Help a girl out please......
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Help a girl out please......
I have 2 quick questions on my '74 Stingray.... I have the stock 350 engine and want to put a new engine in... don't need it for racing, just want reliable and something that will sound cool can anyone recommend a good crate motor that won't break the bank? Also was looking to get different rims and need to know how you determine the offset of a rim. Thank you for your help!! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I bought a GM Performance Parts 330hp/350 from Summit a couple of years ago and have been very happy with it. It was right around $3k with a new intake, flywheel and distributor gear. I was able to reuse the other stuff off of the original engine.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Horizontally parked in a parallel universe. WI
Had good luck with Summit on on my Camaro, even though that was 17 yrs ago!
Here's a link to their crate engine section.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/D...Crate-Engines/
Good Luck!!
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 41
Likes: 3
From: Palm Springs CA
Crate Motor
Just put in a GM Performance crate motor in my 71' from www.streetsideauto.com. 350/290HP with all the tins for $1983 delivered to my door.
Fired up on the first crank.
Fired up on the first crank.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 3
offset of wheel
To determine the backspace of a wheel, lay the wheel face down. Then lay a straightedge across the rear of wheel and measure down from the straightedge to the machined area of the wheel that contacts the brake rotor (the lug nut hole area). That will be your backspacing. I think if you measure your stock factory wheels you will find they are 4" backspaced. That is for a factory 8" wide wheel. I have 9" wide wheels on my 80 Vette and they have a 5" backspace, in other words the extra inch of the wider wheel is positioned in toward the center of the car. This wheel size fits my car, may fit yours also. This backspace puts the outside of the rim and tire in the original position in regards to the fenderwell. Be careful when you buy wheels, some aftermarket wheels do not clear the Corvette brake caliper. If you find some wheels that you want to buy, you might be smart in posting on the forum what they are and let the forum members advise from past experience. Just post the name of wheel and size of wheel and the backspace. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 292
From: Ocala FL
I have 2 quick questions on my '74 Stingray.... I have the stock 350 engine and want to put a new engine in... don't need it for racing, just want reliable and something that will sound cool can anyone recommend a good crate motor that won't break the bank? Also was looking to get different rims and need to know how you determine the offset of a rim. Thank you for your help!!
What is wrong with your present engine? Not enough power? Not running right? Breaks often?
If yours is reliable, you can get a bit more power or other changes a lot cheaper than a crate engine. If you are having rough running, it could be anything from needing the carburetor rebuilt to having a tune up.
Or the engine could really be worn out. It is important to know before anyone can advice you on the best course.
It seems a lot of people just drop in a crate engine, but for the price, you can often do a lot more and has as good or better on your own.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
What is wrong with your present engine? Not enough power? Not running right? Breaks often?
If yours is reliable, you can get a bit more power or other changes a lot cheaper than a crate engine. If you are having rough running, it could be anything from needing the carburetor rebuilt to having a tune up.
Or the engine could really be worn out. It is important to know before anyone can advice you on the best course.
It seems a lot of people just drop in a crate engine, but for the price, you can often do a lot more and has as good or better on your own.
If yours is reliable, you can get a bit more power or other changes a lot cheaper than a crate engine. If you are having rough running, it could be anything from needing the carburetor rebuilt to having a tune up.
Or the engine could really be worn out. It is important to know before anyone can advice you on the best course.
It seems a lot of people just drop in a crate engine, but for the price, you can often do a lot more and has as good or better on your own.
There are plenty of things you can do if you want a bit more power.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1
From: JOPPA MD
I have 2 quick questions on my '74 Stingray.... I have the stock 350 engine and want to put a new engine in... don't need it for racing, just want reliable and something that will sound cool can anyone recommend a good crate motor that won't break the bank? Also was looking to get different rims and need to know how you determine the offset of a rim. Thank you for your help!!
Hope this helps.
Stay in tune...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Just from the two items you mentioned, I would comment that this engine is very tired and in need of rebuild or replacement assuming you are looking for decent performance and reliability. If the current engine is the original block with the original VIN stamp you should consider finding someone local with a good rep to do a rebuild on it. If it is not the original block, or you dont care about keeping the numbers on a 74, go straight to a GMPP crate motor and don't look back! If it is an original L-82 I would get it rebuilt...maybe with some porting on the heads and good intake upgrade! If you go the GMPP route, i agree with Gregg...ZZ4 is great $$:whiplash ratio!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
If your serious about a new motor, I would recommend a new GM engine from there performance parts book....any dealer through out the US could warranty the engine unlike some others from whoever or wherever,,,