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hi everyone
I was able to fined the correct date l 46 engine to restore my 69 corvette , trying to stay original as much as possible.i have to rebuild the engine and my question is what be best pistons, and camshaft /lifters for this job.the block ,heads and crank are original and in excellent condition. would like to stay with a 350 hp if passable with more power at low end
thanks for any input
What other self-imposed restrictions are you working with? Carb, intake, exhaust? Does it have to look completely original? The biggest single component change I ever experienced was headers with a noticeable increase in low end torque.
I would like to look original as much as possible, intake manifold is original 3927184, exhaust manifolds are original also ,engine is 3932386 and heads are 3927186. still looking for correct carb ,now I have a holly . I would like to get a nice forged pistons just don't know the good brand ,been always using a silvo-lite but I don't think they make forged ones, also I don't know what cam I need and lifters , .do not wont to go by what the company web says but I would like your opinion
thanks
hi everyone
I was able to fined the correct date l 46 engine to restore my 69 corvette , trying to stay original as much as possible.i have to rebuild the engine and my question is what be best pistons, and camshaft /lifters for this job.the block ,heads and crank are original and in excellent condition. would like to stay with a 350 hp if passable with more power at low end
thanks for any input
rebuild L46 to stock APPEARANCE only ?
EITHER OR:
Retrofit Roller Lifters and Roller Cam
OR
Select a Mechanical aka Solid Flat Tappet Camshaft and Mechnical aka Solid Flat Tappet Lifters (that have the "direct-lube" treatment to face with EDM hole)
* if it were mine; I would Also Reduce Compression Ratio by selecting a top quality FORGED Flat Top Piston with modern, thin metric ringpak.
Get Mike Jones to grind you up a solid flat tappet custom cam to match. You will not regret it. He can make it work great with your high compression. I have 10.7 C/R, his cam with pump gas, a smooth idle and no issues. That would work perfectly for what you are shooting for.
Another way to go would be an LT-1 repro solid lifter cam with EDM drilled solid flat tappets. You might want to drop the C/R to about 10.5 to 1 for that GM spec cam.
The EDM lifters give you the best chance to live with the oils and parts we have available. I would buy Howards lifters if you do not go with a cam from Mike Jones. His cams and lifters are the best you can get.
Mahle pistons are great as well.
Last edited by stingr69; Oct 28, 2025 at 08:46 AM.
For those who harbor a romance with the Silv-O-Lite brand; its parent company is United Engine & Machine (aka UEM). Thereby, one of Silv-O-Lite's "sibling" companies is branded ICON.
FYI --- ICON concentrates on Forged pistons.
OTOH: I prefer piston brands as stingr69 suggests; as well as CP-Bullet, JE, Diamond, Racetec, Ross and Wiseco.
Congrats on your find. I've always thought the original L46 a well done engine from the get go. The original 962 cam used in L46s always had a great reputation.
You will never see more than 320 or so horsepower with the stock exhaust manifolds no matter what you do....it seriously shuns the ability for the engine to rev quickly.....
All the L46 is....is the later L82 with more compression....it wven uses the same cam....
You need to at least go to the 64-65' 2.5" outlet rams horns and Corvette Central downtubes....
Your next problem is the cast Q-Jet low rise intake....it becomes a cork at around 325-330.....after that the heads support 360 if you do not port them and 390 or so if you do.....
Bake as much compression into the mold as possible and use the DH175 Trick Flow head....use the 2.5 manifolds and a 2101 Performer intake and that will get you knocking on 400hp's door.
I think I did a thread on the 357ci "L46" cheater engine I built for a member....see if you can find it.
hi
thanks for input , im not trying to achieve as much horse power, just would like to look original and have a good sound and low- mid range .. here in Poland with all the speed trap camera and speed control distance road you can't play any more ,but just for cruising 320+ hp is just fine
hi
thanks for input , im not trying to achieve as much horse power, just would like to look original and have a good sound and low- mid range .. here in Poland with all the speed trap camera and speed control distance road you can't play any more ,but just for cruising 320+ hp is just fine
Still, do yourself a favor and upgrade to 2.5" exhaust and manifolds.....the stock stuff is barely adaquate for a Station Wagon....
hi everyone
I was able to fined the correct date l 46 engine to restore my 69 corvette , trying to stay original as much as possible.i have to rebuild the engine and my question is what be best pistons, and camshaft /lifters for this job.the block ,heads and crank are original and in excellent condition. would like to stay with a 350 hp if passable with more power at low end
thanks for any input
Given your desire for more power at low end, perhaps you should rebuild motor with a goal of Big Torque in the lower RPM range ? Also, because you describe it's difficult to escape exceeding speed limits in your Poland, it seems maximizing Torque is a better plan.
Most effective way to make Big Torque is to increase displacement via a Larger Stroke length. Build a "stroker" ! Your OE stroke is 3.480". Very common (and reliable) upgrade includes new crankshaft with 3.750" stroke.
A cylinder overbore of +0.030", coupled with 3.750" stroke yields about 383 cubic inches + the advantage of Big Torque from that longer stroke. It's the type of performance that you'll feel in seat of your pants; from idle throughout sane vehicle speeds. Noticeably more "passing power" as well.
I continue recommending Both roller lifters-cam And modern pistons with thin metric ringpaks.
ALL of the above is hidden inside engine.
Last edited by Rebelyell; Oct 30, 2025 at 09:23 AM.
thanks Rebelyell
that's what I would like, to maximize torque, I would like to keep the original crankshaft, will bore the cylinders .30, I was going to go with the TRW (L-2304F) forged pistons but what you would recommend?.also what would be good roller cam and lifters in your opinion
thanks
thanks Rebelyell
that's what I would like, to maximize torque, I would like to keep the original crankshaft, will bore the cylinders .30, I was going to go with the TRW (L-2304F) forged pistons but what you would recommend?.also what would be good roller cam and lifters in your opinion
thanks
I apologize, but I'm not comfortable with recommendations that deviate greatly from a well thought-out recipe.
L-2304F is a quality piece (it IS virtually same as what's OE), but is heavy as a tank and uses old-fashioned tractor style wide rings and it has a dome that will continue high compression. FWIW, brand TRW no longer produces engine parts; Sealed Power aka Speed Pro manufactures L-2304F.
While your steel OE crankshaft was a very good one when new, and may still be in fine condition, it cannot offer benefit of larger/longer stroke (More Torque).
If you're going to continue with OE stroke & high compression, CF member stingr69 offers a good recipe. Perhaps Mike Jones will grind you a cam designed to maximize torque (although No grind can emulate longer stroke). Regardless, Jones' products & services are as good as it gets.
1969 l46 engine
