iwishiwascool Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 So my uncle has a stock 1981 Corvette, aka ultra slow. Its an automatic and he thinks its the 350 motor. He wants to modify it but knows little about the process. So Im gathering some info for him. What mod will net him the greatest per dollar gain. He has a buddy who is doing a motor swap in his vette so the uncle is thinking that is the way he wants to go as well. Also, a referral to a good shop in Cleveland would be helpful too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMeanGreen Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 Headers would really wake it up, and since it's a regular SBC 350, extremely cheap too. They'll run about $100-200 brand new, and install will take like an hour He should see a 20-30rwhp increase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwishiwascool Posted June 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 If he was to go through with a motor swap... what would he go with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMeanGreen Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 I'd go with a 454 since they can be had for fairly cheap and make monster torque. Plus, parts are still really cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recklessOP Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 i agree, headers would wake the car up nicely. i think summit racing sells a cheap pair of headers (~$100) that would fit, as do a lot of the big header manufacturers. parts for 68-82 vettes are easy to find... i would also consider a new exhaust to match up with the headers. if i remember correctly, those cars run the exhaust into a single cat, then branch off into duals again. the tubing is also very small, around 2 inch if i remember, and the mufflers are horribly restrictive. true dual exhaust kits are available through all the big corvette parts dealers, or a muffler shop could rig up a set rather cheaply. add a set of decent mufflers, and not only will the car feel quicker, it'll sound the part too... an engine swap is a great idea. both me and my best friend did 383 swaps in our cars. he had a 77 and i had an 85. if you're looking for big power, that's your best option... good luck... smile.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwishiwascool Posted June 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 it will definitely be nice to work on a domestic for a change. Cramped engine bays make me sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTM Brian Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 I am sure the import enthusists of our board would either go with a 2jz or a 13b. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recklessOP Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 Originally posted by Mobile Chassis Dyno: I am sure the import enthusists of our board would either go with a 2jz or a 13b. that would own... tongue.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwishiwascool Posted June 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 a vette with a single turbo wankel would be hot. But I dont think the domestic kids would be too happy bout it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 I'm a big fan of Vettes, and the C3 (despite what others will tell you about it being the dark days of the Corvette's lifetime) was a great bodystyle. The 350 would REALLY wake up with some exhaust mods, a header being my first choice. Next, I'd do a full-on exhaust system with as little restriction as possible. Even a stint where the exhaust was flowing through a single pipe would be fine provided the bends are relatively smooth and there aren't any cats in the way smile.gif Also on my list in this order: Intake (either K&N Filter on the cheap or 650cfm carb/Victor Jr. intake setup for a few more bucks), Ignition upgrade (better coil, distributor, wires and plugs), and lastly a shift kit for the automatic (unless it's a four-speed smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraGlue Posted June 8, 2003 Report Share Posted June 8, 2003 Did anyone mention heads? Those cars had pretty poor ones, and an intake manifold and carb will only do so much without some bigger ports and valves to breathe through. Newer heads would also give him the opportunity to bump the compression a little, allowing for some more cam. Add that to everything everyone else said, and he should do okay without a motor swap. smile.gif (It's a 350, btw) So: -Headers -Dual exhaust -Heads -Cam/rockers -Intake manifold + carb -Tranny shift kit -Higher stall converter and... -little blue bottle if he gets bored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Iria Posted June 9, 2003 Report Share Posted June 9, 2003 Originally posted by iwishiwascool: it will definitely be nice to work on a domestic for a change. Cramped engine bays make me sad. Buy an RX-7 and take out all the crap you don't need. Plenty of room, especially in 2nd gens smile.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted June 9, 2003 Report Share Posted June 9, 2003 Weren't those the years of the "Cease Fire" injection?? I think it really depends on the amount of money he has to spend, and the current condition of the motor. I mean, swapping in a 454 (or bored and stroked 454 ) is a nice idea, but then you gotta make sure the rest of the car is up to the task. I'd personally start w/ a fresh set of aluminum heads, roller cam, and good intake/carb. Something that won't destroy the bottom end, and will give a nice increase in power. Won't be the cheapest, but you also probably won't be tearing up the tranny/rear end in the process either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny Posted June 9, 2003 Report Share Posted June 9, 2003 You're in for a surprise if you think you are going to find a lot of room under the hood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recklessOP Posted June 9, 2003 Report Share Posted June 9, 2003 82 was the first year of TBI. the 81 cars have a carb and a computer controlled ingnition... you won't run into too much trouble with a mild 454. all the big block and small block cars from those years shared the same basic driveline. there's only minor differences in things like the halfshafts. just go through the car and make sure everything is in good shape... when we dropped the 383 in my friend's 77, he didn't really inspect the rear suspension. btw, the car had been neglected, and we had already had problems with the rear end. to make a long story short, he snapped a half shaft (on street tires) racing, cut the shock in half, and the left rear suspension collapsed... just make sure the car has been maintained and everything is in good running order. the car should handle a fair amount of power if it's in good shape... btw, those engine bays aren't that small... tongue.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwishiwascool Posted June 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2003 Thanks for all the info... Ill pass this along to him and let everyone know what he decides to go with. Are there any national forums dedicated to the corvette that I can read up on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraGlue Posted June 10, 2003 Report Share Posted June 10, 2003 Originally posted by iwishiwascool: Thanks for all the info... Ill pass this along to him and let everyone know what he decides to go with. Are there any national forums dedicated to the corvette that I can read up on? ChevyTalk.com has some very good technical areas, and a number of highly knowledgeable posters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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