Heads
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Drifting
Joined: May 2004
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From: Huntsville Alabama
anyone? what are the specs on a l-48 head. would heads like this be better than the stock ones. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: A high school diploma fixing what a college degree broke TN
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Define fairly cheap,whats your price range? A old set of double humps could be had sometimes,or maybe Vortec heads with a little more money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Little Rock AR
Originally Posted by Silver00V6Camaro
anyone? what are the specs on a l-48 head. would heads like this be better than the stock ones. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617
-Mark.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Dayton Oh
Originally Posted by FEDX
Define fairly cheap,whats your price range? A old set of double humps could be had sometimes,or maybe Vortec heads with a little more money.
Depends on how much money you have to spend and what your ultimate goals are. For me, I went with Dart Iron Eagle 180's since my goal was to build a dependable daily driver and keep all stock accessories. If I was interested in the drag strip, then my choice would have been completely different. 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
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From: CO
I have the same questions about heads.
I think the old camel hump FI heads are fairly good but I have no idea what a set would cost.
Vortec heads are supposed to flow better than the camel hump heads and they have smaller valves. You can pick them up at a junkyard off trucks. There was a casting number that you wanted to stay away from though and I don't know what it is.
The problem with changing heads is that you would want to change the intake and cam too. That means rocker arms, lifters, pushrods and then there is always the BS stuff you have to get. Oh and don't forget the BS problems associated with any type of work on a car. Changing cams would require pulling the Radiator and then you might as well put a new timing chain on it.
All in all I think when I do my 75 L-48 I am going to just rebuild the entire thing. I mean yeah people say its slow but I ran a 15.8 up here at almost 5,000 feet ASL with my stock L-48. Thats not slow. ITs not FAST either. When it blows up I will make it faster.
I think the old camel hump FI heads are fairly good but I have no idea what a set would cost.
Vortec heads are supposed to flow better than the camel hump heads and they have smaller valves. You can pick them up at a junkyard off trucks. There was a casting number that you wanted to stay away from though and I don't know what it is.
The problem with changing heads is that you would want to change the intake and cam too. That means rocker arms, lifters, pushrods and then there is always the BS stuff you have to get. Oh and don't forget the BS problems associated with any type of work on a car. Changing cams would require pulling the Radiator and then you might as well put a new timing chain on it.
All in all I think when I do my 75 L-48 I am going to just rebuild the entire thing. I mean yeah people say its slow but I ran a 15.8 up here at almost 5,000 feet ASL with my stock L-48. Thats not slow. ITs not FAST either. When it blows up I will make it faster.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
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From: Santa Monica CA
I looked into putting new heads on my L-48 but opted for the crate engine instead. The Vortecs seem like the best of what's around if you're just interested in swapping heads... you can buy the conversion kit online for about $800, then figure another couple hundred for miscellaneous parts.
Really consider crate engines. You can get a rebuilt 300 HP motor for $2000, and you won't destroy your matching numbers motor.
Dave
Really consider crate engines. You can get a rebuilt 300 HP motor for $2000, and you won't destroy your matching numbers motor.
Dave
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
I wouldn't get too panicky about preserving a '75 L48. It was the lowest horsepower V8 ever put in a Corvette! If anything, the original motor should be drop-kicked into the river...
Scoggin Dickey sells a complete basic Vortec kit for $729 (or something like that). Includes intake manifold, gaskets, and all that stuff...
Scoggin Dickey sells a complete basic Vortec kit for $729 (or something like that). Includes intake manifold, gaskets, and all that stuff...
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: CO
Originally Posted by page62
I wouldn't get too panicky about preserving a '75 L48. It was the lowest horsepower V8 ever put in a Corvette! If anything, the original motor should be drop-kicked into the river...
I dont think that keeping an original motor for any corvette is a bad idea, even if it wasn't the fastest it did start a new era for corvette. First HEI and the most fuel efficent to that day. Plus when looking at a Corvette for sale the original motor means alot to non-performance minded classic car buyers. Heck mine is original and it does add alot of nostalgic value.
On the other hand I would use a crane to put it in the river, drop kicking it would fricken hurt like mad.
with that being said. Go for a Vortec kit if you want a cheap route that will produce good power. I would seriously consider this if I had any money at all right now
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
The '75 L48 was rated at 165 hp. The '80 LG4 was 180 hp. I think it would be fun to drop both engines in the river simultaneously and see which one hits the bottom first!
But seriously folks...even if my L82 bites the dust, I ain't gonna cry. I'm just not into this originality religion thing. Can you say ZZ4
But seriously folks...even if my L82 bites the dust, I ain't gonna cry. I'm just not into this originality religion thing. Can you say ZZ4
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
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From: Eastern Connecticut
I'm going with vortecs on mine when I rebuild it. Why are you changing heads? New heads on a hi-milage bottom end is asking for trouble.
Here is an interesting article comparing heads. For a stock rebuild look at the 180cc and under listing. They like the Darts. The World Products is like the stock 882 casting you probably have now. Joe
http://chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/41598/
Here is an interesting article comparing heads. For a stock rebuild look at the 180cc and under listing. They like the Darts. The World Products is like the stock 882 casting you probably have now. Joe
http://chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/41598/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
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From: Eastern Connecticut
Originally Posted by Fevre
Used alum L98 vette heads, will give a good compression bump and be good to 350 hp or so, same heads that are on the ZZ4 motor.
Le Mans Master
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From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
I hate to say this, but the ZZ4 does indeed use L98 heads. That's why you'll find so many L98 heads for sale . . . people swap in a set of fastburn heads on their ZZ4's!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
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St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Originally Posted by joe73vette
I don;t think so - the ZZ4 uses fast burn heads, the L98's are junk compared to modern aluminum heads. Joe
The L98 heads can be ported to make over 400hp. Thats the most cost effective route. It also saves 50 pounds on the front end and 86 heads have conventional manifold bolt angles. The 87 up heads had a different angle on the bolts in the middle of the manifold. It is relatively easy to mill the intake or use a wedge spacer to make it work.
Last edited by turtlevette; Oct 26, 2004 at 08:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
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From: Eastern Connecticut
Originally Posted by page62
I hate to say this, but the ZZ4 does indeed use L98 heads. That's why you'll find so many L98 heads for sale . . . people swap in a set of fastburn heads on their ZZ4's!
Cylinder heads-Part # 12556463 cast Aluminum 1987-1991 Corvette L98 Head.
Another reason not to buy the ZZ4.
This aluminum head was used on the Corvette TPI engines from the mid-Eighties until the LT-1 1992 motors were introduced. The 882-iron head out-flowed this head across the board. This piece is not our first choice for a performance head considering that the largest valve this head fits is a 2.00/1.55-inch combination and it has a 58cc chamber.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
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St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Originally Posted by joe73vette
This piece is not our first choice for a performance head considering that the largest valve this head fits is a 2.00/1.55-inch combination and it has a 58cc chamber.
Le Mans Master
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From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by turtlevette
The 87 up heads had a different angle on the bolts in the middle of the manifold. It is relatively easy to mill the intake or use a wedge spacer to make it work.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Clayton NC
I don't have a lot to add that hasn't been already said but if you want a set of double hump heads I have a set listed here...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=934643
Dave..
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=934643
Dave..
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 196
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From: St Paul MN
[QUOTE=joe73vette]I'm going with vortecs on mine when I rebuild it. Why are you changing heads? New heads on a hi-milage bottom end is asking for trouble.
Why is it trouble to put new heads on a older bottom end?
Why is it trouble to put new heads on a older bottom end?