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Topic: performance products for L79

in Forum: C3 Engines


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performance products for L79 (1/18)
 11/23/15 4:06pm
Loghead68
Former Member

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mattoon, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1968 coupe 327/350 4spd Silverstone silver with a/c


Joined: 9/20/2014
Posts: 14

I'm about to pull the engine in my 68 and was wondering what kind of performance products you guys would recommend for it. I'm going to keep it carbureted and i have a holly 7885 and a quadrajet from a 68 chevelle, both need rebuilt. I was told it has a mild cam but unsure if it has ever been rebuilt fully. stock other than the cam and carb. It is matched with the m22 rock crusher which is also original. not really wanting to bore it out. All of the work will be done by myself and a few mechanic buddies with the exception of machining.

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Re: performance products for L79 (2/18)
 11/24/15 2:52pm
Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

Hey LH68 - welcome to the forum, '68 with an original M22, nice !!!

Can't give you much help on the modifications but I'm sure a few folks will chime in. I'm one of those numbers match/original parts guys so PLEASE tell me you'll save anything original that you may take off the car. If not, let me know what you've have and I'll buy it !!

Have a great holiday and good luck.




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John Sigmund
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Re: performance products for L79 (3/18)
 11/24/15 3:06pm
Loghead68
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mattoon, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1968 coupe 327/350 4spd Silverstone silver with a/c


Joined: 9/20/2014
Posts: 14

Thank you, I feel that tranny will do great things for me. I messaged you about the parts. I'm excited to see what kind of power i can push out of this mean machine!

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Re: performance products for L79 (4/18)
 11/24/15 3:35pm
Vman73
Former Member

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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

Got your PM and based on the Zip code I'm guessing that's not white sand in your pic !! I used to live north of you in WI. so I cringe every time I see that "stuff".

Give us some history on the car. How long have you owned it ?? Where did you buy it ?? These cars usually come with a great story.  


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John Sigmund
valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
NW NCRS Chapter Member



Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: performance products for L79 (5/18)
 11/24/15 4:01pm
Loghead68
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mattoon, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1968 coupe 327/350 4spd Silverstone silver with a/c


Joined: 9/20/2014
Posts: 14

I've owned it for almost a year, and before that my father owned it for 19 years. He never really did much to it and when something did go out he either fixed it or bypassed it. Was told it was in storage for ten years before he owned it. always garage kept and rarely taken out in snow or rain. That picture is from when he owned it. It is currently garage kept and plan on keeping it that way for its whole life. My father was in need of money real bad and put the car up for sale. I seen that he was selling and it has always been a dream for me to own it, so i made a deal with him to buy it and had it shipped here from Wisconsin from a reputable car hauler. Some of my greatest memories are in this car and i plan on making many more! no rust on the frame or anything. A few small cracks on the fiberglass (mainly on the bottom of the nose) and it needs paint. I was told it has a 69 hood and it is missing the original wiper door and didnt come with the original carb. I imagine something fell on the hood damaging it and the carb, but there is no way of knowing for sure. No original rims and im wanting to go to some AR rivals or something of that nature. I havent been able to find another car like it and i dont think i ever will. I drove it this past spring and summer and was extremely happy with how it performed. But I know it hasnt been rebuilt for at least 20+ years so i decided to tackle the project this winter. I'm 24 and own my dream car, I plan on giving it to my son one day.

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Re: performance products for L79 (6/18)
 11/24/15 4:26pm
Loghead68
Former Member

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mattoon, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1968 coupe 327/350 4spd Silverstone silver with a/c


Joined: 9/20/2014
Posts: 14

Forgot to add its the early 68 model. At least thats what the seat latches tell me.

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Re: performance products for L79 (7/18)
 11/24/15 6:20pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Make it so we can see where you live.

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Re: performance products for L79 (8/18)
 11/24/15 7:28pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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That's a '73-'77 hood...not a '69.

He's in Illinois, Gary.


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Re: performance products for L79 (9/18)
 11/24/15 11:35pm
Vman73
Former Member

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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

So somebody did the '73-'77 hood swap and removed the wiper door. Pretty common back in the day, the challenge was to blend the top of the original fender into the raised lip of the newer hood. There is something to be said about not having that wiper door, right Gary !!??

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John Sigmund
valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
NW NCRS Chapter Member



Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: performance products for L79 (10/18)
 11/25/15 12:33am
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

What did they do about the trim on the tops of the fenders at the base of the windshield?

My wiper door works as advertised.


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Re: performance products for L79 (11/18)
 11/25/15 2:44am
Loghead68
Former Member

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mattoon, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1968 coupe 327/350 4spd Silverstone silver with a/c


Joined: 9/20/2014
Posts: 14

i was told by my father it was a 69 hood. I dont know myself. Can we make this thread about performance products please?

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Re: performance products for L79 (12/18)
 11/25/15 5:06pm
nosal1
Former Member

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Dunedin, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Corvette Torch Red with Gold metallic 370HP/350 CU.IN.Turbo 350 w/shift kit.Originally CA.Car with 305 CU.IN.


Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 262

Hello Mr.Loghead68.  Your car/engine should be a 327 350 horse with a .447/.447 gr.lift cam and with a great centerline.Do you have a spread bore carb( Q-Jet carb) intake manifold or a square bore(Holley,Edelbrock,Grant carbs)and is listed at 11.1 compression ratio according to the Vette book and my past experience.A reasonable upgrade without a lot of work would be to change the rockers.Attached is a set of roller rockers you might consider.I am not suggesting you buy these off of Ebay,however you can look through their system and see what is available.I would also suggest that if you peruse the internet,try and find sets that offer extruded aluminum as they are far more resilient than the cast aluminum. The 1.6 rockers increase the gross lift without changing cams.

Chevy SBC 350 1.6 Ratio 3/8" Aluminum Roller Rocker Arm Set w/ Posi Locks
Good luck.
      Sal C          nosal1

Re: performance products for L79 (13/18)
 11/25/15 7:12pm
Vman73
Former Member

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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

11:1 compression is a pretty good start for some good HP. Check into having the cylinders and crank surfaces bored only if they need to cleaned up for the rebuild. Make sure whatever you do, DO NOT have the engine block decked if it is the original - that is machined where the block meets the heads. If the block is decked, the all important numbers found on the front right of the engine pad will probably be machined off and so will a good percentage of the car's value !! Double check with your machine shop, some will deck the block as part of their standard machining without asking your preference.

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John Sigmund
valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
NW NCRS Chapter Member



Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: performance products for L79 (14/18)
 11/25/15 7:34pm
Loghead68
Former Member

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mattoon, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1968 coupe 327/350 4spd Silverstone silver with a/c


Joined: 9/20/2014
Posts: 14

Thank you for the information, I need all I can get. I have a q jet that needs rebuilt to put on it and I also have a spread bore Holley that I got for not too long ago. It's the 7885 model with vacuum secondaries. I liked the q jet better though, had better throttle response. And I'll ask the machine shop I have in mind if they do that. I wouldn't want the value of my engine to be gone. I know its pretty special. Edit: and my father had told me the previous owner put a mild cam in it. I'm unsure of what kind or if anything else was done to it. I will know more when I start taring it apart.

|UPDATED|11/25/2015 4:34:56 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: performance products for L79 (15/18)
 11/25/15 10:05pm
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

So Logan, what are your expectations from this engine? 

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


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Re: performance products for L79 (16/18)
 11/26/15 2:34am
Loghead68
Former Member

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mattoon, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1968 coupe 327/350 4spd Silverstone silver with a/c


Joined: 9/20/2014
Posts: 14

I love the performance it already has, but I'm wanting a little more for now. I plan on swapping out for a more current engine in five or ten years. I'm not really sure what to expect out of it, it's the most powerful thing i've driven as of yet. 

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Re: performance products for L79 (17/18)
 11/26/15 9:33am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

Loghead68 said: I love the performance it already has, but I'm wanting a little more for now. I plan on swapping out for a more current engine in five or ten years. I'm not really sure what to expect out of it, it's the most powerful thing i've driven as of yet. 


Well, if you plan on swapping out the engine in a few years then I wouldn't sink a ton of money into it. I agree with Sal. A set of 1.6 roller rockers is a cheaper alternative to a cam swap and will gain you a few more ponies. Just make sure you will have enough clearance between the valve and piston with the additional lift. 

I wouldn't up the compression. 11:1 is pretty stout. Maybe have the heads pocket ported and ports cleaned up and enlarge slightly should improve power a little. 

I'm am (or was in the past) a fan of Rochester carbs. Holley carbs can be more temperamental from past experience. So I would have the Rochester thoroughly gone though. If there is slop in the primary throttle shaft that can be fixed with a bushing kit. Very common problem with Rochester's that causes a big vacuum leak there. There was a guy (Sean Murphy) Induction SMI that did a Rochester for me years ago. I was pleased with the results. 

Or you could go with a 4 bbl EFI Throttle Body injection setup. That will retain that old school carb look with way more drivability/reliability. Which could be transferred over to your next engine swap if you decide to stick with a 4 bbl style intake. 


|UPDATED|11/26/2015 6:33:56 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
Re: performance products for L79 (18/18)
 11/26/15 10:26am
nosal1
Former Member

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Dunedin, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Corvette Torch Red with Gold metallic 370HP/350 CU.IN.Turbo 350 w/shift kit.Originally CA.Car with 305 CU.IN.


Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 262

Good Morning all and a HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all and especially for our troupes home and away along with all first responders everywhere.

I am in total agreement with Sarge on the Q-Jet compared to ANY Holley,however I hate Holley's for their inconsistency and constant leaks along with their fragile operation especially when the engine backfires and blows a power valve. 
The 1.6 Roller rockers will increase the Gross lift to .477/.477 as to the OEM Cam of .447/.447 and should not be a problem,if you go this route.
I think I read they"changed to a milder cam",hence you should find out what the gross lift,duration @.050,valve lift, and center line is for the existing cam.
Good luck and happy motoring.            Sal C                 nosal1 
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