Hi guys,

Ive been lurking for a while but cant find a good answer so Im going to ask a ton of questions and hopefully get them all answered...

I have a 1979 Corvette L82 with automatic and its bone stock, I love it the way it is but I want more power

I am looking for suggestions as far as heads, intake/carb, headers or no headers, etc.

Heres what I know Im going to do.

-Replace the brake system
-put true duals with ether straight pipes or chambered mufflers
-Then I was going to change the intake and carb
-Why not heads
-Im worried about the cam just because Im thinking the whole motor has to come out and Im not up for that.

Help is appreciated.

KG

PS my goals with the car is a fun driver that isnt a slouch and doesnt embarrass the name it wears....

Thanks Guys

 

Are the brakes bad? If they are not leaking at the calipers, do the pads with a quality pad. A complete R&R is not only work but requires some knowledge of braking systems and on Vettes can be trying.

Exhaust - check your local emission laws as from what you are saying, the cat is being removed. Converting to true duals with another CAT and pipes is not bad. See a good muffler shop for quotes.

INtake and Carb - The Q-Jet on the engine is a good performance carb, maybe just needs some freshing up. Many posts on the forum and many good books out there to help. Two are Rocherster carbs by Doug Roe and Q-Jets by Cliff Ruggles. They take you through step by step. Now a replacement intake will gain some HP. Specifically a Performer air gap. Look at the Edelbrock site or the Holley site and see the options.

Whatever, you do have a plan and do one thing at a time. As you said pulling the engine is major. If you get to the point, freshen up the entire engine, heads, CR bump and valve train. Welcome to the forum and good luck.

 

The brakes are fairly soft and while they stop the car, I figured before I make it more powerful I should make sure it will stop like new first.

 

Here is a helpful link http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...tions-too.html
Hope this helps. Lars put togeather some very interesting reading on the Q-jet.
I would also suggest purchasing a year specific shop manuel.
Good luck
Jared

 

U want help but can't tell us who u are? Can u even tune the carb and distributor? How do u know if the car is just losing power because its tuned for smog standards and emmissions testing?

Installing performance parts will gain very little without tuning.

cardo0

 

I can identify myself, Im 27 Ive had several gm v8s through my driving years, I can and do know how to adjust the basics of a carb, and timing. Im at the point where it runs well, but it certainly lacks the go get um of my 71 Camaro if you have any other questions as to my identity please ask!!!

 

I have a 79, L-82 and installed true duals. But, like BIVETTE1 mentioned you need to make sure you can get by with removing the Cat where you live. I bought my dual system from Corvette Central and it installed easily with hand tools.

 

I'd also consider headers especially if you're going to put true dual exhaust on it. Also, on the intake, if you're considering for instance an Edelbrock performer, I'd at least go one step bigger than that to a Performer RPM. The factory L-82 aluminum intake is basically a match to the Performer, so not much would be gained there. I put a Performer on my L-82, so, been there, done that.

 

My 02 cents;
Buy an empty block, build the engine of your choice and take your time doing it.
When you're done simply have it swapped.

 

Yes Sir: If your brakes are soft & the pads of decent Quality, you might have air in the line and need a good bleed job. As far as the engine, G.M. has a great line of Quality crate engines for sale, with excellent warranty, They work quite well for street app. and you can buy them with every thing that you will need. Corvette Central and Eckler's has a complete lines of exhaust systems that will bolt right on to the car without any help from muffler shop. You can get your engine removed and replaced for around 800.00 That's the best way to go. Reseal your Trans while you have the engine out. Check the U-joints also. Gene

 

If therecair in the line maybe need calipers resealed? The oem type seals let air in when they start to go. Had that happen on my previous '81.

 

So what should I do to the timing to make it perform better (please be specific) What CFM carb is good if I dont swap the intake, and will headers make that much difference? Also Ive heard the sidepipes decrease performance is that true?

 

I think Cardo0 is suggesting you fill in your profile.

 

A.......men. Wished id followed that logic years ago, Then all my buddies wouldnt have ham me downs...LOL...

 

Did they make a 1978 L82 Auto? I thought all the L82's were 4 speeds.

 

What did I miss? I dont get the first sentance of this post? read the thread twice and still dont.. lol

 

oh i didnt see this one.. never mind

 

Done

 

If u decide to post here for a few years u will get to appreciate members that provide enough information that u can tell they actually want help rather than just stir the pot and run.

Your questions are pretty common on this forum and using the search function on the tool bar will help save all of us some time. Replacing the brake system ain't much different than any other car so if u have any specific questions on brakes please ask. There are plenty of restoration books for corvettes and a trip to Barnes & Noble or even the local library could help u chose a book for corvette brakes. But for brake maintenance i flush my lines every 5 years. And if u need more braking i would try composite pads first.

So to answer your other questions KG i will cut and paste what i said to another new enthuseist the same day u first posted as it really answers the same the thing for your questions.

Its hard to tell how much experience you have or how many miles are on your engine. But from the questions you ask it sounds like u have never changed the cam or cylinder heads before. If your motor has less than 150K mi then u have plenty of engine life left and should be plenty fun to learn on.

Unless u can degree/time a camshaft then best to start with the manifolding. U need to learn all the details of removing and installing the distributor and setting the timing before u try to break in a new cam. Try a new intake like Edlebrock or Weiand or Holley that way u learn more of what your carb & choke needs to work right. Also, headers are really a must for any real performance effort - looking into the future here. Next u need to tune the distributor and carb for the new manifolding. Yes just for a better breathing intake and exhaust as u will need less advance for timing and a little richer mixture will get more power now.

That's plenty of weekend projects for quite a while. But to look a head the rocker arms u can use 1.6 ratio for up to 15hp. Try them first on the intake then both intk and exh to see which makes more power. By doing this u will learn how to adj the valves correctly long before replacing the cam. Learning how to adj the vlvs on a new cam is not the time to try it. After this work, replacing the cylinder heads will go smooth. Yes u can replace the cylinder heads without replacing the cam and it will be a lot, lot, lot less work. Those 1.6 rockers will act like a little bit bigger cam also. Those vortec heads are a great hp/$$$ value.

Let that camshaft go for now, maybe next year.

Hope this helps and good luck KG,
cardo0

 

Thanks so much, Cardo0 thats exactly the advice I was seeking, the engine has only 26k miles on it so Im going to order a Performer RPM intake with airgap, and stick with my Q-jet which I will rebuild promptly!!! then when the weather gets better Im going to get new exhaust put on (true duals with flowmasters) and headers (summit has their own brand I wonder if they are any good) I fixed the brakes today (just rebuilt the calipers and had my pretty neighbor pump the brakes while I bled them) What is the consensus on the hooker side pipes? and yall are way nicer than the people on my Subaru forum (I drive a legacy for my daily driver)