What should I upgrade?
#1
What should I upgrade?
Hi all,
Just became an owner of a 1979 L42 beauty: Link here.
I'm interested, based on the description and all the stuff that's been redone, etc., in two things:
1) Does anything you see here indicate that this car should perform above stock (i.e., 195 HP)?
2) What would be the cheapest/easiest way to boost HP on this, and roughly how much would it cost if I did it myself?
Thanks!
Just became an owner of a 1979 L42 beauty: Link here.
I'm interested, based on the description and all the stuff that's been redone, etc., in two things:
1) Does anything you see here indicate that this car should perform above stock (i.e., 195 HP)?
2) What would be the cheapest/easiest way to boost HP on this, and roughly how much would it cost if I did it myself?
Thanks!
#2
Safety Car
Hi all,
Just became an owner of a 1979 L42 beauty: Link here.
I'm interested, based on the description and all the stuff that's been redone, etc., in two things:
1) Does anything you see here indicate that this car should perform above stock (i.e., 195 HP)?
2) What would be the cheapest/easiest way to boost HP on this, and roughly how much would it cost if I did it myself?
Thanks!
Just became an owner of a 1979 L42 beauty: Link here.
I'm interested, based on the description and all the stuff that's been redone, etc., in two things:
1) Does anything you see here indicate that this car should perform above stock (i.e., 195 HP)?
2) What would be the cheapest/easiest way to boost HP on this, and roughly how much would it cost if I did it myself?
Thanks!
If you want more power it can easily be done with new heads alone and more with a mild cam replacement to go with the heads... this can be done with the engine in the car but I suggest Googling it and watching YouTube videos on it to see if your comfortable unbolting and rebooting everything while following the torque specs and sequence.
If you do a search here for "More power" you can find many many threads based on this same topic with many different suggestions.
Last edited by augiedoggy; 07-21-2014 at 06:48 PM.
#3
Safety Car
Hi all,
Just became an owner of a 1979 L42 beauty: Link here.
I'm interested, based on the description and all the stuff that's been redone, etc., in two things:
1) Does anything you see here indicate that this car should perform above stock (i.e., 195 HP)?
2) What would be the cheapest/easiest way to boost HP on this, and roughly how much would it cost if I did it myself?
Thanks!
Just became an owner of a 1979 L42 beauty: Link here.
I'm interested, based on the description and all the stuff that's been redone, etc., in two things:
1) Does anything you see here indicate that this car should perform above stock (i.e., 195 HP)?
2) What would be the cheapest/easiest way to boost HP on this, and roughly how much would it cost if I did it myself?
Thanks!
first off what kind of power are you looking for and what do you intend to use the car for? Secondly whats your budget, do you own tools and are you mechanically inclined enough to do the work your self?
#4
Race Director
Exhaust is the cheapest way to a few extra horses.
New exhaust REALLY woke up my old L48.
(Performance exhaust. Stock replacement not so much)
New exhaust REALLY woke up my old L48.
(Performance exhaust. Stock replacement not so much)
Last edited by MrJlr; 07-21-2014 at 08:51 PM.
#5
Racer
1) Does anything you see here indicate that this car should perform above stock (i.e., 195 HP)?
Bryan
#6
Melting Slicks
Difficult to give you any information about increasing hp until you get more info. The ad says " The rebuilt 350 cubic inch Chevy small block V8". You should find out EXACTLY what was done. It is a claim in their ad so they need to show you with a copy of the build.. Are there new heads, cam, bored, honed, etc.etc? You need to find out what you have first.
Good luck and enjoy.
Good luck and enjoy.
Last edited by BKarol; 07-22-2014 at 10:16 AM.
#7
Great tips!
Thanks, guys. I'm not sure if the dealer will know more but I will call and ask. Also, there really is a big stack of receipts that I will look through, though it'll be a few weeks before I can do that. It sounds like the number 1 and 2 upgrades would be heads and cams. Some have said I could expect about a 100-HP boost from these two mods but that sounded high to me. Any opinions?
As to skill and tools...I don't know if I'd be able to do heads and cams myself. I'm not familiar with the procedures, and generally not familiar with car engines. I've been working on my motorcycle and scooters for a few years and getting savvier as I go, so with enough how-to videos and forum feedback I can do a lot of things...but really my skill is limited to taking things apart, replacing things, and putting them back together. If I'd need to machine anything that would definitely be beyond my current skill (though ideally I'd still rather learn and do it myself rather than pay someone else).
As to skill and tools...I don't know if I'd be able to do heads and cams myself. I'm not familiar with the procedures, and generally not familiar with car engines. I've been working on my motorcycle and scooters for a few years and getting savvier as I go, so with enough how-to videos and forum feedback I can do a lot of things...but really my skill is limited to taking things apart, replacing things, and putting them back together. If I'd need to machine anything that would definitely be beyond my current skill (though ideally I'd still rather learn and do it myself rather than pay someone else).
#8
Safety Car
Thanks, guys. I'm not sure if the dealer will know more but I will call and ask. Also, there really is a big stack of receipts that I will look through, though it'll be a few weeks before I can do that. It sounds like the number 1 and 2 upgrades would be heads and cams. Some have said I could expect about a 100-HP boost from these two mods but that sounded high to me. Any opinions?
As to skill and tools...I don't know if I'd be able to do heads and cams myself. I'm not familiar with the procedures, and generally not familiar with car engines. I've been working on my motorcycle and scooters for a few years and getting savvier as I go, so with enough how-to videos and forum feedback I can do a lot of things...but really my skill is limited to taking things apart, replacing things, and putting them back together. If I'd need to machine anything that would definitely be beyond my current skill (though ideally I'd still rather learn and do it myself rather than pay someone else).
As to skill and tools...I don't know if I'd be able to do heads and cams myself. I'm not familiar with the procedures, and generally not familiar with car engines. I've been working on my motorcycle and scooters for a few years and getting savvier as I go, so with enough how-to videos and forum feedback I can do a lot of things...but really my skill is limited to taking things apart, replacing things, and putting them back together. If I'd need to machine anything that would definitely be beyond my current skill (though ideally I'd still rather learn and do it myself rather than pay someone else).
Last edited by bluedawg; 07-22-2014 at 11:48 AM.
#9
Drifting
Thanks, guys. I'm not sure if the dealer will know more but I will call and ask. Also, there really is a big stack of receipts that I will look through, though it'll be a few weeks before I can do that. It sounds like the number 1 and 2 upgrades would be heads and cams. Some have said I could expect about a 100-HP boost from these two mods but that sounded high to me. Any opinions?
As to skill and tools...I don't know if I'd be able to do heads and cams myself. I'm not familiar with the procedures, and generally not familiar with car engines. I've been working on my motorcycle and scooters for a few years and getting savvier as I go, so with enough how-to videos and forum feedback I can do a lot of things...but really my skill is limited to taking things apart, replacing things, and putting them back together. If I'd need to machine anything that would definitely be beyond my current skill (though ideally I'd still rather learn and do it myself rather than pay someone else).
As to skill and tools...I don't know if I'd be able to do heads and cams myself. I'm not familiar with the procedures, and generally not familiar with car engines. I've been working on my motorcycle and scooters for a few years and getting savvier as I go, so with enough how-to videos and forum feedback I can do a lot of things...but really my skill is limited to taking things apart, replacing things, and putting them back together. If I'd need to machine anything that would definitely be beyond my current skill (though ideally I'd still rather learn and do it myself rather than pay someone else).
#10
Safety Car
#11
Drifting
#12
Pro
I too recently found a '79 with relatively low mileage. Its in great shape but there is no muscle under the hood and it gets terrible gas mileage. They are attributable to the smog designed L48 and turbo 350.
My solution: replace the L48 and turbo 350 with a 355 roller motor and 700R4! My little red Corvette goes in for "transplant" surgery tomorrow at Dr Dirty's Rusty Nuts garage!
My solution: replace the L48 and turbo 350 with a 355 roller motor and 700R4! My little red Corvette goes in for "transplant" surgery tomorrow at Dr Dirty's Rusty Nuts garage!
#13
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2000
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The base engine was the L-48; the optional engine was the L-82. The fifth character of the VIN will tell you what the original engine was. Have you checked the engine pad to determine what might be in it now?
Why not drive it the rest of the summer and get used to it before deciding what you might want to do with it? You might find you like it the way it is.
Congrats.
Why not drive it the rest of the summer and get used to it before deciding what you might want to do with it? You might find you like it the way it is.
Congrats.
#14
Thanks for the additional thoughts, all. This gives me a better sense of my options. Honestly, anything over a few hundred dollars is something I'll need to think long and hard about, and would require saving up. Once I get the car and papers in hand, I'll be sure to check back in and give more details about the work that's been done (though to be honest, if the details of the work were sexy, I'm SURE they would have been listed in that ad, so it was probably just run-of-the-mill stuff like changing seals, cleaning, etc.).
Meanwhile, I'll also drive it for a while and see how I like it. I think it's really disorienting to have something that looks so fast be so basic in terms of power, but I think that's simply the nature of the beast (unless I shell out a lot to change that nature!).
Meanwhile, I'll also drive it for a while and see how I like it. I think it's really disorienting to have something that looks so fast be so basic in terms of power, but I think that's simply the nature of the beast (unless I shell out a lot to change that nature!).
#15
Safety Car
according to that site you have a very well maintained and recently worked over 1979 with cosmetic upgrades but the only thing mentioned that might perform better than stock is the aluminum radiator. Are you sure that's not the cast base L48 engine? I believe only two engines were available, the performance based forged L82 and the L48 which was the same engine used in station wagons at the time.
If you want more power it can easily be done with new heads alone and more with a mild cam replacement to go with the heads... this can be done with the engine in the car but I suggest Googling it and watching YouTube videos on it to see if your comfortable unbolting and rebooting everything while following the torque specs and sequence.
If you do a search here for "More power" you can find many many threads based on this same topic with many different suggestions.
If you want more power it can easily be done with new heads alone and more with a mild cam replacement to go with the heads... this can be done with the engine in the car but I suggest Googling it and watching YouTube videos on it to see if your comfortable unbolting and rebooting everything while following the torque specs and sequence.
If you do a search here for "More power" you can find many many threads based on this same topic with many different suggestions.
#16
Burning Brakes
Look at it this way, it looks like all of the most expensive work has been done. Adding horsepower is about 1/3rd of the cost of painting and less than some of the other item upgrades. To me, you are ahead of the game. By the way, that's a beautiful car. Enjoy it and be safe.