76 vette engine, seems weak but.....

[project85]

my truck is an 85 c-10 2wd. i don't know what gears are in the pumpkin and it has a 3 speed on the floor so some of the doggieness could be high gears but, it has a 76 vette 350 engine, the L 48. which from what i've found it has 190hp from the factory. it has original exhaust manifolds that go into a single muffler. the motor is tight and runs good just seems doggie. i wanted to know what you guys think. will it be a big difference with a pair of headers and dual pipes with a set of low back pressure mufflers. it also has a holley dual feed double pumper on it which seems like way too much carb for a weak motor like this. i don't know if an edelbrock 600 will help out any.

thanks

[frogman68]

not to be rude did you put the vette engine in or did the guy that you bought the truck tell you it was a vette engine ?

Drivers side block behind the head (by the brake booster) is the casting number might need a inspection mirror and carb cleaner (to clear the area) get those numbers

That will tell alot in itself

[VileZambonie]

Tune it up, play with the timing. That trans isn't doing you any favors and find out what your final drive ratio is.

[project85]

When I first called the guy about the truck he said it had a 73vette motor. When I went and checked it out someone had written 76 vette L-48. I havnt pulled the numbers off yet to confirm what it is. One of my projects for today. Also on the list, new cap, plugs, wires, pads and maybe rotors.

[bobcooter]

The 76 L-48 Vette engines were some of the weakest ones ever put in a Vette. Not to burst your bubble but they weren't very strong even in the Vette.

[velojym]

Let 'er breathe, too. I'm guessing that exhaust is pretty restrictive.

[eventhorizon66]

The 76 L-48 Vette engines were some of the weakest ones ever put in a Vette. Not to burst your bubble but they weren't very strong even in the Vette.

This is what I was gonna say.  But it is a 350, so it has potential.

[bobcooter]

Oh for sure. He's got a good starting place.

[xCaliC10x]

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the "Big Ten" with a 454 the fastest thing you could get out of GM in the mid 70's due to emissions? The Vette was listed as a passenger car and subject to stricter standards where the "Big Ten" was listed as a "heavy duty" commercial truck and got out of cats and stuff for a few years.

The motors were pretty choked down, but that can all be fixed.

[project85]

for now i'm gonna probably put a set of headers and dual exhuast, tune up and see if it helps alittle. i know from what i read online 76 was like the worst year ever for vette motors. i have a target motor in the garage that i will build up over the winter. i gotta try to find a set of heads and find out what the gear ratio is.

[70 beater]

From something I read years ago, has me thinking it was pretty much the same engine in the p/u's and vettes. I had to have been reading something for or about my truck, a '76.

[project85]

Was your 76 truck real doggie or is it pretty strong. Or did you do some stuff to it to get it strong??? If I could get some idea of what might have worked for you I can use it for a blue print for me.

Thanks

[eventhorizon66]

GM didn't offer a "strong" SBC in the mid-70's.  That was a pretty dark period for performance.

If you are interested in making your 350 strong, here are some of the best guides for doing so:

http://www.amazon.com/David-Vizards-Build-Horsepower-Design/dp/1934709174/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1288959992&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Chevy-Small-Blocks-Budget-Performance/dp/1932494847/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288959992&sr=8-1

[bobcooter]

A K&N air filter with an open element air cleaner would help.

[Captkaos]

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the "Big Ten" with a 454 the fastest thing you could get out of GM in the mid 70's due to emissions?

In 1978 and 1979, yeah, that is true.