L-82 Performance Upgrades
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Need help on a 79 L-82
I have a 79 L-82 with 38k miles. It was completely stock until I had the cat removed and ran true duels. I'm having the car tuned up by Atlanta corvette and having them setting the timing following Lars' white paper.
I'm a newby, but have been reading the forum a lot and would like to get up to 300 HP out of the L-82 if I can ( my CLK500 has 300 HP and makes the vette seem like a bit of a dog...) I'd like to keep the mods to a minimum but it seems like new heads are the biggest bang for the buck...the questions I have are, what's the best setup? Do I have to replace the cam too or is the stk cam acceptable? Do I have to get a new intake manifold as well? Can i get away without headers and just keep the duel exhaust? Is there one kit that has all the parts already matched for eachother that I can buy and install? I appreciate any guidance I can get.
I'm a newby, but have been reading the forum a lot and would like to get up to 300 HP out of the L-82 if I can ( my CLK500 has 300 HP and makes the vette seem like a bit of a dog...) I'd like to keep the mods to a minimum but it seems like new heads are the biggest bang for the buck...the questions I have are, what's the best setup? Do I have to replace the cam too or is the stk cam acceptable? Do I have to get a new intake manifold as well? Can i get away without headers and just keep the duel exhaust? Is there one kit that has all the parts already matched for eachother that I can buy and install? I appreciate any guidance I can get.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 842
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
1. the L-82 is a good engine with lots of potential.
2. there is probably 3 days of reading if you use the search function.
3. do your research and come back and ask for what you don't find
4. probably everything has been discussed already.
2. there is probably 3 days of reading if you use the search function.
3. do your research and come back and ask for what you don't find
4. probably everything has been discussed already.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
I have a 79 L-82 with 38k miles. It was completely stock until I had the cat removed and ran true duels. I'm having the car tuned up by Atlanta corvette and having them setting the timing following Lars' white paper.
I'm a newby, but have been reading the forum a lot and would like to get up to 300 HP out of the L-82 if I can ( my CLK500 has 300 HP and makes the vette seem like a bit of a dog...) I'd like to keep the mods to a minimum but it seems like new heads are the biggest bang for the buck...the questions I have are, what's the best setup? Do I have to replace the cam too or is the stk cam acceptable? Do I have to get a new intake manifold as well? Can i get away without headers and just keep the duel exhaust? Is there one kit that has all the parts already matched for eachother that I can buy and install? I appreciate any guidance I can get.
I'm a newby, but have been reading the forum a lot and would like to get up to 300 HP out of the L-82 if I can ( my CLK500 has 300 HP and makes the vette seem like a bit of a dog...) I'd like to keep the mods to a minimum but it seems like new heads are the biggest bang for the buck...the questions I have are, what's the best setup? Do I have to replace the cam too or is the stk cam acceptable? Do I have to get a new intake manifold as well? Can i get away without headers and just keep the duel exhaust? Is there one kit that has all the parts already matched for eachother that I can buy and install? I appreciate any guidance I can get.
Scott
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
An L82 in good shape with true dual exhaust, and a bluprinted carb and distributor will probably be making close to 300 HP. Make the most of what you already have, before dropping lots of money.
Then get a good 4 wheel alignment.
I think you will be happy with that....
Then get a good 4 wheel alignment.
I think you will be happy with that....
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,095
Likes: 4,026
From: New Braunfels Texas
An L82 in good shape with true dual exhaust, and a bluprinted carb and distributor will probably be making close to 300 HP. Make the most of what you already have, before dropping lots of money.
Then get a good 4 wheel alignment.
I think you will be happy with that....
Then get a good 4 wheel alignment.
I think you will be happy with that....
Take the heads off and bowl bend and pocket port them.....
Stick a XE274H cam and performer EPS intake....have your Q-Jet set up...round this off with a 2.5 dual system and it will bring a smile to your face.....
Jebby
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Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,095
Likes: 4,026
From: New Braunfels Texas
All SBC rods until the ZZ4 and others are forged.....the crank and pistons By 78' even the L82 paid victim to low-po wars.....whether these had a forged crank and pistons is debatable....early L-82's maybe...(73-74)
You are correct on the compression....only using this as a reference....
There are a hundred write ups on power building for those motors....
Jebby
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 842
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
1. a forged bottom end provides greater durability .
2. i can assure you my 79 L-82 has forged components
3. the target master has below 8-1 compression in most cases and makes a lousy short block to base a performance build on.
2. i can assure you my 79 L-82 has forged components
3. the target master has below 8-1 compression in most cases and makes a lousy short block to base a performance build on.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,095
Likes: 4,026
From: New Braunfels Texas
Forged anything does nothing for power....durability or not....
The compression is very low.....these respond well to 64cc heads....
It needs none of the forged pieces....it does not spin that high.
New Targetmasters have cracked powdered metal rods.....and the cast pistons and crank are much more durable than one would think....
I personally built a 440 horsepower motor using the Targetmaster shortblock.....that was 14 years ago....and it still runs great.....
I would not spray 175 shot of nitrous or rev 6500 all day but who does that?
Like I said...just a reference....
Jebby
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
An L82 in good shape with true dual exhaust, and a bluprinted carb and distributor will probably be making close to 300 HP. Make the most of what you already have, before dropping lots of money.
Then get a good 4 wheel alignment.
I think you will be happy with that....
Then get a good 4 wheel alignment.
I think you will be happy with that....
Good advice.!.....fix all the suspension issues , bring it up to top shape , corvette is a lot of fun if the suspension is tight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
All this talk of maintaining originality, I know it has its place, but it seems that rubber bumper C3's are destined to never be worth much.....no matter what.....according to many on this forum. (I personally disagree, but who am I to question?). But ultimately, if anyone really thinks a car is an investment, you must have way better luck that I ever have. I don't do it for that reason, so I make the car the way I want it, with NO regard to a feeble attempt at making it some marginal amount of dollars more. For this OP, holding on to weak cylinder heads to gain some investment advantage defeats the purpose for me.....just my humble opinion. No offense meant.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Targetmaster
Where do you get this Targetmaster name, I see no reference to an engine named Targetmaster. I don't believe they are available. Now, if you are talking about Chevy Performance engines, they are available. Just trying to get the nomenclature straight. But, maybe I am wrong.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The forged crank, forged flat top piston 4 bolt main L82 is a great base to build a performance engine on. The cast crank, cast dish piston 2 bolt main base crate engine is a lousy base to build a performance engine on. That said I have seen them handle 400- 425 hp and occasional bursts to 6000 RPM, for how long or how much is anyone's guess. The L82 short block will handle 500 hp, 6500-7000 rpm and a nitrous shot. Remember that back in the day if the engine approached 1 FWHP per CI it had forged internals. This cost more so there was a reason GM engineering did it. Personally that would be where I would draw the line as well. Valve float and RPM are what kill most engines so cam specs, valvetrain quality and a rev limiter to limit your peak RPM to what the components will handle helps longevity.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Targetmaster was a popular crate motor replacement through gm awhile back
On "what if it becomes worth something", I agree. Why worry about something that hasnt happened yet shoot they are only what 30 yrs old already so
On "what if it becomes worth something", I agree. Why worry about something that hasnt happened yet shoot they are only what 30 yrs old already so
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 842
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
personaly , i hope and pray mine does not become valuable. there is no future need to sell to finance different things in life. a future wife could not sell it to remodel the kitchen , and a thousand other reasons. i came by this car in an unfortunate way and it will stay with me for a good long time. one day maybe i will tell the story.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
All this talk of maintaining originality, I know it has its place, but it seems that rubber bumper C3's are destined to never be worth much.....no matter what.....according to many on this forum. (I personally disagree, but who am I to question?). But ultimately, if anyone really thinks a car is an investment, you must have way better luck that I ever have. I don't do it for that reason, so I make the car the way I want it, with NO regard to a feeble attempt at making it some marginal amount of dollars more. For this OP, holding on to weak cylinder heads to gain some investment advantage defeats the purpose for me.....just my humble opinion. No offense meant.
If I make money when I (heaven forbid!) sell it, fine. If I lose money, also fine. I was giggling most of the time I was driving it. That's worth something.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Bay Florida
people have waited since 1978 for pace cars value to go up, it hasn't yet.
they are worth about what people paid for them new, and the dollar is worth alot less today than in 1978, you can always change the bolt on parts back. i had one new, drove it modified it enjoyed it . a friend bought one put it in the garage had 8 miles on it 25 years later the garage burned down 12000 dollars is what he got from the insurance company after he hired a lawyer.
they are worth about what people paid for them new, and the dollar is worth alot less today than in 1978, you can always change the bolt on parts back. i had one new, drove it modified it enjoyed it . a friend bought one put it in the garage had 8 miles on it 25 years later the garage burned down 12000 dollars is what he got from the insurance company after he hired a lawyer.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Bay Florida
There's a ton of performance hidden in that L82 using just the stock parts. Remember, that motor was engineered in the mid 70's to meet future emissions standards and performance was the furthest thing from their minds. The cam is a carryover from the 350/350 but the compression was dropped, so there's plenty of potential. A "cleanup" of the exhaust system, carb re-jet and recurve of the distributor is about all that's needed to wake up that L82. The L82 also came with larger exhaust manifolds than the L48, so headers is not really a huge addition unless huge RPM's are in the plan.