72 stock engine mods
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 363
Likes: 3
From: Norwalk Ca
72 stock engine mods
First, I wanted to say thanks to all on this site for the help given so far. I have a 72 with a 350 270hp motor. Everything is stock except the aftermarket cam. The cam is similar to an RV grind. A leakage test was done on the engine with no cylinder over 15% leakage. I was told that there's a lot of miles left on this motor. Are there any low cost (cheap) performance changes that I can make to give me a little more horsepower? The car runs well with no problems. I also want to be careful with the mods that I make since I don't want to impact the appreciation in value of the vehicle.
Any ideas/suggestions will be appreciated!
Any ideas/suggestions will be appreciated!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Just the basics....
Have the Dist. recurved, Lars did mine. Have the carb looked at. Make sure the ignition system is 100% and enjoy it.
If you need more, headers ... intake .... simple. What about your exhaust?
carbster
If you need more, headers ... intake .... simple. What about your exhaust?
carbster
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 363
Likes: 3
From: Norwalk Ca
72 engine mods
My exhaust is stock with the stock exhaust manifolds. I was thinking of installing headers, either shorties or full length, and new 2 1/2 inch exhaust with flowmasters. I'd figure the whole thing will run around $650. I was also thinking of a new polished manifold and carb. Another $600. I'm just not sure how these mods will affect the value of my car. It's a numbers matching engine, that was determined by looking for part of the VIN on the front of the block. The transmission is a stock TH400 as well.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
You won't like my answer but numbers don't mean crap to me. Unless you have a super rare Vette do wha tyou want to it. You can always return back to original if you want. You want value put your money in investments. Cars are not good investments. Go have fun with it and do it how you like it. Mod the heck out of it. Mine started out as a LT1. It is quite far from stock now. Exhaust system is a great upgrade. Headers and a good 2 1/2 system will probably be more like 800 to 1K for a custom bent system with coated headers. Intake and carb and then cam. You can go on forever with mods. Enjoy the car!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Last comment is a good one! It is your car so go for it, change heads, manifold etc but always keep the factory stuff and make sure that it always remains with the car if you sell it. It can be reinstated to stock at any time by any owner and the performance gear can be sold off.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
I also have a '72 with a mild cam. Keep your Q jet and put a peformer intake under it. Get a set of long tube headers and an H pipe installed. Leave your mufflers alone unless they're worn. Replace your points with a pertromix set up. Get a low restriction air filter and enjoy. That's probably the most bang you can get for $500-$700. You should realize 20 to 30 extra hoprsepower and probably better fuel economy as well.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,987
From: Connecticut, USA
I have a 72 350-200 auto 308 like you have. Since this is just a cruise car this is what I did. You don't need to do all this but it may help to list.
Engine:
bored 20 over installed flat tops
comp 260H cam
WP SR Torquer 67 cc heads 202/160's port/ polished
Headers into 2.5" 50 series Flowmaster
Holley 670 st avenger
Performer intake
Used Lars kit for the distributor
added 40k volt coil
TH400 build it with the street/ strip option
Rear End
Built it with new 308 and tuned the posi
The tranny and rear end are built for more then the 330 or so hp the engine has but it runs good so far. It only has 500 miles on it so I haven't hammered it to see how it really runs.
Engine:
bored 20 over installed flat tops
comp 260H cam
WP SR Torquer 67 cc heads 202/160's port/ polished
Headers into 2.5" 50 series Flowmaster
Holley 670 st avenger
Performer intake
Used Lars kit for the distributor
added 40k volt coil
TH400 build it with the street/ strip option
Rear End
Built it with new 308 and tuned the posi
The tranny and rear end are built for more then the 330 or so hp the engine has but it runs good so far. It only has 500 miles on it so I haven't hammered it to see how it really runs.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I'm with Gordonm on mods.
My car was mostly stock when I got it, and was an embarassment to the corvette nameplate. I've been modding the car so I like it (which means better cornering, going faster and generally more fun).
The biggest thing to do is tune your car. Bolting stuff on is fine, but without tuning you'll just have an unbalanced not fast expensive corvette. Tuning is where it is at.
trw
Check out my public profile for mods.
My car was mostly stock when I got it, and was an embarassment to the corvette nameplate. I've been modding the car so I like it (which means better cornering, going faster and generally more fun).
The biggest thing to do is tune your car. Bolting stuff on is fine, but without tuning you'll just have an unbalanced not fast expensive corvette. Tuning is where it is at.
trw
Check out my public profile for mods.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Search some old threads. This was a topic of debate for awhile (everybody remember DJ Dep and the long tubes vs. tri-Y's from about a year ago or more). I'm personally running Hooker super comps, which are supposed to kill my bottom end. However, because I went from manifolds and 2" grocery getter exhaust to headers, H-pipe, high flow mufflers and 2.5" exhaust, my bottom end felt stronger and the mid to high end just screams. Personally I'd ditch the RV cam (made for pulling if I remember right) and get a better performance cam. Then tune the exhaust to that.
trw
trw