68 L79 refresh.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
A big consideration is that you are not going to make even the advertised 350 horsepower with the stock 2" outlet rams-horn manifolds and head pipes.......any enhancement as far as cam goes will see negligible effects without at least a 2.5" rams horn......the 2" is just too restrictive.....it is all about trying to move air in and out, and to make power, this has to happen.
The carb is fine.....the intake is a cork as well......
If you took the engine as you have it now, installed a 2101 performer and 2.5" exhaust manifolds with the Corvette Central headpipes, with proper tuning you would see a big gain.....the other is having a true 2.5" system all the way out back.....with 2.5" tips....(stock outlets were 2" regardless of system size).....this is a gain too......
The L-79 cam is a pretty damn good piece......there are better, more modern grinds....but tricky to break-in and you won't see huge gains leaving your current intake and exhaust.....
Porting and updating the heads is a wash too if you do not address the inlet and outlet......
For me....I would rather work with what is there and make it breath than build the hell out of it and choke it off.....
Jebby
The carb is fine.....the intake is a cork as well......
If you took the engine as you have it now, installed a 2101 performer and 2.5" exhaust manifolds with the Corvette Central headpipes, with proper tuning you would see a big gain.....the other is having a true 2.5" system all the way out back.....with 2.5" tips....(stock outlets were 2" regardless of system size).....this is a gain too......
The L-79 cam is a pretty damn good piece......there are better, more modern grinds....but tricky to break-in and you won't see huge gains leaving your current intake and exhaust.....
Porting and updating the heads is a wash too if you do not address the inlet and outlet......
For me....I would rather work with what is there and make it breath than build the hell out of it and choke it off.....
Jebby
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
like subsituting the Isky 270 mega cam for the L79 if he chose to. It brings up the torque for sure..sounds good, drives well. Id still do some portwork....like the idea of upgraded rams horns..Summit has some coated or chrome ones that look nice, speedway motors does also.
Last edited by cv67; May 31, 2021 at 02:16 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 923
Likes: 155
From: North Port, FL
Check your area. Summit and Jegs have Iron heads complete or stripped. And there NEW.
Last edited by 0311 jarhead; May 31, 2021 at 03:16 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Agree, there are many nice iron heads that guys ignore. With a minimal amount of work they can run well.
These chinese heads are popular and cheap but I doubt they are a "bolt on w/no issues for 10-20 yrs)" like a good iron head would be...(and they are super cheap!)'course noones putting 50k plus on these cars.
I cannot tell the difference in weight....even an all iron sb with ac vs mostly alum and no ac.
These chinese heads are popular and cheap but I doubt they are a "bolt on w/no issues for 10-20 yrs)" like a good iron head would be...(and they are super cheap!)'course noones putting 50k plus on these cars.
I cannot tell the difference in weight....even an all iron sb with ac vs mostly alum and no ac.
Last edited by cv67; May 31, 2021 at 03:24 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 10,774
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From: Golden Colorado
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Machinst from yrs ago swore by using just store brand dino oil. a good zinc additive run for 50 mi then swap to a good oil.
Anyone know if Isky still sells that grey lube? That stuff was dynamite.
Anyone know if Isky still sells that grey lube? That stuff was dynamite.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,943
Likes: 850
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
It's called molly paste yes it's still available now.
I will make an observation worth noting. Flat tappet cams and alot of hydraulic roller camd are off the shelf cams and most manufacturers no longer grind those cams they are ground by another company that grinds OEM cams.
I had my cam ground by a company that grinds each cam themselves. The designed nearly all Chrysler performance and race cams for 30 years. These are all zero spark grinds.
When you call you talk to a real cam engineer. The failure rate is a fraction of other per cam made. They don't advertise he doesn't need more work.
My cam specs very much like a comp cam grind a friend has but his isn't close in power I'm betting on a better lobe design. I don't know if this means anything to anyone but I'm not convinced the flat tappet cam deserves the rap it gets some of it is a way to sell a more expensive product, but who would do that.
I will make an observation worth noting. Flat tappet cams and alot of hydraulic roller camd are off the shelf cams and most manufacturers no longer grind those cams they are ground by another company that grinds OEM cams.
I had my cam ground by a company that grinds each cam themselves. The designed nearly all Chrysler performance and race cams for 30 years. These are all zero spark grinds.
When you call you talk to a real cam engineer. The failure rate is a fraction of other per cam made. They don't advertise he doesn't need more work.
My cam specs very much like a comp cam grind a friend has but his isn't close in power I'm betting on a better lobe design. I don't know if this means anything to anyone but I'm not convinced the flat tappet cam deserves the rap it gets some of it is a way to sell a more expensive product, but who would do that.
