hi, i'm new here,just got a 79 vette. i want to take off emmissions stuff,

My suggestion, drop in a ZZ4...

 Lacking that:

   Headers and a true dual exhaust with H pipe
   New Intake Manifold
   Possibly new heads and cam....

 I'm sure others will chime in here...

   Oh and welcome to C3VR....

I modified the title of this thread. I changed the original title "????" Hopefully it will help bring you more answers.

thank you. hope it helps.

Is your car an L48 or L82? They can each be helped by some basic things...first, make sure your car is properly tuned up and running at its best before starting making changes. You can be very unhappy with the results if it's not running the best its capable of at the start.

As JimG said...a new intake manifold, properly rebuilt or a new carburetor can wake up a car and are bolt on installations. Headers will help as well as he said.

Take things in stages and make a plan. Adding a cam and heads can really wake up a car but the money spent will begin increasing VERY fast when you start unbolting major engine components for replacement.

If you plan on things like new heads and camshaft, make sure any potential intake and carb are compatible and not mismatched.

Make a plan and compare its ultimate costs against that ZZ4. You may find the ZZ4 isn't that expensive in the long run.

please help,hubby say tell him what i want done,and he will do it.

how do i tell a L48 from a L82????

If everything is still original under the hood, an L48 will have valve covers painted light blue to match the engine color. L82's have ribbed aluminum or magnesium valve covers finished in black (the ribs are natural finish). An L82 would also have L82 emblems on the sides of the hood bulge.

Also check the emissions sticker...it should give information on the engine as well. It's located above the brake booster.

The best way is to check the VIN. If the fifth digit is an 8, the car is an L48 (195 horsepower). If the fifth digit is a 4, it's a 225 hp L82.

Welcome Joanne. Assuming you have a numbers matching car, the serial number will provide the answer. Somebody help me here.  I can't remember the correct digit for the engine type and I know there is a site where you can decifer it. Sorry Joanne, but my limited brain sometimes gets in the way.

My 76 5th digit is a L what does that indicate