Hey guys. Thanks. Wells to be quite honest: I don’t really know what I want, I mean it's my only car and I will be driving it pretty much where I want to go, as for that I do want it to have some street performance, I am not going to be street racing at all, I'm not that insane with a Vette; LOL! But when I do race it will be on a track, with a local club (but not often). My dad found a shop that will rebuild the block for $1k that means rebuilding the heads, new camshaft, new crankshaft, boring the engine, making it all perty again. Then I will add the carb, and headers, exhaust and fixing up the interior, and exterior. I mean it will save me some money, and the point of the project was to learn this stuff, but I would rather take a class on this, and not to mention we don't have any of the machines, or tools to do it. However this is going to set the budget back a lot. So my question to you is that after the shop rebuilds the block, what parts that I have listed above would work the best? The budget Is reasonable I mean I will work my butt off, I'm like that if I see something I like, I will work my hardest to get it. However I don't want to spend too much, so nothing extreme, just those parts I have listed above is in a good budget range considering this, $114 for the 9 piece weather stripping kit, new tubes/hoses, wire mesh, new air cleaner, paint, upholstery, AC motor, some electrical work, rims etc....

Thanks
-Louis

new77guy said: but if it were you what would you choose?

the street avenger

not the universal hookers..

these
http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/ES/ESHHSCH/Car.html#Chevrolet

2134HKR made for corvette

I have a brand new set of 2234HKR hookers ceramic coated that I need to sell. I'll let them go for $350. Brand new, box is really rough.

Yep, headers, small tube and the ceramic coating is excellent (yes, it does run better with ceramic) a not too radical camshaft, dual exahust.
This is a nice kick in the gas. Perhaps a performance intake as well. There are a lot of opinions on carb, but if it's primarly a street machine, mildly built, I would go with a Qudra-Jet. To get more agressive, look at Ben's carb selection. This is a nice extra OOMPH, with out getting crazy. You may want to go a bit more and put higher compression pistions in.

My 75 L-48 is only 165 HP with 8.5:1 compression. The 75 L-82 is 205 with just a cam change and 9:1 compression. You can get a lot with compression, but you will also reach a point where you need higher octane fuel. And that's a sliding scale.

I know it's rough, but before you start, you need to know where you are going. Other wise you waste a lot of time and money. Keep asking questions while you thing about it.

Also keep in mind, no offense, you are 16. You don't have as much driving time and real world time in as the rest of us. You also haven't graduated from the school of hard knocks that teach you a lot of restraint with a steering wheel in your hand. You don't want to build a car that is more than you want, need, can handle, and get yourself in trouble. Just something to talk about with your Dad. He knows you better than we do. But we do remember 16. You can always build it again in the future.

Las Vegas huh? If your dad want's to join the fun i've got another 77 for sale about 2 hrs from you! Congrats on the Vette!

Heh.. lol. Thanks guys once again some interesting points. However, I did talk to a few mechanics (it does not hurt to get as many opinions as possible) The guy only deals with Vette's and has been around Vegas since the 60's, He mentioned to me that with those particular headers, and the catalytic converter would cause the car to idle at or under 400RPM, and everyone knows what that means.... The engine would choke! So my question is: What to do now? So far here is what I know now:
The engine will be rebuilt; What they are going to do is clean up and machine the heads, put in new pistons, new rings, bushings, and bearings, "grind" the camshaft, and crankshaft, which most of you know that’s just making them smoother again, boring the block to 30 over, and basically just cleaning up the engine, checking for leaks and etc.... for $895.00 plus 7.50% in taxes, at Nevada Valve Train (very good company).
The original 350 hydraulic 3sp auto tranny will be rebuilt at an experienced tranny shop called Hoppy's which once again has been around since the 60's for $500 plus 7.20% in taxes. After that, it’s up to me to finish the rest. And so far from what I am told is that the headers work from a few of you here on the forums, and the other will make the car idle ruff and choke. Here are the parts that I will be replacing myself that will be new, not NOS, or replica parts:
Carb: Holley Street Avenger 4BBL 570CFM
Carb link

Headers: Hooker Super competition 2134HKR
Headers link

Intake: Edelbrock Performer Manifolds and Kits for Chevy
SB-Chevy 262-400, non-EGR*
Manifold w/Installation Kit
Intake link

My dad talked to a smog guy, and he said that since the car is under 1981 it only has to pass the tailpipe test, so we can disconnect the emissions pump, and all the hoses, were not too sure but since the car originated in Cali it has the original catalytic converter as Cali requires. So were not totally sure if we can take that off as well, my dad is going to look it that. So before anyone jumps to saying its ok please keep this in mind.

After that is just electrical stuff, weather stripping and paint.... So what does every one think?

Thanks
-Louis
(Seriously I can't spend any money until the engine is rebuilt!, That's first, then the intake, then carb, then headers, then the tranny rebuild, then interior, and exterior.)

new77guy said: So what does every one think?

I think you need to jump on Aftershark's offer to get the ceramic coated super comp vette headers..

also make sure they balance the engine. a properly balanced bottom end makes an engine much smoother..

|UPDATED|8/30/2004 10:39:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Those components will make the car idle under 400 rpm and choke??????? Bull feathers.
The idle is determined by the adjustments. You can always set idle higher. Performance parts can make the car not idle at normal rpm, and require raising the setting upward, but it will never make it idle slower.
The guy you talked to may be a mechanic, but he is not a drivability technican. FOr reference, I am a ASE Master Auto, Master Truck and Master Paint and Body certified tech, and teach auto repair at a technical college.

It sounds like you are just basicly freshing the engine up and adding a bit more. It sounds like a good plan.
But I agree with Ben, jump on Aftershark's headers offer.

|UPDATED|8/31/2004 10:50:18 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Louis,

A little friendly advice,

When KSTYER talks, it's gospel in my book, this man has forgotten more than I will ever know. He is our resident Zen Master for Corvettes, and Cthulhu isn't far behind him, young Grasshopper.

7.20% tax??? In Nevada??? That's freaking ridiculous! I know you live in Vegas, but don't they get enough tax money from the casinos? Holy jumping orangutan farts, Batman!!!

Good luck with your Vette, and, like I said, just have fun with her.

Alan

Ozzy Osbourne's illegitimate son.

Another tip ,do'nt forget the drive train,get somebody under that car,that knows about Vettes and check it out good,all that money under the hood is gonna be out the window if you cant get the power to the ground.there's a lot of parts to check in that rear suspension,it's not like an old straight axle car,more like front wheel drive but much more complex,do'nt over look it ,or it will bight you in the a--