1980 L82 Engine Upgrade
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1
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1980 L82 Engine Upgrade
I have a numbers matching 1980 L82 in good shape but I want more HP and torque. As I am new to the hobby I am wondering if I should upgrade the current engine or save it and put in a new crate engine. I don't know if messing with the existing engine would reduce the value of the car of if that is even a consideration. Any comments would be much appreciated.
Pete
Pete
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
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From: Dayton Oh
You'll get lots of contrasting opinions on this one. For me, I yanked & stored my numbers matching 79 L82 engine and built myself a custom 355. I did the build route vs. crate simply because I wanted to learn about building engines. I ended up spending more money vs. crate but the education was worth it IMO. Next time and there will be a next time, I'm going the stroker or blower route but didn't know enought the first time thru. I really don't give a darn about numbers matching but some do. 
Last edited by marshrat99; Dec 14, 2006 at 06:53 PM.
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3
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Great idea! I picked up a motor out of the wreckers (pick your part) out of a 88 caprice,the block has the roller provisions so going with a roller setup is way cheaper.My friend used it in his 1980 z28 and put his stock numbers matching LM1 in the corner,no morry worries of trashing the stock motor.
