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I've finally got my newly imported C3 registered today after a 2 month wait with the UK's DVLA, like the USA's DMV I would guess.
Now that I've got a registration I can get insurance so am now all legal to take it out for a run.
I've still got to sort out a few minor problems but on the whole the car is pretty solid.
The engine looks to have been recently rebuilt and has a new aluminium head, distributor, HT leads and a Holley Street Avenger 670 cfm carb. Any idea of how many horses a set up like this could get if tuned correctly??
What are the Head, Compression Ratio, and Cam specs?
Personally, I can't answer your question, but the more knowledgeable folks will need that info to make a guestimate.
The head did have some sort of cast on logo, in terms of the cam and comp ratio, I haven't a clue.
I bought the car 'sold as seen' and it came with zero documentation relating to it's history. I just had the bare minimum in order that it could be exported from the USA.
I'm still pretty new to all this, so sorry if it seems like a stupid question.
Also I've not even driven the car at speed yet, one of the rear tyres had a tread delamination, in the UK we say its egged. So have to take it steady until the rear tyres sorted.
Start with determining what the block is. In front of the passenger side head there is a pad on the block which ends with a 2 or 3 digit letter code. What is that code? A clear picture would be best.
Somewhere between 180 HP and 600 HP. Right now it's kind of like trying to answer the question "How long is a string?".
Any details you can give on the heads and exhaust will help.
Aluminum heads, and headers I can see is a good start.
The stock mid to late L82 QJet carbs were 795 CFM, so the carb is a step backward for airflow at peak RPM.
I can't tell from the picture how tall that air filter is but looks like it might be pretty short...?.
300-mid 400 hp is a safe tighter range of estimates with alum heads and what I can imply about the exhaust system.
With the hood latch and seats that I can see your car is earlier than 78, but what year is it?
If you have a bad tire, do not drive it at all. Tire blowouts on regular steel bodied cars are bad enough, but even a mild blowout can shred a Vette fender.
Numbers on the blocks front pad are meaningless unless you are into history.
Those code numbers do not reveal if the block was bored, crank stroked, current cam and what pistons are installed now.
With a little imagination, you can get a ballpark figure:
Base engine 165 horse
Chrome valve covers + 10
Headers + 30
Chrome air cleaner + 20
Aluminum heads +40
Wrong fan minus 25
---------------
240 horse
+ 10 for chrome valve covers? You have got to be kidding.
Chrome Has a Negative HP affect. So he should subtract 10 hp for chrome.
Now, if he is a "chroma-phobic, like me, he will perform a "black-out' procedure and add .18 HP for every piece of semi-gloss Black item he installs/modifies....
I've finally got my newly imported C3 registered today after a 2 month wait with the UK's DVLA, like the USA's DMV I would guess.
Now that I've got a registration I can get insurance so am now all legal to take it out for a run.
I've still got to sort out a few minor problems but on the whole the car is pretty solid.
The engine looks to have been recently rebuilt and has a new aluminium head, distributor, HT leads and a Holley Street Avenger 670 cfm carb. Any idea of how many horses a set up like this could get if tuned correctly??
So take it to the track and get a 1/4 mile MAX MPH, this will tell a lot about your starting point.
It will also be a fun day.
Then knowing the rear gearing will help to estimate your starting HP.
I've finally got my newly imported C3 registered today after a 2 month wait with the UK's DVLA, like the USA's DMV I would guess.
Now that I've got a registration I can get insurance so am now all legal to take it out for a run.
I've still got to sort out a few minor problems but on the whole the car is pretty solid.
The engine looks to have been recently rebuilt and has a new aluminium head, distributor, HT leads and a Holley Street Avenger 670 cfm carb. Any idea of how many horses a set up like this could get if tuned correctly??
I can for sure tell you one thing. That flex fan assembly isn’t doing you any favors in the HP department. At a minimum I would get an OE clutch fan back on it.
In the photo I see your air-con compressor is missing. The flex fan of death. (for certain do something about this).
And what's going on with the vacuum line to the brake booster? That certainly doesn't look normal.
With no idea what heads, what compression ratio. But seeing headers and other signs of aftermarket work being done. Best guess. 300 - 350 flywheel HP.
When in doubt. Put it on a dyno before you do anything.
Then you will have a base line.
Like cargotzmann said earlier, run it down a 1/4 mile drag strip, after replacing your tires and tuning. Using your 1/4 mile top speed and the weight of you plus the car, go to an online HP calculator and get your engine HP at the flywheel.
This method removes all the estimating and wishful thinking.
In the photo I see your air-con compressor is missing. The flex fan of death. (for certain do something about this).
And what's going on with the vacuum line to the brake booster? That certainly doesn't look normal.
With no idea what heads, what compression ratio. But seeing headers and other signs of aftermarket work being done. Best guess. 300 - 350 flywheel HP.
When in doubt. Put it on a dyno before you do anything.
Then you will have a base line.
Is a missing air con compressor such a bad thing. I'm in the UK and can get by without it, there are nor more than a few days a year where I would use A/C.
This whole flex fan of death thing, could someone please explain more or point me in the right direction. Why is it so bad?
Edit: OK I found this. I don't think these things ever caught on over here, the old GM/Ford engines were always 1.3, 1.4, 1.6 or 2.0 if you were posh so I guess they didn't have the same effect and no where near the power. https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transpo...er-cars-trucks
Again not sure about the vacuum line in to the brake booster, the brakes, on the little I've driven it seem acceptable for a car of this age.
It's a 1976 since someone asked for the year in another reply.
Somewhere between 180 HP and 600 HP. Right now it's kind of like trying to answer the question "How long is a string?".
With the hood latch and seats that I can see your car is earlier than 78, but what year is it?
You mention the car has "a new aluminum head". It's a V8, and has two cylinder heads(plural). Maybe you mean the intake manifold, which the carb is mounted to and is between the cylinder heads? I can't tell from the pictures, but are the cylinder heads aluminum?
You mention the car has "a new aluminum head". It's a V8, and has two cylinder heads(plural). Maybe you mean the intake manifold, which the carb is mounted to and is between the cylinder heads? I can't tell from the pictures, but are the cylinder heads aluminum?
It's at the garage now for some new tyres and a few other bits.
Yes the intake manifold is ali and i'm fairly sure from memory it has aftermarket ali heads too.
Heh... well, cubic inches aside, an engine's power and character is all in the heads. These could be AFR Eliminators, or they could be original ancient Performers, hogged out by Bubba's head-injured cousin, Benny 'the Mole'. I've seen aluminum head 350's run 15's in tune, and others run deep into the single digits.
Thats my uncharacteristically long-winded way ov saying WE NEED A LITTLE MORE TO GO ON.
I'm glad to hear you have an understanding of the flex fan of death.
Was talking to a bloke at a car show a few weeks back. Said his mate still wears the scar on his face from a flex fan.
Have heard of them going right through fibreglass hoods.(Bonnets). Totally not good. Not to mention they rob you of serious H.P.
Vacuum line to Booster looks strange in photo, heads off in the WRONG direction.
Brakes in these cars should NOT be on par with other older cars. They should AMAZE you.
This is my old girl. See brake booster vacuum line? Straight from check valve on booster to the base of what would be a carburetor if I had one.
This is a early 77. half year different from yours so engine is very much the same.
Potential HP as is
