L48 hp contest anybody? How would you mod???

L48 hp contest anybody? How would you mod???

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SGT9911

Original Poster:

2 posts

116 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
Okay this my first post so consideration would be nice and please don't make this thread a Roman colleseum of you can't post on your second day or that won't work etc. A little mercy would be nice. Thanks. Now, pretend you have an L48 from a 76 stingray. Stock everything. If you had unlimited resources such as money and parts, what ten or so mods would you do to the motor. You can replace or upgrade clutch and trans. Engine mods include piston heads, cams, headers, anything exhaust trans or clutch, intake, etc etc etc. One rule. No forced induction. Please list the parts you would use. Specifics are appreciated, like ram air intake by injen vs new intake. The specific amount of horsepower isn't needed obviously, just a guess, and maybe an explanation of why you chose this over that or something. Thanks.

Ps how much hp have you seen out of a stingray build online or in the past? I'm curious how much power I could get out of the L48.

roscobbc

3,334 posts

242 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
Last question is the easiest to answer first - if power is money, how much are you prepared to spend? who will do the work on it? you, or a 'specialist'?

If you wish to keep the basic L48 engine complete and use stock items like heads, inlet and carb then you are limiting your self to camshaft, carb jetting, timing and perhaps exhaust mods.

If you are prepared to spend more and source new heads, inlet, camshaft again and headers then, pro-rata you will get better results.

Stroker crank plus the previous mods will get best bang for the buck - but now things like clutch or torque converter and other items in the drive train will need possible attention.

Crate engines are the way may people go.

SGT9911

Original Poster:

2 posts

116 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
roscobbc said:
Last question is the easiest to answer first - if power is money, how much are you prepared to spend? who will do the work on it? you, or a 'specialist'?

If you wish to keep the basic L48 engine complete and use stock items like heads, inlet and carb then you are limiting your self to camshaft, carb jetting, timing and perhaps exhaust mods.

If you are prepared to spend more and source new heads, inlet, camshaft again and headers then, pro-rata you will get better results.

Stroker crank plus the previous mods will get best bang for the buck - but now things like clutch or torque converter and other items in the drive train will need possible attention.

Crate engines are the way may people go.
Yeah forget money. This is more of an in theory question. Take away the money factor. But not a new engine. That would defeat the purpose of the question. I'll do new internals heads inlet etc also, for the sake of argument. And don't worry about paying a specialist.

VetteG

3,236 posts

244 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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Friends of mine in Houston, one of whom is a well known engine builder, decided to build an engine for a C1 using off the shelf parts from Dart. The result was dyno'd at the School of Automotive Machinists in Houston, a reliable and accurate dyno. The result was 554hp and 520ft lbs. It was then written up for an American car magazine, if anyone wants to read it I have an MS Word draft, just PM me. Its also quite amusing.

G