My first rebuild
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
I havn't got that far, I have spent all my time just trying to figure out this honing, polishing the crank, cleaning, the block etc.
But this weekend I have started thinking about the heads a little more.
What you think 400HP sound good for a first car? Oh! BTW I haven't forgotten about your headers and exhaust system. If you still have it when I get to that point I will prob take it.
But this weekend I have started thinking about the heads a little more.
What you think 400HP sound good for a first car? Oh! BTW I haven't forgotten about your headers and exhaust system. If you still have it when I get to that point I will prob take it.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,688
Likes: 41
From: Palm Harbor, Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
I havn't got that far, I have spent all my time just trying to figure out this honing, polishing the crank, cleaning, the block etc.
But this weekend I have started thinking about the heads a little more.
What you think 400HP sound good for a first car? Oh! BTW I haven't forgotten about your headers and exhaust system. If you still have it when I get to that point I will prob take it.
But this weekend I have started thinking about the heads a little more.
What you think 400HP sound good for a first car? Oh! BTW I haven't forgotten about your headers and exhaust system. If you still have it when I get to that point I will prob take it.
the reason I ask.... pistons make a huge difference in how a motor performs - especially when dealing with quench stuff.
cam - pretty obvious on this one too, but one other thing to think about.... with enough overlap, you can run higher static compression; which can develop more power.
400 hp is a good number, but it's not the end of the story - you can develop 400 hp at 8000 rpm, and it'd be a dog in a truck, yet awesome in a race car - so how are you coming with reading Vizard's book?
A David Freiburger (Hot Rod editor) quote is "there's no such thing as too much cam, just not enough motor".... honestly, identify your top 2 or 3 heads then find them - I've done the build the short block and worry about the heads later; and was always disappointed in the result...
Last edited by SuperBuickGuy; Dec 9, 2012 at 01:59 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Well Fatcat is using the tried and true flat top Hypertec pistons that work with almost any street head.
You're putting the cart before the horse. Heads first then a cam to match the power curve the engine is capable of
His compression will be the direct result of the heads chamber size. As the compression rises the more aggressive he can go on the cam! The heads are the biggest expense and I'm sure he's looking for the best bang for the buck. Maybe even a used set of heads that may not have the ideal chamber for your cam if you already purchased it. Then you have a problem
You're putting the cart before the horse. Heads first then a cam to match the power curve the engine is capable of
His compression will be the direct result of the heads chamber size. As the compression rises the more aggressive he can go on the cam! The heads are the biggest expense and I'm sure he's looking for the best bang for the buck. Maybe even a used set of heads that may not have the ideal chamber for your cam if you already purchased it. Then you have a problem
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
If that doesn't work, I know summit is pretty fast. I've received parts in two day with regular shipping
just a thought.....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
cool, they're still sitting
the reason I ask.... pistons make a huge difference in how a motor performs - especially when dealing with quench stuff.
cam - pretty obvious on this one too, but one other thing to think about.... with enough overlap, you can run higher static compression; which can develop more power.
400 hp is a good number, but it's not the end of the story - you can develop 400 hp at 8000 rpm, and it'd be a dog in a truck, yet awesome in a race car - so how are you coming with reading Vizard's book?
A David Freiburger (Hot Rod editor) quote is "there's no such thing as too much cam, just not enough motor".... honestly, identify your top 2 or 3 heads then find them - I've done the build the short block and worry about the heads later; and was always disappointed in the result...
the reason I ask.... pistons make a huge difference in how a motor performs - especially when dealing with quench stuff.
cam - pretty obvious on this one too, but one other thing to think about.... with enough overlap, you can run higher static compression; which can develop more power.
400 hp is a good number, but it's not the end of the story - you can develop 400 hp at 8000 rpm, and it'd be a dog in a truck, yet awesome in a race car - so how are you coming with reading Vizard's book?
A David Freiburger (Hot Rod editor) quote is "there's no such thing as too much cam, just not enough motor".... honestly, identify your top 2 or 3 heads then find them - I've done the build the short block and worry about the heads later; and was always disappointed in the result...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
What's sad is I have a set of Vortecs sitting on a shelf in my shop.... ever considered moving to Seattle?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
No but how much you want for them? Shipping may not be bad and we could send the headers at the same time.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
The smog heads leave a lot of HP on the table and it will cost about $400+to have them rebuilt. For another few hundred you could have a nice pair of aluminum heads....
Tell us about the cam scottp99 sent ya??? Lift, duration, roller,ect....
Tell us about the cam scottp99 sent ya??? Lift, duration, roller,ect....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/su...make/chevrolet
I sent it when we all thought it was just going to be a cam upgrade on a stock L48. Aftermarket heads, you'll probably want to go with something a little bigger.
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
if you lived in Seattle, you could a) find the valves (not quite sure where I stored them), and b) make sure they're worth using... I bought them for cheap off Craigslist to do tests for a medical company developing an inhaler. And really, I'd hate to send them half way across the country and they turn out to need work....
since you're working on your intake... this was what I built today
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
It's basically this cam:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/su...make/chevrolet
I sent it when we all thought it was just going to be a cam upgrade on a stock L48. Aftermarket heads, you'll probably want to go with something a little bigger.
Scott
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/su...make/chevrolet
I sent it when we all thought it was just going to be a cam upgrade on a stock L48. Aftermarket heads, you'll probably want to go with something a little bigger.
Scott
This cam will also allow the use of Vortec heads without having to spend money modifying them for a high lift cam.
Last edited by hugie82; Dec 10, 2012 at 09:06 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
These are stone stock Vortec heads - they need machining for the higher lift cam, and may or may not need a valve job...
if you lived in Seattle, you could a) find the valves (not quite sure where I stored them), and b) make sure they're worth using... I bought them for cheap off Craigslist to do tests for a medical company developing an inhaler. And really, I'd hate to send them half way across the country and they turn out to need work....
since you're working on your intake... this was what I built today
if you lived in Seattle, you could a) find the valves (not quite sure where I stored them), and b) make sure they're worth using... I bought them for cheap off Craigslist to do tests for a medical company developing an inhaler. And really, I'd hate to send them half way across the country and they turn out to need work....
since you're working on your intake... this was what I built today
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I have a problem I think with my 882 heads on my L-82 and was thinking about having them rebuilt as well only for originality purposes since everything internal on the motor is OEM (66,000 miles). My dyno guy tells me that to correctly rebuild the 882 heads, I am looking at around $1,000 for new stainless steel valves, seals, valve springs, valve guides, 3 angle valve job etc. Was just wondering what $400 dollars would get you. Are talking $400 to rebuild the heads yourself without machine work? Just wondering. Thanx.