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Need Advice - ProComp Heads? Cam? 400 Hp?

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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 07:28 PM
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Default Need Advice - ProComp Heads? Cam? 400 Hp?

Hi there,

I have been customizing a 76 C3 that I have had in my garage for 3 years... Started working on it last month.

Firstly, I want to Thank everyone who has helped me out thus far! Especially with my Blue LED conversion!

I have so far;
Dyed Interior
New Stereo and Speakers
Made a custom enclosure for the rear
Blue LED interior conversion

Things I have bought and yet to install;
Edelbrock 2101 Intake
New Chrome Valve covers / Breather /PCV
New Chrome 1 wire alternator
New Break Booster
New Chrome Master Cylinder
New Proportioning Valve

Things I am looking to buy;
OBX Side Pipes
Procomp Aluminum Heads 210cc
Procomp Cam
Need a 750cfm Carb?

My goal is to sound good, and give my buddies 94 Supra / 2011 911 C4S a run for their money.

I am not sure if the motor parts I am looking at will bring my car to over 400hp with over 400 lbs

Also need some advice;
Gears
Carb
Shifter (B&M?)
and Drag Radials vs Slicks

Thanks!
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 08:13 PM
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Skip the procomp stuff. Get quality parts or spend the same $$ to make the low quality parts work.
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 10:45 PM
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Procomp = junk. If budget is the issue buy a set of Dart SHP 180 64CC heads. They will fit your intake manifold ports and flow better than the procomp crap. Cam I always recommend a roller cam. With your intake a hydraulic roller is your best bet. Howards is a little over $500 for a billet core cam and really nice lifters. HP costs $. If you want to run with a new 911 prepare to spend more than procomp prices.
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 11:43 PM
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stay away from procomp made in china
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Old Sep 12, 2012 | 12:13 AM
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If better performance is really the goal, I'd suggest you resist the temptation to waste any more money on bling bling while trying to pinch pennies where it really counts. That said, win or loose, you'll still be the one who drives a Corvette. I woudln't let any ricers trick you into believing they're not envious.
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Old Sep 12, 2012 | 01:46 AM
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Pro comp heads are worse then gambling in vegas. If gambling was good for there customers then how can they afford to build and maintain such lavish hotels. But they will be so nice comp your room your dinner they want you to enjoy yourself as you loose your hiney lol.

The gumbo quality of the aluminum, the machining, valve seats coming loose has been well talked about by machine shops over at speed talk.

So just lay your $600/650 down on the table it will just be a matter of how many miles before the house reaches across the table and good chance takes your whole engine from you in damage. Go for the pro comp cam, to make it even easier for the house to win.

Last edited by Little Mouse; Sep 12, 2012 at 02:28 AM.
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Old Sep 12, 2012 | 02:15 AM
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Just had another guy post there (ST) or chevelles.com...finished his build was putting his rocker arms on and found the studs werent even close in line with the valve stems. Aint no way to fix that one.

Junk.

Cam too


Whats a cam/lifter set $150? Keep saving youll thank yourself later that you wont be paying for it twice AND doing it all over again.
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Old Sep 12, 2012 | 08:37 AM
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Are you planning on doing this to the 36 year old bottom end in your engine? If its an L48, that means cast pistons. You're asking for trouble.
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Old Sep 12, 2012 | 11:55 PM
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It is an L48, what would you guys recommend. I am not worried about spending the $$. Problem is I eventually want to put a LS1 into the car... But in the in-term, I am looking to make some power out of this 350!

I am looking to make close to 400Hp with 400lbs of torque.

Any suggestions?

Procomp just looked at a cheap way to make some horse power. I read an article of someone making 400Hp under $1000

If I can spend around $1100 on heads, cam and carb I would be content!

I know I am not going to get my $$ back on this, but it will be fun to boot around until I decide to swap an LS1... (currently looking for hit cars!)

Kk
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 12:07 AM
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I'd just put the $$ towards the LS1 swap, or make sure other parts of your car (diff, suspension, brakes, trans) are up to the task.
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 12:33 AM
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Copy what I did with mine
Hooker side pipes
stock (though rebuilt) bottom end
Comp Thumpr cam (next to bottom of the page)
Jegs Vortec heads
Holley 870 Street Avenger carb

I've a MSD 6AL for it, but not yet on.

Right now, I've got a Turbo350 with a 2800 stall converter; but soon super t-10... anyway

it sounds good, and goes OMG.... my DD until a week ago was an 06 GTO/M6, this set up would give it more than a run for it's money - it'd take its lunch money.

With that said - no one yet makes side pipe headers for the LS motor.... so if you do go that route, consider whether you want chrome, stainless or painted headers - because you'll be modifying them (I'd do stainless from OBX except I got a smoking deal on mine)
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Karim
It is an L48, what would you guys recommend. I am not worried about spending the $$. Problem is I eventually want to put a LS1 into the car... But in the in-term, I am looking to make some power out of this 350!

I am looking to make close to 400Hp with 400lbs of torque.

Any suggestions?

Procomp just looked at a cheap way to make some horse power. I read an article of someone making 400Hp under $1000

If I can spend around $1100 on heads, cam and carb I would be content!

I know I am not going to get my $$ back on this, but it will be fun to boot around until I decide to swap an LS1... (currently looking for hit cars!)

Kk
You want to over double your HP from 180 to over 400 for $1100. Good luck with that. For $2000 I will guarentee your 400 HP in a streetable engine if your capable of doing the work yourself.
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 04:45 PM
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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Originally Posted by SuperBuickGuy
...Right now, I've got a Turbo350 with a 2800 stall converter; but soon super t-10...
FWIW, as far as 4-speed sycro boxes go, I've had both and I'd opt for a Muncie over the T-10 any day of the week, so long as the gearsets work for you.
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by TheSkunkWorks
FWIW, as far as 4-speed sycro boxes go, I've had both and I'd opt for a Muncie over the T-10 any day of the week, so long as the gearsets work for you.
ah, but you miss the biggest benefit of the ST-10.... I already have it.

But beside that, I've had both as well (incidently, the M22 was the only one I broke) they both are so strong that IMO they're pretty much equal.
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 01:23 AM
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$1100 would roughly put you in the dart SHP heads with a flat tappit hydraulic cam lifters. Probably another roughly $100 for gaskets/fluids. I'm talking summit brand cam lifters. The 750cfm Q-jet you already have on your L/48 would support way past 400 hp.

You would not be at 400hp but not a long way off for not much money.

Last edited by Little Mouse; Sep 14, 2012 at 01:42 AM.
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 01:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Little Mouse
$1100 would roughly put you in the dart SHP heads with a flat tappit hydraulic cam lifters. I'm talking summit brand cam lifters. The 750cfm Q-jet you already have on your L/48 would easely support way past 400 hp.
But It will be doing well to get 325 HP with headers, free flowing exhaust and a good dyno tune. The carb swap will get you 0 HP over the QJet.
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 01:56 AM
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Cheap Hp....hard to do and have it meet your expectations and last.

Please buy yourself some quality parts youll thank yourself later

There are surely many procomp users out there that are happy...but just seems too many that are faulty hit the gates.

To me when they report back a few yrs later things are holding up/happy that holds water to me. Anything can last a few hundred miles
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