81 engine make over... need suggestions
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Joined: May 2002
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From: boxford MA
81 engine make over... need suggestions
talked to a trusted friend about growing some ***** on my 81. i want to keep it original as possible though.... here are his ideas... anyone else have suggestions????
Valvetrain - cam, lifters, springs, retainers, locks and timing chain set (should be able to get a Comp Cams or Crane kit with basically all of these parts) - $300
Roller rockers - plan on installing a set of 1.6 ratio roller rockers in place of the stock stamped steel units for both power and reliability - $250
Cylinder head tank/cleanup, mild porting and new valves - $400
Complete top end gasket set - $50-$100
Valvetrain - cam, lifters, springs, retainers, locks and timing chain set (should be able to get a Comp Cams or Crane kit with basically all of these parts) - $300
Roller rockers - plan on installing a set of 1.6 ratio roller rockers in place of the stock stamped steel units for both power and reliability - $250
Cylinder head tank/cleanup, mild porting and new valves - $400
Complete top end gasket set - $50-$100
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
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From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: 81 engine make over... need suggestions (deftones1407)
The 624 heads on the '81 are a pretty thin casting, bad flowing smog head, and probably not worth throwing $400 into them. Suggest you look at purchase of other heads, and you don't need roller rockers, just get the Comp cams roller tip rockers...........the full roller rockers will not fit under your stock valve covers.
If you want to keep stock look, suggest you look at world products cast iron heads, the chevrolet Vortec heads, L88 corvette aluminum heads, or aftermarket / AFRs, holley, or edelbrock heads.
Also suggest you install dual exhaust system.
If you want to keep stock look, suggest you look at world products cast iron heads, the chevrolet Vortec heads, L88 corvette aluminum heads, or aftermarket / AFRs, holley, or edelbrock heads.
Also suggest you install dual exhaust system.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
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Re: 81 engine make over... need suggestions (john's '81 mouse)
I agree. Don't put alot of money into the stock heads. World cast heads have a stock look to them and perform much better. I am not sure about your compression ratio but thats a big factor in your cam selection. Rear gears will help out quite a bit also. Back to the head thing if you decide on using your stock heads use the steel shim gasket instead of the regular gasket. The shim is .015in thick. The others are anywhere from .036 to .041. You be surprised what that thickness makes in a compression ratio.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 66
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From: boxford MA
Re: 81 engine make over... need suggestions (IRON WILL)
so, i should get new head... ok.. anybody got a good idea what i shoudl get? what brand / model? and how much it gonna cost??
thanks
also.. anyone from MA? any recomendations of a good shop?
thanks
also.. anyone from MA? any recomendations of a good shop?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 235
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Re: 81 engine make over... need suggestions (deftones1407)
I am looking at Sportsman 2 heads by world castings. They are cast iron heads so they are somewhat stock appearing, you can get 72cc or 64cc chambers and they have 2.02 and 1.60 valves. Strait or angle plug design. Unless I build a 400ci small block these will be my next purchase for my engine.
http://www.worldcastings.com/docs/03...portsmanii.pdf
http://www.worldcastings.com/docs/03...portsmanii.pdf
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
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From: Surrey
Re: 81 engine make over... need suggestions (deftones1407)
I'm aiming to put some AFR180's on my L81 (maybe 190's). Roller tipped rockers will be fine. As you want to keep it stock, does that mean you've still got the computer & E4ME carb? If so it will limit your choice of cam as you'll need to keep a high manifold vacuum at idle. See my sig for mods to my L81. The best mod so far for seat of the pants improvement was the dual pipes, but I'm sure that AFR heads with their better flow & higher CR will really wake up the engine.
:cheers:
:cheers:
