engine from Ecklers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 3
From: Mt. Prospect Il
engine from Ecklers
i'm looking for an alternative to rebuilding my original L79, does anybody have experience with this engine from ecklers?
https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/chev...-340098-1.html
TY
https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/chev...-340098-1.html
TY
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 501
From: Willowbrook IL
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
For the work involved of removing and installing and storage or scrap it the original, I personally would have my original rebuilt/restored. Their choice of camshaft is very limited, no description of pistons.
it also costs less to rebuild and restore the original 350 hp than to install a 250-300 hp.
I like my L79 as a genuine L79 with its hp, rpms, idle lump, and exhaust notes,
your money, your choices.
Don
it also costs less to rebuild and restore the original 350 hp than to install a 250-300 hp.
I like my L79 as a genuine L79 with its hp, rpms, idle lump, and exhaust notes,
your money, your choices.
Don
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,394
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From: CT
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
Yep Cheaper to do a crate with warranty than rebuilding.
I would personally not buy from Ecklers
I would go with something like this for about $1000 less and a 50,000 mile warranty
https://blueprintengines.com/product...ads-roller-cam
I would personally not buy from Ecklers
I would go with something like this for about $1000 less and a 50,000 mile warranty
https://blueprintengines.com/product...ads-roller-cam
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Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 3
From: Mt. Prospect Il
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,512
Likes: 1,946
From: Temple Terrace Florida
If you are going to rebuild the original engine, make very sure the machine shop does not deck the block and remove the numbers on the stamp pad. I have heard that some shops can deck the block and save the numbers. Get it in writing and make sure the guy running the milling machine knows what you are talking about. Good luck. Jerry
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: CT
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 3
From: Mt. Prospect Il
He's always been a bit pricey, but very satisfied with previous work.
I'm going to contact a couple of clubs around here and get their input on good machine shops. I can remove and reinstall myself.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,135
Likes: 3,939
From: Connecticut, USA
I suggest you stop and collect your thoughts on the car, what you want from it and then proceed to do a lot of homework, otherwise you are going to go down a steep, slipper, slope. I have been repairing the work of Corvette "experts" for most of my life and I have been around long enough to see scammers multiply with the start of the internet. It used to be just the local crooks taking the local newcomers' money, now they take it without providing any service at all.
If you can do the work and just need guidance that is the best approach. If you can't, for whatever reason, then you will be paying a lot and may not get what you think you're paying for. Original matching cars are still more valuable than crate engineer cars, finding a trustworthy mechanic or machinist is the larger issue. They're out there still but just not in the numbers that once were. $10k for a 60's Chevy engine in non-Drag Race application is too much. If it was a special production build that's different. I bet you're paying mostly hidden labor costs. Drag engines cost more than that and some of those are not so good, and I am speaking from past and present experience.
If you can do the work and just need guidance that is the best approach. If you can't, for whatever reason, then you will be paying a lot and may not get what you think you're paying for. Original matching cars are still more valuable than crate engineer cars, finding a trustworthy mechanic or machinist is the larger issue. They're out there still but just not in the numbers that once were. $10k for a 60's Chevy engine in non-Drag Race application is too much. If it was a special production build that's different. I bet you're paying mostly hidden labor costs. Drag engines cost more than that and some of those are not so good, and I am speaking from past and present experience.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 950
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Yep Cheaper to do a crate with warranty than rebuilding.
I would personally not buy from Ecklers
I would go with something like this for about $1000 less and a 50,000 mile warranty
https://blueprintengines.com/product...ads-roller-cam
I would personally not buy from Ecklers
I would go with something like this for about $1000 less and a 50,000 mile warranty
https://blueprintengines.com/product...ads-roller-cam
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,326
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From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
As suggested, slow the roll! I agree that the price, without details does seem high, but you can enlighten us later. If you pursue rebuild, find three machine shops and visit each. Look for organization, how clean each is, will they explain the use of equipment. Some shops have "Clean rooms" for engine assembly. I followed this process in the mid '80's. Avispa has a valid point about storing the original and going with a Blueprint engine of your choice. 
Dennis
Dennis
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,135
Likes: 3,939
From: Connecticut, USA
Good point on visiting several shops if possible. See what they look like and how they present themselves. A good machinist is probably booked out months, a hack may tell you a couple of weeks. I have some stories from over the years. Many of the places around here are out of business, either they couldn't compete with the internet's cheapo prices and work, or they were outright crooks. Many in this area had drug or alcohol issues as well, some would "lose" your parts.