Well, I got my motor mounts installed finally...so now on to bigger and better things...   BTW...I'm appologizing early for the long post.

This is my first attempt to build up an engine, so I'm looking for some advise from some of you guys who have been doing this a while...

The motor im working with is a Crate motor LM1 (part number 10067353). I have the stock intake manifold with the Q-jet and Hooker headers and side pipes (running open headers for now). Jeg's has the motor rated at 250HP with 350ft/lbs torque.   Engine has roughly 15,000 miles on it.   As far as tire ratio and gears....I have the stock tires and im guessing 3.55 gears.  I used an RPM calculator from google...at 80mph I'm around 3500 RPM's with the 4-speed.  Were 3.55 gears common on the 79 vette??

CAMSHAFT: The stock cam has a 195 intake duration and a 202 exhaust. I don't want to go too radical with the cam and risk loosing vac. pressure to operate the headlights and power brakes. The cam I was looking at was the  Comp Cam 12-201-2.  The website says it gives a 218 degree intake and exhaust with an operable RPM range between 1500-5500.  I don't want to get too wild of a cam...just enough to give me that choppy idle and a enough power to really enjoy tromping on the gas.  Does this seem like a good choice given the LM1's specs (8.5:1 compression ratio...etc??)?

CARB: I'm looking at the Demon carb 750CFM Speed Demon series (Part #1402010VE-R). I was going to go with a larger CFM...but I think for the mild cam, anything larger than a 750 is waste. I'm only guessing here...like I said...I'm new at this.  Any thoughts?

INTAKE: Everyone brags about the Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap. Is it compatable with the Demon Carb? Any other intakes out there that would be better suited for what I'm trying to do??

What little information I have I've drawn up from research on the internet and talking with some gear heads at work.  I really have NO IDEA what I'm doing here...this is just what I've come up with in the past few weeks from brainstorming.  Any advise / recommendations would be appreciated.

My opinion:

You are starting with too little compression to make any changes to the cam or intake.  You need at least 9.0 to 9.5 to support that much cam.  If you are set on changing the cam, stick with one with about 260 - 262 degrees advertised duration.  And don't go over 650 CFM on your carb.  

Or you can use small chamber heads to boost compression, then your choice of cam is OK, but you still should stick to a 650 carb.

I am afraid if you use too much cam and/or carb with such low compression, you will lose too much low end response, and the car won't be fun to drive. 

Larry

Larry has mirrored just about exactly what I was thinking. 750cfm is way too large a carb for your set-up.
The air-gap manifold may not clear your stock hood.
Larry's recommendation on cam selection is right on, too.

The Edelbrock Air Gap will definitely increase your height. Edelbrock cautions Corvette owners on the clearence issues. You would probably have to change your stock hood. Just trying to keep you informed.

[quote]

CARB: I'm looking at the Demon carb 750CFM Speed Demon series (Part #1402010VE-R). I was going to go with a larger CFM...but I think for the mild cam, anything larger than a 750 is waste. I'm only guessing here...like I said...I'm new at this.  Any thoughts?

INTAKE: Everyone brags about the Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap. Is it compatable with the Demon Carb? Any other intakes out there that would be better suited for what I'm trying to do??

[/QUOTE] cthulhu2009-02-24 22:56:53

With the modest performance gains I would think an Edelbrock Performer intake would work better with the clearance issue. It is a good manifold for street applications. I've used it and have been pleased. Air gap is a great manifold though. I have one on my 454 in my 67 Impala but for clearance problems a good low/medium rise intake will work just fine. Use a low rise air cleaner with a dropped base also.

Believe it or not, the Performer RPM and Air Gap are the same height. I researched this and actually spoke to Edelbrock directly to make sure I understood their specs.

So, I have had both manifolds under a stock hood with a drop base air cleaner, 2" tall filter and it netted me about 1/2" clearance. Keep in mind, some carbs are taller than others. I would recommend an Edelbrock 600 CFM carb - that fit with my set up and it's one of the easiest carbs to literally run out of the box.

Ditto with the others on the cam unless you do something to raise compression.

Good luck!!

PaulLukesVette2009-03-17 03:33:10

Hey fella's.  Been a while since I logged on..been busy traveling for work. I appreciate everyone looking into this for me. I'm definitely going to take everyone's advise when it comes to building this engine up.

I just got orders to transfer to Hurlburt Field, Florida...so I will be moving away from Charleston and finding a place in the Destin / Fort Walton Beach area....so I am probably gonna hold off on ripping into the Vette too much more until i make the move. 

Thanks again everyone!