C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

L-82 Mods

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 5, 2004 | 11:07 PM
  #1  
79-L-82's Avatar
79-L-82
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Default L-82 Mods

All,
I am going to modify my L-82. (Big surprise) :shocked:

I'm looking for NA 350+ hp.
I've got some ideas of my own, but was wanting some input from you folks.

It already has a 650dp holley. (previous owner installed).
The pollution controls are all off for the most part.

Hooker headers and sidepipes are a must.

What should I do as far as CAM, Intake, etc.?
There are so many options.

Can I get that much HP with the stock heads?
I know they have the bigger valves, can they be cleaned and mildly ported for this much HP or am I looking at replacements? If so, I will go aluminum for the weight savings and superior cooling, but would rather keep them if possible.

All serious ideas welcome. :chevy
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 10:10 AM
  #2  
page62's Avatar
page62
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Default Re: L-82 Mods (79-L-82)

I've thought long and hard about what I'd do with my engine, too. (Although right now, the engine is basically stock -- I've done other mods -- see my sig. It's a pretty quick car in its current form.).

The stock heads may have the bigger valves, but they have 76cc chambers ("smog" heads) and are prone to cracking if machined. If you pull 'em, don't put 'em back on.

You'd get excellent bang for your buck by swapping in a set of Vortec heads, plus intake. (The Vortecs use a different intake bolt pattern.) And that would be a good time to swap in a cam, although the stock L82 cam is already pretty decent (it's the same one used on the 350/350 in the late 60's).

All of this assumes your engine is in good condition, with good compression. If it's tired, pull it out and store it (numbers matching and all that) and put a good crate engine in there! :yesnod:
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 10:43 AM
  #3  
79-L-82's Avatar
79-L-82
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Default Re: L-82 Mods (page62)

It's not tired. It only has 24K on it. Runs good.

How does the stock cam compare to the Edelbrock Performer or RPM?
What about the Holley Systemax?
:auto:
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 11:13 AM
  #4  
page62's Avatar
page62
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Default Re: L-82 Mods (79-L-82)

Here's some info on the heads I'd personally would consider: http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...art&catid=2172

The stock camshaft would work fine with the basic kit. You'd see at least a 30-40 hp increase.

The upgraded kit would benefit from a bigger cam....and obviously more hp (at the expense of driveability).
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 11:46 AM
  #5  
dman535's Avatar
dman535
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 5
From: Nashville TN
Default Re: L-82 Mods (page62)

You can also use a set of L98 heads.
http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=277&pid=147

Aluminum, 58cc usally pretty inexpensive and durable. With a little port work they run very well.

Reply
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 12:03 PM
  #6  
79-L-82's Avatar
79-L-82
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Default Re: L-82 Mods (dman535)

58cc combustion chamber. From a 76cc stock smog head, will that work? or will I have to run 1000 octane fuel? ;)
Forgive my ignorance, as I'm new to the chevy world.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 12:35 PM
  #7  
page62's Avatar
page62
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Default Re: L-82 Mods (79-L-82)

You can run a higher compression ratio when you use aluminum heads. I think (correct me if I'm wrong), you're okay up to about 10.5:1. You will need to run premium fuel however.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 01:13 PM
  #8  
79-L-82's Avatar
79-L-82
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Default Re: L-82 Mods (page62)

what would the c/r be with that head and a stock L-82 shortblock?




[Modified by 79-L-82, 2:32 AM 4/7/2004]
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Apr 6, 2004 | 11:05 PM
  #9  
page62's Avatar
page62
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Default Re: L-82 Mods (page62)

A guess: stock (76cc) is 8.9:1, 64cc would be 10:1, and 58cc would be about 10.5:1

But I gotta ask: doesn't your car go pretty quick in stock form? Mine's getting pretty close...


[Modified by page62, 10:06 PM 4/6/2004]
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2004 | 12:56 AM
  #10  
Shark Racer's Avatar
Shark Racer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Default Re: L-82 Mods (79-L-82)

Here's what I recommend- go with the headers and exhaust first. Use JCL Spiral Baffles with that hooker setup.

After you've tested that out, see how it performs. You could drop into the high 5-second to 60 range as the L-82 stands.

-Steve
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2004 | 07:22 AM
  #11  
DaveL82's Avatar
DaveL82
Drifting
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 43
From: Plano TX
Default Re: L-82 Mods (Pacin'California)

The L82 heads and cam are the power killers. While good in their day, it's very much old tech today.

If you stay with a flat tappet cam you can get a much better grind from Crane, Edelbrock, CompCams etc... Of course to really make more power you need a much better head as mentioned above.

I pulled my L82 and replaced it with a ZZ4 motor. The new roller cams are so much better and the L89 aluminum heads seem to work great. I even have the smog stuff on my car because I like it to look like a sleeper. This ZZ4 makes the L82 seem like a dog.

If you can afford a roller cam retro kit that would be the way to go, but you need new heads to take advantage of it.

Dave
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2004 | 09:35 AM
  #12  
79-L-82's Avatar
79-L-82
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Default Re: L-82 Mods (DaveL82)

ZZ4 is out of my budget, especially since my engine is fine.

It's fairly quick stock, but so is my '02 Stratus RT.
I don't want it to be fairly quick, I want it to be darn quick. :reddevil
That's why I mentioned 350+HP.

Probably do flat tappet cam and intake, then heads down the line as budget allows. All after the Headers and side pipes. :cool:

Any recommendations? :chevy
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2004 | 06:59 PM
  #13  
marshrat99's Avatar
marshrat99
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Default Re: L-82 Mods (79-L-82)

See my sig. I went with Dart Iron Eagle heads, CompCam XE262 cam and Edlebrock ESP intake. The heads have 2.02 stainless intake valves and 64cc chambers. Also everthing bolts up to them nicely including AC, PS, cruise, etc. I'm also running about 10:1CR. I've never dyno'ed but should be about 350HP. :cheers:
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2004 | 08:47 PM
  #14  
American Boy's Avatar
American Boy
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
Default Re: L-82 Mods (79-L-82)

I'm a big fan of the vortec head. So the easy way to get 350 hp is to put a set on top of your block, put a comp cam XE-268 and a Edelbrock performer RPM. That with the headers will put you right at 350 hp. The vortec require new design valve cover and new valve spring.

The magic of the vortec head is that they have a lot of low end torque compare to all the other aftermarket head. That's due to the 170 cc intake runner that flow really well. That's great for street use.

Stephan
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To L-82 Mods





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:38 PM.

story-0
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-4
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE