72 base 350 opinions
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 498
I bet the Performer makes over a 150 Ft lbs of torque over the Torker at 1650 rpm stall speed of your torque converter, Intake manifold alone would make the car feel twice as powerful from a dead stop compared to the Torker
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
How do you have the timing set?
Follow the recommendations to obtain ~36° of mechanical advance at ~3000rpm. What this accomplishes is maximum timing in the most desired RPM band — the idle timing just falls where it falls. Then look at what specs your vacuum advance has, when it comes on and max vacuum and how that compares to your engine vacuum ("2-inch rule").
For a lot of folks this difference in the way timing is set makes a noticeable difference in the seat of the pants feel.
Follow the recommendations to obtain ~36° of mechanical advance at ~3000rpm. What this accomplishes is maximum timing in the most desired RPM band — the idle timing just falls where it falls. Then look at what specs your vacuum advance has, when it comes on and max vacuum and how that compares to your engine vacuum ("2-inch rule").
For a lot of folks this difference in the way timing is set makes a noticeable difference in the seat of the pants feel.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 303
Likes: 87
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Well, the L-82 cars with the distributor along with a good exhaust would run right around 14 flat in a quarter mile. That was right around what many of the so called muscle cars ran. So don't be too harsh.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 303
Likes: 87
Last edited by Cam33; Apr 1, 2025 at 10:27 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
A base 350 is. Not in the same league as an LT-1 under any conditions. But rebuilding a decked LT-1 with a stroker crank etc it's not an LT-1 any longer.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,095
Likes: 4,449
From: Marlton NJ
And an L48 can perform just as well as that L82, or better, with the bolt-on mods mentioned above, for not a lot of money.
That's what I call the sweet spot, for money in vs HP out.
It does not even matter much if you start with an L48 or a L82, very much.
You just get a few more HP quicker with the L82.
Once you get to the end of that bolt-on list they are about the same.
And will run pretty close to an original LT-1.
A ~330HP L48/L82 is pretty strong and a lot of fun.
That should get you into the 13s and over 100 mph.
The new heads make a big difference.
If you want a lot of performance, for not too much extra money, a new 383 build is a very sweet choice, and would be my next step.
But more performance than bolt-on starts to really get expensive.
Once you get past that bolt-on stage, you have to get into short blocks, cubic inches, drivetrain, IRS, and rubber, to up your game.
You can just spend money everywhere, on everything.
Sure it will be faster, but there is always someone around with a bigger stick.
I saw so many guys play that HP game for decades, it is like a bottomless pit.......just trying to fill it with money.....
That's what I call the sweet spot, for money in vs HP out.
It does not even matter much if you start with an L48 or a L82, very much.
You just get a few more HP quicker with the L82.
Once you get to the end of that bolt-on list they are about the same.
And will run pretty close to an original LT-1.
A ~330HP L48/L82 is pretty strong and a lot of fun.
That should get you into the 13s and over 100 mph.
The new heads make a big difference.
If you want a lot of performance, for not too much extra money, a new 383 build is a very sweet choice, and would be my next step.
But more performance than bolt-on starts to really get expensive.
Once you get past that bolt-on stage, you have to get into short blocks, cubic inches, drivetrain, IRS, and rubber, to up your game.
You can just spend money everywhere, on everything.
Sure it will be faster, but there is always someone around with a bigger stick.
I saw so many guys play that HP game for decades, it is like a bottomless pit.......just trying to fill it with money.....
Last edited by leigh1322; Apr 1, 2025 at 11:01 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 2,165
From: Minnesota
Last edited by Piersonpie; Apr 1, 2025 at 11:57 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
The thing is, nobody ever street raced their Corvettes.
We all had muscle cars back in the 60’s and 70’s, street raced and went to the drags.
You never saw anyone with Corvettes out on the streets or at the drags.
Once or twice over the years, but most guys had Corvettes for daily drivers and weekend cruisers, so raw horse power didn’t matter a single bit.
They were more in the luxury sports car class and that’s how they were driven.
We all had muscle cars back in the 60’s and 70’s, street raced and went to the drags.
You never saw anyone with Corvettes out on the streets or at the drags.
Once or twice over the years, but most guys had Corvettes for daily drivers and weekend cruisers, so raw horse power didn’t matter a single bit.
They were more in the luxury sports car class and that’s how they were driven.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 303
Likes: 87
yes it would bit with a couple of add ons not that expensive will blow away the gutless 72 200 low compression sewing machine engine