79 L82 Performance Mod...what should I be thinking about
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79 L82 Performance Mod...what should I be thinking about
Hello all- looking for some advice on a 79 L82 performance mod. Thinking about a 383 440 HP matched to a rebuilt stock transmission with a 2,500 stall converter...does anyone have any opinions as to whether the stock rear suspension and differential can handle that match, or would I need to be thinking about swapping out suspension and diff, too? Would I need body stiffeners? Not looking to run quarter miles, just wondering if I do this if the car will eat itself, that...and safety.
What else do I need to be thinking about before doing this?
What else do I need to be thinking about before doing this?
Safety Car
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From: anchorage ak
Hello all- looking for some advice on a 79 L82 performance mod. Thinking about a 383 440 HP matched to a rebuilt stock transmission with a 2,500 stall converter...does anyone have any opinions as to whether the stock rear suspension and differential can handle that match, or would I need to be thinking about swapping out suspension and diff, too? Would I need body stiffeners? Not looking to run quarter miles, just wondering if I do this if the car will eat itself, that...and safety.
What else do I need to be thinking about before doing this?
What else do I need to be thinking about before doing this?
Last edited by bluedawg; Jun 18, 2016 at 12:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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Thanks guys- I'm not looking to put sticky tires on or try to run the car hard in speed trials. What I'm thinking is respectable power, but done right. With 440 hp, should I be thinking about body stiffening? New universal joints?
Safety Car
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From: anchorage ak
It never hurts to replace the you joints. I don't think at 450 horse you'll need to gusset the frame to make it more rigid.
Le Mans Master
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
As to the body (or more accurately put, the chassis) question, while you shouldn't need to do any radical modification I would highly recommend installing a 3-point solid diff locating kit to better stabilize/secure the diff mounting points. These kits - readily available from many a C3 specialty vendor - are far superior to "traction bars" commonly marketed for our cars (and which IMCO aren't all that well thought out in regards to function in C2/C3 IRS applications). My $.02
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Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Jun 18, 2016 at 05:26 PM.
Safety Car
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From: anchorage ak
As to the body (or more accurately put, the chassis) question, while you shouldn't need to do any radical modification I would highly recommend installing a 3-point solid diff locating kit to better stabilize/secure the diff mounting points. These kits - readily available from many a C3 specialty vendor - are far superior to "traction bars" commonly marketed for our cars (and which IMCO aren't all that well thought out in regards to function in C2/C3 IRS applications). My $.02
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Le Mans Master
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Sorry, haven't looked them up in ages (got mine from Dick Guldstrand, RIP), but have seen them listed in a number of C2/C3 vendor's catalogs over the years, including current and former supporting ones. The best kits include a solid bushing for the pinion mount, not just the two disks that support/locate the cross-member cushions. Reduces compliance that can compromise dynamic rear alignment during heavy cornering, as well as induce wheel hop. Those "traction" bars to which I was referring are IMCO nothing more than a warmed over design best left to live axle applications.
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Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Jun 23, 2016 at 09:43 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: anchorage ak
Sorry, haven't looked them up in ages (got mine from Dick Guldstrand, RIP), but have seen them listed in a number of C2/C3 vendor's catalogs over the years, including current and former supporting ones. The best kits include a solid bushing for the pinion mount, not just the two disks that support/locate the cross-member cushions. Reduces compliance that can compromise dynamic rear alignment during heavy cornering, as well as induce wheel hop. Those "traction" bars to which I was referring are IMCO nothing more than a warmed over design best left to live axle applications.
.
.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Le Mans Master
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I was told the Southside machine lift bar was pretty good, but you think just solid mounting is better? Maybe they were too lazy to solid mount.
Le Mans Master
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Submitted for your consideration...
Traditional "traction bars" function by limiting spring mounted live axle rotation/oscillation, with the side benefit of reducing pinion angle variations. The C2/C3 IRS setup is a vastly different animal, in which compliance between relatively fixed components (specifically both the diff mount x-member and pinion mount bracket and the frame) is the primary issue. Bottom line IMCO: For our cars a traction bar type device doesn't solve for x-member mount compliance and is an unnecessarily cumbersome way to address the pinion mount. Hope that helps.