gg521

I am not trying to be a smart *** or wise guy. I have been vintage racing for more years that you have been on this earth. Right now as the car exists it is probably way faster than you are. Learn how to drive the car before you spend a bunch of money, Once you become a bit more proficient, then spend some money.. Having a fast car does not make you a better driver. When I first started the racing thing, one of the "old timers" came up to me and said the same thing to me. He said to not spend a lot of money on the motor right at that that time but maybe on the suspension a bit because " you ain't that fast yet".

7t9l82

I don't know how many times it has been written here the N.H.R.A factored the 79 L-82 at 312 horsepower. That would probably require an free breathing exhaust.and a performance tune up. If you can't get your distributor curved and carb jetted and set up you probably won't have everything it's capable of.
The heads are an impediment to performance but it's mostly the chamber is huge.they could be made to breath with some work but that chamber is too big and compression is your friend.as for the L-82 intake, it is garbage cast in aluminum instead of cast iron..why that lightweight boat anchor is so highly regarded boggles the mind.anything you do to that engine will help it alot.

Crimson Thunder

The first thing I would do is get a set of 1 5/8 long tube headers and put true dual exhaust on it and get rid of the restrictive factory catalytic converter. Then tune the carb and distributor.

ratflinger

So, where did the OP go?

jackson

post # 18

loafing w/ a co-ed

Tslayer66

i agree with this. You will gain a second or more in the 1/4 and one of the 1st things you should do. Then maybe in the future a cam and heads swap.

Take your time and enjoy the car there fun to play with!

Jebbysan

Amen.

Jebby

Khibbs

Here's some great info on uncorking the potential of the L82 engine. Pretty much a "top end kit" as others have suggested.

Super Chevy L82 Makover

7t9l82

Excellent article, I saw it years ago.it concurs dead on with the N.H.R.A factoring that engine at 312 h.p stunning coincidence.
My only gripe with the article is they didn't do a first test with the heads and intake and no cam change. I saw one set up like that with 1.6 rockers and made 400 h.p and maybe a couple over. The stock L-82 cam is a better all around daily driver cam than the one in the article.

brassplyer

I would concur with this - making more power takes money and time to devote to working on the car. If you're in college your priority should be to do well in school and get set up for a stable, prosperous life. If you've got a solid runner already that isn't draining your finances count yourself fortunate.

Tom_K

OK, If you are taking on student debt for college and trying to build this car, I'm going to kick your lilly-white ***! No Debt!
If not...
Take your time! There is a lot of good advice here. view this as a 5 year project to slowly transform your car.
Keep a close watch on ebay, swap meets, craigslist.... Given time, you can always find deals on anything.
You may find a 350/350HP engine - a complete swap is a viable and sometimes very affordable solution....

My fist car was a 66 Falcon strait 6, (I got it is 1985) over an 8 years I transformed it to a 289-V8, 4-speed hot rod.
...I really miss that car.

But take your time. Oh and do the suspension first! handing trumps HP for fun factor and lots of HP with a poor handling car is bad....

OldCarBum

I've been driving my 73 for over two years while collecting parts for a body off resto/mod.
It takes time and every time I get a new part I'm that much closer.