How to get ready for engine rebuild
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Lubbock TX
How to get ready for engine rebuild
I have a lot of questions so dont know where to start. As far as I know, the engine (except carb) is all original on my 79. "smog pump" components have been plugged/disabled to some extent. I am curious about how to add HP, keep the engine fairly original and keep it so that if emission inspections get more touchy at inspection time, I can still meet them. How much does/will it affect the originality of the vehichle in terms of resale value if I change things to the engine, what can I change and still make it hold value? Am I too concerned about this?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...How much does/will it affect the originality of the vehichle in terms of resale value if I change things to the engine...
...Am I too concerned about this?...
FWIW: if the engine actually needs a rebuild, getting it back to stock performance will be a big improvement over what you have now.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Lubbock TX
L-82
The engine is an L82. I want more power. Now maybe there are some reasons I am not aware of that is causing it to not have the power I want. The engine runs fine, does not burn oil, no smoke. But I believe the stock HP for that engine is like 220HP.
You mentioned "with the stock emmissions in place". Do you mean what is on the car now? or if I built an L82, I could get the emmissions equipment?
And I agree, it is my car. What I was thinking was to check cylinder wear then decide if I need to do any boring or not. If so, increase compression some, get heads cleaned up, change cam, do a little exhaust work, but mainly leave stock components in place. Do you think by doing that, emissions might still pass?
You mentioned "with the stock emmissions in place". Do you mean what is on the car now? or if I built an L82, I could get the emmissions equipment?
And I agree, it is my car. What I was thinking was to check cylinder wear then decide if I need to do any boring or not. If so, increase compression some, get heads cleaned up, change cam, do a little exhaust work, but mainly leave stock components in place. Do you think by doing that, emissions might still pass?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
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From: West Kingston RI
If bought the car as an investment keep as original as possible, best solution is build a new motor and store the original.
If you bought the car because you want a vette than make it how you want it. It is the only way to be totally happy with it.
If you bought the car because you want a vette than make it how you want it. It is the only way to be totally happy with it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
The original engines in the late 70s cars were not that strong. It is very likely that at least 1 head if not both are cracked. If you want more power you can go to a 90's TBI, or better yet Vortec, long block with roller cam and have better heads and 1-pc seals-even with keeping the carb. Stock TBI, TPI, or LT1 fuel injected swaps will give more power and better driveability than stock and even without the cat better emissions than when your car was new. If it was me, I'd put the original engine (and transmission) in a corner for posterity and swap in a later FI engine (and OD trans). I have a TPI in mine and while it won't run with an LS, but it has more power and twice the fuel mileage of the original car.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The L-82 with standard, factory 79 emissions equipment (AIR, cat con, etc) met federal emissions requirements. With that equipment operable and in place, your 79 should pass emissions testing.
Based on what you've posted, you don't actually need a rebuild.
Based on what you've posted, you don't actually need a rebuild.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Oct 12, 2010 at 01:22 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 56
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From: Lubbock TX
The original engines in the late 70s cars were not that strong. It is very likely that at least 1 head if not both are cracked. If you want more power you can go to a 90's TBI, or better yet Vortec, long block with roller cam and have better heads and 1-pc seals-even with keeping the carb. Stock TBI, TPI, or LT1 fuel injected swaps will give more power and better driveability than stock and even without the cat better emissions than when your car was new. If it was me, I'd put the original engine (and transmission) in a corner for posterity and swap in a later FI engine (and OD trans). I have a TPI in mine and while it won't run with an LS, but it has more power and twice the fuel mileage of the original car.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Since we don't know where you live (no info on your 'page'), we can't advise of your state's emission laws. Your first call should be to the BMV and/or vehicle emissions department offices in your state to determine the relevant laws being applied to your car. Many states have exclusions on older vehicles IF they still have the original emissions equipment and it is operational. Very few states have exclusion rules for old cars but do not require them to have any emission equipment in place. Knowing the applicable laws will allow you to pass vehicle inspections and maximize the power your engine can produce while staying 'legal'.
Defeating the AIR pump system...other than due to a malfuctioning of that equipment...is pretty lame, as it does not really take any significant power to operate (1-2 hp). Likewise for most of the other emissions system stuff put on engines in that era. Since you still have that equipment, get it operational and let it do what it can for you.
Now, keeping your L-82 heads and changing cams with the expectation of getting a big increase in HP is unrealistic. You need better breathing heads...with a higher compression ratio...along with a stouter cam and larger headers (with larger CAT and larger single exhaust pipe) if you want more HP and staying emissions legal.
Defeating the AIR pump system...other than due to a malfuctioning of that equipment...is pretty lame, as it does not really take any significant power to operate (1-2 hp). Likewise for most of the other emissions system stuff put on engines in that era. Since you still have that equipment, get it operational and let it do what it can for you.
Now, keeping your L-82 heads and changing cams with the expectation of getting a big increase in HP is unrealistic. You need better breathing heads...with a higher compression ratio...along with a stouter cam and larger headers (with larger CAT and larger single exhaust pipe) if you want more HP and staying emissions legal.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock TX
Since we don't know where you live (no info on your 'page'), we can't advise of your state's emission laws. Your first call should be to the BMV and/or vehicle emissions department offices in your state to determine the relevant laws being applied to your car. Many states have exclusions on older vehicles IF they still have the original emissions equipment and it is operational. Very few states have exclusion rules for old cars but do not require them to have any emission equipment in place. Knowing the applicable laws will allow you to pass vehicle inspections and maximize the power your engine can produce while staying 'legal'.
Defeating the AIR pump system...other than due to a malfuctioning of that equipment...is pretty lame, as it does not really take any significant power to operate (1-2 hp). Likewise for most of the other emissions system stuff put on engines in that era. Since you still have that equipment, get it operational and let it do what it can for you.
Now, keeping your L-82 heads and changing cams with the expectation of getting a big increase in HP is unrealistic. You need better breathing heads...with a higher compression ratio...along with a stouter cam and larger headers (with larger CAT and larger single exhaust pipe) if you want more HP and staying emissions legal.
Defeating the AIR pump system...other than due to a malfuctioning of that equipment...is pretty lame, as it does not really take any significant power to operate (1-2 hp). Likewise for most of the other emissions system stuff put on engines in that era. Since you still have that equipment, get it operational and let it do what it can for you.
Now, keeping your L-82 heads and changing cams with the expectation of getting a big increase in HP is unrealistic. You need better breathing heads...with a higher compression ratio...along with a stouter cam and larger headers (with larger CAT and larger single exhaust pipe) if you want more HP and staying emissions legal.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 710
Likes: 0
From: Northern Florida
I have a lot of questions so dont know where to start. As far as I know, the engine (except carb) is all original on my 79. "smog pump" components have been plugged/disabled to some extent. I am curious about how to add HP, keep the engine fairly original and keep it so that if emission inspections get more touchy at inspection time, I can still meet them. How much does/will it affect the originality of the vehichle in terms of resale value if I change things to the engine, what can I change and still make it hold value? Am I too concerned about this?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Emissions, tell me how the inspections work if you know. If I put in a completely different engine, this means all the 70's emissions gunk goes out. Now, it may be that where I live, there is not now or maybe never will be a tail pipe sniffer during inspections. So how do I plan on meeting emissions if that issue ever comes up?? Do they look for original emission controls or do they have some PPM standard by year or something like that I have to meet?