Engine
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Engine
What should i look for? Removed engine today. 350 First thing starter would not engage flexplate I think my my mechanic was drinking. There was water on the number 6 and 7 cylinder you can see the rust. There was also a little water in the oil pan.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 4
From: Okinawa Okinawa
Are you looking at rebuilding your engine? Was it already rebuilt and you are unhappy with the mechanic? Explain what you are trying to do and there will be plenty that can help.
A little water in the oil pan. Is that only water or coolant / water mix in the water?
A little water in the oil pan. Is that only water or coolant / water mix in the water?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Shelby NC
Looks like all you can do is lay it out on the table apart and start looking at what you have and decide from there. If experience is something you don't have as to rebuilding then looks like a crate engine is the best solution. My 2 cents 
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
I don't know. Seems like there SHOULD be something recoverable there.
I'm currently rebuilding my engine. Acid dipped 4-bolt block is in great shape. Crank is in perfect shape. Rods and TRW mini-dome pistons are in great shape. New rod bolts and I'm in business!
New aluminum heads, new camshaft and valvetrain, and new clutch assembly.
I'm cleaning up and painting all the other bits. ~$3,500 and I'm going to have a SOLID 500 HP engine that is bulletproof to 6,000 RPM.
If your valves are in OK shape, you could get your heads touched up for $200 or so. If you're OK with your cam, lifters, and rockers, that would save money.
I bet you could get that engine back together in good shape for $2k. Or you could get a crate engine with ~425 HP for however much...$3k? $4k? Or you could "perk up" your engine for the same money.
Point is: GET AN ENGINE GUY. Not a mechanic. An engine guy. There IS a difference. And engine guy knows ENGINES and can get around the rest of the car.
If the guy owns a shop with 8 lifts and a brand new F250 with his phone number on the side, he's a mechanic. If the guy owns/drives 6 nostalgia dragsters and drives around a Buick Roadmaster because it rides like a dream and has a Corvette 350 in it, HE'S AN ENGINE GUY.
I'm currently rebuilding my engine. Acid dipped 4-bolt block is in great shape. Crank is in perfect shape. Rods and TRW mini-dome pistons are in great shape. New rod bolts and I'm in business!
New aluminum heads, new camshaft and valvetrain, and new clutch assembly.
I'm cleaning up and painting all the other bits. ~$3,500 and I'm going to have a SOLID 500 HP engine that is bulletproof to 6,000 RPM.
If your valves are in OK shape, you could get your heads touched up for $200 or so. If you're OK with your cam, lifters, and rockers, that would save money.
I bet you could get that engine back together in good shape for $2k. Or you could get a crate engine with ~425 HP for however much...$3k? $4k? Or you could "perk up" your engine for the same money.
Point is: GET AN ENGINE GUY. Not a mechanic. An engine guy. There IS a difference. And engine guy knows ENGINES and can get around the rest of the car.
If the guy owns a shop with 8 lifts and a brand new F250 with his phone number on the side, he's a mechanic. If the guy owns/drives 6 nostalgia dragsters and drives around a Buick Roadmaster because it rides like a dream and has a Corvette 350 in it, HE'S AN ENGINE GUY.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
I totally agree, Mr. MK8035. I'm doing 90% of the work myself. I was lucky enough to befriend the owner of the Speed Shop and he is working with me.
I completely disassembled, but gave him the opportunity to look at things at a certain point in the diassembly.
He told me what to do and what not to do.
He will probably assemble the rotating assembly WITH me in his shop.
For him to "stand behind" the engine, he has to be involved with the assembly, but he knows I'm into doing stuff myself.
Don't hand it to someone, but don't try to do it by yourself, either. There are lots and lots of things that you or I know nothing about that an engine builder can spot in a nano-second. Crack the yellow pages, find a small shop, and have a across-the-counter chat. Can't hurt.
I completely disassembled, but gave him the opportunity to look at things at a certain point in the diassembly.
He told me what to do and what not to do.
He will probably assemble the rotating assembly WITH me in his shop.
For him to "stand behind" the engine, he has to be involved with the assembly, but he knows I'm into doing stuff myself.
Don't hand it to someone, but don't try to do it by yourself, either. There are lots and lots of things that you or I know nothing about that an engine builder can spot in a nano-second. Crack the yellow pages, find a small shop, and have a across-the-counter chat. Can't hurt.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Yep thats what i am going to do. Actually i have the whole car apart redoing all the wiring and defective parts. Paid 5,000 for this engine it is like i cant win but i wont give up. Wife says i am crazy
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,303
Likes: 14
From: Lynn MA
Mike and I both agree with your wife....
Someone needs to stand behind it, either warranty from where it came from or the mechanic...
$5000 jeepers.....I have gone 12's with used parts I threw together in my barn
Someone needs to stand behind it, either warranty from where it came from or the mechanic...
$5000 jeepers.....I have gone 12's with used parts I threw together in my barn
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
If you "get another one", it's not like you're getting a new block or anything...they're just reconstituting a core block and building an engine around it.
So...I'd think it odd not to work with what you have.
So...I'd think it odd not to work with what you have.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
Here is what I would do. I would take the entire engine to a REPUTABLE engine machine shop. For a nominal charge they will inspect the engine and tell you exactly what you need to rebuild it. And give you an estimate, usually if you decide to rebuild, the inspection fee is waived. If it exceeds what you want to spend, then by all means look for a crate engine. You might save some cash going with the rebuild, you already have $5k in it,