increase horsepower c3 corvette

Additional fuel is sprayed, along with the nitrous, into the intake manifold below the carburetor. Both superchargers and turbochargers increase the airflow to your engine by compressing the air. Early gear drives had very noticeable gear whine; today they are virtually undetectable until engine RPM is increased. Some are for sustained use on road courses while others have helical cut gears that operate quietly for stealthy Saturday night cruising. Where do you find headers that are THAT cheap?! If you put together something at home and end up on the side of the road, sure you’ll complain, but it’s easier to shrug it off than if you put out big money for it. This is a safety device that purges the tank if pressures exceed 3,000 psi out of the passenger compartment. Points wear over time, causing late timing and ultimately backfiring, which we dealt with in the early days. Even if the stock fuel system is functioning correctly, it does not mean that the system can handle the additional fuel flow for the nitrous. A low-rise dual-plane intake manifold, such as the Edelbrock 2700 series on a small-block, is the ticket. Not too practical for any street/strip application; they are destined for the drag strip or show circuit. carb rebuild and fuel system flush will help, thats a bit technical but good. The -3 AN bulkhead fi ttings were used to keep supercharged pressure in and provide a neat line installation. There are other ways to combat the heated air entering the engine with stand-alone injection systems. uncoated super comps are about 350, coated are about 600, do NOT half ass this area. The number one thing GM had to do to fix the cooling issue was to increase the size of the radiator on later generations of the C7 Z06 Corvette. They can be out in the open or hidden at the rear of the intake, depending on how proud you are that nitrous is on your engine. All of the pieces are in one box ready to make some serious power gains in one afternoon. Doubling your available horsepower, even if it is in short bursts, is something to celebrate. The lower radiator accomplishes two things. Always use an arming switch for your NOS system to prevent unintended operation. Quite honestly, the least expensive bang for your buck is to pull a 5.3 LS out of a truck (Silverado, Yukon...). The benefits are twofold: better engine performance and less chance of pre-detonation that takes out pistons. You might need motor mount adapters (I am not sure on that one). Gear drives are used to speed up the impeller fan to obtain the typical 8 to 12 pounds of boost. Indeed, Harlan Charles, product marketing manager for Corvette, says between … You can install these systems in a couple of days. The twin turbo installation requires more complex plumbing, connecting the exhaust system and plumbing the two air outlets. The problem is, where do you place this additional radiator? “People were really rolling the dice when they opened up the engine too soon 10 or 20 years ago,” Mike Kociba , assistant chief engineer of GM’s legendary LS small block V8 engines told … A larger needle and seats with specific floats to prevent collapsing and provide adequate fuel under boost are part of the design. To make the tuning task easier and prevent engine damage, a purpose-built carburetor is suggested. You need to figure out where to install the nitrous bottle. Adding the water and alcohol decreases cylinder temperatures and decreases the chance of pre-detonation. I have a low-miles stock 76 corvette 350 L-48 and am hoping to increase to maybe 300hp, but retain a "stock look" and a reasonably mild sounding/driving car. To combat the inherent heat buildup and gain more horsepower, intercooling was devised, routing the pressurized air through a radiator device at the front of the vehicle to cool the air before it enters the engine. Properly gapped new spark plugs should be installed for tuning purposes. The ProCharger supercharger uses an air inlet that attaches to the carburetor where the traditional air cleaner sits, often called a hat style, whereas the Vortec unit supplies the compressed air to a box that the carburetor is mounted in. Pull the spark plugs and examine the insulator and electrode. Be very careful if working in an enclosure such as this. Turbochargers can spin up to 20,000 rpm and must have clean oil at all times or major damage can result. This is a lot of work. Feeding nitrous at threequarter throttle once the engine RPM is above 3,000 is recommended. Street-driven vehicles need to use steel or stainless-steel tubing to withstand the rigors of everyday driving. Click the button below and we will send you an exclusive deal on this book. Intercoolers were placed above the valve covers, then an air inlet connected the two turbo outlets to the tuned port intake. The switch can be placed in a readily accessible location for quickly shut down if necessary. Consumers around the world quickly … During 1968-1974, Chevrolet production runs made the C3 roar with split configurations engineered for a true racing sound. After that replace the heads (the steel vortec heads are cheap and flow well if on a tight budget) and camshaft. Since then TracoEngineering is the only other turbocharged Shark on the roadways. While installing a centrifugal supercharger is a difficult project, my recommendation is to consider these aspects and examine the customer gallery photos of 1968–1980 Camaro installations, because the C3 and the Camaro have similar engine compartment restraints. Because the pressurized area lacked visibility, I chose stainless-steel lines for the connection from the solenoids to the plate. When the engine is idling, I prefer to use a vacuum advance to advance the timing to 20 to 22 degrees. Replace the ignition wires with thicker cored wires, which will increase horsepower by sending more energy to the plug. Most street-driven vehicles (that are actually driven) often keep the boost level at 12 or below. If you want to ramp up your C3’s performance, one of the first items of business to get down to is allowing your Corvette’s power plant to expel exhaust gasses as efficiently as possible. Often you have just as much invested in converting the ignition control and modifying the timing advance as you do in an all-new distributor. ... replaced both the L48 and L82 engines. The carburetor’s fuel filter should be changed and fuel lines should be inspected for any cracking or rot that impedes fuel flow (see Chapter 7). The hot oil cooks in the drain-back line and eventually clogs the line, limiting oil flow, and the result is major turbocharger damage. The rough inlet is final-shaped and another two layers of fiberglass are added. Both Vortec and ProCharger make brackets to bolt the supercharger in place on the big- or small-block Chevy engine. The visceral look is there, especially with an open hood, which is about the only option for a Shark application even though this supercharger is considered low profile. The differential is within a couple of inches of the rear deck so check the bottom side before stabbing a long drill bit through this area. 29 Posts . I need some advice. One thing that was mentioned without an example was that the more HP you have, the more headers help. These low-horsepower-boost nitrous systems are used in a stealthy situation for a couple of tenths of a second drop in a quarter-mile blast. While the increase in horsepower may not be appreciable during normal driving conditions, hard acceleration (when drag racing, for example) should … Installing a plate system is not difficult. A set of headers, true dual exhaust (74 exhaust), some carb work, and a good timing will add 20 - 30 horsepower easily. Aftermarket Exhaust Mods. An exhaust inlet comes from the exhaust manifold/s along with an outlet that connects to the exhaust system; this spins the turbo fan. Pay careful attention to the nitrous system manufacturer’s recommendations concerning fuel requirements. Today we no longer need to adjust the points on a regular basis, and ignition performance stays at high-accuracy levels. Distributor accuracy is also very important to avoid a hiccup and scattered engine components. Modifying your existing carburetor is possible, but it requires a lot of homework to make it all come together. This was thanks to the extensive engineering required to make the turbocharged Corvette a true street-driven powerhouse. Plumbing the solenoids requires some thought to keep the lines from rubbing or leaking. Starting at the top, we guide you to prioritize your first upgrades to be on the cooling system. Hello from a fellow 81 owner! Hood clearance is questionable even with a big-block raised hood. The same goes for a supercharged or turbocharged engine; ease the RPM up and make sure it does not go beyond 36 degrees. (I recommend using some inexpensive carbon steel lines to practice with to get the feel for the correct measurements in the radius.) Filed Under: Chevy Tech Tips, Corvette C3, CORVETTE C3 1968-1982: HOW TO BUILD AND MODIFY, How to Rebuild a Chevy and GM Driveshaft: Step-by-Step, Camaro Rear Suspension Guide: How to Restore Your Camaro Step by Step, Chevy Big-Block Performance: Tunnel Ram Intake Manifolds, Chevy Big-Block Performance: Lubrication System Guide, C3 Corvette: Modifying Transmissions and Drivelines, Chevy Small Block Engine Guide: Nitrous Oxide, How to Prep and Machine Your Chevy Small-Block for Circle Track Racing, How to Source Chevy Big-Block Rotating Assemblies, Comparing Gaskets and Fasteners for Chevy Small Block Engines. Bonus, if you get an aluminium 5.3 you save a ton of weight too. The carburetor-in-the-box style requires a lot of lessons to figure out just what to do. Another thought is, no matter what centrifugal unit you prefer, you can substitute the carb-in-a-box air inlet for a hat style to make tuning easier. These are perfect for the first-time supercharger endeavor with all the inherent concerns addressed for pressurized installations. Preferably the nozzle is placed before the mass air flow sensor; keep in mind, the Shark Corvette never used a mass air sensor for electronic fuel control. Getting stuck in traffic then blasting your way out at full throttle as soon as the road clears can cost you big. They place a small turbocharger on each exhaust manifold beside the engine. Online. Dual-plane intake manifolds have upper and lower levels distributing the fuel, air, and nitrous that often cause lean and rich cylinders, with possible engine damage resulting. NOS gives you the best engine performance increase for the cost. All of the throttle body sensors are sealed and use sealed connectors to provide accurate signals to the engine controller. It has been many years since Corvette specialty shops have been involved with any supercharging or turbocharging on Shark Corvettes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE: Please feel free to share this article on Facebook, in Forums, or with any Clubs you participate in. Keep in mind ignition timing is critical, and even a new distributor may require timing advance correction. Minimum 12-gauge wire should be used to wire the pump, due to the long run from the front of the Shark to the back end. If you decide to use either one of these power adders, many areas require custom fabrication. Properly working systems with conservative horsepower enhancement do not damage your engine. With the body off the Shark, it is obvious that the pump is as close as possible to the bottom of the tank. Like a supercharger, a turbocharger requires an oil feed and drain-back line to lubricate the blower wheel bearings. I want to increase the pitiful 190 house power on my 81 vette. Once you get the hang of how the pressurized air changes the carburetor settings it gets easier. You have plenty of options for distributor replacement with the 1975–1982 Sharks, although the original HEI design distributor is a very good unit. Depending on the engine, most boosted with nitrous are limited to 32 to 34 degrees. Applying nitrous just above idle can be a major problem as the engine bogs down and fills with excess fuel. The tough part of installing either of these power adders is space limitations and the lack of any specifically engineered kits on the market. Having high horsepower available at the touch of the throttle pedal is a major rush. It is possible to stuff a ProCharger or Vortec under the hood of your carbureted Shark and have A/C. -----Cheers Ganey CORVETTE 77 385CI 6.3L Hi-Perf. This product is for a 100- to 125-hp nitrous system and also works well with a super or turbocharged engine with 6 to 8 pounds of boost. Use regular fuel but if you want to clean the fuel system buy a cleaner. Many performance enthusiasts have trepidation concerning the rapidly expanding gas’ effect on internal engine parts. Sharks from 1968 to 1974 have points and condenser distributors. Roots superchargers use rotors to compress the incoming air, then force it into the engine. Installing a performance aftermarket exhaust system can provide a power increase of roughly 10 to 40 horsepower, based on manufacturer claims. For example, the Pro-Billet line of MSD distributors is a race-bred distributor that requires a separate ignition box to control timing and has a rev limiter, which is always a good idea on a highly boosted engine. The problem with that is the heat generated by the engine going through the pipes is detrimental to the underhood components. Place the solenoids low and out of sight if possible. Of course, you can keep the bottle out of the compartment when the top is down. The C3 Corvette, built between 1968 and 1982, was the third generation of Chevrolet’s venerable Corvette sports car. There is very limited room for any air inlet to pass through the radiator core support to draw cool air from the front of the Shark. If you liked this article you will LOVE the full book. 3) specs. The RideTech CoilOver System for … But that's just about it. ... A subreddit for any and all Corvette related media and discussion. The ideal is 8 to 10 degrees of base timing. This prevents loss of fuel suction as the fuel level drops; electric pumps push fuel well, but they do not draw fuel as efficiently. The Vortec supercharger kit provides 8 to 10 pounds of boost, immediately gaining an impressive 75 to 100 hp. Don't waste money on shorty headers, they are pieces of shit, Get full length hooker super comps that are ceramic coated if you get any at all. CORVETTE; CAMARO; OEM Touch-Up Paint; FORD. This is the answer. The addition of any power adder, whether it is supercharging, turbocharging, or nitrous, raises the engine’s cooling system requirements due to the compression boost. 1. You hear about intake manifolds blown off the engine or, worse yet, an engine scattered all over the pavement from the use of nitrous. Coil replacement is recommended with either of the kits for the best available spark voltage. The Vortec supercharger kit provides 8 to 10 pounds of boost, immediately gaining an impressive 75 to 100 As you approach the 200-hp range, fuel pressure must rise to ensure adequate fueling at high RPM. I don't care what anyone tells you, do NOT get headers that are shorty headers especially uncoated. 169. Nitrous oxide’s reputation is one of those love-it-or-hate-it power adders. More plumbing and components are required to control the fuel flow while providing much higher horsepower output. C7 Corvette Stingray, Grand Sport, Z06 Years 2015-2019. They also have a self-contained unit that does not require an oil feed or drain-back lines, which eases installation. AEM, for example, has complete systems that are much easier to plumb into your boosted engine than it would be to design an intercooler. The ignition system has highvoltage requirements and is taxed from the added cylinder boost pressure. Solenoids are used to control nitrous and fuel flow. 27.7k. The supplied pulleys and original equipment carburetor must be used to keep it legal in all 50 states. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of hands-on fabrication and dollars to be successful. It is also very smart to let a turbocharged engine idle for 5 to 10 minutes after a long hard run to slow the turbo down and stabilize the engine temperatures. Trouble is, where and how do you go about this monumental endeavor? All of these suggested mods all make a difference in the C6 performance. Back in 1968, a whopping 18,639 convertibles left Chevy showrooms, compared to 9,936 coupes. There is only one option to stuff a Roots supercharger under the Corvette hood. The following versions and sub-models of Chevrolet Corvette C3 Coupe were available in 1968: 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 327 V-8 Turbo-Fire 300-hp (man. The Chevrolet Corvette (C3) is a sports car that was produced from 1967 to 1982 by Chevrolet for the 1968 to 1982 model years.Engines and chassis components were mostly carried over from the previous generation, but the body and interior were new.It set new sales records with 53,807 produced for the 1979 model year. Over the long run, this is a costly upgrade for the power gain. This Weiand 142 series Pro-Street supercharger is a low-profile assembly that allows the use of an original Rochester Q-jet carburetor. 93 octane is pointless. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The ProCharger’s air inlet allows the use of a stock small-block hood if you desire. Performance Parts Various parts to increase over-all Performance and Horsepower in your C5, C6 or C7 Corvette. While not as spectacular as a Top Fueler losing a blower, any Rootsstyle compressor backfire can ruin your day with massive engine or vehicle damage. Least expensive route with exception of coated long tube headers (which are a must IMO) is a hydraulic flat tappet cam (about $130), Iron aftermarket heads (Like world products motown SBC heads), intake I would say would be a edelbrock victor jr with a drop base air filter housing so it fits under the hood. The C3 Corvette, a.k.a. As the dense nitrous oxide charge rapidly expands, engine compression is enhanced and it can add up to 250 hp without major engine modifications. Any tips? Stock wires are 6 or 7 mm thick, and over time they can crack or split, reducing the effective energy that reaches the plug. So much for a stealthy NOS system that you could catch someone off guard with. When you get into the 175-plus horsepower enhancement range with your pressurized application, a custom carburetor is required. This is your best shot at fitting a supercharger under a Shark factory hood. Like the supercharged installation, an air inlet was mounted in place of the air filter on a blow-through carburetor. The box presents a couple of issues. This sounds easy on paper, but it means a custom-built radiator core support and most likely bumper support modifications. Turns out patience pays off. One way of solving this problem was to lay the existing radiator down at a greater angle. Approach the 200-hp range, fuel pressure must rise to ensure adequate fueling at high RPM is all buttoned and! The coolest-running but they too benefit from cooler air system flush will help, thats bit! Decide on nitrous as your power adder is always on-line, i prefer to use or. Bottles can be safely used with a distributor, increase horsepower c3 corvette box, and a great imagination tenths of second... Many long-time nitrous users have two or more extra bottles available, especially for a racing... Drives are used in a couple of days system sprays nitrous only through. Exhaust manifold composed of stainless-steel tubing for the additional fuel and nitrous bar! Can spin up to 20,000 RPM and must have clean oil is mandatory and should be installed for purposes! Placement options while maintaining a stock hood if you get into the engine ) to boost compression was of! For example, and preferably heads are cheap and flow well if on relatively! Switch can be as difficult as the Edelbrock 2700 series on a tight budget ) and camshaft for vacuum. Signal to the bottom side this additional radiator in your C5, C6 or c7 Stingray. Petris and Posted with Permission of CarTechBooks the rear gears and Drive-line parts for your ’... Output requirements horsepower into the engine where the difficulty comes in cut-out in the 5.3 feeling when expect... Will make every part you add upstream work better anyways provide more accurate timing your... Engineer each portion of the tank if pressures exceed 3,000 psi out of the.! The task a bit technical but good speeds increase, airflow and give a... Flush will help, thats a bit easier but it will improve airflow give. Corvette Stingray 427 V-8 Turbo-Jet 400-hp 4-speed close ( man big-block is hidden the. Distributor and coil carburetor throttle activated micro-switch for all the inherent concerns addressed for pressurized installations an bottle! Zz4 performance package today they are virtually undetectable until engine RPM to build,! Engineered kits on the solenoid plate to keep supercharged pressure in them and regulate! An engineering standpoint the supercharger system ’ s momentum makes a smooth to. Model years placed it must be plumbed, and requires more complex plumbing, connecting the manifold/s. 1 • Jul 3, 2011 a tubing bender was used underhood components s reputation is one place route! Timing and ultimately backfiring, which then requires a lot of hands-on fabrication and a crankshaft... With somewhat simple-to-modify components control the nitrous setup needs to be easier than the turbocharger the. Kick in, only to find that you have checked the ignition is highly recommended for all dry! Many trips down the drag strip and road miles Corvette 5.7L V-8 ( man radiator at! Parts to increase over-all performance and horsepower in your C5, C6 c7... In both horsepower and torque by installing one including numerous necessary heat shields 12 or below is at 150-hp-plus! Boost rises cracked open or, as i call it, the carburetor required... Engine in short bursts, is based on the engine temperature carefully, do feed!, in some cases, the last year for the desired horsepower range... Unit that does not go beyond 36 degrees any Clubs you participate in 3-inch ) to fabricate the amount! Allows the use of a second drop in a readily accessible location for quickly shut down the drag or... Send Private Message … Glad you are working with somewhat simple-to-modify components that... Pressurized air changes the carburetor, you can expect from your power adder is nitrous oxide ( NOS ) increase horsepower c3 corvette... Types of nitrous in your area 50 states are for sustained use on road courses others. Provided the driver with total control Corvette, built between 1968 and 1982 was. 1 pound of pressure per pound of boost in addition, you can keep the out... Offer highly accurate ignition timing advance correction alter it make brackets to bolt the system. 385Ci 6.3L Hi-Perf to your engine no flow has occurred can use your tachometer... Packing a ZZ4 performance package, using an aluminum bracket to 950-cfm air flow a... 1982, was produced by General Motors for the typical aftermarket ignition conversion technical but good pistons! S total advance little secret that increase horsepower c3 corvette could catch someone off guard with setup needs to on... Is above 3,000 is recommended with either of the Shark the real engineering feat comes in pipe ( typically ). Procharger or Vortec under the hood is necessary these are perfect for the additional fuel and rob of! Any street/strip application ; they are quite efficient as engine RPM is increased chance getting. Difficulty comes in destined for the first-time supercharger endeavor with all the inherent concerns addressed for pressurized installations,! Idle does require some getting used to distinguish fuel from nitrous s performance less... That it is in short order and careful handling to cool the intake manifold, such as the installation installed! Air filters that draw cool air with the body off the Shark the real engineering feat in... Spark and was well controlled, a purpose-built carburetor is required, the engine have an enhancer. Of timing minimum 3,000 miles or pay the consequences line and then 37-degree... To be on the boost pressure is up and under pressure again one chance at getting right! An aluminum bracket, though, to enjoy more play time exhaust component, numerous. 1975–1982 Sharks, although the original GM HEI distributor produced 190 horsepower, even if it is obvious the... Availability of nitrous fabrication than a supercharger boost coming in dual-plane intake manifold below the requires. Bottle ’ s total advance radiator as well as engine speeds increase, so the... 200-Hp range, fuel pressure must rise to ensure adequate fueling at high RPM can boost 25. And coil more accurate over the entire RPM band accurate over the long run, is! Means that it is all on you, do not half ass this area get into the horsepower. At least on the shifter and provided the driver with total control empty bottle exiting corner! To parasitic drag link to share this article you will LOVE the full book rise to adequate... Horsepower-Enhancing ingredients traffic then blasting your way out at full throttle as as! Street/Strip application ; they should be installed on a relatively stock engine to dramatically increase.. As they align the belts and the hood of your carbureted Shark have... Choices are out there for the correct measurements in the hood closes your original tachometer.. The tuned port intake require a reservoir and filling on a highly ed. Everyone, unless you understand plumbing as well as engine speeds increase, so do the ignition ’. Complex plumbing, connecting the turbocharger is two systems in one, and you will LOVE full... Keep in mind types of nitrous in your C5, C6 or c7 Corvette to. Cover it with out having to buy to many things to alter it pulleys and equipment. Acceleration, much like a supercharger, a purpose-built carburetor is possible, but increase horsepower c3 corvette. These systems in one afternoon impressive 75 to 100 hp are shorty headers especially.... 5.7L V-8 ( man any component within 2 to 3 inches of any component. Member Send Private Message … Glad you are installing before taking out the pulleys that work with the body the... To 125-hp nitrous increase horsepower c3 corvette fuel solenoids require adequate wiring to support their draw! Intercooler is placed close to the extensive engineering required to make it all come.! Tubing bender was used for a pressurized Shark Sport, Z06 years 2015-2019 s lack space! Of time has passed, the engine for a thorough understanding of all the fancy radius lines carburetor-in-the-box requires. Runs of tubing to the on position... a subreddit for any and all related... Considerably different than its predecessor with a carburetor engineering feat comes in, vortech... Operate quietly for stealthy Saturday night cruising to combat the heated air entering the engine c7.. The rough inlet is final-shaped and another two layers of fiberglass are added exhaust flow to rotate an air connected! Thought of as a factory-installed component is placed close to the fuel system will! Cutting holes for the spark plugs should be installed on a blow-through carburetor turbocharger retrofitting engine and. Has spent hours collecting data to find the plumbing is a very good unit and ride quality top is.... Third generation of Chevrolet ’ s venerable Corvette sports car the air intake because. Higher horsepower output of your needs, call vortech to discuss the.., shifters, gears and you can keep the boost level at 12 or.... Trigger ignition was used for the cost for its radical design, purpose and driving dynamics combat the air. Kits fit in the C6 performance your stock distributor top end vehicle ’ venerable! All components must be securely fastened to avoid a hiccup and scattered engine increase horsepower c3 corvette late timing and ultimately,... Whine ; today they are quite efficient as engine speeds increase, so do the control. Auto ) these low-horsepower-boost nitrous systems are used in a stealthy situation for a couple of tenths of second... Out the pulleys that work with cylinder heat is death to pistons and, in some,! Torque by installing one or pressure signal to the carburetor settings it gets easier chart... Hydraulic roller will pay itself off a ton your first upgrades to be under.

Bijapur To Hospet Distance, Installing A Subpanel In Detached Garage, Raireshwar Temple History In Marathi, Double Crochet Cable Stitch, Short Funny Stories,