L48 vs L82 - Prepurchase questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 124
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L48 vs L82 - Prepurchase questions
hi
I'm thinking of buying a C3 vette. I love the way the C3's look, but I dont know much about these engines.
I would want to eventually upgrade the engine to get more HP.
Considering this, Is it worth the extra $$ it to get an L82 over an L48? From an upgrade standpoint, does the L82 offer that much a better starting point for future upgrades?
Is the L48 not upgrade-friendly?
What "standard" upgrades do people normally do to these engines, and how much HP can you get out of them?
Thanks
I'm thinking of buying a C3 vette. I love the way the C3's look, but I dont know much about these engines.
I would want to eventually upgrade the engine to get more HP.
Considering this, Is it worth the extra $$ it to get an L82 over an L48? From an upgrade standpoint, does the L82 offer that much a better starting point for future upgrades?
Is the L48 not upgrade-friendly?
What "standard" upgrades do people normally do to these engines, and how much HP can you get out of them?
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
L/82 has a four bolt block, forged steel crank, forged flat top
pistons, 9.0 compression, a little hotter cam, bigger valves . L/48 has a two
bolt block, cast iron crank, cast aluminum pistons, 8.25
compression, milder cam. If you want to make very good power
or turn higher revs the L/82 block and forged crank are the better
platform, but the two bolt block cast crank at lower rpms say up
to 6500 will do the job. Most people will get rid of the cam in the
L/48 change out the iron factory intake, upgrade the exhaust and
if they can afford to change the 76cc combustion 194/150 valve factory
head for a better modern head with 64 cc chambers to raise compression
and the larger 202/160 valves. whatever you buy and modify get rid of
the old factory 76cc heads, modern heads flow air better.
With the steel crank, four bolt block HP is just a matter of what you want
to spend for parts. With a cast crank L/48 you will be limited on rpm.
I would say if you want 400 HP or more out of a 350 go with the
steel crank L/82. if your goal is low rpm 300/375Hp street engine L/48
can handle that no problem.
pistons, 9.0 compression, a little hotter cam, bigger valves . L/48 has a two
bolt block, cast iron crank, cast aluminum pistons, 8.25
compression, milder cam. If you want to make very good power
or turn higher revs the L/82 block and forged crank are the better
platform, but the two bolt block cast crank at lower rpms say up
to 6500 will do the job. Most people will get rid of the cam in the
L/48 change out the iron factory intake, upgrade the exhaust and
if they can afford to change the 76cc combustion 194/150 valve factory
head for a better modern head with 64 cc chambers to raise compression
and the larger 202/160 valves. whatever you buy and modify get rid of
the old factory 76cc heads, modern heads flow air better.
With the steel crank, four bolt block HP is just a matter of what you want
to spend for parts. With a cast crank L/48 you will be limited on rpm.
I would say if you want 400 HP or more out of a 350 go with the
steel crank L/82. if your goal is low rpm 300/375Hp street engine L/48
can handle that no problem.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jul 1, 2007 at 04:55 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 1,510
From: Little Rock AR
Mouse seems to have covered it pretty well. L-82 gets you a windage tray, HP balancer, deep groove pulleys too. The L-82 has better parts for someone who wants to do bolt-on type mods. Either one can benefit from the same modifications.
If you end up needing to bore the block, you end up replacing the pistons so it gets closer to a wash as to which one makes for a better core. If you stroke it at the same time (i would)you don't have much of the factory stuff to use over but maybe that makes for better parts resale on ebay? The left over L-82 steel crank and larger HP balancer should be worth $$$ to someone else. Pistons probably not worth much. Still the 4-bolt main block and deep groove pulleys are worth keeping.
You pays your money, you takes your pick.
-Mark.
If you end up needing to bore the block, you end up replacing the pistons so it gets closer to a wash as to which one makes for a better core. If you stroke it at the same time (i would)you don't have much of the factory stuff to use over but maybe that makes for better parts resale on ebay? The left over L-82 steel crank and larger HP balancer should be worth $$$ to someone else. Pistons probably not worth much. Still the 4-bolt main block and deep groove pulleys are worth keeping.
You pays your money, you takes your pick.
-Mark.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
If you look for a L-82 with the transmission and colors you like it will be lots harder to find than a L-48. I see few L-82's for sale. Over the years I have watched 73's and one in four or five was a L-82 but I see about 20 to 1 today.
