Edelbrock kits
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
Edelbrock kits
I am sure i am not the first one to ask this, but here goes.....
i have a stock 81 vette. the only mods to the engine have been true dual exhaust, removal of cat and the air pump and air tubes from the stainless exhaust manifold (no emission issues in Illiniois for cars that are pre 1994). as for the drive train the rear end has been completely rebuilt and the gear has been changed to a 3.54. suspension; VBP street and slalom.
the car feels a lot faster and it handles as it were on rails.
now it is time to do something with the engine. I seldom drive the car to work. it is much more of a weekend cruise car.
I have been looking at the edelbrock kits, but i do not know what is the difference between the performer and the performer RPM.
i do not want a drag car but i would like to be thrown to the back of my seat when i get on the car. i am also concerned that the configuration i choose will fit under the stock hood.
I would appreciate to get your feedback. if i change the heads intake and manifold and do i need to get rid of the ccc system. and would i also need to modify my ignition. and the trans as it has the lock out converter???
i have a stock 81 vette. the only mods to the engine have been true dual exhaust, removal of cat and the air pump and air tubes from the stainless exhaust manifold (no emission issues in Illiniois for cars that are pre 1994). as for the drive train the rear end has been completely rebuilt and the gear has been changed to a 3.54. suspension; VBP street and slalom.
the car feels a lot faster and it handles as it were on rails.
now it is time to do something with the engine. I seldom drive the car to work. it is much more of a weekend cruise car.
I have been looking at the edelbrock kits, but i do not know what is the difference between the performer and the performer RPM.
i do not want a drag car but i would like to be thrown to the back of my seat when i get on the car. i am also concerned that the configuration i choose will fit under the stock hood.
I would appreciate to get your feedback. if i change the heads intake and manifold and do i need to get rid of the ccc system. and would i also need to modify my ignition. and the trans as it has the lock out converter???
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You have a 1981 Corvette with an 8.5:1 compression 350 cu. in. Chevy small block V8 engine. No amount of carburetion, fuel injection, etc. nor any hi-priced intake manifold placed on that engine will "throw you back in the seat". The only thing that will do that to your car is that you get rear-ended by the car behind you. If you want that kind of power out of a 350 SB, you'll have to do a lot more to it than change the carb and intake.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Given a budget, there are a number of approaches to significantly improving performance. How much do you want to spend, and how much of the work can you do yourself.
It is going to require a top (cam/heads/intake/headers) to make this happen, so the overall condition of the engine is a key question.
It is going to require a top (cam/heads/intake/headers) to make this happen, so the overall condition of the engine is a key question.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
You have a 1981 Corvette with an 8.5:1 compression 350 cu. in. Chevy small block V8 engine. No amount of carburetion, fuel injection, etc. nor any hi-priced intake manifold placed on that engine will "throw you back in the seat". The only thing that will do that to your car is that you get rear-ended by the car behind you. If you want that kind of power out of a 350 SB, you'll have to do a lot more to it than change the carb and intake.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
billla, i was considering a budget of 2500 - 3000. i will do all the work myself. i have not an engine in some time but when i did them, i just did the wrench work for my friends. i never had to actually select the components.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,102
Likes: 1
From: Forsyth Illinois
Larry...the difference in the Performer,and the Performer RPM is the perf heads are equipped w/the crossover for the emmisions,and cold weather operation,and are all straight plug,and come in 170cc w/70cc comb. chamber,or 165cc/60cc comb. chamber,and 170cc/64 cc chambers.
The RPMs are non-emmission heads,and come in straight,or angled,and are 170cc runners w/either 70,or 64cc chambers.
That's the difference.And,I think the cams are alittle hotter in the RPM kits.
Before you get ready to order...shoot me a pm.I carry all the edelbrock stuff,carbs,headers,etc.,and will beat Summit/Jegs pricing.My supplier is in Mich.,and I just moved to west Texas from central Illinois,and your parts will be there the next day/no later than 2.
Kevin
The RPMs are non-emmission heads,and come in straight,or angled,and are 170cc runners w/either 70,or 64cc chambers.
That's the difference.And,I think the cams are alittle hotter in the RPM kits.
Before you get ready to order...shoot me a pm.I carry all the edelbrock stuff,carbs,headers,etc.,and will beat Summit/Jegs pricing.My supplier is in Mich.,and I just moved to west Texas from central Illinois,and your parts will be there the next day/no later than 2.
Kevin
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,102
Likes: 1
From: Forsyth Illinois
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,102
Likes: 1
From: Forsyth Illinois
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Prairieville Louisiana
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
The Edelbrock kits are just mistmatched junk in general IMHO.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Whew. There are some interesting problems with this build. Someone with more knowledge of these overall step in, but it looks like this is a computer-controlled Q-Jet with some additional computer stuff for cooling and torque converter?
I hate to bow out - and if you check my posts I rarely do - but I just don't have enough experience with that engine to offer much guidance. It's got the crappy ".390" cam, so we know there's more power in a cam upgrade to around the .450 lift level regardless of the heads. The head castings are poor, with the "smog" style D chambers and lousy flow. My broad thinking is that a set of iron aftermarket heads along with a mild cam and a carb overhaul/tune is about as far as I'd go.
I guess the key question is how far you're willing to go away from the factory carb, and how big of an issue that is for emissions and making the trans and stuff work. I hate to admit this...but I was kinda deep into Chevy Citations about this time, racing an X-11 and doing a lot of service work on them as the resident "expert". I was still doing a lot of GEN I stuff, but it was all hotrod stuff as I just wasn't touching anything > 1972 at that time.
I hate to bow out - and if you check my posts I rarely do - but I just don't have enough experience with that engine to offer much guidance. It's got the crappy ".390" cam, so we know there's more power in a cam upgrade to around the .450 lift level regardless of the heads. The head castings are poor, with the "smog" style D chambers and lousy flow. My broad thinking is that a set of iron aftermarket heads along with a mild cam and a carb overhaul/tune is about as far as I'd go.
I guess the key question is how far you're willing to go away from the factory carb, and how big of an issue that is for emissions and making the trans and stuff work. I hate to admit this...but I was kinda deep into Chevy Citations about this time, racing an X-11 and doing a lot of service work on them as the resident "expert". I was still doing a lot of GEN I stuff, but it was all hotrod stuff as I just wasn't touching anything > 1972 at that time.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: cannon falls mn
I am sure i am not the first one to ask this, but here goes.....
i have a stock 81 vette. the only mods to the engine have been true dual exhaust, removal of cat and the air pump and air tubes from the stainless exhaust manifold (no emission issues in Illiniois for cars that are pre 1994). as for the drive train the rear end has been completely rebuilt and the gear has been changed to a 3.54. suspension; VBP street and slalom.
the car feels a lot faster and it handles as it were on rails.
now it is time to do something with the engine. I seldom drive the car to work. it is much more of a weekend cruise car.
I have been looking at the edelbrock kits, but i do not know what is the difference between the performer and the performer RPM.
i do not want a drag car but i would like to be thrown to the back of my seat when i get on the car. i am also concerned that the configuration i choose will fit under the stock hood.
I would appreciate to get your feedback. if i change the heads intake and manifold and do i need to get rid of the ccc system. and would i also need to modify my ignition. and the trans as it has the lock out converter???
i have a stock 81 vette. the only mods to the engine have been true dual exhaust, removal of cat and the air pump and air tubes from the stainless exhaust manifold (no emission issues in Illiniois for cars that are pre 1994). as for the drive train the rear end has been completely rebuilt and the gear has been changed to a 3.54. suspension; VBP street and slalom.
the car feels a lot faster and it handles as it were on rails.
now it is time to do something with the engine. I seldom drive the car to work. it is much more of a weekend cruise car.
I have been looking at the edelbrock kits, but i do not know what is the difference between the performer and the performer RPM.
i do not want a drag car but i would like to be thrown to the back of my seat when i get on the car. i am also concerned that the configuration i choose will fit under the stock hood.
I would appreciate to get your feedback. if i change the heads intake and manifold and do i need to get rid of the ccc system. and would i also need to modify my ignition. and the trans as it has the lock out converter???
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Prairieville Louisiana
The set up i posted earlier from Derebery looks like a good value. Click on the engine kit on the right of the page and scroll down. http://www.dpmpower.us/parts.htm
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
you might want to consider holding out for a good used engine or posting a WTB thread and see whats out there. For example...check out about the 3rd post on this thread where the guy has a nice ZZ4 350 putting out about 450HP and went 12.5 in the 1/4 mile for $2,000.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...w-or-used.html
At least with this option you can keep your original engine safely in the garage and probably have more HP in the end
btw...the builder of my vette used an Edelbrock top end kit and it does produce HP very close to their advertised numbers at least for my setup which was their 454 kit 540HP
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...w-or-used.html
At least with this option you can keep your original engine safely in the garage and probably have more HP in the end
btw...the builder of my vette used an Edelbrock top end kit and it does produce HP very close to their advertised numbers at least for my setup which was their 454 kit 540HP
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
Billla, thanks for being so candid, now i do not feel so bad because i cannot decide how to proceed with my build. I had a friend that had offered me a stroker 383 for 2K, but i said no because i do not have enough room to store the original engine. and i do not want to get rid of it. So i thought it would be easier to modify my engine. i was not so concerned with the CCC stuff. but as the ccc also controls the trans it becomes a bigger challenge.
Coolcoupe what did you do with the ccc?
thanks sho'nuff and Kaos for your input.
Coolcoupe what did you do with the ccc?
thanks sho'nuff and Kaos for your input.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
larryg3....
If you do remove all of the '81 engine management stuff (elect. carb, computer module, sensors, etc.) so that you can 'upgrade' your engine, you should keep all of that stuff and sell it on this Forum or on eBay. There are always folks who buy '81s and want to take it back to stock condition...and it's nearly impossible to find the right components, since it was a one-year-only design.
[P.S. Sorry I was 'direct' with you on my original reply. You only indicated a change in carb and manifold...and that would not get what you want.]
If you do remove all of the '81 engine management stuff (elect. carb, computer module, sensors, etc.) so that you can 'upgrade' your engine, you should keep all of that stuff and sell it on this Forum or on eBay. There are always folks who buy '81s and want to take it back to stock condition...and it's nearly impossible to find the right components, since it was a one-year-only design.
[P.S. Sorry I was 'direct' with you on my original reply. You only indicated a change in carb and manifold...and that would not get what you want.]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
7T1 Vette ,
don't sweat it. I am just trying to get ideas on what to do this winter to make my C3 more fun to drive. My original intention was to keep the CCC and swap heads and a cam, but i guess this is not an option so i have to just say what the heck and spend more money and go back to basic.
so that said what do you guys think i can do??? the engine is strong and only has 65k on it. I have not done a compression test yet but will probably do shortly.
don't sweat it. I am just trying to get ideas on what to do this winter to make my C3 more fun to drive. My original intention was to keep the CCC and swap heads and a cam, but i guess this is not an option so i have to just say what the heck and spend more money and go back to basic.
so that said what do you guys think i can do??? the engine is strong and only has 65k on it. I have not done a compression test yet but will probably do shortly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14