Hey guys... sorry if an answer to my question is more obvious than what im looking for but I tried searching and going online (I'm a huge nerd so I'd good at finding answers online) but right now I'm at work and time is limited... anyways I was just wondering if anyone had a quick answer for me.

I have a mostly stock 80' Vette and I want to get a little more hp out of the motor without having to make changes to my tranny or suspension. I'm not huge on racing but I have hooker headers and sidepipes and want it to be as mean as it sounds lol.

What I was thinking was a new cam and new heads but I just can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I have an autoport here where I'm at and full access to mechanics, lifts, tools ect but I need to find out what cam and heads my car can use. For all I know the engine is stock besides my upgrades. Will I be able to fit in a new cam and heads without taking out the motor and can I get a cam lift kit and new heads for around $1000 and get a decent ammount of power out of it?

Sorry if this is a bad question but I really don't know cars much and I am fairly new to my car and Corvettes also. Any help would be great thanks guys.

 

Please fill up your info.
I'm thinking to boost up my 72 base 350ci to 350hp - 400hp and I will go with those summit parts:
cam XE262H + lifters #CL12-238-2 ~$175
Alu' Brodix heads # BRO-1021004 ~$1000
Edelbrock intake #EDL-2101 ~$125
Avner

 

Actually what you want is very easy. Just today I was outlining and parts searching for something called a Vortec top end swap. Using a used set of GM Vortec heads, a Vortec intake manifold, and a few new parts and machine shop work, you can get 300 rear wheel HP for right about $1000. This would be cut in half if you didn't rebuild the lower end, because most of that cost is eaten up by having the block bored and rebuilt.

If you want to leave the block in the car, you can do the Vortec top end kit for about $500 - $600.

I have a lot of the info written down already and can post links if you're interested.

 

Thanks for both of your answers. I'm not sure as to what all is in my car right now. My dad bought it and he's not even sure its the stock motor in it but it appears to be that way. There's a lot of places where I'm at that can work on my car but I'm hoping that I can try to get something done on a weekend by myself or with a few friends. The autoport here is great with their help and everything you need to basically rip apart your whole car. The only problem I see is that if I need to pull out my engine even the smallest bit I'm probably going to have to remove the headers and/or sidepipes to get it out. So I'm trying to do everything under the hood at all times. I'll ask around and read through all my Vette/Chevy mag's I get and see how tough this stuff looks and see if the autoport can handle it. My car is a daily driver to and from work and even to the grocery store (its fun packing 10 bags of food in my car with a passenger... and then people trying to race me) so I don't want to tear anything up with the upgrades.

Anyways from what I've heard from people I work with.. a new cam and heads would be the best thing I can go for or like Durango said having my block bored out. Anyways maybe I'll dig through my Vette manual and take some pictures of my engine and see if anyone notices anything out of the ordinary.... sorry about my lack of info I'm really new to all of this.

 

Hopefully I don't look too stupid posting this but I was browsing around and saw this... what do you guys think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Small...ayphotohosting

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...m350056838191&

Any known problems with either of these cam's and an 80 Vette?

 

Both of those cams have high lift, so you'd need head work done to your heads, or new heads that accept the higher lift and flow better.

You can put hot cams in your car all day long but won't get all the benefits unless new heads are used.

 

You are going to have to take a step back and find out what engine you have. There is a vast difference in choosing parts between the L48 dished pistons cast crank maybe 3 bolt main and the L82 flat top forged crank engines in the 80 or an engine of an unkown year or confiuration. A cam and head set up for fone will not necessarily perform well for the other.

 

For $1000, this is how I would do it.

Heads - RHS Pro Torkers $690 set
http://www.competitionproducts.com/p...ber=RHS12410K1

Cam & lifters - Crane Energizer 100132 $127.95
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...2&autoview=sku

Timing chain - Cloyes heavy duty $16.88
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...3&autoview=sku

Intake manifold (not absolutely required, but I would get it) Edelbrock Performer $127.95
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...1&autoview=sku

Gaskets - Complete set $31.95
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku


That is right at $1000. You would end up spending more, but its close.
The parts I picked was assuming you have the L48.
If your car has the L82, I would probably put in a little larger cam, and switch to the Performer RPM intake.