Inquirey
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Union City MI
Inquirey
Hello,
I have a question I would like the forum members opinion on.
Building a 78 Corvette, not restoring. Should I rebuild the original 350? or simply buy a crate engine. If so, how much is the original motor worth, did run upon removal but not sure of the mileage. Also, replacing the original 4-sp with a 6-sp. How much is this worth?
Thanks in advance for your help!
I have a question I would like the forum members opinion on.
Building a 78 Corvette, not restoring. Should I rebuild the original 350? or simply buy a crate engine. If so, how much is the original motor worth, did run upon removal but not sure of the mileage. Also, replacing the original 4-sp with a 6-sp. How much is this worth?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Hello,
I have a question I would like the forum members opinion on.
Building a 78 Corvette, not restoring. Should I rebuild the original 350? or simply buy a crate engine. If so, how much is the original motor worth, did run upon removal but not sure of the mileage. Also, replacing the original 4-sp with a 6-sp. How much is this worth?
Thanks in advance for your help!
I have a question I would like the forum members opinion on.
Building a 78 Corvette, not restoring. Should I rebuild the original 350? or simply buy a crate engine. If so, how much is the original motor worth, did run upon removal but not sure of the mileage. Also, replacing the original 4-sp with a 6-sp. How much is this worth?
Thanks in advance for your help!
A 78 engine is really nothing special, just like the 77 engines I had in my cars. I replaced one with a 350HO crate engine and a five speed TKO500 transmission. With a crate engine and a five speed you get good performance and you have better fuel economy because of the overdrive gear. I personally would not install a six speed but that is me. When you say how much is this worth I have to ask are you planning to keep the car or sell the car? If the current car is numbers matching then I would not swap out the engine and tranny, value falls if you do that. So it really depends on what you want from the car and what you intend to do with the car. Lots of choices for sure.
Good luck with your decision and remember, mine is just one man's thoughts and I look forward to hearing from others as well.
Best regards,
David
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 420
Likes: 4
From: Ft Myers Fl
I'm rebuilding a '75 L-48 and it had the original engine. From a cost perspective, it's more expensive to try and keep the original engine if the block and heads need to be worked at the machine shop. You can check my "Small Garage Restoration" thread for the details. If you know a good machine shop that can do the work at a discount, you may be able to keep the cost down for a home garage rebuild. I couldn't make it "work" for me.
So, I decided that I will be buying a new GM Performance engine. At least it will come with a guarantee. I am keeping the original block (stripped down). I'll be buying the engine after I complete the off-frame work to the body/bird cage...sometime in the spring I suspect.
On the tranny, I'll only be using my car for weekend drives and car shows so I'm not too concerned with performance or MPG. I'm keeping my automatic.
So, I decided that I will be buying a new GM Performance engine. At least it will come with a guarantee. I am keeping the original block (stripped down). I'll be buying the engine after I complete the off-frame work to the body/bird cage...sometime in the spring I suspect.
On the tranny, I'll only be using my car for weekend drives and car shows so I'm not too concerned with performance or MPG. I'm keeping my automatic.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Mill Hall PA
I built the engine in my '81 and it cost more than a crate engine. I have access to a machine shop and did all the work myself. My only labor cost was for balancing.
I got exactly what I wanted but even now I feel the cost was too high. If I had to do it again I would go with a crate engine.
I got exactly what I wanted but even now I feel the cost was too high. If I had to do it again I would go with a crate engine.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
From a rookie perspective, I would keep an original/nearly original car as close to original as possible (it's a part of history)....You can install 30% thinner head gaskets/1:6 rocker arms/tires that are 1" smaller in diameter than what you current have------- and get some noticeable pep out of the engine.
