L-82 heads
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
L-82 heads
Before you flame, please give it some thought.
I don't have money for new heads. I can barely afford an intake.
I have heard that the L-82 heads are not very good and prone to cracking.
Mine is a low mileage car and no problems.
I can get machine shop work done very cheap.
Would it be worth it to have some clean up, 3 angle valve job and perhaps mill the heads to achieve more compression?
How much can be done to these castings? Car is not a driver, just a weekend cruiser that I want some more power out of.
I plan on keeping the stock cam, replacing the exhaust and intake.
What can I expect if I have work like this done to the heads?
Thanks.
I don't have money for new heads. I can barely afford an intake.
I have heard that the L-82 heads are not very good and prone to cracking.
Mine is a low mileage car and no problems.
I can get machine shop work done very cheap.
Would it be worth it to have some clean up, 3 angle valve job and perhaps mill the heads to achieve more compression?
How much can be done to these castings? Car is not a driver, just a weekend cruiser that I want some more power out of.
I plan on keeping the stock cam, replacing the exhaust and intake.
What can I expect if I have work like this done to the heads?
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by 79-L-82
Before you flame, please give it some thought.
I don't have money for new heads. I can barely afford an intake.
I have heard that the L-82 heads are not very good and prone to cracking.
Mine is a low mileage car and no problems.
I can get machine shop work done very cheap.
Would it be worth it to have some clean up, 3 angle valve job and perhaps mill the heads to achieve more compression?
How much can be done to these castings? Car is not a driver, just a weekend cruiser that I want some more power out of.
I plan on keeping the stock cam, replacing the exhaust and intake.
What can I expect if I have work like this done to the heads?
Thanks.
I don't have money for new heads. I can barely afford an intake.
I have heard that the L-82 heads are not very good and prone to cracking.
Mine is a low mileage car and no problems.
I can get machine shop work done very cheap.
Would it be worth it to have some clean up, 3 angle valve job and perhaps mill the heads to achieve more compression?
How much can be done to these castings? Car is not a driver, just a weekend cruiser that I want some more power out of.
I plan on keeping the stock cam, replacing the exhaust and intake.
What can I expect if I have work like this done to the heads?
Thanks.
why not add porting to the heads also....who knows how much more you will get....you will get more then what you have now and those are real modifications....if thats where your money goes the farthest then do it...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
If you can get machine shop work done cheap, perhaps you should hunt around for a set of double-hump "fuelie" castings and have them redone.
If you mill the heads, remember that you'll also have to mill the intake to fit the new angle.
With the original heads, the "prone to cracking" issue occurs while they are being machined...you should have them magnafluxed before AND after the work is done.
If you mill the heads, remember that you'll also have to mill the intake to fit the new angle.
With the original heads, the "prone to cracking" issue occurs while they are being machined...you should have them magnafluxed before AND after the work is done.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
You will definately get some more HP but I wouldn't do it... there is a risk of cracking them as mentioned above... you already have 9.5 compression ration, there would be a bigger improvement possible if you had the lower compression engine...
Even if you're getting the machine work done cheap, you'll need new gaskets, maybe some new bolts... and who knows what else breaks...
safe your money and get some aluminum heads when your budget allows it, just my 2 cents..
Even if you're getting the machine work done cheap, you'll need new gaskets, maybe some new bolts... and who knows what else breaks...
safe your money and get some aluminum heads when your budget allows it, just my 2 cents..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Originally Posted by RedBad1979
You will definately get some more HP but I wouldn't do it... there is a risk of cracking them as mentioned above... you already have 9.5 compression ration, there would be a bigger improvement possible if you had the lower compression engine...
Even if you're getting the machine work done cheap, you'll need new gaskets, maybe some new bolts... and who knows what else breaks...
safe your money and get some aluminum heads when your budget allows it, just my 2 cents..
Even if you're getting the machine work done cheap, you'll need new gaskets, maybe some new bolts... and who knows what else breaks...
safe your money and get some aluminum heads when your budget allows it, just my 2 cents..
What is the combustion chamber size on the stock heads?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
the L-82 heads are something along the line of 73-76 cc chambers IIRC...and I think the factory Cr is more like 8.9 or 9:1 not 9.5:1...
A simple valve job isnt going to net you much and the deck thickness on those heads isnt much either, yes you could knock a couple of thou off for a slightly higher CR but depending on the quality of Gas in your neck of the woods that might work against you.
Your best bet would be to get some minor porting done on those heads to improve the flow characteristics of them..stay out of the combustion chamber as any work done their will reduce your CR...but some bowl blending and some work in both the intake and exhaust ports would yield some benefits.. provided they are done for cheap.
Otherwise a set of Vortec heads which are about the cheapest you will find on the market and arguably are better than the vaunted "fuelie" heads would be your best bet for the money.
A simple valve job isnt going to net you much and the deck thickness on those heads isnt much either, yes you could knock a couple of thou off for a slightly higher CR but depending on the quality of Gas in your neck of the woods that might work against you.
Your best bet would be to get some minor porting done on those heads to improve the flow characteristics of them..stay out of the combustion chamber as any work done their will reduce your CR...but some bowl blending and some work in both the intake and exhaust ports would yield some benefits.. provided they are done for cheap.
Otherwise a set of Vortec heads which are about the cheapest you will find on the market and arguably are better than the vaunted "fuelie" heads would be your best bet for the money.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
They are lightweight & have irregular intake ports. Nevertheless, they will work for you. Spend as little as possible on them. The head situation was why World Products brought out their cast iron heads.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by fauxrs
the L-82 heads are something along the line of 73-76 cc chambers IIRC...and I think the factory Cr is more like 8.9 or 9:1 not 9.5:1...
10.0 CR should be fine with 93 octane gas - any objections ??
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Objections? You bet! I removed the intake yesterday...and found this:
The intake ports are have a very irregular shape...and there is not enough metal there to grind them to the correct shape, either!
These heads are good for one thing: a doorstop.
The intake ports are have a very irregular shape...and there is not enough metal there to grind them to the correct shape, either!
These heads are good for one thing: a doorstop.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by page62
Objections? You bet! I removed the intake yesterday...and found this:
The intake ports are have a very irregular shape...and there is not enough metal there to grind them to the correct shape, either!
These heads are good for one thing: a doorstop.
The intake ports are have a very irregular shape...and there is not enough metal there to grind them to the correct shape, either!
These heads are good for one thing: a doorstop.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Originally Posted by page62
Objections? You bet! I removed the intake yesterday...and found this:
The intake ports are have a very irregular shape...and there is not enough metal there to grind them to the correct shape, either!
These heads are good for one thing: a doorstop.
The intake ports are have a very irregular shape...and there is not enough metal there to grind them to the correct shape, either!
These heads are good for one thing: a doorstop.
That sucks.
Thanks for all the input.
Looks like I would be better off leaving them alone.
Maybe some day down the road I'll be able to replace.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,465
Likes: 1,485
From: Little Rock AR
Clean up the valve bowls with a pocket port job if you are tight on cash. Probably worth 15-20 HP on the top end. I would not mill excessively as there is not a lot of material in the deck surface. No other cheap mods I can think of that would be worth the time/effort/money. The factory flat tops make about 9:1 but if you need to bore it, you could buy pop-ups (but I would definately do heads instead)
-Mark.
-Mark.
