My 81 corvette project

Hey guys, haven't posted in some time until today..

Anyway, another question I have for you all.

Awhile back I had been working on my 81 corvette, and it had been put on hold for 2 years now..

Anyway, it was 100% stock 81 vette.

So far I pulled the engine and added a small 4x4 cam

I installed 3.73 gears
Installed a q-jet (the old carb was computer controled, this is not)
Removed the computer and dist and installed a HEI with curve kit
And installed true duals and headers

Well, it runs alot better than it did, buy still a dog. I know it has LOW compression as it was a smog car..About 8.0-1 or less even.

Anyway, I am getting the urge to play again with it this winter and have some ideas..

First, I wanted to get rid of the 76cc iron heads, and was thinking of these..


http://www.summitracing.com/search/B.../?autoview=SKU

They are fairly cheap, alum, and have a 62cc chamber which would help my compression I would think..But how much?

Second, the cam I installed was a Comp Cam 12-231-2..I did this because I don't drag race..It is a heavy car, and has an automatic..And I figured it would have lots of neck breaking power off the line..Hummmm.

Anyway, I think I would like more power, and this isn't it..Any suggestions??

I could put a converter in it, but is that nessasary??

I would like to build it so that if a 96 5.0 mustang pulled up next to me..You know the ones that sound so cool, that If I wanted to give em a run I could.

I know I am a 40yr old kid, but you get the idea..

I want to keep the cost down, say $1500, and remember, I do the work myself, that isn't the problem.. The problem is sometimes I pick the wrong part combinations..Any input would help..thanks guys..

Remember, the goal is to give the ol 5.0 mustangs a run for thier money.. Now that shouldn't be so hard..:)

You did say that you have already installed this camshaft http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/Ca...x?csid=94&sb=2 Now it is a Step up from the 1981 L-46 Corvette Camshaft . But You could have gone with a Larger Grind . The Head's that You Listed are Good Heads but at 195cc Intake Runners on Your L/C Engine with that Camshaft they are Over Kill . From How I am Reading this Post you have the Stock intake . So you will most Likely be Up-Grading to a Better Performance Intake . With that Said this engine as is would work Well with a Stock Set of Vortec Head's and a Non-Air Gap RPM Vortec Intake . On the Corvette's Hood Clearance would be an Issue with Air Gap Higher intake . Tuned Right with the Vortec's . That Engine should pull about 320 H.P that Camshaft is hold back more H.P Numbers . But it will have Lot's of Low End Torque ;)

I agree that I picked TOO small of a cam, as most guys pick TOO large of a cam. I did install this cam, but am able to buy another, as I am not happy with it.. The reason I picked the heads is that I was hoping going from 76 cc chambers to 62 would raise my compression enough to make it doable to use a bigger cam..Once I have the engine out, I could always install some flat top pistons I guess. That along with a bigger cam I would hope to produce some more power.. Would you suggest the Vortec heads over the heads I had picked?

The Trick Flows are nice heads, ran them on some SBF's and they worked good....Most suggestions I've seen for the SBC's are a set of AFR 195's in the small chamber version... The Vortec's are a decent head for mild horse builds, but the aftermarket heads are better... Heads and cam are the key to any small inch engine..... I sure wouldn't skimp on them!!!!! For a cam, might want to think about upgrading to a hydraulic roller, Comp Cams has a free program called "Cam Quest"---it's quite accurate on assisting in cam selection.....