Engine help
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: hialeah FL
Engine help
Hey guys,
I've recently taken out the engine from my C3. However, I'm not sure how to improve it. I want to make it a stroker and increase the compression. Also, I want to assemble the engine myself. I went to a machine shop the other day to get an idea of how much it will cost. The guy said he could bring my 350 to 425 hp with the stroked engine and a 10 to 1 compression. However, it will cost me $4100. It's too much for my budget.
My own goal is to bring the 350 engine 300hp. Any ideas of what I could do? Do I have to increase the compression to 10? Or can I just make it a stroker?
Thanks!!
I've recently taken out the engine from my C3. However, I'm not sure how to improve it. I want to make it a stroker and increase the compression. Also, I want to assemble the engine myself. I went to a machine shop the other day to get an idea of how much it will cost. The guy said he could bring my 350 to 425 hp with the stroked engine and a 10 to 1 compression. However, it will cost me $4100. It's too much for my budget.
My own goal is to bring the 350 engine 300hp. Any ideas of what I could do? Do I have to increase the compression to 10? Or can I just make it a stroker?
Thanks!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: Stratford Ontario
You should be able to get your HP to 350 without stroking the motor. If your thinking of stroking it yourself be aware that there will be some clearance issuse to deal with. If your not sure about modifiying your block then I would stick to a straight rebuild. You can make lots of power with having block square decked and bored .030 over. Flat tops, aftermarket heads(nothing too crazy) a decent cam and intake. Make sure you put a new high volume pump in. And your ready for some fun.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 842
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
what 350 do you have? i had a Guy ask how he could get 325 HP out of his 70 lt-1 i said pull a spark plug out of it other 350 motors were Tess than 200 h.p.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: hialeah FL
It's the original L-48 engine. I don't have an exact number on the budget but i don't want to spend more than $3000.
If i don't need to stroke it. What are some good brands for cams, headers and intake?
If i don't need to stroke it. What are some good brands for cams, headers and intake?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 23
From: Kansas
Stick that existing boat anchor engine under the front porch for the next buyer to store. Buy a 330 H. P. for around 2600.00 tax included. A new intake, bolt it in, your ready for action. You will have a great Warranty & all the power you will want for a street motor. Just my opinion, on having a nice running Corvette. Have a great day. Gene
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 842
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
ok here goes the cheap way,stock rebuild flat top pistons 3 angle valve job back cut the valves pocket port your heads yourself call Crane, lunati etc get a cam spec to your application. this gets you there as cheap as you are gonna get don't forget intake Carb and headers.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
Like others here have said its not too hard to build a 300hp engine. Have the block bored .030 over and install Flat top pistons 2 or 4 valve relief won't make a big difference. Have the Rods reconditioned and get a cam with at least .450 lift on both valves. New performance intake and get a good carb add a pair of headers and true duals and you should be well above 300Hp. Take your time and match all your components up so they work well together. Don't make the mistake I made when building my first 350. The pistons that came with the kit I bought had a compression height of 1.540 which left the piston in the cylinder .040 of a inch. Stock compression height is 1.560, stick to that figure and it will be much better as far as compression and maintaining a quench of .040. Even with a decent pair of heads you should be under $3000.00. Good Luck Tim
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 485
Likes: 1
From: Oakville ON
from a previous post:
"Flat tops with L48 (~76cc) chambers won’t get you any more than 9:1 even with thinnest gasket.
Instead, suggest small dome piston such as sealed power p/n H618CP ... has positive dome volume +3.5cc and has 1.560" compression distance. With thin shim gasket felpro 1094 (3.2cc) ...that'll make about 9.7:1 scr & have an ideal quench height about 0.040". In combo w/ a budget $100 cam & lifter kit like summit K1103 will easily make 325-330fwhp on pump gas and remain very streetable w/ good manifold vacuum. 214 / 224 @ .005, good to 4500 rpm. Jackson"
Keep the Quadrajet carb. Full dual exhaust with headers and distributor recurve necessary too.
"Flat tops with L48 (~76cc) chambers won’t get you any more than 9:1 even with thinnest gasket.
Instead, suggest small dome piston such as sealed power p/n H618CP ... has positive dome volume +3.5cc and has 1.560" compression distance. With thin shim gasket felpro 1094 (3.2cc) ...that'll make about 9.7:1 scr & have an ideal quench height about 0.040". In combo w/ a budget $100 cam & lifter kit like summit K1103 will easily make 325-330fwhp on pump gas and remain very streetable w/ good manifold vacuum. 214 / 224 @ .005, good to 4500 rpm. Jackson"
Keep the Quadrajet carb. Full dual exhaust with headers and distributor recurve necessary too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 842
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
dome pistons will probably be forged and cost more a good hyperutectic piston is enough. i don't expect for gas to increase in quality look what they have done to our oil. 9.00-1 compression is fine for 350 h.p. . i always recommend a camshaft specifically for the application. that way you leave less on the table.the cam off the shelf. may make the power but the range it likes may not be where the combination likes it. he wants to get by at a cost effective level that's how I'd. go. if you want a cheap shelf cam elgin and make a 350-350 cam that would be o.k. yes the same cam the l-82 has, but the actual grind is way better
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: FL.
shop for a solid but not so expensive 383 shortblock then build it up, heads, cam ..ect.
375hp 400TQ on pump gas and would not be radical. Installed and running maybe $3500-$4000 cost. Youll love your car more with a new engine
375hp 400TQ on pump gas and would not be radical. Installed and running maybe $3500-$4000 cost. Youll love your car more with a new engine
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
the contradiction here is wanting to do it cheap AND wanting to do it yourself. i bet by the time you learn how, mess a few things up, and buy all the tools and equipment, you will be money ahead to purchase a crate......JMO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 38
From: Space Coast Gator Territory
http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56505
Good luck on the build!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
We could go back and forth with the advantages of buying a create motor or rebuilding a engine yourself and all of us would have good points.The question is do you have the tools and ability to complete your own rebuild? Also do you have the time? Expense will be close to the same either way you go, if you want the satisfaction of creating your own build and telling people you did it yourself, plus the feeling of satisfaction you get when you hear that motor run for the first time then there is only one choice.....
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
I also highly recommend that you use forged parts in the lower end and not hyper pistons
...
of course I don't know how hard you drive it. If I had built my engine with hyper pistons or a cast crank I would've had to build it over again by now.
at least once...