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I'm getting a 84 corvette soon, and I'm new to building cars and could use some help. What is a good engine to swap into this car, and what else is needed with a new engine?
I'm getting a 84 corvette soon, and I'm new to building cars and could use some help. What is a good engine to swap into this car, and what else is needed with a new engine?
need way more info, it’s a SBC with an interesting and restrictive intake. Lots of choices including modifying what you have IF you have a car with a complete CFI
I'm getting a 84 corvette soon, and I'm new to building cars and could use some help. What is a good engine to swap into this car, and what else is needed with a new engine?
You can get plenty of power out of that 350, but it's going to take money and a solid plan.How much money depends on how much power you want. I'd advise against an engine swap until you have a solid understanding of mechanics and what it's going to take. An LS swap, while popular, is going to take even more money and time than modding the 350 that's in there now.
You can get plenty of power out of that 350, but it's going to take money and a solid plan.How much money depends on how much power you want. I'd advise against an engine swap until you have a solid understanding of mechanics and what it's going to take. An LS swap, while popular, is going to take even more money and time than modding the 350 that's in there now.
Have you had someone with mechanical knowledge look at the 84 for you? Someone with some Corvette knowledge would be a plus! With 125000 miles on it hopefully the seller can show you receipts of repairs that have been done! Someone needs to road test it with you!
The L83 engine is a great initial platform but is starved for air. The biggest bang for the buck will be to improve both air flow in and out of the the engine.
The intake manifold is the biggest chock point on the engine. Find yourself a Renegede intake (they are hard to find) manifold or takes yours and port the intake runner and match them to the ports on the heads. There are a bunch of YT videos that show you how to Dremel it for huge improvement.
Get yourself a set of long tube headers and swap out your catalytic converter for a high performance version.
Add a 85-89 fuel pump that will have a higher, consistent pressure then crank up the timing up as high as your engine likes it. Typically 11-13 degrees.
IMO, there is nothing wrong with a CFI system, it just depends on how you do things the right way, the first time. At 125K, you might think about refreshing the motor, but not necessary in most cases. Porting the stock intake is a good idea since finding a Renegade will be difficult. Next would be the fueling and 13psi is what I recommend, but if you go higher, that's up to you with a stock ECM. Base timing can be raised with minimum results IMO, 6* is stock, but you can try 10* and see if it helps. I'm in the process of trying to manufacture the Renegade, but it is very hard finding the right foundry and machinist along with a low as possible cost to the consumer. I'm hoping I can do it, we shall see.
I suppose im really looking for more hp and what I can do to make that happen
Port the intake, add timing and fuel pressure (feed it what it wants), headers and good exhaust, make sure the fuel pump can deliver under those conditions, replace with MPFI pump if it can't.
That'll get you 260 or better. Big improvement from 205, for very little money.
intake manifold can be ported to flow more than cylinder heads. port matching head side and blending the bottom of runner. tapering the entrance an inch or so would be good enough for stock heads and camshaft. also the exhaust manifolds and stock cat, are very restrictive.
Last edited by mike1111; May 22, 2023 at 11:18 PM.
