Is the L48 a good engine? Comments please...
08-08-2010, 05:58 PM
#42
Instructor
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back on subject. IMHO the L48 motor is very capable and upgradeable. it does have its limits but i could not honestly tell you were that is, mines at about 300hp have no idea what the longevity of it would be if i rodded the crap out of, it and dont intend to find out.
08-08-2010, 09:30 PM
#43
True/, a L-48 is slow compared to mega computer chipped, computer everything Honda chitbox blender . But get yourself a beautiful rare 1975 Stingray Ragtop with a L48/ 4spd and see which one the ladies want to ride in. 
1975 Stingray Ragtop is worth keeping .........a stupid honda is only awaiting its next meltdown to become the next new 10K RPM chitbox with a stupid loud stereo and load of drunk punks.
1975 Stingray Ragtop is worth keeping .........a stupid honda is only awaiting its next meltdown to become the next new 10K RPM chitbox with a stupid loud stereo and load of drunk punks.
08-09-2010, 01:11 AM
#44
Racer
08-09-2010, 12:22 PM
#45
Pro
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Whoo Hoo!! Guess I did something right with my L84 4-speed Silver Anniversary!
08-09-2010, 03:15 PM
#46
Melting Slicks
75+78
Looks like someone brought back an old thread. So old that after I first posted, I bought a C5, drove it 5 years, sold it, and am now on my C6.
I suspect your car is even rarer now than when I posted my thoughts over 5 years ago.
Have you owned your car very long?
Looks like someone brought back an old thread. So old that after I first posted, I bought a C5, drove it 5 years, sold it, and am now on my C6.
I suspect your car is even rarer now than when I posted my thoughts over 5 years ago.
Have you owned your car very long?
Last edited by TexasMadMan; 08-09-2010 at 03:19 PM.
12-28-2011, 03:25 PM
#49
Burning Brakes
time flies...
But I own a 76 L48 4 speed and with all of 180 Hp it manages to lay solid rubber in 1st and second gears plus chirp the tires in 3rd and 4th...
I also own a 64 72 and 98 Convertibles along with 88 (ANC) and 79 coupes.
My absolute favorite car to just plain drive and enjoy is my low HP 1976
Bob G
12-28-2011, 03:49 PM
#50
Wow, an oldie surfaces. If the OP is still around, I hope you bought the car and are enjoying it. Basically a decent price and the 4 sipped will handle it and any mods you make easily.
While the L48 isn't a performance engine, it is a nice cruiser and dependable engine.
If you want more power and speed, there are many avenues to follow:
1. Modify the L48 with better cam and heads and exhaust.
2. Build a bigger engine. Many build a stroker 383 from a 350. Lots of torque for the street where you feel it in the seat of your pants.
3. Crate engine - not cheap, but fast.
4. Big block - you can put any big block 396 - 427 - 454 in there or a crate 502 for that matter.
5. LSx engine swap. This is becoming more common as you get a truly fast engine with great economy. Not the easiest of swaps but then, no pain, no gain.
Close. No Chevy uses forged steel pistons. They are aluminum, either cast or forged or a hybrid combo in the newest ones.
L48 was the same head -882 but with 1.49/1.50 valves and the L82 used 2.20 /1.60 valves. Compression was different at 8.5 for the L48 and 9.0 for the l82, with the L48 using an 8cc dished piston and the L82 using a flattop with notches. Not a lot of different in performance at this point as the L48 will flow to around 6000 rpm and the L82 will flow to just over 6500 rpm.
The real difference is in the cam. The L82 cam is a nice street cam and the L48 is essentially a stock passenger car cam with nothing special at all.
While the L48 isn't a performance engine, it is a nice cruiser and dependable engine.
If you want more power and speed, there are many avenues to follow:
1. Modify the L48 with better cam and heads and exhaust.
2. Build a bigger engine. Many build a stroker 383 from a 350. Lots of torque for the street where you feel it in the seat of your pants.
3. Crate engine - not cheap, but fast.
4. Big block - you can put any big block 396 - 427 - 454 in there or a crate 502 for that matter.
5. LSx engine swap. This is becoming more common as you get a truly fast engine with great economy. Not the easiest of swaps but then, no pain, no gain.
Somebody stop me if I'm wrong:
L-48 used 2 bolt main caps on the crank journals instead of 4 bolts like an L-82. Intake manifold was cast iron and not aluminum. Valves were smaller 1.98 and not 2.02. rockers had did not have guides. Pistons were not forged steel? Compression was lower.
All that said, lots of potential for cheap and I like the torque. It's been said here many times that a nice L48 is better than a crappy L82. Enjoy.
L-48 used 2 bolt main caps on the crank journals instead of 4 bolts like an L-82. Intake manifold was cast iron and not aluminum. Valves were smaller 1.98 and not 2.02. rockers had did not have guides. Pistons were not forged steel? Compression was lower.
All that said, lots of potential for cheap and I like the torque. It's been said here many times that a nice L48 is better than a crappy L82. Enjoy.
Close. No Chevy uses forged steel pistons. They are aluminum, either cast or forged or a hybrid combo in the newest ones.
L48 was the same head -882 but with 1.49/1.50 valves and the L82 used 2.20 /1.60 valves. Compression was different at 8.5 for the L48 and 9.0 for the l82, with the L48 using an 8cc dished piston and the L82 using a flattop with notches. Not a lot of different in performance at this point as the L48 will flow to around 6000 rpm and the L82 will flow to just over 6500 rpm.
The real difference is in the cam. The L82 cam is a nice street cam and the L48 is essentially a stock passenger car cam with nothing special at all.
12-28-2011, 04:31 PM
#52
Sure, but why would you want to? I can understand putting in a big block, but if it is truly a 1967 Corvette 427, it is worth more to sell it to the original owner and build a 427 from parts or grab a generic 427 and build it.
05-28-2014, 01:00 PM
#54
3rd Gear
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Okay, I'll speak in pretty general terms here. L82 4 speed cars are usually rarer and harder to find. Case in point, only about 1 in 9 1976 Vettes came with an L82 engine. Only 1 in 5 came with a 4 speed. Finding a 1976 L82 four speed that hasn't been abused is even rarer.
Yes, the L82 and L48 were pretty much dogs by todays standards, but keep in mind that you can change the rear gears to a lower ratio to give you a little more quickness.
I've owned 4 C4 cars or which 2 were L 48s and 1 was an L82. The other??? An '82 200hp crossfire.
Yes, the L82 and L48 were pretty much dogs by todays standards, but keep in mind that you can change the rear gears to a lower ratio to give you a little more quickness.
I've owned 4 C4 cars or which 2 were L 48s and 1 was an L82. The other??? An '82 200hp crossfire.
05-28-2014, 02:10 PM
#55
Le Mans Master
02-24-2015, 12:38 PM
#57
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L-48 good?
I have been looking for a Corvette. I found one in the local papers, it is a 76 Corvette with a 350 L48 engine and 4 speed manual. Guy says everything is stock. He wants $5500.
Here are my 2 questions. A 4 speed sounds like it should not be paired with a 350ci engine. Was this the standard back in the 70's vettes? I can't imagine how a 4 speed could handle a 350.
My second question, I did a search on the web and the only stat I found says the L48 makes 180HP. This sounds like a very low number.
How good is the L48 engine? Should I be looking for something else? I don't want to have some V6 honda beat me on the road, that would be humiliating. I am not looking to race, but I would like to know if I need to drop the hammer, the car will move.
Can the L48 be easily modified to produce extra HP?
Here are my 2 questions. A 4 speed sounds like it should not be paired with a 350ci engine. Was this the standard back in the 70's vettes? I can't imagine how a 4 speed could handle a 350.
My second question, I did a search on the web and the only stat I found says the L48 makes 180HP. This sounds like a very low number.
How good is the L48 engine? Should I be looking for something else? I don't want to have some V6 honda beat me on the road, that would be humiliating. I am not looking to race, but I would like to know if I need to drop the hammer, the car will move.
Can the L48 be easily modified to produce extra HP?
05-03-2016, 07:31 PM
#59
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Love my 76
I have owned my 76 automatic since 2011. Very sharp car with 60,000 original mile. Yes, it's a dog but i have added a few thing's like hooker header's, eldelbrock intake and a Holly 650. Gave it a nice boost but remember, it's a cruiser. Enjoy it for what it is. Have fun.
05-03-2016, 08:40 PM
#60
Pro
In the 70s a 180 or 190 hp engine was considered pretty good.
Look at the other HP ratings for cars in the same year.
1976 Camaro Engine code
D = 250ci 105hp,
L = 350ci 165hp,
Q = 305ci 140hp
1976 Ford Mustang HP ratings
2.3L Four-Cylinder 92hp @ 5,000rpm
2.8L V-6 103hp @ 4,400rpm
5.0L V-8 139hp @ 4,000rpm
Now I guess it depends on what year Honda Accord you are talking about. I looked at the 2005 Civic specs and found the following.
Engine output increases to 244 horsepower for the 3.0-liter VTEC V6 and 166 horsepower for the 2.4-liter i-VTEC ...
So a newer Honda could probably give that vette a good run.
Of course if you were to race a 1976 Honda Civic, it would be a different story.
I found that horsepower rating also.
Power 70 bhp @ 5500 rpm
And how did apply at that power???
with a 5 speed of course. (TRANSMISSION 5 Speed )
kdf
Look at the other HP ratings for cars in the same year.
1976 Camaro Engine code
D = 250ci 105hp,
L = 350ci 165hp,
Q = 305ci 140hp
1976 Ford Mustang HP ratings
2.3L Four-Cylinder 92hp @ 5,000rpm
2.8L V-6 103hp @ 4,400rpm
5.0L V-8 139hp @ 4,000rpm
Now I guess it depends on what year Honda Accord you are talking about. I looked at the 2005 Civic specs and found the following.
Engine output increases to 244 horsepower for the 3.0-liter VTEC V6 and 166 horsepower for the 2.4-liter i-VTEC ...
So a newer Honda could probably give that vette a good run.
Of course if you were to race a 1976 Honda Civic, it would be a different story.
I found that horsepower rating also.
Power 70 bhp @ 5500 rpm
And how did apply at that power???
with a 5 speed of course. (TRANSMISSION 5 Speed )
kdf
You have to compare apples to apples, just about any new car or pickup today will have more horsepower than the C3 and you can also include half the C4 models as well. It's like comparing a 1974 L48 to a Model T!