84 vette cam suggestions?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 521
Likes: 143
From: Caribbean/Florida
dumb question: is there a way to keep the smog pump (AIR) when going to headers? finding headers that will accommodate AIR seems difficult!
jealous that you've gone to a 400 sbc, would love to do that but my 10,000 orig mile 350 would have to sit in the storage shed. meanwhile, gonna have to find another way to make the .82 a bit more driveable. with the exhaust sys as a starting point i'm not sure what will happen if i can't go to headers and a hi flo cat. maybe as an "historic vehicle" here in Merrieland i can quit worrying about the DMV ****'s, more thought required
have enjoyed your CFI posts, thanks!
jealous that you've gone to a 400 sbc, would love to do that but my 10,000 orig mile 350 would have to sit in the storage shed. meanwhile, gonna have to find another way to make the .82 a bit more driveable. with the exhaust sys as a starting point i'm not sure what will happen if i can't go to headers and a hi flo cat. maybe as an "historic vehicle" here in Merrieland i can quit worrying about the DMV ****'s, more thought required
have enjoyed your CFI posts, thanks!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 521
Likes: 143
From: Caribbean/Florida
If you have a 10,000 mile 350 don't mess with it too much. I would put a further 90,000 miles on it then do a 0.020 overbore. A 0.030 job would bring you a 355cu in. and if you remember Nascar (750HP race motors) use to run approximately this size for decades. Light weight pistons, strong rods and crank with good rings and bearings makes for a great motor. I have seen 355 naturally aspirated that produce 450hp with a single carburetor and intake manifold. Alternatively, a 6 inch rod 383 would be a great upgrade with tons of parts and kits available.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
really like the roller suggestion, if you're gonna replace the lifters anyway. my last '65 i went to the GM sbc crate roller motor, which made the stock 365hp L76 look sad. now i'm working on a 1982 that just feels SLOW compared to other older vettes i've had
sure been looking for your Buccaneer posts on what you did to your L83, could you point me in the right direction? you obviously have made a lot of comments over the years and i'm in need of some help in finding out how to make my '82 awesome. looking at all the first hand experience, i think i want to stick with the crossfire setup and maybe benefit from the poss return of the Renegade that was just announced. but yr 12 second version seems enticing!
any help would be most appreciated! i already have an appointment for a header/exhaust job, will probably see what happens there before i port the stock manifold and maybe replace the heads, possibly a new cam. the '82CE is such a step up from my previous C2/C3's in comfort and convenience, i hope to keep it a while (the wife even likes it!)
sure been looking for your Buccaneer posts on what you did to your L83, could you point me in the right direction? you obviously have made a lot of comments over the years and i'm in need of some help in finding out how to make my '82 awesome. looking at all the first hand experience, i think i want to stick with the crossfire setup and maybe benefit from the poss return of the Renegade that was just announced. but yr 12 second version seems enticing!
any help would be most appreciated! i already have an appointment for a header/exhaust job, will probably see what happens there before i port the stock manifold and maybe replace the heads, possibly a new cam. the '82CE is such a step up from my previous C2/C3's in comfort and convenience, i hope to keep it a while (the wife even likes it!)
I also have all the parts for my trans mod and when the heat here shuts off, I will install that as well. I do expect to get to 11.99 this winter if at all possible with some good air. 
GL with your project.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 160
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis Maryland
Like mentioned, my motor has a lot of things done to it and surely a fair amount of money in parts and machining. It does take cash to go fast and depends on how fast do you want to go and how deep are your pockets to get there? IMO, use your money wisely on the rotating assembly and go from there. I choose to go forged everything and it will cost you, but also my opinion, it is money well spent. I did shop around to find the best prices on what I wanted and my machinist also helped with his connections. Like I also mentioned above, my new TB project has started and I should have this done in a few more weeks and dying to mount these bad boys and get it on the dyno. I'm not building a race car, but it is a very potent street car all done with 100% CFI. I also have all the parts for my trans mod and when the heat here shuts off, I will install that as well. I do expect to get to 11.99 this winter if at all possible with some good air. GL with your project.
I also have all the parts for my trans mod and when the heat here shuts off, I will install that as well. I do expect to get to 11.99 this winter if at all possible with some good air. GL with your project.have all but struck out on the Renegade search. Is there anyone you would recommend to port a CFI intake? i really don't want to go carburetor but that might suit my purposes, maybe even find a way to mate an air cleaner to the '82 cold air scoop. the GM ECM would be fine too, but a new FI system for a car that's gonna do maybe 1000 mi a year in good weather seems overly complicated
not planning on any racing but really need some more go on the street to make the driving worthwhile, if you can imagine that. still, the crossfire setup with more drivability would be excellent! at my age this may be my final corvette (#7) so i hope it's gonna be AWESOME
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
I do not know of any shop that would port the stock manifold, but they are out there. GL if you decide to remove the CFI system.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Porting is something one should do for themselves, IMO. BUT....if you really want to spend money, you could see if some of the known head porters would do it. It's pretty easy/straight forward. Mike111 on here probably knows more than anyone about the BEST way to port a CFI intake, at this point. PM him and make him an offer he can't refuse.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 160
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis Maryland
pretty much decided to stick with all the conveniences of the stock '82 setup: linkages, cruise control, air cleaner/induction scoop, ECM. i don't anticipate using the car for much of anything besides occasional grocery stops and weekend trips locally/car shows, if i was still commuting to work it would be fun to have 400 + HP, but i'd just like to have the drivability and comfort of my ole '90 L98/auto without the hassle of the gymnastics getting in/out, the nearly-unremovable + heavy targa top, and the blah styling (no offense meant!)
will eventually find a Renegade or a way to flow the CFI manifold, so probably start now with headers & tuning tweaks. the manifold would make all the difference in cost and headaches and probably putting up with a mess under the hood
thanks again fer yr input!
will eventually find a Renegade or a way to flow the CFI manifold, so probably start now with headers & tuning tweaks. the manifold would make all the difference in cost and headaches and probably putting up with a mess under the hood
thanks again fer yr input!
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Headers (as you already said) and good exhaust after, proper fuel pressure and timing and the car should run mid 14's.
To wit, I had a CFI, '83 Trans Am which as you probably know has a 305, not a 350. With the following mods:
Shorty headers
No Cat
Optimized base timing
Optimized fuel pressure
Mechanical fan replaced w/electric fan
Cowl Hood forced open
160 stat
5 speed conversion
Intake, injectors, TB's air filter housing was all stock. But with those minor mods, that car went 14.5@95mph. A 350 ought to do a little better than that, IMO.
To wit, I had a CFI, '83 Trans Am which as you probably know has a 305, not a 350. With the following mods:
Shorty headers
No Cat
Optimized base timing
Optimized fuel pressure
Mechanical fan replaced w/electric fan
Cowl Hood forced open
160 stat
5 speed conversion
Intake, injectors, TB's air filter housing was all stock. But with those minor mods, that car went 14.5@95mph. A 350 ought to do a little better than that, IMO.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 160
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis Maryland
Because I'm cheap....and for practical reasons, I would start with a ported intake, headers and dual exhaust, and "free mods". Well done, that should get you to ~260hp. That's pretty wicked, for not a lot of money. Car will be pretty fast (mid-high 13's), punchy and wicket throttle responsive. FUN.
To exploit a cam, you need heads. I would try to find some used 113 heads (later L98 aluminum heads) for dirt, and buy those and give 'em a light porting. I'd port the living bejeezus out of the intake and do the radiused inlets like mike111 has shown to work, then I'd put in a mild cam, still. I don't think that "cam" is where to "find power" with CFI. Intake, exhaust, then heads are the low hanging fruit and a bunch of cam makes it run shitty, lack low end torque, and harder to tune.
Anyway, mild 113 heads, a mild cam and good exhaust, that ought to put you right on past 300 CHP net, and if I wanted more than that, I'd rethink my whole strategy and combo, from displacement on up.
To exploit a cam, you need heads. I would try to find some used 113 heads (later L98 aluminum heads) for dirt, and buy those and give 'em a light porting. I'd port the living bejeezus out of the intake and do the radiused inlets like mike111 has shown to work, then I'd put in a mild cam, still. I don't think that "cam" is where to "find power" with CFI. Intake, exhaust, then heads are the low hanging fruit and a bunch of cam makes it run shitty, lack low end torque, and harder to tune.
Anyway, mild 113 heads, a mild cam and good exhaust, that ought to put you right on past 300 CHP net, and if I wanted more than that, I'd rethink my whole strategy and combo, from displacement on up.
maybe need some heads next, higher compression & better flow, keep the L63 cam. i suppose the following obstacle might be the ECM, porting the throttle bodies, maybe some improved fuel flow. not into racing but i just couldn't drive such a nice vette that had so little power. i've had solid lifter 327s, a GM crate 383. L98, 454 and a ZR1, so the '52 was a bit disappointing, even compared to a L48 i used to autoX
