Ford guy needs advice
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Ford guy needs advice
I recently aquirred a 73 Coupe with the L48 and auto. Keep in mind my other toy is a 65 Cobra with a 427. I know the vette will never perform like my cobra, but I would like to wake up the L48 a little. Keep in mind this is a numbers matching car so needless to say I would like to keep it that way as much as possible. Like to see about 325 hp. Not really on a budget but my last name is not Trump! Suggestions??
Thanks for any help!!
Thanks for any help!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
Cheapest way to go , is Intake ,camshaft,dual exhaust,roller rockers, that will gain you about 100hp. I did this to my 80, dynoed 221HP at the wheels , still not a thumper but it runs good on regular gas. Ron
1st run on the dyno before was 119HP at the wheels
1st run on the dyno before was 119HP at the wheels
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Enid Oklahoma
I would drop in a crate engine and mothball the original. That gives you a ton of options. Unless you want to remain basically original on the outside which limits a few mods. Something as simple as a timing change will help. If you were to add some heads and a cam that would help, but you can go on and on with heads an intake,Headers, true duals etc....but if you are looking for originality and performance, it is a little hard to discern.
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Thats respectable. Did you keep the stock heads!
Race Director
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From: Sierra Foothills CA
I would drop in a crate engine and mothball the original. That gives you a ton of options. Unless you want to remain basically original on the outside which limits a few mods. Something as simple as a timing change will help. If you were to add some heads and a cam that would help, but you can go on and on with heads an intake,Headers, true duals etc....but if you are looking for originality and performance, it is a little hard to discern.
My thoughts exactly. It's hard to say what kind of shape the original motor is in since you didn't give any history but I wouldn't care to put it at risk if I could afford to pull and replace it. A nice 383 stroker wouldn't add any weight, but with the right parts combo, it could transform your Vette. If you know a good local builder you could have it built to your specs if you don't find a crate motor that you're comfortable with.
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My thoughts exactly. It's hard to say what kind of shape the original motor is in since you didn't give any history but I wouldn't care to put it at risk if I could afford to pull and replace it. A nice 383 stroker wouldn't add any weight, but with the right parts combo, it could transform your Vette. If you know a good local builder you could have it built to your specs if you don't find a crate motor that you're comfortable with.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Springdale Arkansas
Sbc
The SBC is A though platform
The stock bottom end stuff is tougher than you think, you get to the limit of the stock stuff quick with the stock heads/intake , valvle train and ignition. Plus doing it in the car is a pain, if you are going to do it any way and have the money I would slate it for a crate motor 1/2 the aggravation and you will be able to clean up you engine bay when you do it. you need to replace the water pump and hoses anyway...
My opinion is value for money you would enjoy the crate engine
A ZZ4 with a good ignintion and the cam upgrade from GM will make a true 430 HP at the crankshaft turning only a water pump.
For what it's worth, Jim
The stock bottom end stuff is tougher than you think, you get to the limit of the stock stuff quick with the stock heads/intake , valvle train and ignition. Plus doing it in the car is a pain, if you are going to do it any way and have the money I would slate it for a crate motor 1/2 the aggravation and you will be able to clean up you engine bay when you do it. you need to replace the water pump and hoses anyway...
My opinion is value for money you would enjoy the crate engine
A ZZ4 with a good ignintion and the cam upgrade from GM will make a true 430 HP at the crankshaft turning only a water pump.
For what it's worth, Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Southern Indiana
I would think to gain some real seat of the pants, along with the other suggestions that a painful head swap would be in order to compensate the dished pistons, but the gain is worth the pain.
Also bad thing is lots of vettes had 308 gears and that really hits the take off pretty hard and doesn't get the RPMs up real quik where the HP is or the torque is to take off in the first place.
Also bad thing is lots of vettes had 308 gears and that really hits the take off pretty hard and doesn't get the RPMs up real quik where the HP is or the torque is to take off in the first place.
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Keep in mind I have no problem pulling the motor and rebuilding it. My main objective is to keep the numbers matching block. I realize it is only a 2 bolt main block, but again I am not lookng for anything that a 2 bolt block cannot handle.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Japan
Brrujo, welcome to the club! I bought my Vette because my '67 Terlingua Mustang was a little too rumpity for street driving and I couldn't afford a Cobra....you have gotten good advice frome others here. Honestly it would probably be easier to source a good 2-bolt 350 and build that than tear into the OE motor...unless you have storage issues or something. Like others I would advise building a 383; there are tons of kits out there or you can go the crate route...400 horsepower is easily possible and very safe without getting too radical.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: anchorage ak
Decent aluminum heads, afr, dart ect. 64 cc chambers, 180 cc runners. Retrofit hydraulic roller cam. aluminum intake. Matching carb. Match the parts in the desired rpm range, match the stall converter if auto. Like others say change up the rear gear. Headers and dual exhaust.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Taylor Michigan
Build the OE engine into a L-79 1967 component engine....looks stock, and is stock using the 151 OE hydraulic camshaft...nearly all you need and a completely Chevy engine....and only you a a few others will know whats inside...these parts can be a remarkable improvement
Safety Car
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From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Chester Virginia
did dyno as well....l48
It will not be a drag car but it is lots peppier than it was before I made those changes. If you want screaming h.p. of 400 or so you can get inside the block as noted but with old engines you might be better off to buy a crate at the hp you want. I have lots of fun with my 76 since I made the changes that the dyno confirmed added 32 hp at the rear wheels.
Lance P.
Melting Slicks
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From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
15 yrs ago when I bought my 80 I asked the same question and got the old "get rid of that boat anchor and put this and that in it. I did not want a rocket ship , I wanted something that ran nice and was a good driver on reg, gas. I kept the original heads and the car looks original has it did in 1980, and it was cheap. My 04 vert is my rocket ship, so does this guy He has a COBRA . Ron
I agree with Lance
I agree with Lance
Last edited by RonR80; Dec 6, 2011 at 07:46 AM.
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Thanks Ron. Your right. I am not looking for another "Rocket Ship". I already have one of those complete with all the driveabilty issues i.e. overheats on a 100 degree Texas day, gets about 3 miles per gallon, etc. etc..
Do you by any chance remember the cam grind? I presume you used a aluminum dual plane manifold such as the Edelbrock performer.
Do you by any chance remember the cam grind? I presume you used a aluminum dual plane manifold such as the Edelbrock performer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
Yes right on for the intake , I did keep the egr , I can get the cam specs tonight , even all the parts I put in , I did it all myself not too hard. I can even send you the dyno sheet with the 2 pulls after ,Here's a pic of the 1st run
