Maximum Horsepower, Minimum Budget
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Stockton California
Maximum Horsepower, Minimum Budget
Here's the problem.
Just bought a 1977 corvette and love the car. The interior is in superb condition and so is the engine. 60,000 original miles and it runs like new.
One problem that i have with the 77 is the lack of power due to the emissions crack-down of the mid 70's.
I have replaced the exhaust with dual exhaust, short tube headers and single chamber flowmasters, and a high-flow catalytic converter.
This has enabled my car to breath a hell of a lot better and i'd say i gained a good 30 - 40 horses.
Thing is, i got the bug and i want to know the absolute necessities for making my 175 hp heating element
into a 300 horse powerhouse without breaking my bank.
Thanks a lot.
-Tony
Just bought a 1977 corvette and love the car. The interior is in superb condition and so is the engine. 60,000 original miles and it runs like new.
One problem that i have with the 77 is the lack of power due to the emissions crack-down of the mid 70's.
I have replaced the exhaust with dual exhaust, short tube headers and single chamber flowmasters, and a high-flow catalytic converter.
This has enabled my car to breath a hell of a lot better and i'd say i gained a good 30 - 40 horses.
Thing is, i got the bug and i want to know the absolute necessities for making my 175 hp heating element
into a 300 horse powerhouse without breaking my bank.Thanks a lot.
-Tony
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
Here's the problem.
Just bought a 1977 corvette and love the car. The interior is in superb condition and so is the engine. 60,000 original miles and it runs like new.
One problem that i have with the 77 is the lack of power due to the emissions crack-down of the mid 70's.
I have replaced the exhaust with dual exhaust, short tube headers and single chamber flowmasters, and a high-flow catalytic converter.
This has enabled my car to breath a hell of a lot better and i'd say i gained a good 30 - 40 horses.
Thing is, i got the bug and i want to know the absolute necessities for making my 175 hp heating element into a 300 horse powerhouse without breaking my bank.
Thanks a lot.
-Tony
Just bought a 1977 corvette and love the car. The interior is in superb condition and so is the engine. 60,000 original miles and it runs like new.
One problem that i have with the 77 is the lack of power due to the emissions crack-down of the mid 70's.
I have replaced the exhaust with dual exhaust, short tube headers and single chamber flowmasters, and a high-flow catalytic converter.
This has enabled my car to breath a hell of a lot better and i'd say i gained a good 30 - 40 horses.
Thing is, i got the bug and i want to know the absolute necessities for making my 175 hp heating element
into a 300 horse powerhouse without breaking my bank.Thanks a lot.
-Tony
My answer, nitrous. Seriously, make sure you have a 4 bolt block, if you do junk the intake manifold for a nice Performer RPM and get the squeeze, 150 shot and your motor should be fine.
Intake $125
Nitrous $375
Total = $500
It would be better to do heads, cam, intake and get some real headers. A lot of people around here seem to favor the Vortec head swap, you'll up the compression and allow the motor to breathe. Search E-Bay or a junk yard for the heads and call Comp to find out the biggest cam that will work with the Vortec heads.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
vortec heads from jegs, summit 1105 cam, headers off ebay, and used vortec manifold will give you 300 hp. $570 for new heads, $87 for cam kit, $70 for used manifold, and $70 for hugger headers...
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Setup the distributor per Lars papers. Make sure you have 36* total advance at 3000 RPM. Go back and adjust the valves- back off until they rattle, tighten until they just quit making noise, then 1/4 turn.
Past that, it's going be intake and carb time. Then heads and a cam.
Past that, it's going be intake and carb time. Then heads and a cam.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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Here's the problem.
Just bought a 1977 corvette and love the car. The interior is in superb condition and so is the engine. 60,000 original miles and it runs like new.
One problem that i have with the 77 is the lack of power due to the emissions crack-down of the mid 70's.
I have replaced the exhaust with dual exhaust, short tube headers and single chamber flowmasters, and a high-flow catalytic converter.
This has enabled my car to breath a hell of a lot better and i'd say i gained a good 30 - 40 horses.
Thing is, i got the bug and i want to know the absolute necessities for making my 175 hp heating element into a 300 horse powerhouse without breaking my bank.
Thanks a lot.
-Tony
Just bought a 1977 corvette and love the car. The interior is in superb condition and so is the engine. 60,000 original miles and it runs like new.
One problem that i have with the 77 is the lack of power due to the emissions crack-down of the mid 70's.
I have replaced the exhaust with dual exhaust, short tube headers and single chamber flowmasters, and a high-flow catalytic converter.
This has enabled my car to breath a hell of a lot better and i'd say i gained a good 30 - 40 horses.
Thing is, i got the bug and i want to know the absolute necessities for making my 175 hp heating element
into a 300 horse powerhouse without breaking my bank.Thanks a lot.
-Tony
It will be intake carb cam.. One way or another. You can put an intake on there for nothing. I would put a few hundred in a carb. Then think about a cam.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Stockton California
If you've never seen 77 manifolds, they are giant log heat sinks with a very restrictive flow. Them "pipes" are nice and cylindrical and have very little restriction, which is what was looking for.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Stockton California
Sorry about not mentioning my actual budget, but its not really defined, i just want biggest bang for smallest buck. In this case, 300 horses in the cheapest way possible. WITHOUT NOS 
thats cheating.
Another thing, I don't want a bunch of chrome jutting out of my hood, so supercharger is out of the question also.
thats cheating.Another thing, I don't want a bunch of chrome jutting out of my hood, so supercharger is out of the question also.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Want more power? Then replace the camshaft with a OEM #151 cam. Its hydraulic and was the 350 HP camshaft in the 60`s 327 Vette engine. But you wont do it! Another low budget but very good change is to use those same 327 cylinder heads that matches the cam. One step better would be a pair of the 1970 LT1 heads. All very good OEM stuff....
Another low budget but very good change is to use those same 327 cylinder heads that matches the cam. One step better would be a pair of the 1970 LT1 heads. All very good OEM stuff....
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,892
Likes: 13
From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
Sorry about not mentioning my actual budget, but its not really defined, i just want biggest bang for smallest buck. In this case, 300 horses in the cheapest way possible. WITHOUT NOS thats cheating.
Another thing, I don't want a bunch of chrome jutting out of my hood, so supercharger is out of the question also.
thats cheating.Another thing, I don't want a bunch of chrome jutting out of my hood, so supercharger is out of the question also.
A nitrous system is nothing more than extra air and fuel, just like a blower or turbo, or bigger heads, or bigger cam, etc.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Stockton California
Nitrous is not cheating, it is the easiest way to make big gains in power. If you take an hour to learn how to use it you will have many years of trouble free 100-150 extra power. 99% of internet experts who bad mouth nitrous have never run the stuff.
A nitrous system is nothing more than extra air and fuel, just like a blower or turbo, or bigger heads, or bigger cam, etc.
A nitrous system is nothing more than extra air and fuel, just like a blower or turbo, or bigger heads, or bigger cam, etc.