Ready for lift off 3....2....1....

 

Have not posted anything on the build for a while, but I have made some progress. I have installed a Vansteel Advanced Street and Slalom suspension. Stripped, repaired and painted the frame. Installed new brake rotors, pads and rebuilt all the calipers with O-ring kit. I don't have pics of it, but I have also just installed all new stainless brake lines. Almost done with the chassis and ready to move on to the motor. Here are some pics

 

Can't wait to work on the motor. I have never torn into a motor before, so I am excited to learn. I will no doubt be posting some questions on motor related items. Here is a pic of her and a couple eye candy shots of a set of Doug's headers. Can't wait to see these bolted to the motor with side pipes.

 

Looks great
I did gold calipers too

 

Is it white or frost blue?

 

Let me know if you are interested in the rebuild specs of my 78 OEM L-82 4 speed (66,000 miles) this past Spring-I reused much of the L-82 forged parts, L-82 aluminum intake, with AFR 180 aluminum heads, Howards Roller cam-355 L-82 now that has serious b**ls….BUT pretty much looks just like the OEM L-82….idles just like the L-82 but from off idle up is a different car….

 

It is frost blue. The drivers door was replaced and the paint didn't quite match the original, probably due to fading. No matter though I am going to repaint it. I haven't decided what yet either a metallic orange, or metallic blue.

 

I would be interested in the specs, thank you. Initially I just planned on putting on an aluminum intake, new carb and just generally cleaning it up. The car has less than 50,000 miles on it and it has never been driven hard or abused. Now however I am considering putting in a new cam and aluminum heads. I don't plan to really get into the short block at all.

 

My engine needed a complete rebuild so I did the whole deal:

4 speed with 3.70 gears
L-82 bored .030, Block not decked-engine build number 10/05/77
New JE forged Racing Pistons/rings-9:1 OEM type pistons
Afr 180 64 CC aluminum Heads
Howards Roller cam-.525/.525, Duration 219/225, LSA 110-operating range 1,500-5,600 RPM
Comp Cams 1.52 roller tipped rockers
Howards Pushrods
New Harmonic Balancer
New Oil Pump
New fuel pump
New Bearings
Felpro 1094-.015 head gasket-Total engine compression-10-10.2:1. Runs with zero issues on 89 octane...

Reused/reconditioned:

L-82 Forged Rods
L-82 Forged Crank
L-82 Intake Manifold
Reused Holley 4175 650CFM vacuum Q jet carb-been on car since 1985
Reused Dual Snorkel L-82 Cold Air intake

Goal was to keep it as much as possible an L-82 but up the HP/Torque in the mid range RPM by a lot. The engine starts and idles just like the OEM L-82 but from 2,500-5,500 RPM pulls like a freight train. HP guess 425 Gross…Total cost 6K. Can you do it cheaper? Yes-cheaper heads-iron or aluminum, flat tappet cam etc, crate engine?. No regrets

The L-82 is a great motor to build and looks like your tranny is an auto so you might want to consult with some of the cam gurus like 63mako about a better roller cam for lower RPM grunt than mine with a 4 speed and 3.70 gears.

Hope that helps!

 

Thank you that does help. Sounds like a nice build up. Like I said I am a motor virgin, so I am just starting to research and understand what changes will help improve the performance. I really want to try and increase the torque more than anything for the fun factor. You are correct it is an automatic (unfortunately), but it is what it is.

 

That was my goal as well-the Howards roller cam along with the AFR heads were picked for strong mid range torque….

Assuming the bottom end is all good:

AFR 180 heads-$1,600
Howards roller cam-$600
Pushrods-$110
Felpro gaskets/cam button etc-$100

Total-$2,410 Figure $2,500

You could do it for less-around $2,000-with lesser parts...

 

My wife had a '79 in frost blue. She bought it new, in the fall of '78, and kept it through '97. Coincidentally, she had a '76 prior to that, and it was orange....

 

Motor and trans back in car, here are some pics.