Stock Mods
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Eaton Ohio
Stock Mods
1975 L48 completly stock and numbers matching
Well... I took the body off the frame a few weeks ago and i'm about to pull the engine and xmission and then strip the frame and play w/ my new sand blaster....
I have gone back and forth over what do to with the engine... stroker or stock 350.. what to put in it... what to replace...
Given it is number matching and I do not want to yank it and store it because of the appeal it offers me w/ the original being between the wheels rather than on a rack...I may do that down the road.. to be decided
I'm looking for recommendations on what to do the the engine to keep it as stock looking as possible but get the most HP out of it (for fun not for 1/4 times)
after striping it down i'll have it hot tanked and checked out by a shop.. rebuild the bottom end then go for a new cam, pistons, and heads (just not sure which ones yet, maybe used/i'll rebuild). I am going to keep the Qjet no matter what and for stock look I would really like to keep the stock intake.
As far as the intake.. what can be done to make it better, can it be modified, have a spacer put under it..ect I'm open to recommendations
Well... I took the body off the frame a few weeks ago and i'm about to pull the engine and xmission and then strip the frame and play w/ my new sand blaster....
I have gone back and forth over what do to with the engine... stroker or stock 350.. what to put in it... what to replace...
Given it is number matching and I do not want to yank it and store it because of the appeal it offers me w/ the original being between the wheels rather than on a rack...I may do that down the road.. to be decided
I'm looking for recommendations on what to do the the engine to keep it as stock looking as possible but get the most HP out of it (for fun not for 1/4 times)
after striping it down i'll have it hot tanked and checked out by a shop.. rebuild the bottom end then go for a new cam, pistons, and heads (just not sure which ones yet, maybe used/i'll rebuild). I am going to keep the Qjet no matter what and for stock look I would really like to keep the stock intake.
As far as the intake.. what can be done to make it better, can it be modified, have a spacer put under it..ect I'm open to recommendations
Last edited by bryanpl123; Dec 6, 2010 at 11:14 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: Stratford Ontario
Why not pull the orig. and store it? The #s are really only important if its getting judged or going to be sold. My #s matching motor sits in the corner on a dolley. If I were to rebuild it I would make it exactly like original except .03" over. If You are going to sell the car the orig. motor can be dropped back in. Thats just My opinion, once that motor has been modified it will probably never go back to original. If You get the block square decked make sure they dont grind or cut the #s off the pad. I see by Your avatar that You are in one of the best places on earth. I am sitting looking at snow right now wishing I was in Your boat.
Keep us posted with pics and when its done I personally would really like to see pics around outside with the Vette in the foreground
Keep us posted with pics and when its done I personally would really like to see pics around outside with the Vette in the foreground
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Eaton Ohio
I looked up the trim codes and it was originally silver over silver leather.. which it still has... I've considered going away from black, but I really don't want to change in interior color... I may have too, but we will see... I've considered the 75 Bright Green metalic or the House of Kolors Candy Green... or a hundred other options blue, red, black.... I have till spring to decide on that one.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Eaton Ohio
Why not pull the orig. and store it? The #s are really only important if its getting judged or going to be sold. My #s matching motor sits in the corner on a dolley. If I were to rebuild it I would make it exactly like original except .03" over. If You are going to sell the car the orig. motor can be dropped back in. Thats just My opinion, once that motor has been modified it will probably never go back to original. If You get the block square decked make sure they dont grind or cut the #s off the pad. I see by Your avatar that You are in one of the best places on earth. I am sitting looking at snow right now wishing I was in Your boat. Keep us posted with pics and when its done I personally would really like to see pics around outside with the Vette in the foreground
Keep us posted with pics and when its done I personally would really like to see pics around outside with the Vette in the foregroundI definatly miss Hawaii right now!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 242
Likes: 4
From: deland fl
It turns an old man's right foot into lead and can get him into a lot of trouble.....it has once
Build it like ya want it and drive the wheels off it !!!!
Enjoy !
Larry
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Eaton Ohio
Eaton, Ohio its about 30min west of Dayton and an hour north of Cincinnati... I'm only here for another year and a half them I'm back to the coast somewhere...I'll find out when I get my orders, but I'm trying for Hawaii again.. anywhere with warmth and water and twisty roads will be good though!
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Statesville NC
I am in a similar boat as you. I want to keep the numbers matching on my 80 4spd, keep the original appearance, but I want it to sound like I have a very good mechanic. I'm wanting to go the original block bored .030 over, original crank, flat top pistons, change to 64cc heads with 2.02/1.6 valves, and original intake, original carb, and a L82 camshaft.
I'm guessing this should be about 300hp. I also would be interested on opinions of this setup particularly the camshaft.
I'm guessing this should be about 300hp. I also would be interested on opinions of this setup particularly the camshaft.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Here's what I did and learned. I pulled the original matching no's engine and trans. Bought a 355 short block then all of the other associated parts. Swapped a 4 speed manual for the original automatic. Spent way too much money! Do yourself a favor. Buy a crate engine, store the original. Don't fuss with a short block or go the rebuild of the original engine. The Corvette Fever hits all of us. As soon as I replaced the engine with a 355 approx 420 HP and 430TQ, AFR Heads, good set of headers, all the goodies that go with a rebuild, I wanted a big block. Whatever you do, remember a bunch of us on this forum have gone through more money than we want to admit. Do it right the first time or whatever your budget dictates. Even if you do it right expect to spend a bunch of cash to do it over. If you're like most of us, you'll never be satisfied.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Since stock appearance is a goal, I would either just put a mild cam and dual exhaust with good HEI rebuild and carb tune-up and cleanup and paint --OR-- bag the orginal and find 4-bolt roller cam block and stroke it with bigger roller cam, alum heads and Edlebrock RPM QJet intake, dual exhaust, tune and paint to look stock with original valve covers, then have FUN. I like the snorkle air cleaners too and think it would look and function great. In '75, didn't it use the functional cowl induction snorkle air cleaner on the L-48? . . . that's cool looking I think.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,462
Likes: 985
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
My 78 L-82 4 speed is orginal internally (65,000 miles) but I have worked on the outside: McJacks shorty headers, 2.5 true duals, 1.5 comp cams roller rockers, no emissions at all (EGR Valve, AIR pump and hardware, no cat), Holley 4175 650 spreadbore carb, K&N air filter in the OEM dual snorkel air cleaner, New GM HEI Distributor with custom advance curve, but with the OEM aluminum L-82 intake, original L-82 cam, pistons etc. It runs really well-much stronger than a bone stock L-82. The only internal mod that I may consider is a cam otherwise, I agree with some, that I will probably just pull the engine and store it if I ever decide to go that route-not yet-or at least until something goes wrong. I would go either with the the GM crate engine ZZ4 or the 383 and call it a day. Not worth the time, energy, headaches, and cost of building my own when the crate engines are a pretty good deal-relatively speaking. Just my thoughts.
