iPro1969

Hello, my name is Ian, and I am planning to do a restomod c3, but I hear that a good DOHC engine is the LT5, so i am wondering, where could a resident of California, specifically San Diego, acquire this engine in good condition at a good price too.

mike100

As cheap as the cars are now, you should buy an entire car to get all the small pieces, wiring and ecm, fuel pumps, and transmission of course. You can still part out the ZR-1 body stuff and the dana 44 rear for a good chunk of money after. Of course there will be one less zr-1 on the planet, but I can't see acquiring parts individually being cheaper.

iPro1969

Do you know of anyplace that might only sell the block and heads then maybe?

Scrrem

You may want to talke a few measurements of the space you have to work with on the C3. The LT5 is a monster and not much side room even on a C4. You many have some major modifactions to the frame rails to get the LT5 to fit. There were a couple on Ebay a while back, but I found a good deal on my LT5 on Craig's list.
Rich

mike100

Do you have the ignition module, injector housings, intake plenum, ecm, etc already? All these things could end up costing more than a shortblock. People have stuff out there, but it is worth more dead than alive so yes, people break down perfectly fine running engines to sell parts individually. I know somebody who got a 91 not running for $3500. $400 ecm and new gas tank later it was on the road. Another one was parted out by a dismantler here in San Diego Co- he told me the widow he bought it from let it go for $3300 just to get it off her property. It ran, but had the front end crunched. I say keep looking for the cosmetically challenged cars and strip it apart.

I think ZRMax had a shortblock up in Temecula.

Scrrem

Unless you have some of the special tools and experience needed to time the cams in the LT5, you may want to consider finding a complete running motor.
Rich

32valvesftw

Would it be possible to put a LT1 in the ZR after removing the LT5?

mike100

You mean like the C7 LT1? I suppose a 300hp small block based LT1 would drop right in but why?- just to save the vette? Unless you had it stroked out to 400 cubic inches... My latest dream is to take a crate 5.0 Coyote engine along with the MT-82 transmission from mustangs into an engineless wide body C4. Yes, it is blasphemy, but you get a much lighter weight dohc 400 hp engine with a very useable power curve and super deep gearing as 5th gear is 1:1 with a darn near 4:1 first gear on the chinese getrag. Wouldn't happen in CA, but outside of that the real challenge would be how do you hook up the trans to the c-beam.

32valvesftw

Good points Mike. I was thinking that he would get more for the car by selling it with an engine in it thats all. And as a reformed Ford guy, your idea is blasphemy. Now if you could cram the coyote motor in 65 Falcon, or Fairlane thats a different story.

XLR8TIN

a friend of mine built a split window with LT5 & ZF Trans, C4 suspension, he bought a totaled car

https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail/DA0...o-Mod/6-Speed/

iPro1969

I thought about the Coyote being put in a C3 too, but as you said blasphemy, which is why I have been searching for some one who makes DOHC heads for a chevy small block

Dominic Sorresso

If funds aren't an issue, Mercury Marine makes a set of DOHC heads that are bolt ons for an LSx block.

http://bangshift.com/bangshiftxl/sem...otor-saw-sema/

Jagdpanzer

No question the best way to do a conversion project like you're considering.
This way you will have all the bit and pieces necessary to do the job right that otherwise would take you forever to track down and cost considerably more.

Jagdpanzer

Check with Sparky at http://www.corvettenutz.com/
He just up the road from you in Oceanside and has parted out a few C4 ZR-1s
He's on here from time to time as 0OneRareZ16

SurfnSun

That is just pure epic.

Rkreigh

why not put a coyote in it? cheaper than and lt5 and easier to maintain

I'm doing a tt c3 and preserving the lt5

but if you are dead set on an lt5 c3 it's been done. for sure shop for a complete car in the 12-15k range, yank the complete drivetrain or just engine and tranny if you prefer

and for god sake put an LS motor back in the zr1 if you must defile it

would be fun to do a tt car hint hint

Zrxmax

Hey Ian I know where a complete 91 motor is with the harness, ECM and other stuff. Motor is said to have come from a rear ender and from what I could tell it wasn't a stretch based on the other parts on site at the time. Price? I would have to check but it should be reasonable. I also have a ZF-6 trans from a 91 and other parts. I am in Murrieta just north of Temecula.

Post 5 was referencing me (Zrxmax) That short block was sold 6 or 7 months ago.

cv67

Great advice, maybe get with Zrxmax.
Once you have a whole car or assy youll thank your$elf

Being as youre in Ca dont bother on an engine swap trying to resell the Z unless its a track only car. Emissions legality is a pain and anyone that might buy it wouldnt pay much without the LT5 in it unless you gave it to them.

If you go to speedtalk dot com post in the general eng tech section theres a guy there who makes some beautiful 4v sbc heads cant recall if its a real DOHC conversion or not.