Thread: 1982 Corvette Crossfire - Performance Upgrades for this Chevy 350 Small Block V-8

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First let me say hello to all the members of this site. I am a new member and this is my first post. I hope I can give back to the forums as well as learn from the posts.

My question is related to my under performing engine, which is a Chevy 350 Small Block V-8 with the Crossfire Fuel Injection system. I have all the little performance add ons, like the TPI Performace switch, Hypertech chip, Low Temp Thermostat, etc. I am about to have a set of custom exhaust headers fitted to the car with a high flow cat connected to a Borla racing exhaust. After this, I am stumped. I am trying to get an intake manifold for this engine and have no issues putting in a new high performance fuel injection system or Carb if necassary. For some reason, I keep getting the answer that nobody makes a performance manifold for this car and even if they did I could not swap the injection for either a new injection system or carb. In addition, I am told until I get the the intake straightened out, I can not even think about changing the Cam, Timing chain, Lifters, etc. I have reached a dead end and I am also hearing any changes I did, even if I had someone custom build each part is that my computer and the o2 sensor would never accept the changes. I would fail the emmisions test and the computer would not be able to handle all of the changes.

Does anyone have any ideas or have a contact that might be able to answer these questions about making changes to this engine. As far as I knew, all Chevy 350 Small Blocks are basically the same, so, I would think I could swap out stock for performance pretty easily but I am not finding that to be the case.

Please let me know your thoughts because I am about to go nutty watching the guys on HorsePower TV swap out everything in the project cars no matter what it is and I can't do one thing to my car. Sounds very odd to me.

Thanking everyone in advance for any assistance you can offer,
BrooklynVette

Just swap out that turd for a 350 Ram Jet. I worked at a Chevy dealer back in '84, and those engines and their induction systems were absolute junk. Just swap the whole thing. When you're done, you get a real 350 HP (at the flywheel) and a 2/24 warranty.

That is a great idea and have even touched on that with a GM Performance Parts contact and Eddelbrock as well. Both said it's not possible because I would never pass emmision guidlines for the car and the Computer won't work. I was looking at the LS-1 for one example and they said no way can I make that swap.

Even with a blank check in hand on one of the calls, they said they could do nothing to make this work and be emmissions legal for New York. Should I be talking to a different company?

Anyway, I'd love to put the RAM 350 in this car if at all possible. Any idea if it'll clear the hood? I don't want to change hoods because I love the look of the car as is.

BTW...thank you for taking time to respond.

PS MAybe I need to just go to Wyotech for an education...lol

I think the issue is what fails an emissions test in New York. Some states have visual inspections and failing the visual means you've failed the test. Some states stick the sniffer up the pipe and only worry about the visual if you fail the sniffer.

While not a direct bolt in, I would think any car that originally swallowed a big block would swallow an LS1. I'm using an LQ4 (6.0L) in my Studebaker. Of course with the age of the car, I don't have to worry about emissions tests.

The thing with that Cross-Fire Injection is that it may not pass the sniffer. Do you know someone well at the inspection station?

As for hood clearence, I'm not sure if it would clear your hood or not. But isn't that why they make L-88 hoods?