I love my 80 L-82 and I've gone over in my head a million different ways to get more power. Going forced induction is something I've been putting off (thinking about at least ) because I live in beautiful california home of the smog *****. I did some more searching tonight and found out that Weiand actually does sell a 50 state smog legal blower kit! When you pull it up on summit, they don't list that it is egr compatiable, which is why i never found it before. I'm going this way 100%, but i'll need some help along the way. It'll probably take me about six months to save the cash for the blower so I've got some time to plan. Thats good because I realize I'll need more then just the blower to make it work. What should I plan on running for a fuel system? It's only smog legal if you run a quadrajet, I'm sure a quad could be set-up properly for this but i wouldn't know where to begin. I wouldn't mind swapping carbs out for smog either, so thats a possibility as well (going with an aftermarket carb).

So, what carb? and what fuel pump/regulator combo? I also couldn't find any info on whether or not the hei distributor will clear the 142 blower. The L-82 has a decent cam from what i've been told so i plan to run that first and swap it out later when i upgrade the heads. Any other thoughts on items that i may need to address? Thanks guys.

 

You would be better off with a Gale Banks turbocharger. And it would be all under the hood and very streetable.

 

He wants to keep it CARB legal. There is no CARB approved turbo kit. The 142 will clear the HEI I asked the Weiand tech personally when I was considering a roots blower. Even the 177 will clear an HEI. BTW there are some CARB legal centrifugal kits. As far as the carb, not sure if there are any aftermarket ones that are smog legal. If I were you, and it sounds like you'll be running a stock motor with this blower, I'd send your Q-Jet to Lars and have him set it up for boost.

 

Or if you want to get real serious you could get this

 

Just curious, but if you would retrofit an EFI system on your engine with a blower, would that pass emissions ? Basically you could still have a smog legal engine with the higher performance level.

 

i run two of these and call it twin charged LOL

 

Can you show a link to info about that? Lots of great stuff about Diesel turbos but I didn't see any reference to getting one under the hood of a Vette.

 

I have a Weiand 142 on my 73. You won't be able to find a hood that will close with a 4-barrel carb. I had a l-88 hood on my Vette and it would'nt close with a holley. If you have to cut the hood opening you would be better off going with a bigger blower.

 

 

it's one of those, i'm going to do this i might as well do that things . Everytime i start thinking about my exhaust I end up thinking, I might as well just get hooker sidepipes! The only problem is, by the time I get it all done I will end up pulling all the smog equipment and never remember how to put it all back on properly .

So if i stay smog legal I wont have to freak everytime i receive a smog test notice. I was wondering about the hood. I was wondering if the 4 1/2" cowl hood from us body might fit? It is a smaller blower then the 6-71 or 8-71's. In all honesty, if i can get the power i want and even use the stock air cleaner, i will be happy. Something tells me i'll look a little funny with the stock air cleaner sticking up out of the hood. I also couldn't find anyone selling stock replacement 80 hoods. I thought that was weird. Makes me want to cut mine even less.

 

Should I get one for each barrel? I wonder how many hot chicks actually install these while wearing bikinis (go to the what is it page). Maybe woman are the only ones they can convince to buy them......

 

34.95 for a hot chic that works like a blower!?!?

 

I have no personal knowledge of his turbos on Vettes but I do have a friend that raced 3 C3`s and he built his own turbos, all under the hood and very successful. They are still only 1/2 mile away from me and no longer used. I wanted to offer them on the web but he wants me to buy them. 3, 73-75 Vettes are not my favorites and near worthless to me at any price. I suggested Banks as he had a 1968 Camaro convertible with 'twin turbos' blowing into a 396 that I wanted to buy from him as I was collecting BB Camaros at that time and a BB convertible was the only one still eluding me it. All I can imagine is that diesels are more popular than street cars and therefore not much information on the web from Banks. But I know he can make one as the convertible was in his adds and a Hot Rod mag featured it as one fast street Camaro. All I know is that turbos are the proven way to go for the street. Roots type are not street friendly. Too much junk to moderate

You wanted a link, another friend. Google this, "Don Vargo hot rod shootout." From Redford Mi. 1969 Dodge Charger with a twin turbo driven to the track from MI. not trailored. Finished in the top 10 with a 9.52 average ,,, anyway check that out for more proof...

 

I totally agree on the possibilitys of turbos and efi or even turbos and a carb. My wife's car is a 96 volvo 850 turbo which in all honesty could probably keep up with my vette and get 30mpg highway. The only issue i run into with turbos is modifying the stock air cleaner. I can't not run it and pass smog as it has some vacum lines running to it and some stupid thermo plate thingies (maybe i should try and find out what they actually are). A roots style blower would allow me to use it and the only thing holding me back was the lack of one available with egr.

 

Roots and twin screws are far easier to install, and simple to maintain. They are very street friendly...

 

Well it would be as simple as just bolting on a blower, the motor will need alittle upgrading, rods, bolts, etc. a 6-71 blower 355 would be a nice powerplant, make around 600hp

 

Thanks for the info.

 

I personally think you should go with better cam and heads then do a supercharger later on. I don't think you'll get nearly as much horsepower with a charger if you still have the very mild factory cam and heads. Just my 2 cents

 

If you go to the STS Turbo site, they claim it is 50 state legal. It looks like a good system and I've been thinking about a universal system for my 86 C-4. I'm not sure if it will work on a carb system but if you have fuel injection, it might be worth looking into, no problem with underhood room since it instals on the rear exhaust. http://www.ststurbo.com/about_sts___

 

Let me set the issue straight. I do not like turbos period. But you have to admire there success and give credit where due. I`m a GMC roots person because the HP they make on the track for me whether gas or nitro and I used both very successful by my NHRA credentials. I just dont think they are worth a damn for street applications. Too much 'necessary for street' junk in the way. Water pump, fuel pump, injection and or carbs. Alternator, all in the way of the blower and fuel pump drive. Then most of the time they are under driven. You need overdrive for power. Under drive defeats the intended purpose. I would say nearly or almost 100% of the time they are nothing but a cosmetic addition to a fancy painted Corvette or whatever piece in the hands of novices for bragging points at the local cruises..

And thats why I mentioned "turbos"....

There are others that do make "Jimmies" work.