1979 Corvette HP
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1979 Corvette HP I have a 1979 corvette and as you probably know, they were choking for horsepower back in those days. Is there any way to boost the HP?? I have converted it to dual exhaust and gotten rid of the catalytic converter. Is there any other emissions controls that I should mess with that would increase HP? Please don't bother me with the legal stuff. Thanks
I owned a 78 pace car ...a L82 with 220 screaming HP it was good looking but oh what a pig it was...your best bet is to install a LS series engine..plenty of muscle, good fuel mileage, and emissions legal.
Staging Lane
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It is still a small block chevy; a cam and headers will do a lot to build power.
You could talk to the sponsors and have them help you select a cam that will work with the 8:1 compression ratio, buy some inexpensive headers, do some jetting work to the quadrajet.
If you can do the labor, you could probably get close to 300 HP for around $1,000.00;
that is if the existing engine is sound.
You could talk to the sponsors and have them help you select a cam that will work with the 8:1 compression ratio, buy some inexpensive headers, do some jetting work to the quadrajet.
If you can do the labor, you could probably get close to 300 HP for around $1,000.00;
that is if the existing engine is sound.
Does your '79 Corvette have the L-48 or L-82 engine?
If, and hopefully, you have the L-82; a "healthy" modern cam and lifters, timing chain set, increased timing, Edelbrock RPM or equivalent intake manifold, headers and a good quality 4-barrel carb around 750cfm should make it well over 300bhp, close to 350bhp
If, and hopefully, you have the L-82; a "healthy" modern cam and lifters, timing chain set, increased timing, Edelbrock RPM or equivalent intake manifold, headers and a good quality 4-barrel carb around 750cfm should make it well over 300bhp, close to 350bhp
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Those engines had low compression. As low as what you'd build today if you were building a blown race engine. You can strap a blower to it, but it'll still be a dog at anything other than full throttle, under boost.
Best bet is either a crate engine swap to a modern LSx, or a rebuild with decent compression, heads and cam. Personally, I'd go with an LSx/T56 swap.
Best bet is either a crate engine swap to a modern LSx, or a rebuild with decent compression, heads and cam. Personally, I'd go with an LSx/T56 swap.
A junkyard 5.3, 5.7, or 6.0 can be had for not alot of $$$ now days. I'd rather have that than the weak L48 or L82 with mods. Might cost a little more than a grand. But your going to get around 30 mph with good performance when all is said and done if you go that route.
Well you're not going to do any complete LS based engine swap for anywhere close to a $1,000. If you have the L82, I wouldn't exactly call it a weak motor either. They had 4 bolt mains, forged cranks, forged flat top pistons, screw-in studs and guide plates and 2.02/1.60 valves. Not saying its anything extravagant nor nearly as good as the LS engine, but its a heck of a lot better then the plain jane L48.
If you'll be happy with a sound 300-350bhp and only would like to spend around a grand (realistically a few hundred over $1k), look into a cam & lifters, bumped timing, intake manifold, carb and headers. You'll get what you want
If you'll be happy with a sound 300-350bhp and only would like to spend around a grand (realistically a few hundred over $1k), look into a cam & lifters, bumped timing, intake manifold, carb and headers. You'll get what you want
L48 = 185 HP L82 = 220 HP I owned a new 1978 Vette with a L82 it was a pig. I don't care what kind of valves or main bearing caps it had IT WAS WEAK. All the mods that you list will cost more than a grand. On the other hand a 5.3 can be had for less than a grand and a swap can be done for under 2 grand. As I said before you then have good performance WITH great fuel economy. I guess that we will agree to disagree sir.
Last edited by slt200mph; Oct 13, 2012 at 08:11 AM.
Staging Lane
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From: south florida
The main problem with those engines in the late 70s-80s was that they had very low compression, and the cams were so small they might as well be round.
Get the heads shaved and ported and polished, and get you a bigger cam. You can get a cam and lifter kit form jegs for like $100 and it will make all the difference. You can also look for a set of vortec heads. The are very popular with the hot rod people as they make a huge power improvement over the older style heads.
Get the heads shaved and ported and polished, and get you a bigger cam. You can get a cam and lifter kit form jegs for like $100 and it will make all the difference. You can also look for a set of vortec heads. The are very popular with the hot rod people as they make a huge power improvement over the older style heads.
L48 = 185 HP L82 = 220 HP I owned a new 1978 Vette with a L82 it was a pig. I don't care what kind of valves or main bearing caps it had IT WAS WEAK. All the mods that you list will cost more than a grand. On the other hand a 5.3 can be had for less than a grand and a swap can be done for under 2 grand. As I said before you then have good performance WITH great fuel economy. I guess that we will agree to disagree sir.
By the way, according to the OP's previous posts, an engine swap certainly doesn't seem like a route they care to take. I'm just trying to stay on the track the OP is talking about.
Here's the thing in other words. The OP is telling us they have a ham sandwich but is trying to figure out what dressings to put on it to make it a little better. And you're trying to convince the OP that they don't want a ham sandwich but a supreme pizza instead. Catch my drift?
Last edited by R6cowboy; Oct 13, 2012 at 11:42 AM.
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: south florida
Here's the thing in other words. The OP is telling us they have a ham sandwich but is trying to figure out what dressings to put on it to make it a little better. And you're trying to convince the OP that they don't want a ham sandwich but a supreme pizza instead. Catch my drift?
Op: You nee to get the compression up if you want any real gains. Every thing else mentioned will definitely give you noticeable improvements. That being said, you will see the biggest gain simply by getting the heads shaved to get the compression up around 9:1 - 9.5:1. Anything 9.5 or lower and you will still be able to run on 87 octane without detonation. Just make sure your timing and mixture is right and you'll be good to go.
Compression, cam, headers, tune. That will get you to about 300 horses right there, a noticeable improvement.
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