Its only a L48
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 3
From: Halifax, NS, Canada
Re: Its only a L48 (kenincanada)
The L48 is a very tough and reliable engine. What it lacks in horses it more than makes up in dependability. The L82 had 30 more horses so it makes it more desirable. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an L48. :seeya
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Timmins ON
Re: Its only a L48 (kenincanada)
The L48 is the baby brother of the HP family, and I get a little teasing about having one as well, usually from non 'Vette owners... I just ask what they have in their Corvette?!?! Silence usually follws... :jester
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: honolulu HI
Re: Its only a L48 (kenincanada)
zoom it up with a little HP ..when someone says L-48 with that tone..take them for a ride and change there mind about it..hey hows the weather in that part of the world? i was born and raised in victoria and all my family is still there :D
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Its only a L48 (kenincanada)
They are pretty much right...it's only an L48. The power of an L48 is seriously lacking. The reason they weren't impressed is because it was Chevy's base engine. Pretty strong and reliable motor.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,408
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: Its only a L48 (bence13_33)
With only 30 more horsepower, the L82 wasn't anything to write home about either, at least in the late '70s and early '80s. I think you can buy a new Camry that has more horsepower than a '79 L82. I just don't know what GM was thinking back then. Fortunately, even the L48 seems to do pretty well, by just opening up the exhaust.
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: Its only a L48 (kenincanada)
It may only be an L48 but it's a Chevy L48! The difference in power between it and the L82 (and earlier, higher hp, small blocks) is in the parts and the parts can be changed. If you're satisfied with it's performance, leave it as it is and don't worry about what others think. If you want more power, the parts for your sb are cheap compared to any other engine. The right cam and exhaust will put you beyond L82 performance.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 1
From: Hawaii
Re: Its only a L48 (kenincanada)
L48 Schmell48
It is a base model, it really only accounts for the resale value of the car. Take a L48 and a L82 change the heads and cam and intake, which many of us are doing and you have the same car. I like having a L48 as I probably got it cheaper than an L82 and I don't have to feel bad about making my "Maurice Motion car #1" out of it. :D
It is a base model, it really only accounts for the resale value of the car. Take a L48 and a L82 change the heads and cam and intake, which many of us are doing and you have the same car. I like having a L48 as I probably got it cheaper than an L82 and I don't have to feel bad about making my "Maurice Motion car #1" out of it. :D
Drifting
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 1
From: Kirkland WA
Re: Its only a L48 (Maurice)
- Check your timing (read lars timing paper)
- Give you carb a tune up (read lars q-jet tuning guide) and make sure you're getting you secondaries all the way open at WOT.
- Install true duals and some good hi-flow mufflers.
- Add a cam (if you have the $$), or put some 1.6 rockers in there to give a bit of a boost on the cheap.
- Throw a clean set of plugs and plug wires on.
You'll be out less than $250 (minus cam installation) and I promise no one will be laughing. I haven't done a lot to my L48 performance wise except what's listed above and nobody thinks it's lacking in power.
- Give you carb a tune up (read lars q-jet tuning guide) and make sure you're getting you secondaries all the way open at WOT.
- Install true duals and some good hi-flow mufflers.
- Add a cam (if you have the $$), or put some 1.6 rockers in there to give a bit of a boost on the cheap.
- Throw a clean set of plugs and plug wires on.
You'll be out less than $250 (minus cam installation) and I promise no one will be laughing. I haven't done a lot to my L48 performance wise except what's listed above and nobody thinks it's lacking in power.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Its only a L48 (VTHokie77Vette)
L-48 --- its a good place to start .....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa, al , us
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Its only a L48 (67HEAVEN)
I know what you mean. When I bought my vette, I knew nothing about vettes and just wanted a black 78 corvette. Only to find out that I had bought a L48 that lacked the power of the L82. But I have done alot to it and love it alot. I will never sell it and plan on doing more to it. However, when I buy my next vette, it will be the bigger motor of that year. :)
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,601
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: Its only a L48 (kenincanada)
I think L48s get picked on because of all the smog stuff, especially '75. Without a cat, you can get 30-40hp. These engines are still putting out what I would say as reasonable torque. Add some other fun stuff ( :D ) and you can run with any vette or car for that matter.
[Modified by Buffalo Dude, 9:54 PM 3/7/2002]
[Modified by Buffalo Dude, 9:54 PM 3/7/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 0
Re: Its only a L48 (medic007)
Please see my sig.......just these minor mods added almost 100HP on the desk dyno to my sluggy L-48.....if I go with heads and headers too, I'm puttin on a set of "L-48" hood emblems, and surprize the He11 out of some folks. Performance went from :confused: to :yesnod: .
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Its only a L48 (Vetterodder)
It may only be an L48 but it's a Chevy L48! ... The right cam and exhaust will put you beyond L82 performance.
Exactly. You have one of the best engines in the world- a Chevy V8.
Just say CORVETTE or Vette. Where's his.
While I agree that the "L-48" should have never been installed in a Vette (in 71), it was just too easy for them to do- way better than many engines. It was very popular, keeping volume up & Vettes in production. "L-48" is basically the pass. car 350 (mild cam) & many very hot Chevys have been built from it or so similar as to be indistinguishable.
HP is no problem ! http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ganeyexhaust.htm
That is just the beginning to more HP.
