1975 L48 165 Hp ?

[Pasquale Carelli]

1975 L48 165 HP ?

165 bhp @ 3800 rpm
205 bhp @ 4800 rpm
Are the above rating real or did GM rate them so low because of insurance reasons. The reason I asking is the cars spec's and the car's performance look out of wack to me (but I an far from an expert).

Weight: 3690
Final Drive Ration: 2.73

6-60: 7.7
1/4 mile: 16.1 @ 87.4
Top Speed 129 mph

I see many 1975 Vetts for sale but the HP rating have made me think twice, I don't street race but I would hate to be beat at a green light by a rice rocket!

I hope someone can clear this up for me.

Pasquale

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Those are the specs according to the model center here at the CAC. It appears that the smog nazis hit the 75 model year the worst.

 

[jr9170]

The L-48 was rated at 165 hp.The L-82 was rated at 205 hp.1975 was 1st year of the catalytic converters on vettes.I had a 75 conv. and although its not the fastest vette ever made,it was and still is one of my favorites.The car had a great ride and was a real head turner.Of all the vettes i had,i regret selling that one the most......JERRY

 

[Tom73]

'75 was the first year for the cat converters and a VERY restrictive exhaust system. So it has the honor of having the lowest HP ratings for any V8 Vette.

tom...

 

[born2saw]

My '75 is not the quickest at the stoplight (both my Volvos can beat it easily), however, it is a lot of fun to drive, handles well (for a 28 year-old car), and turns heads wherever I go. I have thought about modifications to make it go faster, but I don't race, ant the fun factor is very high. It was also the last year you could get a C3 convertible. If you want fast, get a later C4 or C5--or--you could buy a C3 with a modified drive train, crate engine, or buy one that needs a rebuild and rebuild it right (can get very expensive).

OR-just get one and have fun and don't race any rice burners.

 

[page62]

It's easy to get a more HP out of these cars, even if you have to stay smog-legal. For starters, the exhaust system can be updated with a high-flow cat and larger-diameter pipes.

And if you don't have to worry about smog testing, it gets even easier!

 

[Ganey]

Power can be easily increased w/ ex., cam, & tuning to a good min. of about 300. A good start to get your car running like a CORVETTE.

Ex. is first. See Why Exhaust is problem for HP on 75-81
what many refer to as my Exhaust topic.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ganeyexhaust.htm

Suggest Increase Power

:cool

 

[Pasquale Carelli]

Thanks Ganey

I have researched the emission laws in my area and any car that was made before 1983 does not have to be tested for smog.

The 1975 model with a modified exhaust system looks a lot more appealing. I’ll keep a 75 in mind when I’m shopping in the spring.

Thanks
Pasquale

 

[Pasquale Carelli]

I have a second question now.

With a new or modified exhause system the HP and Torque ratings increasen. My new question is, would the max hp and torque be found higher in the RPM rage and if so where in the RPM range. (well that 2 questions). Sorry my questions are not very detailed, but I'm just trying to get an idea of how this stuff all work.

Thanks
Pasquale

 

[Classicvette63]

My first car was a 1975 vette. The previous owner let his wife drive it and she spun the crank, so he pulled the L-48 and put another hopped up 350 in it. Problem was, he didn't do all the little things that really make an engine sing. After rejetting the carb, recurving the distributor, a little head work etc., the final toll on the chassis dyno was 400rwhp. 16 years old, with the only vette in high school and 400 horses to boot. I think the term "grinning like a possum eating crap" comes to mind.

The car was the perfect sleeper. People who didn't know jack about cars thought it was cool because it was a vette. People who thought they knew cars, knew the '75 was a dog year and thought I would be easy pickins'. Surprise, surprise.

3 years ago I had a "friend" track down the vin and located the car. I wanted to buy it back. The new owner thought my sentimental value should be worth about 6,000 over what the car was actually worth. It was in horrible condition, having less than 5,000 miles on it in the 10 years since I had owned it. All 10 of those years were spent outside, uncovered. What he told me on the phone was not what I was looking at and after driving 4 hours to see it I was not not amused. I guess you could say I told the guy "thanks, but no thanks" Classic

 

[Alwyn678]

Power can be easily increased w/ ex., cam, & tuning to a good min. of about 300. A good start to get your car running like a CORVETTE.

Ex. is first. See Why Exhaust is problem for HP on 75-81
what many refer to as my Exhaust topic.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ganeyexhaust.htm

Suggest Increase Power

:cool

What is up Ganey??I love my 74 but there were less restrictions(no cats) and there are far fewer now!!

 

[page62]

You will find that HP and torque increase throughout the powerband.

If you find a '75, don't worry about whether or not the car has already had any modifications. In fact, it's more fun to do the mods yourself! (And trust me, you will...we all do.)

You need to focus primarily on the overall quality and condition of the car.

 

[gooney0]

The 75-76

The good news on the 75-76 models......

They still have 2 holes in the crossmember. This means you can replace the single exaust with duels. All you have to do is order a set of pipes for a 72-74.

The mufflers on a 74-76 are round and visable from the back of the car. The mufflers on a 72 are oval shapped and not visable. Either will fit.

My 72 had a base 350 @ 200hp. Lots of fun to drive, but nowadays i'd get stomped but ALOT of seemingly harmless cars! I barley beat out a stock Honda Accord.

0-60 on a 72 base engine is 7.6 seconds.

0-60 on my little sister's '98 Ford Escort ZX2 is 7.6 seconds! and her car is newer, therefore more likely to deliver the whole 7.6 seconds.

Once the engine blew up (it was not matching #'s anyway) I had a ZZ4 put in. (355hp)

I still can't beat a new Trans Am though.

If you want fast, then just buy a fast car in the first place. Like a newer Firebird or C4/C5

I'd rather go a little slower in a C3 than faster in a Trans Am.

The 75-76's are also the least expensive of the C3s. Other than HP and exaust they are the same car.

A lot of the cars you'll see for sale, don't have the original engine anyway. In that case, all bets are off as to HP.

Like someone else said, buy overall quality first and foremost, or you'll pay and pay latter.


-Gooney

 

[Ganey]

Pasquale

Throughout even w/ cam change like Comp Cams 260H MIN. to over 300 HP & gas mileage goes up too. Basically as the cam & HP is increased over that, then it starts moving the power band up.

 

[Ganey]

What is up Ganey??I love my 74 but there were less restrictions(no cats) and there are far fewer now!!

Alwyn678

Same as I have been since I got on these forums- setting guys up to go faster & surprise any guy who thinks a C3 is not fast.
I have many guys set up for over 400 hp who just don't know it yet & others over 500, etc.

:cool