Best L-48 Setup
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Best L-48 Setup (Tonwoo28)
When this question comes up, or the question of how to get decent power from a L-48 I always give the following suggestions.
1. L98 58 CC aluminum heads. Bump that compression from 8.1 to about 9.5 and get better flow.
2. new cam - a 262 or 266 or if the money can be spared, a roller cam.
3. Depending on the intake you have that can be upgraded. Mine was a 1980 that had a decent aluminum dual plane intake stock. If you don't have this, go for a Edelbrock Performer or Performer RPM.
4. Carb - get the stock qjet rebuilt by Lars, save some serious money on replacing it with something else. Richen the mixture of the primary and secondary systems just a bit for the upgrades you are doing.
5. Headers - thermal coated, and dual exhaust.
So, for around $1500 and not having to rebuild an engine or even pull the block you should get about 300 HP at the crank, 225 - 240 at the rear wheels. This may not seem like much but the stock L48 is only giving a max. of 180 HP at the crank.
1. L98 58 CC aluminum heads. Bump that compression from 8.1 to about 9.5 and get better flow.
2. new cam - a 262 or 266 or if the money can be spared, a roller cam.
3. Depending on the intake you have that can be upgraded. Mine was a 1980 that had a decent aluminum dual plane intake stock. If you don't have this, go for a Edelbrock Performer or Performer RPM.
4. Carb - get the stock qjet rebuilt by Lars, save some serious money on replacing it with something else. Richen the mixture of the primary and secondary systems just a bit for the upgrades you are doing.
5. Headers - thermal coated, and dual exhaust.
So, for around $1500 and not having to rebuild an engine or even pull the block you should get about 300 HP at the crank, 225 - 240 at the rear wheels. This may not seem like much but the stock L48 is only giving a max. of 180 HP at the crank.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke VA
Re: Best L-48 Setup (BSeery)
Probably the single best thing I did when I had my L48 in the car was swipe out the intake for an Edelbrock Performer intake. The weight savings was great and the car breathed soooooo much better! :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 12,431
Likes: 1
From: CT
Re: Best L-48 Setup (Crickett)
My L48 will run a 12.6 :D and will put 300 to the ground :yesnod: Everyone above is correct, I have the ZZ4 58cc heads :yesnod: One of the best mods for what they cost me :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Re: Best L-48 Setup (Tonwoo28)
I am very happy with my L48, hopefully will be going well north of the
300 RWHP mark this weekend if I get the new CenterForce clutch broken in
Mod are in the sig :D
[Modified by MotorHead, 5:41 PM 8/21/2003]
300 RWHP mark this weekend if I get the new CenterForce clutch broken in
Mod are in the sig :D
[Modified by MotorHead, 5:41 PM 8/21/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Best L-48 Setup (Tonwoo28)
Mine is a L48...at least it was. The block, crank and pistins are still factory and untouched with almost 80k miles. For a mild 350ci im very happy with it. The basic mods are listed in my sig.
