82 Engine swaps
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
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From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
If you are going to swap any of those motors into your 82, you have a lot of trans and rear suspension work to do to handle that power.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
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Race Director
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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And that weak rear end in that 82? Your going to put that kind of power through that? You will find the weakest link!
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
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From: New Braunfels Texas
As far as engine swaps are concerned.........are you sure you want 450-500 horsepower? How fast do you want to go? What is your budget? You can buy pretty nice crate engines in the 400 horse range for pretty reasonable......
A 400 horse Vette will run low 12's with the right setup........
Talk to Buccaneer above.....he can tell you how to make great power out of the factory fuel injection system.......it is a viable option.
Jebby
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
A 400 witha decent cyl head roller cam will not only get you there but make big block torque bolt right in place and be driveable. No need to spin it, rpm costs $$ and isnt that reliable.
Dont waste your time with a 350...low 12s takes more than just a motor all that "sorting out" to get there is time consuming and pricy. Make it easy and start with cubes.
Hammer> pencil tip
A 400 with a 177 weiand blower would smoke most st cars out there period wtih sticky tire.
tpi421vette here has done more 400, 421 etc for guys here than I could count.
Dont waste your time with a 350...low 12s takes more than just a motor all that "sorting out" to get there is time consuming and pricy. Make it easy and start with cubes.
Hammer> pencil tip
A 400 with a 177 weiand blower would smoke most st cars out there period wtih sticky tire.
tpi421vette here has done more 400, 421 etc for guys here than I could count.
Last edited by cv67; Apr 16, 2020 at 04:16 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
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From: PHX AZ
1. You'll DESTROY the rear differential.
2. The 700R-4 will be close behind.
3. You'll have a great time adding a non stock (with cat) exhaust...the pipe holes are gone by '82
Chris..YOU DO THE SEARCH...see the little button that says SEARCH??????
2. The 700R-4 will be close behind.
3. You'll have a great time adding a non stock (with cat) exhaust...the pipe holes are gone by '82
Chris..YOU DO THE SEARCH...see the little button that says SEARCH??????
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Safety Car
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From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
78/79 rear diff is MUCH more beefier than the 80-82 Dana 44 diff to take the power. I'm still running the stock diff with different gears in my 82. My initial plan was to have 450 at the motor, but fell a tad short at around 435/440. Now, I'm just waiting for the diff to let loose or a half shaft. Going to install loops on mine sometime soon. It's on my list...
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2020
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I have a 1977 C3 with 50k miles, all stock. I want to either install a new built 383 or other or pump up the stock hp. I want at least 425/450 hp. Can you please redirect me to threads or resources related to this topic.
