I need 100 HP more. What should I buy?

[Tepot]

Wow thanks rgtrough.

That's exactly the info I was looking for. And for the HEI distributor. I'm just gonna keep my points. less complicated and if it works good that way well it will stay.

If it end up to be too expensive I might consider those crate engine.

Thanks again all of you. It's nice getting all your opinions before making a big mistake.

 

["UNSAFE"]

The horsepower is determined by the flow of the heads, the displacement only determines at what RPM this power is made at. Hence, there is a "replacement for displacement", it's called RPMs.

For performance you need good heads, the rest will follow.

I just finished the install of a new crate ZZ383 in my 78 and it sounds a lot more radical than I expected. I have a few parts left over including heddman coated corvette smallblock headers, polisher performer intake manifold, set of 1.6 roller rockers, set of steel roller tip rockers and ------------------

I have a pair of edelbrock performer rpm 64cc straight plug aluminum heads in like new condition in the original boxes with only a few hundred miles on them including ARP head bolts and hardened oversize pushrods for sale at a reasonable price. about 9.5/1 compression with stock flat top pistons. 2.02/1.60 SS valves.
contact me at kbwillson@gci.net for details or photos. Edelbrock # 6089, check them out at Edelbrock's website. Ebay feedback as 1unsafe1
A few pics of my recent install at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kbwillson/album?.dir=91ec&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kbwillson/my_photos

kevin

 

[DRTH VTR]

The horsepower is determined by the flow of the heads, the displacement only determines at what RPM this power is made at. Hence, there is a "replacement for displacement", it's called RPMs.

For performance you need good heads, the rest will follow.

I just finished the install of a new crate ZZ383 in my 78 and it sounds a lot more radical than I expected. I have a few parts left over including heddman coated corvette smallblock headers, polisher performer intake manifold, set of 1.6 roller rockers, set of steel roller tip rockers and ------------------

I have a pair of edelbrock performer rpm 64cc straight plug aluminum heads in like new condition in the original boxes with only a few hundred miles on them including ARP head bolts and hardened oversize pushrods for sale at a reasonable price. about 9.5/1 compression with stock flat top pistons. 2.02/1.60 SS valves.
contact me at kbwillson@gci.net for details or photos. Edelbrock # 6089, check them out at Edelbrock's website. Ebay feedback as 1unsafe1
A few pics of my recent install at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kbwillson/album?.dir=91ec&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kbwillson/my_photos

kevin

I think that the "no replacement for displacement" applies more to torque than horsepower.

However, HP is a derived value calculated from torque and engine speed, it also applies to HP.
HP=RPM(TQ)/5250, if I remember correctly. The dynamometer measures torque and calculates horsepower. Sure, you can get a lot of HP from a small displacement engine, but only at very high RPM.

 

["UNSAFE"]

I think that the "no replacement for displacement" applies more to torque than horsepower.

However, HP is a derived value calculated from torque and engine speed, it also applies to HP.
HP=RPM(TQ)/5250, if I remember correctly. The dynamometer measures torque and calculates horsepower. Sure, you can get a lot of HP from a small displacement engine, but only at very high RPM.

Yeah, displacement has more to do with torque than horsepower, but even then, there are exceptions.
Torque is real and can be measured, horsepower is an imaginary number that can only be calculated .
To me, torque is like getting punched in the shoulder one time by a large person, horsepower is like getting punched in the other shoulder several times over a period of time by a smaller person. In the end, which shoulder hurts the most ?
Saw the dragstrip pic, what'd you turn ?
I haven't had a chance to run my vette yet but I did run my 65 Corvair 6, first time out I did 14.89 @ 90 mph, I think it's got another second in it. it is highly modified with large VW cylinders and a pair of weber 3 barrels. Yes the 26 additional cubic inches really increased the torque ! I posted a few pics of my Vair at the drags along with a pic of me receiving some awards from the famous Donna Mae Mimms who used to work and drive for Yenko. I also raced it at a kart track, a banked oval, and at Portland international Raceway where I was 3rd fastest overall including all out race cars, Even got a minute of video with awesome audio on the web.
Going out to work on the vette now, It sounds awesome with the new ZZ383 and hooker SS sidepipes with turbo baffles. Expected the 383 to sound a little more docile, but it sounds like a monster.
Can't wait to drive it !
here's the link http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kbwillson/album?.dir=/591f
kevin.

 

[DRTH VTR]

UNSAFE

That picture was taken at Firebird in Boise, ID. It is at 2600', but the density altitude is usually closer to 6000'. They do a nice job on that strip, with good preparation, good safety, etc.

My best run is 12.42 @ 113.63MPH. The Z06 is stock except BFG drag radials and a VaraRam intake. I hope to run a couple of passes at Beech Bend near Bowling Green this summer to see how I do at lower altitude. Of course, I won't have my drag radials.

Your Corvair sounds sweet!
Jim

 

[rgtrough]

Hey Unsafe, you are going to love your 383! The increase in low end torque is worth all of the time, money and trouble. The next mech addition to my '74 is going to be the Hooker sidepipes. Did they fit ok? How many muffler options are there? Thanks Bud

 

[Jack]

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

Yes it's a good choice ... but it's NOT a distributor ... it's a kit to convert your distributor to non-points. The Breakerless SE conversion is the best conversion kit I know of. But ... as others said ... a good points setup works VERY well. If you remove your 74's OE points distributor & replace with a later OE type HEI distributor ... you will no longer have a way to drive your OE in-dash mechanical tachometer. Some specialty aftermarket HEI dist have provision to drive OE mech tach.

 

[Tepot]

Yes it's a good choice ... but it's NOT a distributor ... it's a kit to convert your distributor to non-points. The Breakerless SE conversion is the best conversion kit I know of. But ... as others said ... a good points setup works VERY well. If you remove your 74's OE points distributor & replace with a later OE type HEI distributor ... you will no longer have a way to drive your OE in-dash mechanical tachometer. Some specialty aftermarket HEI dist have provision to drive OE mech tach.

Thanks for this detailed info Jack I really dont want to lose my in dash mechanical tachometer. So I will definitively stay with the points setup I've got right now.