Now I am not an "engine man" but have always had the basics down al these years.I fix or replace anything i can see, inside belongs to those who know what they're doing and with tools I do not have. So this leads me to ask something that has been around a long time and that is the term Corvette Engine. This boat has a "corvette engine" or this thing has a "corvette engine."

Like a 351 ford, you have a windsor, cleveland etc. I have read the basic specs on the 350 in mine but is it different than a regular 350 which then gives it its bragging rights as a "corvette engine" Know what I mean? I have noticed that once in a while if I need to "step on it," I got to watch it or that back end gets really excited!

 

Hi CH, I'll tell you a secret, but you have to promise not to tell. Most of the C-3's are underpowered, The reputation comes from the last of the C-2's and the early C-3'S, the days when the 427 ruled the earth. Those were the cars that made people afraid to challange a Vette! C-3's just look fast, even when that are parked. A lot of us put early valve covers on our cars, and it's nice to see "Corvette" on them but it doesn't make them go any faster. So if you want to have fun with someone you can say, Take a look, it's a Vette engine, but in reality it's just a tamed down 350. I think that most first time buyers think that a Vette is a rocket ship, but we find out that it's not, but it still looks fast and it's just so much fun to drive. Enjoy your new ride, PG.

 

My opinoin is, that the early Vettes came with engine options that you may or may not have been able to special order for other Chevy cars. A lot of standard Chevys came with 2 barrel carbs, 2 bolt mains, automajics and were set up for your mother.
The Vettes had the 4 barrels, 4 bolts, 4 speeds, and power up the wazoo, and of course, said "Corvette" on the valve covers.

 

Looks like I'll have to get some "valve covers" to go with that stupid exhaust!

 

No way man... ask any ricer. Adding chrome is what REALLY boosts your horsepower!! Throw on some chrome valve covers, chrome timing cover, an air cleaner with a fancy bowtie logo etched in, some braided heater hoses and radiator hoses, fancy billet connectors on fuel lines and PCV hose, and you'll be damn near 1000 HP at the wheels!! My little secret is the chrome brake booster and the chrome thermostat water neck, that one alone doubles your torque, as long as you add the chrome pedal cover kit at the same time (to retain overall balance). I wonder if you can add a fart-can muffler to a boat?

bill.

 

just my imput on last three post. hardcover as far as a corvette engine, many cars have same casting # as corvette, not all had same internals as corvette,but some did. in 1970s same motor that was in corvette was also in pass cars, trucks etc.so in my opinion for me to say that my engine is only a corvette engine is probaly not correct. bottom line you own a corvette, you have a corvette motor and bragging rights are earned at the strip, enjoy

 

Don't forget the chrome muffler bearing !! Seriously though, on the subject of Vette motors, all internal combustion engines are of basically the same design. The manufacturer decides how much torque and horsepower they want at certain RPM's and can build the motor to suite the purpose. Stroke, bore, valve timing, air-flow in and out of the manifolds and combustion chambers, and compression ratio all play a part in how much and at what RPM the motor will make it's peak torque and horsepower. The corvette engines received a little more attention from the designers to get as much useable power at a reasonable cost as could be expected from a mass-produced engine. A real good example is the motor in my stock 1978 L48, this is the base(low) horsepower engine at 185 hp, 8.5 to 1 compression ratio, now I haven't had the oil pan off but I bet it's a four bolt main block based on the casting number, I have built and am currently building a 383 using a block from a half ton chevy truck with the same casting number as the vette motor that is a four bolt block, this is how the factory could build a bunch of different ratings from the same tooling and be competitive on the track and in the marketplace by keeping the cost under control. Anyway, the Vette motors are not rocket science, they just had a little more horsepower mostly in the higher RPM ranges to make them an aggressive road race competitor. Most of the difference came from a higher compression ratio and longer duration cam.

 

....a wind shield banner, and "Stickers", lots and lots of stickers!

 

Very true Starship!
Most of your smaller STP type , and "peeing on" stickers aregimmicks. They come with all sorts of wild HP claims, but the numbers just aren't there. While they may make your car look cool, they just are not worth the expence. Your better off saving up for a HOOKER or MSD sticker. They provide good style with some decent HP numbers to back it up.
If your looking for the big power ,MOROSO stickers addabout 200 HP....IF you have an early one.....the later stickers were only ratedto add about 145 HP because of the EPA mandated lower quality ink. Thrush muffler stickersadd the most HP at about 265 but are becoming harder to find ,and the maket is being flodded with cheap aftermaket Thrush stickers, so be careful if the deal seems "to good to be true".
The biggest misconception is the windsheild sticker......windsheild stickers are more about torque than true HP. While they do add some HP you'll really notice the difference in highway "roll on".
Choose your stickers carefully and you will be rewarded with a car that notonly gets you to the next light faster, but will do it in style!!!!!
In the next segment wewill look at the advantages that neon lights can make in relation to added downforce and better handling.

 

For 200hp,in this 350this thing of mine has quite boot to it which is why I had brought it up.