1979 L-82 Head/Cam Specs?

[Bob_K]

Does anyone know the specs on the '79 L-82 cam or the flow values/combustion chamber size for the heads? I might be buying one in the next two or three days and would like a rough idea of what the stock engine has (other than the 225 hp). I'm thinking of maybe swapping heads and cam, but I want to know what they start off with for comparison.

 

[Tom73]

Don't know the flow numbers but the L82 used the big valve heads, 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust. The cam was the same for all L82 from 73 through 80. Also the same cam as used in the '69 350ci/350hp and the 68 327ci/350hp engines; .450/.460 lifts, 222/222 duration, 114 LSA . Good cam for its day but old tech now.

tom...

 

[page62]

Compression is 8.9:1. If the engine is original and numbers-matching, think twice about messing with it. A desmogged L82 with dual exhaust is a very good running motor.

 

[offshore]

73-81 L82 int.lift .450 int dur 346 ex.lift460 dur 340 114 center line

 

[Tom73]

73-81 L82 int.lift .450 int dur 346 ex.lift460 dur 340 114 center line

The 222/222 duration that I listed is GM spec @.050" lift.

Here is a handy listing of all Vette cam specs: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/3000/cmspec.html

tom...

 

[page62]

Bob, as I wake up this morning, I think I should be more specific in my message.

Is this your first Corvette? If so, I'd strongly recommend that you DO NOTHING to your car for the first 6 months. (Except for necessary maintenance, of course.) There's a lot to learn about the Vette mystique and the impact that modifications have on the value and long-term collectability of your car.

In other words, you should really take the time to decide your long-term course of action. Some people decide to go the restoration and accuracy route, while others dig in and start modding! (I chose a middle course...it looks original on the surface, but some goodies lurk underneath...)

 

[Bob_K]

This is my second vette. I used to have an 86. After I sold it I kicked myself every day for almost two years until I bought this one. I was already planning on doing nothing to it for about 4-5 months to see what I think it needs. I was interested in the info to plug into my Desktop Dyno 2000 program just to crunch numbers and see what different head combos and cam combos would do. I'm also thinking real hard about yanking the engine and tranny and putting in a ZZ4 shortblock and richmond T-10 with grae vendors overdrive to keep the original stuff intact if I do decide to modify. If anyone has any testimonials for or against the gear vendors setup I'd be interested in hearing them.

 

[page62]

Because I have an auto, I went with a 200-4R tranny. Highly recommended.

In the case of the manual transmissions, I think a lot of people go with 5 or 6 speed units instead of the external overdrive.