Stock engine upgrades
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Stock engine upgrades
I've got a mostly stock (has true duel exhaust without cats) 77, and am thinking about doing some upgrades. Jegs has some heads/manifold/cam kits for around $2,000.. I know I could spend twice that and get a whole new engine basically, but that's not really what I want to do. Would a kit like this be reasonable, or a waste of money? I'm young and inexperienced and really don't know a whole lot about what needs to go into something like this. Any tips help!
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I've got a mostly stock (has true duel exhaust without cats) 77, and am thinking about doing some upgrades. Jegs has some heads/manifold/cam kits for around $2,000.. I know I could spend twice that and get a whole new engine basically, but that's not really what I want to do. Would a kit like this be reasonable, or a waste of money? I'm young and inexperienced and really don't know a whole lot about what needs to go into something like this. Any tips help!
That chart made it easy for me to see how much $$$$$ could be spent to get the greatest horsepower increase.
You'd be surprised to know that the most expensive items/upgrades didn't provide the best H.P. increases....and as little as a 20 H.P. upgrade is very noticeable on a stock engine. If you combine 2 or three inexpensive upgrades, you really feel a H.P.(torque) difference on the street!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 1,116
From: North tonawanda NY
I believe you will see the best power gains but replacing your heads and manifolds, and a cam swap.. you can find the stuff used for cheap for example I upgraded to side pipes on my 74 and have my entire true dual exhaust on Craigslist with two new polished mufflers welded in for $80. And I bought dart iron eagle heads with harland 1.6 roller rockers for 300. On Craigslist.
You want to find 58-64cc chamber heads with around 180cc runner size. This will boost your compression and give you more power.
Fyi stainless obx side pipes with headers and sweet thunder chambered exhaust mufflers cost under a grand together...
You want to find 58-64cc chamber heads with around 180cc runner size. This will boost your compression and give you more power.
Fyi stainless obx side pipes with headers and sweet thunder chambered exhaust mufflers cost under a grand together...
Last edited by augiedoggy; Jun 5, 2014 at 07:43 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 44
Likes: 2
From: SANTA ROSA, CALIF
Aluminum heads?
Hugie82: are the ports on the alum heads larger, or just lighter weight? Did I also see on another thread that the ports on aluminum heads are located higher up? So my Hooker header/sidepipes may not connect properly?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: coon rapids mn
shop around a little jegs dose not have the best prices on parts .figure out what your compression will be with what heads .buy the cam last to work best with the parts you decide on .speed way parts has some good prices on heads and other parts you mite need .I also like competition products also.what transmission do you have ?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 11
From: Brigham City Utah
I figured up what parts were going to cost, possible machine shop labor, having it all put together and I opted to go with a crate motor for less money.
http://high-performance-engines.com/...duct_Code=HP89
For something a little tamer ATK does offer a 325 HP engine for less than $2400.00
http://high-performance-engines.com/...duct_Code=HP29
Karsten
http://high-performance-engines.com/...duct_Code=HP89
For something a little tamer ATK does offer a 325 HP engine for less than $2400.00
http://high-performance-engines.com/...duct_Code=HP29
Karsten
Last edited by Karsten; Jun 5, 2014 at 12:33 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Cam/Heads/Manifold and Headers will really wake a car up.
Make sure all the parts match and compliment each other. Get in touch with some experts like Straub and spec out everything needed.
Or maybe go the route of say an Edelbrock Power Package.
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/...es/guide.shtml
Make sure all the parts match and compliment each other. Get in touch with some experts like Straub and spec out everything needed.
Or maybe go the route of say an Edelbrock Power Package.
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/...es/guide.shtml
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 1,116
From: North tonawanda NY
aluminum heads allow higher compression while still using pump gas.... thats the only advantage... if your sticking 64cc heads on an l48 with dished pistons than cheaper iron heads will actually have the advantage of being stronger and allowing uncoated steel shim gaskets as well as better cost.... for about $1,000 you can bolt on an extra 100-150hp.... that is if you have the confidence to unbolt the old stuff and bolt on the new stuff following directions from a repair manual on torque sequence and such...people really like to make it seem more difficult than it is here... Go to any other car enthusiast forum and youll be told its not rocket science...
Last edited by augiedoggy; Jun 5, 2014 at 04:44 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 1,116
From: North tonawanda NY
I wonder if you mean the "performer rpm performance package?" in any case you should see some real improvements over stock. as long as you also did away with the restrictive factory exhaust?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Have you done, or had done, any tuning to the engine? You might be surpeised what a good tune up can do. Tweak the carb, recurve the ignition, it makes a big difference.
Scott
Scott