Wake up l48
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Wake up l48
Have a 1980 l48 4 speed. like to wake it up some. Whould heads and a cam do the trick? Any sugestion on which to get? Also how much gain to expect? Forgot to say car is pretty much stock except for dual exhaust.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
Timing and Carb tuning will get you more out of that L-48. Do a search here for Lars grimsrud papers and you'll probably find them.
Heads and cam would certainly wake up the L-48. Lots of options there too. Has been discussed many times. All depends on your budget, abilities, and goals for performance.
Heads and cam would certainly wake up the L-48. Lots of options there too. Has been discussed many times. All depends on your budget, abilities, and goals for performance.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
Yes cam and heads would wake it up, but it would vary depending on which cam and heads plus do you have headers as performance would also depend on the exhaust as well. I guess the question is budget, goal, rear gear and manual or auto( stall if auto). You could get it up to 285 to 300 horse at the rear wheels, but it will take the combination of parts to make the combo not only produce but to be a pleasure to drive, you can have 300 horse at the rear wheels and it be a dog off the line. Matching the rear gears and stall converter to the rpm range of the camshaft and heads makes that 300 rwhp a lot more fun to drive. The next question is what state is the bottom end in? Maybe before upgrading run a compression and leak down on the existing engine to be sure that you don't need to overhaul the bottom end while your at it. A good set of heads, roller cam and intake with matching gears and stall will put a smile on your face every time you drive her.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
*Budget.
*Rear gears.
*Goals.
*intended use.
*Condition of existing parts.
These questions will need to be answered before you buy to add more power as i said, you've got plenty of time, so you can think this through some. I usually drive it all summer and do the upgrades through long winter also.
Edit: Reread you Post and seen that you have a 4 speed.
Last edited by bluedawg; Oct 12, 2015 at 11:50 AM. Reason: stepped in dog poop bare footed.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 50
From: Angier nc
Many ways to skin this cat.
Aftermarket aluminum 64cc head for better flow and more compression.
Budget option go with vortec heads and vortec intake manifold.You will lose the q-jet with square bore intake flange.
Depending on other factors any 262 or 268 grind will wake it up.
Recurving the distributor is a must to get more out of it now and later.
Aftermarket aluminum 64cc head for better flow and more compression.
Budget option go with vortec heads and vortec intake manifold.You will lose the q-jet with square bore intake flange.
Depending on other factors any 262 or 268 grind will wake it up.
Recurving the distributor is a must to get more out of it now and later.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
I did this to my 80 about 10 years ago and had it on a dyno 80HP I gained , all I did was a edelbrock intake Crower cam , roller rockers 1.6 and recurved the distributor , my exhaust is walker 2 1/2 no cat. I dynoed about 275 HP at the engine , Ron
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 18
From: St. Louis MO
i had the Vortec heads on my 80 4 speed. it did a nice job. Got a nice 500+ lift cam at the same time. Car was fun. then I wiped a lobe off that cam so I just built a stroker from an old block. runs even better. should have just started here. I would have saved a lot of money. Talk to the guy who is going to help you with the head camm exchange and I am sure he will have a thought. Good luck. I love mine!
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