I need 100 HP more. What should I buy?

[Tepot]

I would like to modify my engine to be able to get at lease 100 HP gain.

I would like to buy Edelbrock products but don't know what to buy or what to change to get 100 HP more. Edelbrock has many different models of every parts. I wouldn't know wish to choose.

consider that I already Have an edelbrock aluminium intake and cyramic headers on true dual exaust and a edelbrock pro flow air cleaner.

I want to change my existing point distributor to an HEI Distributor. Will the HEI help gaining power?

Can you tell me what will I'll need to change or add to get 100 HP more?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Will the HEI help gaining power?
Can you tell me what will I'll need to change or add to get 100 HP more?

No, it won't. It's like thinking that a BBQ lit with a spark igniter will cook your steak more fully than if it was lit with a wooden match :L

You need to start looking inside your motor for more poneys- bigger cam, better heads, bigger valves, higher compression. Going to cost you some $$$$.

 

[Tepot]

No, it won't. It's like thinking that a BBQ lit with a spark igniter will cook your steak more fully than if it was lit with a wooden match :L

So should I buy a regular type of Electronic distributor instead of the expensive HEI. I really want to get rid of those points. want to convert to electronic

 

[Sensei]

HEI's are very common, reliable and cheap! Pull one at a junk yard and order the Proform HEI tune up kit (Cap, Rotor, High voltage coil, Ignition Module, Vacuum advance unit...) from Summit Racing. That should have you all set for under $100! God bless, Cris

 

[GerryLP]

I would like to modify my engine to be able to get at lease 100 HP gain.

I would like to buy Edelbrock products but don't know what to buy or what to change to get 100 HP more. Edelbrock has many different models of every parts. I wouldn't know wish to choose.

consider that I already Have an edelbrock aluminum intake and cyramic headers on true dual exaust and a edelbrock pro flow air cleaner.

I want to change my existing point distributor to an HEI Distributor. Will the HEI help gaining power?

Can you tell me what will I'll need to change or add to get 100 HP more?

Tepot,

With all things being equal, I would recommend a change in the compression ratio (CR) for your engine; however, I need to warn you that usually when one makes a change to one aspect of an engine's balance in components, another change or correction would have to be taken.

For example, if you were to increase the engine's CR by using aluminum cylinder heads with smaller (in cc's) chambers, then a change in your timing, or fuel mixture would have to be made, but what most probably fail in the engine is the seal formed by the piston rings currently in the engine.

So you're looking at the need to achieve a new balance between all of the engine components. There are no magical formulas.

GerryLP:cool

 

[74bigblock]

Two words:

Crate Motor


Cam and heads with your current set up still won't get you anywhere close to 100HP more. You would need to bore and stroke (add displacement), as well as compression.

If you really want 100HP more, you should think of a new powerplant. Get a crate motor, or find a wrecked LS1 and do a swap. They make intake manifolds for carbs to run on an LS1, so you don't need to mess with all the electrics.

 

[Vettefan87]

My brother put a HEI distributor in his 1973 455 Trans Am, and man did that thing run better. Smoother idle better acceleration etc etc. If you ask me it would be a no brainer, and would have to increase some HP, the technology in a HEI distributor is so much better over points. Just my thought, and especially if you plan on upping the compression ratio, and doing major internal motor mods I would definetly upgrade the ignition aspect of it. Just my opinion.
​

 

[Tepot]

My brother put a HEI distributor in his 1973 455 Trans Am, and man did that thing run better. Smoother idle better acceleration etc etc. If you ask me it would be a no brainer, and would have to increase some HP, the technology in a HEI distributor is so much better over points. Just my thought, and especially if you plan on upping the compression ratio, and doing major internal motor mods I would definetly upgrade the ignition aspect of it. Just my opinion.

​

Ok. so I guess for now I'll go with an HEI distributor cause I need to get rif of those points. Then I think I'll save my money for a crate motor. Maybe I'll be looking for a Big Block all depending on the price and how much Horse Power I can get. I'll check the Edlebrock web site

 

[74bigblock]

Ok. so I guess for now I'll go with an HEI distributor cause I need to get rif of those points. Then I think I'll save my money for a crate motor. Maybe I'll be looking for a Big Block all depending on the price and how much Horse Power I can get. I'll check the Edlebrock web site

HEI alone will not remove the points. You will need to buy a conversion kit.

 

[Tepot]

HEI alone will not remove the points. You will need to buy a conversion kit.

Ok. I've checked on corvette america. They have a conversion distributor not HEI but breakerless SE. they say it's a direct replacement distributor using the same wires as the points system.

Would that be a good choice?

you can check it out here: http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/displaylearnmore.cfm?learnmoreid=1285&idlist=p_27460,p_27459,p_27446,p_37120,p_35423,p_K1434,p_K1435,p_27443,1285,p_35421,p_42181,p_42169,p_K1378,p_41138,p_42170,p_40875,p_42172,p_27457,2846,p_41137,p_X2113,3623,4027,4881,4727,4874,4208,p_40874,p_29940,3878,5292,219,p_36509,p_33005,p_37122,p_42182,p_42177,p_42174,p_42176,p_42175,p_42183,4559&searchdest=%2Fcf%2Flearnmorelist%2Ecfm%3Fsubcategoryid%3DX765&subcategoryid=X765

Can you guy's tell me if this is a good idea?

 

[vette-dude]

You could buy and install a 100 hp nitrous kit but you would probably end up driving over the pistons sooner or later ( most likely sooner)!! I would buy a built crate motor and swap em out. Hey it's only money and what else do you have to do this time of year in the frozen north??:L

Randy

 

[Tepot]

and what else do you have to do this time of year in the frozen north??:L

Randy

LOL. you are right Randy. not much to do here in frozen land Canada. I can't wait for the sun to come out and melt all that snow so I can finally drive the Vette.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Ok. I've checked on corvette america. They have a conversion distributor not HEI but breakerless SE. they say it's a direct replacement distributor using the same wires as the points system.

Would that be a good choice?

you can check it out here: http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/displaylearnmore.cfm?learnmoreid=1285&idlist=p_27460,p_27459,p_27446,p_37120,p_35423,p_K1434,p_K1435,p_27443,1285,p_35421,p_42181,p_42169,p_K1378,p_41138,p_42170,p_40875,p_42172,p_27457,2846,p_41137,p_X2113,3623,4027,4881,4727,4874,4208,p_40874,p_29940,3878,5292,219,p_36509,p_33005,p_37122,p_42182,p_42177,p_42174,p_42176,p_42175,p_42183,4559&searchdest=%2Fcf%2Flearnmorelist%2Ecfm%3Fsubcategoryid%3DX765&subcategoryid=X765

Can you guy's tell me if this is a good idea?

Without reviving a controversial subject and upsetting a now infrequent poster, an HEI system is not equivalent to a 'points replacement' system. Two different animals.

There's tons of misinformation and misunderstanding on ignition systems as you can see by some of the posts above.

 

[BarryK]

They have a conversion distributor not HEI but breakerless SE. ................Can you guy's tell me if this is a good idea?

you can spend your money more wisely elsewhere.
honestly, a good points distributor that's set up correctly and working properly works great. Remember, your motor came stock with a points distributor and that's how it was designed to work.
adding electonics to it or swapping out to something like an HEI is not going to increase your power, only increase the income of the companies selling it.

I'd venture a guess that the vast majority of people that claim they felt a performance increase by adding an electronic conversion to their distributor would have felt the identicle thing had they simply replaced to new points and made sure their distributor was working properly and set up correctly.
Electronic conversions don't increase the amount of spark, they only replace the mechanical switch (points) with an electronic one.

it's your money, spend it as you wish, but for the $100 - $150 an electronic conversion cost you can spend it better elsewhere

just my $.02

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

it's your money, spend it as you wish, but for the $100 - $150 an electronic conversion cost you can spend it better elsewhere

just my $.02

Egggszzactly!

 

[Tepot]

Thanks BerryK.

Actually all you said makes alot of send and I'll think I'll keep my points system. I've checked on Eckler's and found some 1960-74 ACDelco Distributor Ignition Points for 15.99$

Can't go wrong with that. If I want more HP I'll save my money and maybe get a crate engine or have mine rebuilt with more performance parts.

 

[waterboy1976]

I agree.....Ive got a rebuilt DUAL pointon my 73 with a what I consider highly modified motor....and it runs as good as a HEI...and Im running over 420hp......use your money elsewhere.....

 

[Evolution1980]

Over the years, your same question has been asked in various forms. And over those same years, there are typical sentiments that are repeated. Here are a few...

• As GerryLP said, there is no magical formula. Unless you use ricer math...

• There's an old adage in the racing community that goes, "How fast do you want to go? How much money do you have?" (followed closely by "I know there's money in racing... I put a lot of it there!") You need to decide just how much money you are willing to spend and if you can realistically get what you want. BTW, is 100HP just a number you pulled out? Is that "at the crank" or "rear wheel HP"? The latter is going to cost quite a bit more. And since you have placed a definite number, you need to be sure you get a dyno run first. Otherwise, you won't know if you got exactly what you paid for or were expecting.

• Your engine is just a big air pump. More air in equals more air out. When you increase one, you need to make sure the other is up to the task. If you increase your airflow in, a restrictive exhaust can't get rid of it fast enough and you lose the benefits of the intake. If open up your exhaust but leave the intake the same, the larger exhaust is wasted.

• Everything in the car works as one overall machine. When you increase the capacity of one component or beef up the strength of one part, you need to figure where the next weakest link in the chain is going to be and plan accordingly. Example: Going to a balls-out engine is fine. But is your transmission up to the demands of the increased torque? What about your entire drivetrain? What about your cooling system to handle the new demands of the engine or transmission?

• The easiest and (initially) cheapest way to immediately increase power is by going to forced induction or nitrous. Although easily implemented, not as easily implemented for durability/reliability. Nitrous or forced induction don't come without immediate concerns to be addressed in that area.

I've always been a fan of increasing the power of a normally aspirated engine first. And with that, one needs to consider the overall engine components relative to what I said in my 4th point. If you rebuild the top end of your engine, your bottom end becomes the next weakest link. When I was asking these same questions years ago, the conclusion I came to (and still do for people in your situation) is to save up for a crate engine. For a base engine with enough balls to raise havoc, I suggest the ZZ4 or ZZ383.

In fact, next year I'm gonna be asking these same questions when it comes time to figure out what to do with my ZZ4. I like the specs of the ZZ383, but the cost to convert my ZZ4 might be cost prohibitive to the point where maybe I might just consider forced induction with just "minor" changes to the engine.

 

[rgtrough]

More Horsepower

Hey Tepot, yours is the question most people who buy the sharks ask. The problem is that the stock C3's look so good but perform so poorly. Always remember and never forget "HORSEPOWER AIN'T CHEAP". If you change your distributor to a HEI unit you will lose your mechanical tach unless you do what I did and buy a hei with the mech take off or you can hunt for a '75 tach.
Now to the bigger problem. More horses. If you have the stock L82 block you already have an engine with a 4 bolt main. This is a great start. Here is what I did.
Bored and stoked to 383 c.i. There's no replacement for displacement.
Worlds' Sportsman II 64 cc cyclinder heads w/202-160 valves
Comp Cams roller tip rockers
Holley Street Dominator Intake Manifold
Holley 850 cfm douple pumper mechanical secondary carb
Comp Cams 292h camshaft
Dynomax 1 5/8" cerramic headers into 2.5" duals into series 40 Flowmasters
I didn't dyno the the stock setup. My last dyno was 379 rwhp @ 5600 rpm
Of course I couldn't hook up on launch so I had to add a set of B F Goodrich drag radials.
This was a trial and error project. I bought 3 different carbs, two different intakes annd 4 different cams before I got what I feel is my last combo.
Have Fun!! peace Bud

 

[KANE]

Can you tell me what will I'll need to change or add to get 100 HP more?

http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/63/Crate-Engines.htm

Think crate motor.

383-

12498772 ZZ383/425 425 HP 383 Small Block Crate Engine with Aluminum Heads $4,789.99


My personal favorite...

SD360VTPI 360 HP TPI Vortec Custom High Performance Series Street and Strip Engine $3,695.95