L48... Power Boost?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
L48... Power Boost?
In the processes of gathering and rebuilding the engine and car currently, but judging by the various bits of info i can get the L48 is not what i would call a "performance" engine... im looking to get the horses up a decent bit?
I am already getting Hooker Side exhausts with high flow piping... let me know the basic things i can do? and rough costs of each? thanks
Note: im hoping for about 250 hp in the end... not tonnnsss but a decent bit
I am already getting Hooker Side exhausts with high flow piping... let me know the basic things i can do? and rough costs of each? thanks
Note: im hoping for about 250 hp in the end... not tonnnsss but a decent bit
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
You would probably be better off rebuilding the entire engine. However, if your L48 is in decent condition and you're only looking for about 60 more hp, then a new aluminum intake, aluminum 64cc heads and a better cam with a little more lift and duration, with headers, will easily get you there. Check out the Summit Racing catalog for parts like Edelbrock. Probably about $1650 for the above with new gaskets and fasteners. Good luck with your project.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Heads and cam is where you need to go.
My L-48 ran well with a set of TF 64cc heads and a CC268H cam. This was with true duals and a 4-speed.
I am now running those same heads on my 383.
My L-48 ran well with a set of TF 64cc heads and a CC268H cam. This was with true duals and a 4-speed.
I am now running those same heads on my 383.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,435
Likes: 9
From: Kalamazoo Mi
hey, i did a complete rebuild, and modified the block.
With 250 horse that can be done easy with some affordable heads and a mild cam. you can save yourself a lot of money by buying rebuilt heads, honestly i wouldn't worry about a fancy intake or aluminum heads. Replace your Q jet (if it needs to be rebuilt) with a Holly or Ebrock whatever your choice either will work. You can easily get 60 horsepower from heads (either modify the factory heads or get some rebuilt ones) and a cam swap.
This engine started out life as a L48. (it snowballed into this)
With 250 horse that can be done easy with some affordable heads and a mild cam. you can save yourself a lot of money by buying rebuilt heads, honestly i wouldn't worry about a fancy intake or aluminum heads. Replace your Q jet (if it needs to be rebuilt) with a Holly or Ebrock whatever your choice either will work. You can easily get 60 horsepower from heads (either modify the factory heads or get some rebuilt ones) and a cam swap.
This engine started out life as a L48. (it snowballed into this)
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: Racine Wisconsin
In the processes of gathering and rebuilding the engine and car currently, but judging by the various bits of info i can get the L48 is not what i would call a "performance" engine... im looking to get the horses up a decent bit?
I am already getting Hooker Side exhausts with high flow piping... let me know the basic things i can do? and rough costs of each? thanks
Note: im hoping for about 250 hp in the end... not tonnnsss but a decent bit
I am already getting Hooker Side exhausts with high flow piping... let me know the basic things i can do? and rough costs of each? thanks
Note: im hoping for about 250 hp in the end... not tonnnsss but a decent bit
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Heads, cam and exhaust are the places to start. If your Q-jet is still in good shape, keep it...it's already capable of 750cfm; your present set up just doesn't use much of it. Intake is a good idea, if you change out the heads; keep it 'as is' if you don't.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 850
Likes: 36
From: Providence RI
Here's a couple threads where this has been discussed and the various options weighed; you might find something of interest in them:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ight=L48+power
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Ok quick q update
Engine looks a little rough currently, but my grandfather and I would like to keep the stock engine, so we are looking into it a little more, and having it completely repaired by an uncle who rebuilds muscle cars, such as his White Lightning and such that has made it onto pinks all out. But a problem... with enough effort, will this engine be able to run really fast? i mean in the long run... i just dont want to put effort into the L48 just to turn around and have to engine swap later for power... currently its going to be a drive around car around 250 hp when finished, but i would like to add alot more if possible down the road, so for long term what would i be looking at as a rough estimate for how much power i could get out of it?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
250 HP (you didn't specify flex-plate or rear-wheel HP) from an L-48 shouldn't be hard at-all... based-on weight-to ET & MPH (3600 pounds, 14-flat @ 97 MPH), my de-Cross Fire'd '82 makes 230+ RWHP, and showed 238 on a chassis dyno:
here you will see a 3 year-old piece, where a nothing-special 290 HP crate-motor actually made 310+ on a dyno, then was transformed into a 380+ HP terror, on readily-available pump-gas
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ine/index.html
about that same time, a friend of mine needed to replace the OEM cam on his '80 L-48 that had wiped-out a lobe ~ although he has since sold the car, here is his story
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...clearence.html
the ability to 'run really fast' (i.e.- at the strip) will depend upon other factors, like gearing, traction, and an overall combination
here you will see a 3 year-old piece, where a nothing-special 290 HP crate-motor actually made 310+ on a dyno, then was transformed into a 380+ HP terror, on readily-available pump-gas
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ine/index.html
about that same time, a friend of mine needed to replace the OEM cam on his '80 L-48 that had wiped-out a lobe ~ although he has since sold the car, here is his story
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...clearence.html
the ability to 'run really fast' (i.e.- at the strip) will depend upon other factors, like gearing, traction, and an overall combination
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
i have no desire to have a "Beast" of an engine currently, due to the fact this car is a gift for me and my grandpa to work on as a family thing, but eventualy i was going to try and get the most i could out of it, I.E. new cams, heads, headers, valves, etc etc etc... was wondering how much i could pull out of it in the end, also how rough would a supercharger be on it?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
My goal is to have something that can stand up to the current corvettes, maybe not as fast but close... considering my primary car is a 02 Toyota Celica GT-S running 190 to the wheels, (cold air intake, header, exhaust, heads, higher compression...) i would like for my project car to be faster than my daily driver....
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Current Corvette have a lot more HP than that. I think 330 hp is the smallest engine on the list. And, with they're wide rear tires, they can put it all to the ground. To get 330 hp out of your 350 ci engine, you will need, heads, cam, better flowing intake, and exhaust system. Now, if you just want to "pump it up" a little bit, optimize the distributor advance timing curve, re-jet the Q-jet, and stick a more potent roller-lifter cam in your engine. It will 'perk up' what you have now.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Current Corvette have a lot more HP than that. I think 330 hp is the smallest engine on the list. And, with they're wide rear tires, they can put it all to the ground. To get 330 hp out of your 350 ci engine, you will need, heads, cam, better flowing intake, and exhaust system. Now, if you just want to "pump it up" a little bit, optimize the distributor advance timing curve, re-jet the Q-jet, and stick a more potent roller-lifter cam in your engine. It will 'perk up' what you have now.
