crate motors
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
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From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
It's also worth mentioning that with an old Vette, if you mod your engine you lower the value of your car, whereas if you pull the stock motor and store it as-is, putting a crate into the car, you won't decrease the value of the car and might even increase it since you can sell it (if you ever decide to do so) with both engines...
Very good point. You can "moth ball" the old engine for a later day. I chose to sell mine , a young family man (in Georgia or Alabama?) needed a low mile engine for his build. We got him my old motor for a very fair price so he could get his ride up and running. I feel good knowing the original motor is in another Corvette and being enjoyed.
Right Mark ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
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From: Canada
Used to be a guy on here years ago that had his original rebuilt but grenaded it. He picked up one of those $1300 GM crate motors to complete the season and just ended up keeping it in for a number of years. He would eventually build it into a 383 but was just so glad that it was reliable and came with a warranty. Obviously it don't have to power but it sure was reliable as he was more into cruising than racing. For me I have a numbers Zr-1 block, intake and heads. Intake and heads are in storage but used the block to build a stroker with 1 sleeved cyl. 10 yrs ago. Needs some work now and will have to decide whether to update this engine or drop a crate engine in it. I'm following the ls3 install and trying to decide what will my Lt-1/Zr-1 vert. spend most of it's time doing and since it will likely never hit the track again I may just drop in a nice relatively inexpensive crate add a 5 sp and store the original engine and rock crusher tranny.
I am hoping that the new C7 will have more styling than the current generation as we'd use that as our long distance cruiser with some visits to the track.
I am hoping that the new C7 will have more styling than the current generation as we'd use that as our long distance cruiser with some visits to the track.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
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From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
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From: S Nevada
I decided to rebuild the original engine from my 72 into a stroker. I know a lot of folks pull the original engine and install a crate motor. Then keep the original to go with the car. Well my thought is, keep the original engine in the car. Yeah, I had it stroked, and updated to a full roller cam, ok I put some better flowing after market aluminum heads on it too. I still have the old crappy rotating assembly with the cracked skirts on a few pistons. I still have the crappy 1.94 heads that needed work. I just dont have a boat anchor taking up space in my garage. I can say with complete honesty, yup its the original engine, just tweaked. No, I'm not building this car for an NCRS judging.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: bourbonnais illinois
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