I've got a 100k mile '76 w/ L82 4spd. While it is rare, it is not worth anything. Trying to decide if I should rebuild the original L82 or drop in something like a ZZ4. Fishing for opinions.

 

I run into this myself,
I have to be honest and admit I don't have a shop where I can rebuild an engine properly,
Then when you add up all the parts and machine work, crate engines are a pretty sweet bargain.

 

 

The cost would come to pretty much the same. The decision should depend on your use. If you are planning to drive the car a lot, I would put a crate motor in. If you are more of an original car guy, rebuild the motor.

Keep the old motor even if you are going to get a crate motor.

I have a GM crate motor in my 69. Not having any motor problems is a convenience.

 

If you look around you can probably find someone to rebuild it cheaper than you can get a ZZ4. I had my original 75 engine rebuilt to 350HP and installed, it cost under 3K. It has never had any issue since it was done 4 years ago.

 

Crates are fine but nothing beats the feeling of having the intimate involvement of getting your own hands and mind deeply into the project. So if you have a craving and passion for that then I advise you look at building your own engine as an opportunity to expand your skills and further enjoy the hobby. If you don't have that fire burning then click the buy it now button on line and call it good. I've built several engines and absolutely loved it and enjoyed the whole process from reseraching camshafts to installing pistons, etc. My last project I debated back and forth and decided to just buy a ZZ383 and call it good. I honestly regret that and for the money I spent I could have rebuilt what I had and also put a supercharger on it. There is also a myth out there or this false sense of security that a crate engine is built to higher standards and will be more reliable than what you can do. This is false!! I had issues with my GMPP ZZ383 and have heard plenty of complaints about quality of crate eng. builds. The engines that I built myself (in conjunction with working with a reputable machine shop) were reliabe, didn't leak and built to last. I can see why many like the crate engines cause it sure simplifies the process but on the other hand see that a lot of people are missing out on what used to be an exciting part of the hobby and added to your character and confidence when you accomplished somethoing like a high-perfromance engine build. That said - next engine project I'll pass on the crate pkg. and return to my "older-school ways" of getting more involved with the design and build process.

 

When I bought my first Corvette in 1977, a 396 '65 roadster, I bought it mainly because it was the cheapest one I could find and "it was rare but not worth anything." Don't make this mistake.

Buy the crate motor and the warranty that comes with it, drive the cr&p out of it without worrying about breaking something that can't be replaced, and store the original motor to protect your investment for the future. Been there, done that.

 

some assh**e stole my origional motor when it was being rebuilt, for a project at a high school automotive class. I was a dumb***!:smas h: I dropped an Edelbrock 350 ZZ4,435hp/435tq crate motor. I wished I had waited and put in one of those new 427's Chevy came out with last year!

 

I agree that the easiest way is to go with a crate. You can get big power for less money and it comes with a warranty. Check out yearone 350. Mine dyno'd at 425 hp 462 tq and it was cheaper than any chevy crate near that power. You can always go back later and rebuild/build a motor, but I wanted to drive mine asap. So this was the best option.

Sean

 

which motor did you get from Year One? That sounds sweet! LOL!

 

Also, something to consider is that to blueprint the engine or even just assemble it to the right tolerances, you'll need a dial bore gauge and some mics. A rod bolt stretch gauge if you choose some nice fasteners, torque wrench, degree wheel, dial indicator, ring compressor, ring filer..... etc. You also have to decide what quality of said tools to buy....cheapos or good uns'. You could pay a machine shop to do some tasks for you and avoid the need for many of the tools but then what's left??? assembly? Crate it!

 

The number for my engine is ct350pc1. $3000 plus a couple hundred shipped. A few other people on here also have the same engine and from what I hear everyone has been pleased. I run my engine pretty hard and I havent had any problems with it.

Sean

 

What kind of hood do you have on the car? It doesn't look like that will fit under a stock hood.

 

Nothing like turning wrenches on your own production!

 

is very nice if you have the right tools, and a place to do it.

 

i asked the same question for my 76 awhile back and most of the feed back went towards installing a crate motor and putting the original motor away for safe keeping.

so i decided that i will go down that track shortly.

jim

 

unforunatly i dont all have the place to do this!!

 

Since I wanted to keep my ham fists in my project, I purchased a shot block 383, built to my specs. I was able to use the TF 23* heads, Edelbrock RPM intake, headers, etc., when finishing the assembly.

I checked the clearances, etc. on the short block and found them to be dead nuts on.

Stock L-48 48,000 mile engine is in my basement.

In the process of installing a Jeep box, for the last year. A few medical problems are the cause, not the Jeep box.

Gotta get my sh*t together, if I want to cruise this summer.,

 

and keep origional in safe place, oiled good.

 

good advice.