was wondering how i can get a little more boost in HP from my 79' l-48 block, i was thinking heads and some headers, but what else can you do so you can get more HP without increase emissions so you can pass the sniffer?

 

Edelbrock has 50 state legal equipment. Take a walk over there and ask them. They can help. Also, you may want to look into turbochargers.

Hope this helps.

BigBlockk

Later.....

 

ive thought about Turbos, but i dont want to burn everything under my hood, i dont like the heat associated with turbos. i'd rather have a Wiend (sp?) blower then turbos, but then the question of emissions comes up again. is it possible to replace the heads, get headers. and a better intake manifold and still be within emissions? or do those change the crap that comes from your **** pipe at all?

 

Ditto BigBlockk,
The folks at Edelbrock will give you a great tour of their plant and museum (really something!) and not push too hard to make a sale. Highly recommended!

 

Trick Flow makes CARB-approved cylinder heads. And I believe it's Hedman that makes smog-legal headers with AIR tubes. Finally, you can install a high-flow cat, or overhaul your whole exhaust system using 3" tubing through the center section.

It is indeed possible to do what you want, and have the paperwork to back it up 100%

 

Like I said Edelbrock has 50 state legal heads and intake manifolds and there are several manufacturers that make headers with AIR fittings. These components increase the volumetric efficienty of the engine. If all else remains the same, an engine that passes more air runs cleaner. This is where tuning comes into play. You can have more power and make the engine run cleaner than stock.

Hope this helps.

BigBlockk

Later.....

 

You have to update the heads/intake then get the thing dialed in on a dyno for carb jetting and timing... with the sniffer going.

 

Since you have an L48 you don't have an air injection pump to deal with which makes it much easier.

There are many heads, carbs that are emissions legal. Since you don't have an air pump you could go with ported exhaust manifolds such as from Brezenzski racing (ironhead.com). With air injection you air limited to 2 inch exhaust manifolds, but with no air injection you can go with 2.5 inch. Brezenzski sells pipes to weld up to your stock system. Just make sure you use a high flow cat. I built up a 3 inch single exhaust system that looks stock using their pieces of mandrel bent pipe and cut the 45 and 90 degree pipes at various points to get the right curves. The pieces are not cheap but are well made.

A huge advantage but at about a $800 cost would be a roller cam conversion. This would enable you to run high lift with short duration/overlap enabling you to pass emissions but increase power around 50%. This would also work well with new emission legal heads, intake and high flow exhaust. You can use a flat tappet cam to get the same HP, but they need more overlap which increases emissions. Without emissions to worry about a flat tappet cam can make very good power however once emissions is a problem they quickly become unuseable once duration/overlap increases. This is why L82 motors needed an air injection pump.

 

I do have an AIR pump by the way, and i got to get the Adjustable bracket for it so i can tension the belt for it cuz i lost mine when i moved.