the 75 have?
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 01:08 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Racer-X)

Base engine L48 Corvettes essentially received GM smog engines in order to meet federal emissions standards. Any L48 can be built up to respectable performance with an increased compression ratio (new pistons) and an L-82 camshaft. Cheap mods since the parts are available almost everywhere.
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 01:42 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Easy Mike)

What I don't understand is how the HP dropped but the TQ ratings stayed the same as an L-82. (I think)
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 01:58 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Racer-X)

The morons in charge at that time thought we were going to run out of gas or
choke ourselves to death on pollution whichever came first.
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 02:13 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (flood)

Check out some of the HP and torque specs over the years. In many cases (if not all) the L-48s have more torque than the L-82s.
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 04:01 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (Racer-X)

Two questions:
1. What changes were made to the 76 to give 180 hp?
2. Any one know what hp gains would you get on a 75 or 76 with new high flow cat converter and recurving the distributer?
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 07:09 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (MotorHead)

I'll take a stab at this one. Since power is torque times angular velocity, and if the L-48 has the same torque as an L-82, then it stands to reason that the L-48 is not able to deliver that torque at the higher RPM's. This is owing to the fact that the L-48 doesn't flow as much air as the L-82. I think the cylinder (pressure times volume) of the L-48 is about the same as the L-82, it's just that the L-48 can't deliver as many power strokes per second as the L-82. It sounds like the L-48 would benefit from better heads, better cam, better exhaust, and higher compression. Well, that would be about everything I guess :jester

I had a 79 Caprice with a 140hp@3200 305 that got 245ft*lbs@1800. Good for moving around a car-boat but it fell flat on its face at anything near 3k rpm.
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 09:22 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp? (tiger)

Looking at your questions I'm going to give you the best advice that you'll ever receive. START BUYING CHEVY HIGH PERFORMANCE MAGANIZE. You never be sorry for the information thats in each mag.
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Old Sep 10, 2001 | 10:08 PM
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Default Re: Why dose 75 only have 165hp?

Fix exhaust. See:
Why Exhaust is problem for HP on 75-81 http://www.corvetteforum.cc/ubb/Foru...ML/008082.html

Cam (& intake), then heads.


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