80-81vetteguy

Looking at an 81 vette that has flat lobe on camshaft and probably bent lifter. Motor has estimated 100k I am considering top end rebuild to save money instead of rebuilding the whole thing bad idea??

would this be a good cam kit?? (should I go thumper no thumper, pros nd cons) looking for performance and sound

http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMP-CAM-CHEVY-SBC-270-MAGNUM-HYD-CAMSHAFT-KIT-305-327-350-400-/181077086520?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a29091138&vxp=mtr
will this gasket kit give me everything I need to do top end rebuild

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-Block-Chevy-327-350-Complete-Overhaul-Gasket-Seal-Set-Head-Intake-Exhaust-/380608191734?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item589e041cf6&vxp=mtr
new to chevy 350s but eager to learn please help

7t9l82

never seen a "bent" lifter, anxious to see one. what motor is in the car? is it an L-82 or something else? what transmission? what gears? really need more info. that is a good cam but depends on application.

80-81vetteguy

owners pretty sure it the original numbers matching L81 and its a factory 4 speed manual im assuming the gears are stock/original in the back

80-81vetteguy

anxious to find out what its gonna cost me to get it back on the road

DRIVESHAFT

Very bad idea. With 100k on the engine and a bunch of ground up cam floating around inside, it's time for a complete rebuild.

Ignore the thumpr cams. They're about sound more than performance.
Even the smallest Thumpr will be a complete mismatch for an otherwise stock '81 Corvette engine.

scottyp99

The engine is either numbers matching or it isn't. "pretty sure" sounds very suspicious. It's a way of saying "numbers matching", but still leave yourself an out if the prospective buyer checks and finds that it is not the original engine. Again, checking the numbers is incredibly easy, unless you are very visually impaired, So "pretty sure" is a cop out. Look at the front of the engine. There should be a small machined pad on the engine block, right in front of the passenger's side cylinder head. Clean that pad off, and there should be a derivative of the VIN stamped into it. That's all there is too it. It's way too easy to be "pretty sure" about it.

Same with the diff gear. It's way too easy to check to assume anything. Get the back of the car up on jackstands. Put the transmission in neutral. turn the rear tire one revolution, and count how many turns the driveshaft makes. take the car off the jackstands, and you are done.

Scott

80-81vetteguy

I would plan on upgrading it more in the future (headers, exhaust, intake) still wouldn't recommend thumper?

80-81vetteguy

I will definetly take a look to see plus I know I mechanic whose a chevy guy and would surley know what to look for unfortunately hes pretty busy guy and I cant ask him questions all day haha

80-81vetteguy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-350-5-7-MASTER-Engine-Kit-Flat-Top-Pistons-279-Comp-Thumpr-Cam-gaskets-/190738609776?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c68e83670&vxp=mtr
What about something like this?? (does say only up to 79' though??)

80-81vetteguy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-350-5-7-Car-67-85-Engine-Rebuild-Kit-/271122704638?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AChevrolet%7CYear%3A1981&hash=item3f202c28fe&vxp=mtr
Or should I get this and the comp cam shaft kit above?? im racking my brain

scottyp99

Check this out:

http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...uctModelId=712

Scott

oldalaskaman

for the money you spend ...fixin...you could buy a crate motor and drive sooner. fix the boat anchor at your convenience

DRIVESHAFT

I still wouldn't recommend a Thumpr.
I would recommend that you pick a cam for performance, not for sound.
Any cam that is as large as the Thumpr cams are will give you a nice lopey idle, without the loss of performance caused by the excessively long exhaust duration of the Thumpr cams.

80-81vetteguy

ah that's cool they let u upgrade kit as u like

but im definitely not sure what combo of parts would be best? I would like to get the car around 300-350 hp once im all done with it (after headers, exhaust, intake, etc. at later date) any recommendations?

80-81vetteguy

avoid thumper cool thanks for the input

80-81vetteguy

something like this??

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ptd/3885882489.html

question too is should I worry about the cam being its built for a truck?

oldalaskaman

you can buy new from jegs with free shipping for the same price

80-81vetteguy

ya ive looked at jegs selection and the cheapest they have is 1,500. More than this motor http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ptd/3885882489.html

and the jegs isn't complete

80-81vetteguy

here is the link for the vette I am looking to purchase

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/3876921795.html

80-81vetteguy

?